Leaving a Mark on Washburn
February 27, 2024
Hometown pride is an important part of every Maine community—a sentiment shared by Girl Scouts everywhere who strive to give back to their local areas.
Troop 1690 is a relatively new group of Brownies from Washburn, eager to learn, grow, have fun, and give back! Their hometown is like other any Aroostook County municipality: there’s a town office, a few churches, a police department, an ice cream shop, a few restaurants, and of course a couple of signs that say “Welcome to Washburn” upon crossing the town line.
The signs are blue, a bit weathered, and on one side of the two wooden pegs that hold it up, was a sign for Boy Scouts of America…until now.
After forming their group, Troop 1690 quickly noticed that the Washburn community had little information about what Girl Scouts do, let alone that a local troop existed! When they noticed the lack of equal signage for their organization on the Washburn welcome signs, they knew exactly what they wanted to raise money for.
“Our new troop is very active and proud of being Girl Scouts […] when we showed the troop the signs and asked if anything looked odd to them, the first thing they noticed was that there wasn’t a sign for them,” says Troop Leader Heidi Rackliffe.
The troop voted on what they wished to put funds towards for their money earned during cookie season, and the unanimous winner was to purchase Girl Scout signs of their own! Their first priority was covering uniforms, membership fees, patches, badges, a couple field trips for next year, and even a donation to a local animal shelter. Once business was out of the way, the girls were able to set aside around $150 to buy two metal signs that read “Girl Scouts. Where girls grow strong.”
“The girls signed the back of each sign so that they can see their signatures as they leave town, plus it’s something they can view later in life when they are older knowing they left their mark on the town,” says Heidi.
In true girl-led, problem-solving fashion, the troop installed the signs themselves one afternoon this winter.
“For leaders, this was an opportunity to guide them with the idea while allowing them the ability to choose how to take action, which hopefully, is the start of many more projects to come,” says Heidi.
According to Heidi, feedback has been extremely positive from residents and local businesses who up until now had no idea about the troop or the incredible beneficial impacts that Girl Scouts have on Maine communities. She posted a photo of the town additions in a Washburn Facebook group which received hundreds of likes and dozens of comments cheering on the troop.
“To this day, the girls can’t pass the signs without yelling ‘GIRL SCOUTS! GIRL SCOUTS! GIRL SCOUTS!’ and see what they were able to accomplish as a troop,” says Heidi.
“I think it’s awesome because when I’m an adult, I can bring my kids—hopefully a daughter—and show her the signs and say that I was the first troop to put that Girl Scout sign on the town sign,” says Girl Scout Brownie Lily.
