Lehighton area Girl Scouts learned Sunday that they have peers not only throughout the United States, but also around the world.

The nine Girl Scout Troops that make up Lehighton Girl Scout Unit 734 observed World Thinking Day on Sunday with a culture fest at St. Peter's Community Resource Center in Franklin Township.Each troop selected a foreign country and created a display not only highlighting that nation's culture, but also featuring the Girl Scouts - or Girl Guides as they are refered to in other countries.Countries featured were France, Italy, Australia, Vietnam, Slovakia, Mexico, India and Thailand.At each display were food samples for the respective nation, Girl Scout patches and large boards that contained relevant information.Girl Scouts had "passports," which they took to the different countries and had stamped.The Brownies and Girl Scouts at each station were dressed in garb pertaining to their respective country.Theresa Chapman, co-leader of Daisy Troop 3801, had an easy time choosing Australia to be her unit's display.Chapman said her husband, Jameson, travels abroad for business and recently visited Australia. He returned with Girl Guide Biscuits (their type of Girl Scout Cookies), a Girl Guide hat, stuffed animals and other materials.The Daisies served Australian meat pie and fairy bread to those who stopped at their booth.Chapman said in Australia, Girl Guide Cookies are sold year-round.Barbara Allen, service unit manager for the Girl Scouts, said Thinking Day is celebrated annually. The international displays have been put on for about the past 10 years.She said one of the things it shows the girls is that "Scouting is in a lot of countries around the world."Girl Scouts and Girl Guide units exist in 145 countries.Troop 3176, headed by Autumn Abelovsky, was attired in garb depicting women in India.Troop 3862 represented Turkey and served kebabs.The unit representing France served authentic French meringues and provided visitors with the recipes for them.