Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Summertime is Scouting time! Since the Girl Scouts were founded on March 12, 1912, by Juliette Low in Savannah, Georgia, Scouting has been introducing girls to the outdoors and camping.
SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti (shown here in the paper weights they made as Girl Scout Brownies – junior Scouts) have strong memories of camping, making friends, earning merit badges, and of course, selling Girl Scout Cookies.
We were excited to learn that Maya Takeuchi of Orange County’s Niguel Coast Service Unit Junior Troop 1487 designed the patch for her troop’s participation in the 2026 International Food Fair, an annual event that teaches girls across America about food, crafts and traditions from other countries.
As the Patch Design Winner, Maya’s embroidered patch will be worn on each girl’s vest or sash, providing a colorful memory of the event. Maya said, “I came up with the idea for the patch design because it’s a food fair so the earth should be eating. And I wanted to show all the different countries’ flags.”
Her troop participated in the fair by learning about Japanese food and traditions, preparing and eating Japanese food, and dressing up in bright, cherry blossom-pink kimonos.
Maya’s Grandfather (shown here with Maya and her Dad) is Japanese so it was special for her to be able to learn more about his culture and to share it with the other girls.
Sara Salehpour, the troop’s leader and Maya’s proud mom (here with Maya), told SurfWriter Girls, “I’ve been working with this troop since they were in kindergarten and now they are fourth graders. It’s been great watching them grow and feel more independent and creative each year.”
Along with outdoor activities, the Girl Scouts helps girls to be confident and independent and to develop skills to accomplish their goals. Girls can earn merit badges in everything from nature and science to cooking, fine arts, computers, robotics and entrepreneurship.
The sky’s the limit. Just ask Maya!
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.