Port Angeles girl to represent Western Washington at Girl Scout conference

PORT ANGELES — Lenora Hofer is something of a super-Girl Scout.

Involved in a pages-long list of activities, Lenora, a freshman at Port Angeles High School, was selected to represent Girl Scouts throughout Western Washington at the National Council Session.

Only 15 girls from Western Washington are selected in the tedious process, said Diane Holth, her aunt and scout leader.

“She’s the only girl on this side of the water who gets to go,” Holth said.

The National Council Session will be Nov. 10-13 and will include the chance to make major policy changes. Lenora will be a voting delegate.

When she returns, she will give presentations to local Scout groups about the council session.

Lenora, who will turn 15 Saturday, joined Brownies in the first grade and has stuck with it ever since.

“My aunt is the leader, and she talked to me about it and told me how cool it could be,” she said.

“And I have done it ever since.”

She juggles the Girl Scout activities among a host of other extracurricular activities such as 4-H, choir, basketball and softball, along with keeping up her grades.

“She manages to fit it all in — and Girl Scouts is as important as all of the other activities,” said her mother, Mary Hofer.

Lenora said she likes keeping busy.

“It keeps me from sitting at home with nothing to do,” she said.

Among her favorite activities with the Scouts was a trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., last year.

“Everywhere we go is a new experience for me,” she said. “We get to go places we’ve never been.”

It was a 36-hour train ride, with the Scouts packing along all their food.

But once they got there, it was worth it.

“Space Mountain was great,” Lenora said.

Unusual travel

Holth said that, as a Scout leader, she often uses unusual modes of transportation to expose the Scouts to more experiences.

A trip to Seaside, Ore., for example, was done all on public transit — changing buses something like nine times, she said.

Lenora said that though she was a little surprised she was chosen, she could tell during her interview early this year that it was going well.

“I told them I had no problem getting up and talking in front of people, and I could tell that surprised them and that they liked me,” she said.

“I was a little surprised, but not a lot.”

Holth said she applied to participate in the conference but was not eligible since she is related to Lenora, who was already a delegate.

Whether or not Holth volunteers at the conference, she will attend with her niece, she said.

It is, after all, the kickoff for the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts and the 50th anniversary of Holth’s joining Scouts.

“It has been such a good influence on me, and I’ve learned so much and had so much fun that I didn’t want to stop,” she said.

“So I’ve been doing things at different levels ever since I joined.”

____________

Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Sunlight reflects off the skull of Gunther, the California gray whale carcass on display on the pier in Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
The golden hour

Sunlight reflects off the skull of Gunther, the California gray whale carcass… Continue reading

The state is looking to turn Miller Peninsula, a 2,800-acre undeveloped park east of Sequim, into a destination state park with a visitors center, cabins, picnic areas and more. Some locals oppose the move. (Warren Wilson)
Opponents want park to stay day use

State updates plan for Miller Peninsula

Sequim staff plan to send a proposal to the state this month to potentially fund sewer and water lift stations on West Sequim Bay Road using new developments’ property taxes through a Tax Increment Area by Sequim Bay in a 363-acre area. It would require the city to prove that developments in the area wouldn’t happen without the stations. The city council also would have to approve it. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim exploring funding mechanism to incentivize development

City would create district, repurpose tax dollars for lift stations

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann O’Neill, an employee of Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles at a temporary stand at First and Race streets in Port Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Rix said he wanted roses for his wife, Wendy Rix, for their 55th wedding anniversary. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s roses

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann… Continue reading

Port Angeles-owned Lancashire Heeler “Ki” poses with handler and co-owner Chelsy Pendleton of Utah with their ribbon. Ki placed as Best of Opposite Sex at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
PA dog places at famous show

Lancashire Heeler wins ribbon at Westminster

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Poplars to be removed in spring

Boat Yard expansion part of larger project

Jeffco Aquatic Coalition launches pool survey

Results intended to inform design process

Voters approving all Peninsula school measures

Sequim bond passing with required supermajority

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few miles south of Port Angeles. While the Peninsula has seen temperatures below freezing this week, a warming trend is expected by this weekend with highs reaching the upper 40s and overnight lows in the 30s. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Winter snowscape

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few… Continue reading