Beating the Odds - Troop 3949

Terri Coahran, a Girl Scout troop leader for more than 35 years, and daughter Kristen started Troop #3949 in August 2010. The troop consisted of 14 girls, Kinder to 10th grade, from the Texas School for the Deaf. Certainly a very simple and sometimes difficult start, the troop looked to founder Juliette Gordon Lowe for inspiration as she herself was deaf. By not letting deafness hold them back, these girls have been exposed to many experiences.

The troop encountered several obstacles in their Girl Scout journey, but with the help of Terri, volunteers and the community of Austin, they changed the definition of handicap to 'YES WE CAN' by selling more than 1,400 boxes of Girl Scout cookies this past year.

Terri’s goal was to provide her troop the opportunity to get together with friends and learn the idea of helping each other. From selling cookies to participating in their very first campout, the girls have met and exceeded Terri’s goals and expectations. Their ambition and success has sparked the interest of other deaf schools to start their own Girl Scout Troops. Way to go Troop #3949 for overcoming obstacles and being a great example for the Girl Scout community!

For comments or questions regarding starting your own troop, please contact Girl Scouts of Central Texas.

-Tabitha Fierro

Tabitha is a marketing intern with the Girl Scouts of Central Texas and currently a senior at the University of Texas at Austin.