If everyone took a moment to stop, smell the flowers, and connect to the world–and its people–we all might be a little better off. That’s the beautiful logic behind some thoughtful and capable Wilton Girls Scouts in Troop 50600.
This group of 6th grade girls put a tremendous amount of creativity, sensitivity, intelligence and teamwork into a two-year project to earn their Bronze Award, the highest award a girl scout at the junior level can earn. The culminating project they built was a sensory garden at Zion’s Hill Preschool. But clearly, the hard work along the two-year journey to get to the finished product was what earned them the accolade.
‘Journey’ is an appropriate word, as it’s what the Girl Scout organization calls the first step the girls need to undertake in 4th grade, learning about one concept throughout the year. They chose the journey called “Amuse.” Based on what they learned they determined as a group how to proceed on a 20-hour project addressing a community need.
“First they must build their team (which we had already as a Troop), explore the community for needs and together develop a long-sustaining project to help that need. They then need to plan and carry out the project and finally spread the word to inspire others,” explains troop leader Janette Alvarez.
After exploring a handful of different community needs, the girls decided that they wanted people to “take the time to smell the flowers,” to unwind and reconnect with the world around them through their senses. One girl offered up the idea of a sensory garden, and the rest quickly decided they were all onboard.
“They brainstormed many potential locations and finally decided that Zion’s Hill Preschool would be perfect. The teachers and young children could enjoy it, and the girls could visit there as well. Most of them attended Zion’s Hill Preschool and have a connection with the grounds there already,” Alvarez adds.
Working in groups throughout last year, the girls combed through gardening books and websites to come up with possible plants suitable in the region, keying in on perennials, and focusing on plants that would engage the senses of taste, touch, sight, hearing, and smell. They then cross-referenced their list with lists of poisonous plants in order to know what to plant, and what to avoid planting, always conscious of the fact that it would be young children at Zion’s Hill that would be interacting with the garden.
Each girl then purchased plants and met this past Saturday, Sept. 24 to create two gardens–one each for shade and sun. The girls will take turns caring for the plants as needed in the future.
In addition to Alvarez, the troop is also led by Lauren Yoon, and both moms are clearly proud of the entire group, as Alvarez sums up: “This, like all of Girl Scouts, is a girl-led event. They learn to explore the needs of others and impact their communities. This particular project had them learning how to work as a team, hear other people’s ideas, research, create a plan, physically work, and inspire others. They will be reflecting on their project this week as they write letters to the children and adults at Zion’s Hill about the project.”
The members of the troop, most of whom are pictured (above) at the garden, include Caitlin Allen, Jada Alvarez, Samira Ayoub, Lucy Beach, Sofia Blessing, Grace Condon, Anna Joy, Samantha Markey, Nola Ryder (not pictured), Amira Srivastava (not pictured), Ally van Heyst and Caroline Yoon.
