Girls Scouts recently enjoyed an unforgettable trip to Myakka Elephant Ranch as a reward for their achievements in the Mags & Munchies Fall Product Program. Accompanied by CEO Mary Anne Servian, these high-achieving Girl Scouts earned the trip to the ranch, where they participated in a unique “spa day” experience. During their visit, the girls fed, bathed, and learned about the conservation of endangered elephants.

At Myakka Elephant Ranch, a non-profit conservation center dedicated to educating the public about elephant conservation, the girls experienced a day filled with hands-on learning and interaction with Asian elephants, the official mascot of this year’s Fall Product Program. They fed and bathed the elephants, gaining a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the gentle giants’ daily care routine, and attended a one-hour educational seminar that provided fascinating insights into the lives of Asian elephants, their habitats, and the challenges they face, including habitat loss, human-elephant conflict, and poaching. The seminar also highlighted the work conservationists are doing to protect these endangered animals.

The Asian elephant, native to 13 range countries in South and Southeast Asia, was chosen by Girl Scouts as the mascot for this year’s Fall Product Program. As the largest land mammal on the Asian continent, the species is classified as endangered, with only 30,000 to 50,000 remaining in the wild. Programs like those at Myakka Elephant Ranch play a crucial role in raising awareness and inspiring future conservationists.

“This trip perfectly encapsulates the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place,” said CEO Mary Anne Servian. “Our Mags & Munchies theme this year was ‘Embrace Possibility,’ and this experience truly brought that theme to life. Through activities like feeding and bathing elephants, girls not only develop new skills but also broadened their horizons by engaging with global conservation efforts and understanding their role in making a difference.”

The Girl Scout Fall Product Program is more than just a fundraiser. It empowers girls by helping them earn money for troop activities and community projects, develop skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics, and build confidence as they engage with customers and apply their skills.

Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida are proud to provide meaningful opportunities that inspire girls to embrace “jumbo possibilities” while making a difference in their communities and beyond.

For more information about Girl Scouts or the Fall Product Program, visit http://www.gsgcf.org. To learn more about Myakka Elephant Ranch and their conservation work, visit https://www.myakkaelephantranch.org/.