In 1922, the Girl Scouts of the USA published a cookie recipe in its magazine “The American Girl.” The magazine article estimated girls could bake as many as seven dozen cookies for 26 to 36 cents, and then sell them by the dozen for about the same price. Girls Scouts made the sugar cookies and sold them door to door.[Pictured: First Lady Florence Harding with Girl Scouts in 1922.]

LA GRANDE — Sometimes the linings of dark clouds are better than silver — they are golden.

Five members of La Grande Girl Scout Troop 50145 can attest to this.

The Girl Scouts — Maylie Eby, Opal Alf-Rippee, Gracie Tucker, Olivia Thornburg and Sophia D’Antonio — were jolted by a discovery while reviewing their plans for a trip to the United Kingdom. The girls found that the London hotel they planned to spend their first two nights at had a minimum age requirement of 18.

The timing of this finding was far from ideal — the clock was ticking. Only a week remained before the girls were to leave for the United Kingdom.

“We were very worried,” said Eby, a student at La Grande High School.

After a frantic search, the girls found affordable accommodations in hostel-type housing provided by the Girl Scout organization in London. When the La Grande party arrived there, they received a startling surprise: it was next to the famed Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the U.K.’s sovereigns for nearly two centuries.

“It was really cool. To be so close was unreal,” Eby said.

The scouts did not see anyone from the royal family during their stay in London, but they did see many people entering, individuals who likely provide services for the royal family.

“We saw people coming and going. We know that these must have been very important people,” Eby said.

The La Grande Girl Scouts know that King Charles III was at Buckingham Palace one day during their visit to London because the Royal Standard flag was flown.

It is hoisted at Buckingham Palace only when the monarch is there, according to Sophia D’Antonio.

Tea breaks and hikes

The Girl Scouts from Troop 50145 enjoyed basking in the rhythm of life in London where people take tea breaks around 2-4 p.m. each day. For many, the break is when they enjoy their biggest meal of the day.

“They later eat a lighter meal between 7-8 p.m.,” said Angela D’Antonio, an adult leader of Girl Scout Troop 50145 who accompanied the Girl Scouts on the trip.

The La Grande Girl Scouts later traveled to Scotland where they spent about seven days. They found Scotland to be filled with striking landscapes.

“The Scottish Highlands were particularly beautiful,” Sophia D’Antonio said.

The Girl Scouts made a number of hikes in Scotland, including one to the popular Arthur’s Seat, on a 7-mile out-and-back trail in Edinburgh.

Eby was struck not only by the beauty of Scotland but also its unusual roads.

“They are made of bricks and stone,” she said.

Lots of planning, lots of cookies

The overseas trip was organized completely by the five Girl Scouts who went. Angela D’Antonio said the Girl Scout USA organization makes a point of having troop members do the organizational work and planning for their trips.

She said that this ultimately makes trips more meaningful for the travelers.

Eby said the requirement helps young people develop and learn how to take responsibility.

“It improves leadership skills for the future,” she said.

Members of Girl Scout Troop 50145 began planning and raising funds for the trip about five years ago.

It was originally scheduled to be conducted in 2021 but had to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two-year delay ended up having a positive impact, giving the girls time to raise more money for the trip, Angela D’Antonio said. The additional funds allowed the young travelers to add activities, including a visit to His Majesty’s Theatre to see a performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famed “Phantom of the Opera.” His Majesty’s Theatre is a London icon that opened in 1705.

All of the money for the trip was raised by the sale of Girl Scout cookies over the past five years. The cookies were sold door to door and outside local stores, including Safeway and Walmart.

“The generosity of those who bought Girl Scout cookies is what made this trip possible,” Angela D’Antonio said.