It’s Girl Scout cookie time again, and (as always) I look forward to snagging a few boxes of Thin Mints before the sale is over at the end of the month. But I no longer expect a young woman knocking on my front door to make a pitch. Instead, I’ll probably visit a cookie booth outside Kroger or at the mall, or go online to a scout’s personal website on the “Digital Cookie” platform.

That’s because the cookie sale—like many other programs and practices in today’s Girl Scouts—has evolved to stay relevant to the ever-changing needs of today’s young women and their families. Cookies are important, but the girls have more on their minds than just that.

A recent “State of the Girl” report finds that young women under 18 in Ohio face increasing challenges ranging from mental health issues to cyberbullying, dating violence, and low academic achievement (especially in science, technology, and math fields). The study was commissioned by the four Girl Scout councils serving Ohio, and it was released last year.

The report found that among this age group in Lucas County, half of the girls say that they feel “sad or hopeless;” nearly 35 percent are considered overweight or obese; 26 percent are chronically absent from school; and nearly half report that they do not have a caring adult all or most of the time who they can talk to about their feelings.

The study underscores that activities such as Girl Scouts are important in helping young women develop confidence, resilience and leadership skills—along with health and social development—to deal with these issues.

“Trying new things, exploring the outdoors, forming strong social connections with peers and adults, and having activities to look forward to–these foundational aspects of Girl Scouting are also key components of improving mental health and building girls’ resiliency,” says Aimée Sproles, president and chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

So, today in the Sylvania area, Girl Scouts can access programs that include not only outdoor adventure and community service, but entrepreneurship, computer technology, and financial literacy. And, they can have a lot of fun.

Emma Rhine and Sammi Riling, both age 10, are among 17 fourth and fifth graders in Troop 1267, which meets at Highland Elementary school. “Girl Scouts lets me do things that I normally wouldn’t get to do,” says Sammi. “We have fun, and belonging (to the troop) makes me feel good.”

Emma likes the camping: she’s participated in both day and overnight camp. Her troop also does “Adventure Camp,” where the girls go to summer camp together and choose the activities they’d like to complete. This ranges from living in a cabin, swimming and crafts to science experiments. (Last year the young women were challenged to package an egg so it wouldn’t break when dropped off an 18-foot tower.)

Adult leaders Sarah Rhine and Candace Riling (moms of Emma and Sammi) started Troop 1267 in the fall of 2021 when school activities were suspended because of Covid. That year, their daughters joined other kindergarten and first grade classmates as first-year Daisey Scouts, and they have since progressed through other steps to Junior scouts. “We still have one meeting and one ‘road trip’ each month; the girls come up with activity ideas and then they vote. It’s very girl-led,” Sarah says.

Typical activities range from archery and shelter-building to coding and creating robots. They’ve also camped overnight at the Metroparks’ Treehouse Village. “The cool thing about our troop is that our girls are all different, yet each one can find interesting things within Girl Scouts. It gives them opportunities they normally wouldn’t do,” Sarah adds.

“We’ve seen girls who are totally terrified about riding a horse or climbing a rock wall; then they get a chance to do it and it’s one more thing they’ve accomplished.”

But leaders, Sarah and Candace, also recognize a broader dimension of their role…one that’s outlined in the “State of the Girl” data. “We understand the role we play as a trusted adult in these girls’ lives … a person they can go to if something in their life is not okay,” Sarah says.

Therefore, as young women in Sylvania celebrate National Girl Scout Month, they are experiencing new adventures in addition to their longstanding traditions. So, it is particularly fitting that this year the new cookie being added to their classic lineup of Thin Mints and Tagalongs is a chocolate, marshmallow and almond-flavored cream. It’s called…“Exploremores.”

Longtime Sylvania resident Mark Luetke has served on city council, the board of education, and numerous foundation and community boards.