Girl Scout earns all Brownie patches before 'bridging' to Junior

Courtney Galligher points to a badge on her Girl Scout Brownie vest, which is completely covered in pins and badges.

“I like the camping. I have a couple camping ones. Here’s a hiking and cabin camping one,” she said.

Nine-year-old Galligher is the first one in her troop 635 who has received all 57 of the Girl Scout Try-It badges. She also earned seven additional badges.

There are four steps Girl Scouts have to complete to earn the Try-It badges. Courtney says the girls are not limited to just four steps.

Courtney and her mother Cheley Galligher, who is the troop leader, have been involved with Girl Scouts for five years. The troop meets at the J.B. Watkins Elementary school cafeteria every week.

From learning about computer safety to making puppets and dolls to writing her own song to selling over 500 boxes of cookies this year, Courtney Galligher has filled her brown vest with a number of achievements.

“I like the activities and the friendships,” she said.

Troop 635 has traveled to Camp Pamunkey ridge, had a backstage tour of The Nutcracker and has gone to the Central Virginia Food Bank for the Peanut Butter Drive. They donated peanut butter and had a tour of the bank and where the food is stored.

As far as Courtney’s favorite Girl Scout cookie goes, it is Lemon Chalet Crème.

Aside from Girl Scouts, Courtney plays violin and is on an Irish dance team at Jessica Morgan School of Dance. She aspires to be an electronic engineer, and has even built her own robot.

“I’ve always like building stuff and I just thought it might be kind of fun,” said Galligher.

Troop 635 had their Girl Scout bridging ceremony at their last meeting. Galligher bridged to a Girl Scout Junior, and plans to become an Ambassador Girl Scout in the future.