Three girls in Girl Scout Troop 70417 have made the world a better place by earning the highest awards for their level of Girl Scouts. Sophia Kretzing has earned her Bronze Award, and both Keeli Adams and Mya Brouse have earned their Silver Awards.

Sophia, the daughter of Keith and Erika Kretzing of Mount Joy, is an eighth-grader at Elizabethtown Area Middle School. "I built a Little Free Library for the community," Sophia explained. "It is located at the GEARS center on Poplar Street. I also held a book drive to fill the library when we opened it."

Sophia has been a Girl Scout for seven years and is currently a Cadette, but she earned the Bronze Award as a Junior Girl Scout. The Bronze Award is the highest award Junior Girl Scouts - members in grades four and five - can earn. "I wanted to do my Bronze Award to give me a chance to work on my leadership skills," Sophia shared. "I also enjoy helping the community, and I think a library is a great way to do that."

Keeli and Mya worked together to earn their Silver Award, the highest award available for Cadette Girl Scouts - those in sixth through eighth grades.

"We built benches that convert into tables and placed them at the entrance of Conewago Trail so that when people were finished with their bike ride, walk, etc., they had a place to rest or enjoy a snack," Keeli said of the project she and Mya completed in early summer 2023.

Keeli, the daughter of Brandon and Brianne Adams of Elizabethtown, is a sophomore at Elizabethtown Area High School. She's been a Girl Scout for eight years, and she encourages other girls to strive for their level's highest award, which includes the Girl Scout Gold Award for girls in high school.

"It's a great way to find things that could be improved or that would benefit your community, and you feel very accomplished once you earn the award," she said.

Mya revealed that getting started on the project with Keeli required a bit of brainstorming about needs in their community.

"We felt that the trailhead needed a resting place, as there was a wide area by the parking but nowhere to sit," she said. "Next, we came up with a plan of action that started by contacting various local businesses and asking if they could donate the needed supplies - wood, nails, glue, stain, etc."

The girls then spent a week working in Keeli's grandfather's garage to construct the two benches.

"We loaded up the benches in a truck and met two park and recreation employees to set them up," Mya recalled. "We spent about 50 hours on the project, from brainstorming to setting up at the trail."

Mya is the daughter of Dennis and Maria Brouse of Mount Joy. She is a sophomore at Donegal High School. She's been a Girl Scout since she was in kindergarten, and, like both Sophia and Keeli, she said she plans to work on her Gold Award next.

"As a Girl Scout, one of our core values is giving back to the community," she remarked. "I plan to find a project that incorporates helping animals. I would like to be a veterinarian as a future career."

All three girls are part of the Elizabethtown/Donegal Service Unit of Girl Scouts, and their troop is led by Tracy Adams and Brianne Adams. The girls encourage anyone who is interested to consider joining Girl Scouts, noting that the program provides opportunities to hone leadership skills and take positive risks.

"I love that we are always learning new things and going to new places," Sophia said, and Mya added that she enjoys the opportunities Girl Scouts has given her to grow in confidence.

For Keeli, Girl Scouts has introduced her to a wide circle of friends.

"One of my favorite things are the friendships I've gained from being in Girl Scouts," she said. "A lot of the girls I've known from the start, and we have become super close."