Eight fourth graders from Girl Scout Troop 582 bridged from Brownies to Juniors at a special ceremony attended by family, friends and Mayor Laurene Weste. 

On Saturday, Sept. 24, each girl scout crossed a makeshift bridge of brown and green Balloons at the Stevenson Ranch Library.   

The girl scouts include Ella Fernandez, Kaya Hunter, Jacqueline Peters, Clara Pope, Kaylee Samuels, Pampoose Shia, Sarah Song and Yunha Song.

Girl Scout Troop 582 is led by Valencia residents Edna Dimataga-Fernandez and Gunther Shia. The troop started with a handful of girl scouts from Valencia Valley Elementary School. 

By May 2022, the troop had representation from three elementary schools in Newhall School District including Valencia Valley, Stevenson Ranch and Peachland Avenue Elementary Schools.

Within five months of forming, the troop leaders held bi-monthly events for the Brownie girl scouts and workshops were organized so that the girls could earn up to 3 Brownie Badges before their bridging ceremony.

“Just because these girls were only Brownies for 5 months doesn’t mean they can’t accomplish a lot and do meaningful things in the community. In fact, during our first troop meeting, we hit the ground running by working on a special project for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital,” said Dimataga-Fernandez. 

Posters created by the troops were hung in each of the hospital’s nursing units. 

“Giving back and paying it forward is so important. Our troop felt a sense of accomplishment when they saw how their acts of kindness made the nurses so happy,” said Dimataga-Fernandez.

At the ceremony, Mayor Weste congratulated the girl’s on their achievements:  “Having a female mayor present at the ceremony teaches our girls that women can hold positions of power. Mayor Weste inspired each of our girl scouts to be leaders in the community and beyond,” said Dimataga-Fernandez.

In 2023, the troop looks forward to finally selling Girl Scout Cookies during cookie season, an important fundraiser for their troop.

Correction: Spelling of names has been corrected.

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