Hillsborough Girl Scouts Opens 1st Ever Troop For Special Needs

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough Girl Scouts has opened up its first troop for girls with Down Syndrome, Autism, and other cognitive disabilities.

Girls in 5th grade through early adulthood are welcome to join regardless of their abilities or limitations. It is open to girls in the Hillsborough area including Montgomery, Bridgewater, Manville and Somerset.

The idea to start this special troop began after Karen Briegs, co-Leader of Troop 60651, was approached by a mother, Kathy Kafka, about her daughter with pretty severe autism several years ago.

At the time there were no troops that offered special services. Kafka ended up changing her mind and instead enrolled her daughter in the Special Olympics that offered specific programs for kids with autism.

"It stuck with me that we didn't have the ability to help this girl," Briegs said.

Briegs continued to serve as troop leader for her daughters but always wanted to come back to the idea of helping girls with special needs.

Briegs got back in touch with Kafka, who was running a special needs CCD program, and decided to team up to form Hillsborough's first ever special needs troop.

They began meeting in November at GiGi's Playhouse at 450 Amwell Road in Hillsborough. The troop meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 5 to 6 p.m.

Since meeting the girls have had a Chirstmas party, decorated cookies, made no fire s’mores, took them caroling at a township senior center, and made pet beds to donate to the animal shelter.

"We try to teach things about what it means to be Girl Scout," Briegs said. "We want to give them the most traditional Girl Scout experience while being attentive to their needs."

The troops encompasses girls at all levels including a girl who can’t speak. While caroling, the troop gave her jingle bells so she could still participate.

"We want to make sure every girl has a great experience," Briegs said.

If interested in joining the troop or volunteering, contact the troop leaders at gstroop60561@gmail.com.

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