Girl Scouts Hike Rails to Trails

What has 256 feet and was spotted everywhere on the Upper Saucon Rails to Trails system recently? Girl Scouts of course! And why? They were celebrating Girl Scout Founder Juliette Low’s birthday with a four mile hike.

The planning power duo behind the event was Molli Somers and Ashley Pearson, 5th graders at Joseph P. Liberati Intermediate School, who are earning their way to the Bronze Award through the Southern Lehigh Service Unit.

Their idea was in keeping with the Girl Scout song, “Make New Friends But Keep The Old”. Molli and Ashley invited the Saucon Valley Girl Scout Service Unit (new friends) to hike from Hellertown to the Reading Drive stop on the trail. Their Southern Lehigh Service Unit (old friends) hike from Upper Saucon Park to the Reading Drive stop as well.

At that point, the two service units met, exchanged SWAPS (which if you aren’t familiar with SWAPS, they are little hand-crafted treasurers that girl scouts make to exchange with their new friends), sang the song, met Juliette Low (played by Alicia Johnson in an Oscar winning performance), visited and then headed back down the trail.

The weather was not ideal but the enthusiasm, giggles, and smiles were out in full force.

A big thank you goes to the Quakertown Chik-fil-A for their generous food donation. Thanks also to Hamilton Orchard for supplying the healthy crisp apples. And thanks to the moms who made the post-hike cupcakes, provided the juice, and bundled up and took that hike with their girls.

Molli and Ashley did a great job in preparing for and running this three hour event, but why wouldn’t they -- they are Girl Scouts.