Fall 2025 SOAR Magazine

Girl Scouts has helped me be more confident and not afraid to speak up. It showed me how to work with people, lead when I need to, and give back to my community. -Legacy, Girl Scout Ambassador

The family has worn many hats: troop leaders, delegates, advisory board members, and Gold Award committee volunteers. For Legacy, Girl Scouts even shaped her career path. Time on the media team sparked her interest in journalism. “She discovered a passion through Girl Scouts,” Kynedra says. “That’s what ignited her fire.” Traditions endure—cookies, camping, badges—while the program evolves. Today’s Girl Scouts offer STEM programs, career readiness, and practical badges like automotive manufacturing. Legacy, who has earned every badge at each level, recently became a licensed driver, finding real value in the automotive badges. “It’s not fluff,” Kynedra notes. “It’s real-world preparation.” confidence, and character. For Kynedra, these aren’t just words. “The Girl Scout promise and law are part of who I am as a leader, in my community, and at work. Integrity, kindness, follow-through—those things define me.” Through it all, the mission remains constant: building girls of courage,

For this family, Girl Scouts was never considered “uncool.” It was a badge of honor and a way to foster community, a tradition shaped by leaders like Sallie Simmons, whose mentorship helped countless girls grow into women of influence.“She poured into us,” Kynedra says. “That’s why we are who we are today.” As Legacy looks toward adulthood, the family remains deeply connected. “We’ll stay lifelong Girl Scouts,” Kynedra says. Her advice to younger girls: “Find your balance. Stick with Girl Scouting, even when life gets busy, because what you learn will stay with you forever.” “Try everything...badges, trips, projects,” Legacy adds. “You never know what you’ll love or what skills you’ll gain. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Girl Scouts is about growth and discovery.” Asked to sum up what Girl Scouts means to her family, Kynedra pauses. Then she smiles. “Limitless,” she says. “Because of Girl Scouts, we can go anywhere and do anything. We are limitless.”

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 13

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