February 12, 2023
GORHAM—Fresh pastries, live music, exciting museums, a mesmerizing aquarium, and much more were on the itinerary for Troop 618 earlier this month. Six girls and three leaders from the troop hopped on an Amtrak train and ventured south of the state for an unforgettable overnight visit to Boston. The girls and chaperones planned out the trip in advance and decided to stay in hostel to ensure they had plenty of time to see all that the Bay State has to offer.
“The girls thought it would be fun going to a big city. They worked hard to earn the money through fall sales and cookie sales, and they really wanted to do an overnight trip,” said Troop Leader Jennifer Watson.
With a budget of around $225 per person, the girls made sure to do their homework beforehand to get the best bang for their buck when it came to activities and transportation in the big city.
“We had the girls look up costs for each activity and then leaders helped them research discounts such as the Go-City pass and Groupon to help save even more money in the long run. Once we had our cost, the girls picked what they wanted to do most and we tested to see if it would fit the itinerary,” said Jennifer.
And what they wanted to do most were some of Boston’s most famed attractions. During their stay, the girls tried authentic cannoli at one of the top bakeries in the North End, Mike’s Pastries; they visited the Museum of Science; learned about the beautiful sea creatures at the Boston Aquarium; and even made it to a high-energy live performance from the Blue Man Group!
Although they had to drop a few activities that didn’t fit the budget, like seeing a professional sports game and visiting an escape room, they’re already making plans to do those elsewhere.
Since Girl Scouts are often booked up with a hefty list of extracurriculars, school, and sports, Jennifer says taking the trip in February was ideal for working around everyone’s schedules and encourages other troops to investigate winter travel as well.
“Our girls are very busy with sports, theater, dance, etc. but they have decided to make time for each other to still get together as Girl Scouts at least once or twice a month,” said Jennifer.