A group of Natchez Girl Scouts gave a cheer Wednesday when a bus carrying Scouts from all over the country arrived at the Natchez Visitor Reception Center Wednesday.

High school-aged Scouts from as far away as California and Maine are visiting Mississippi this summer as part of a Wider Opportunity program sponsored by the Girl Scout Council of Middle Mississippi.

The group spent Wednesday touring Natchez and meeting local Girl Scouts, many of whom said they were looking forward to meeting the new girls.

&uot;I just like meeting new people,&uot; said Dominique Trimble of Girl Scout Troop 168 in Natchez.

And many of the local Scouts said they wanted to exchange addresses with the new girls and stay in touch with them.

&uot;I think it’s going to be fun,&uot; said Bridget Bruce of Troop 168, who said she was interesting in hearing different accents and finding out how girls outside Mississippi do things.

This is the first year the Girl Scout Council of Mississippi has hosted a Wider Opportunity program, a summer trip for Girl Scouts. The girls will spend almost two weeks visiting historic places in the Mississippi, including Jackson, Port Gibson and Vicksburg. The Girl Scout Council developed the trip to emphasize the arts and titled it Southern HEAT to stand for Mississippi’s Heritage, Entertainment, Arts and Traditions.

Susan Athow, a volunteer coordinator for the trip, said 36 girls from 25 states were selected for the program and to be exposed to Mississippi culture and art.

&uot;They have been particularly impressed with the kindness of the people here,&uot; Athow said.

While in Mississippi, the girls have been meeting with different artists and receiving instruction in such areas as weaving, stained glass art and woodcarving.

&uot;We just tried to create a fun-filled two weeks that will introduce them to the South,&uot; Athow said.

&uot;I just think Girl Scouts, as a whole makes really good young women,&uot; she said.

While in Natchez, the Girl Scouts toured the visitors center, the house of the former girl scout president Grace MacNeil and the antebellum house Monmouth.