Troop 545 gives back to their meeting space!
March 25, 2024
Every troop has a specific meeting place: a town hall, a school, a church, a fire department, etc. These community spaces allow Girl Scouts to come together, build connections, share ideas, and participate in skill-building activities. But what if that meeting space became a troop project itself?
Troop 545 is comprised of a mixture of seven Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts, who have met at the St. Joseph Center in Winslow on a weekly basis for the past few years. In 2021, the property owners, known as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyon, announced that they were developing a sanctuary and asked for help from local civic and non-profit groups on various environmental projects to create a thoughtful plan for the land.
“Our group had just started meeting there and we were happy to tag along with some of the projects,” says Troop Leader Melissa Sullivan.
Troop efforts began with gardening in the backyard.
“We initially planted a bulb and flower garden in the backyard. We tended the garden for a few years before allowing it to go dormant,” says Melissa.
Later, when the owners created a few trails behind St. Joseph Center, the troop constructed bug hotels and placed them with informational signs for hikers to learn more about the insects inhabiting the area.
“We are now going into our second year of partnering with Mid Maine Permaculture to host a plant sale and swap in May, which helps bring more people to the property, and brings in donations to our troop and the sanctuary,” says Melissa.
At last year’s plant sale, the Girl Scouts helped build an herb spiral with help from Mid Maine Permaculture. During the winter months, when plants and flowers are off the agenda, Troop 545 snowshoes throughout the riverside trail, ensuring it stays clean and clear.
While the sanctuary is still a work in progress, the public is welcome and encouraged to visit the property at their leisure and attend any of the monthly Skill Share events hosted by sanctuary partners.
