STUTTGART, Germany -- It took Phileas Fogg 80 days to circumnavigate the world. Stuttgart Girl Scouts did it in a couple of hours.
The Scouts "traveled" to 20 countries, learning facts, playing games and tasting new foods during their World Thinking Day celebration, held Feb. 26 at Panzer Hall in BAfAPblingen.
"World Thinking Day allows Girl Scouts to learn and think about the international aspects of being a Girl Scout," said Marah Campbell, the Stuttgart overseas committee chair.
The annual celebration allows the girls to not only learn about their sister Girl Scouts across the globe, but helps to expand their cultural understanding, she said.
In preparation for Thinking Day, 20 Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador troops - almost 300 girls in all - each selected a country of focus and researched its history, culture, music and food to present to their peers.
Junior Troop 26 chose Israel and Hanukkah. While some troop members took turns teaching the other Scouts how to play dreidel, and others offered samples of pomegranate seeds.
Brownie Troop 291 celebrated Brazil and its Carnival season.
The troop was fortunate to have been assigned a separate room away from the main area.
"We were really lucky to get a room. We got to do it up and make it feel like Carnival, with dancing and games," troop leader Jennifer Ruyle said.
After Scouts listened to a short educational briefing by first-grader McKenna Butler, Ruyle handed out carnival beads and snacks.
"The girls did a lot of research. They even picked out the recipes," she said, surrounded by plates laden with beignets, cornstarch cookies, macaroons and Easter bread, all made by the troop.
"Welcome to Jamaica, mon," said Troop 334 leader Jacqui Galik, as she greeted visiting Scouts.
"This is a multi-sensory experience - tasting, smelling and seeing," said Galik. "We've got Bob Marley playing, coconut toast to eat and coconut palm swaps."
"Swaps," which stands for "Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere," were made and handed out by every troop. They are extremely popular with the girls.
"The swap signifies something about the country - the climate or clothes or food," said Meaghan Ambelang, 11. "I've got feathers, a sunflower, a sun, drums," she said, as she showed off the latest swaps pinned to her vest.
While Meaghan enjoyed collecting the swaps, 7-year-old Gwyn DeHaven, Daisy Troop 120, appreciated the camaraderie. "I like that all the troops get together and have fun," she said.
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