Blazing Blue Herons Lead an Exciting Day on the Pond
Our incredible volunteers inspire our Girl Scouts to explore, learn, and grow in nature. Thanks to their leadership, Girl Scouts build outdoor skills and create unforgettable memories under the open skies! March 29, 2025, was a perfect Day on the Pond at Camp Burke’s Mill Pond in Gloucester, Virginia. More than 20 Girl Scouts had a blast learning new skills like fishing, archery, and canoeing in the great outdoors. Girl Scouts tried their hand at outdoor experiences under the support of members of GSCCC’s Blazing Blue Herons canoe team, Girl Scout alum Isabella Gonzalez and Rosa Bella Sisti, and more than ten other adult volunteers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The event was organized and led by GSCCC volunteer Edwina Gonzalez. Edwina has been a Girl Scout volunteer for more than 15 years and enjoys seeing Girl Scouts grow in the outdoors, year after year, even beyond her daughter, Isabella’s, graduation from the Girl Scout Program. Edwina began the canoe team with just three interested Girl Scouts in 2010. Since then, there has been a steady stream of interest for Girl Scouts in grades 6-12 to train and compete in annual competitions.
Isabella, a Gold Award Girl Scout Alum and civil engineer, was a founding member of the Blazing Blue Herons. She traveled from Washington D.C. to Gloucester to help guide activities and share her wisdom with current Girl Scouts at the March 29 event.
“I was one of the first members of the Blazing Blue Herons back in 2010,” Isabella shared. “I loved doing it as a Girl Scout, and now, I get to pass those memories on to new Girl Scouts. Being part of the canoe team gave me so much self-confidence and I made some of my best friends because of it.”
Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with improved mood, focus, and confidence. Getting Girl Scouts outdoors is vital for fostering self-assurance, building leadership skills, promoting teamwork, and inspiring a love for nature and environmental stewardship that will last a lifetime.
