Fall Community Cleanup
When it comes to community service, Washburn Troop 1690 is the first to step up to the plate. Ten Brownies and Juniors from the troop volunteered their time on a Saturday morning this September to clean up Mantle Lake Park in Presque Isle.
The Fall Community Cleanup was organized by the city of Presque Isle as a seasonal opportunity for local residents to come together and make a difference in their area. With the Girl Scouts accompanied by their friends and family members, Troop 1690 had the largest group in attendance.
“This was the second community cleaning that has happened and when we mentioned it to all the girls, they signed up immediately,” says Troop 1690 Leader Heidi Rackliffe.
Before beginning their day, Heidi decided to take a moment to discuss the importance of community service with her troop as it relates to the Girl Scout mission.
“We talked about the pledge and law and which parts they thought aligned with the project so that they had a direct connection to the actions they were doing and why,” says Heidi.
After an inspiring meeting, the troop decided to split into groups, spending the morning clearing trails within the park system of debris and trash using garbage bags, gloves, and picking sticks. Since Mantle Lake Park is a widely used recreational area, Heidi says the community will be directly impacted by their environmental efforts.
“I think community cleanups like this give awareness that a little bit of effort can go a long way and make an overall impact for not only all of the individuals that experience clean parks, but for the community to see that people truly care about where we live,” says Heidi.
While picking up trash may not be everyone’s idea of the most exciting weekend activity, Troop 1690 made their own fun out of the activity while bonding with one another in the great outdoors
“The girls were so excited, every time they found a piece a trash they would yell ‘I found something and then race to see if you could pick it up first’ they were clearly passionate about the activity,” says Heidi.
Whether it’s volunteering time at a food pantry, donating supplies to an animal shelter, cleaning up a park, or raking a neighbor’s yard—one thing is certain, Girl Scouts are making the world a better place, one helping hand at a time.
“I am so darn proud of these girls! They are so passionate and will change the world someday,” says Heidi.
