Troop 50163 - Birthday Boxes
Troop 50163 collected, assembled and presented birthday boxes for the children that use the shelter at the Danbury Women’s Center. They created invitations, thank you notes and streamers. They collected cake mix, frosting and candles at Ancona’s and party goods at The Party Depot. They assembled 25 birthday boxes and presented them to the Danbury Women’s Center. A representative also spoke to the girls about the facility and its purpose. In addition, the girls completed the Danbury Women’s Center anti-bullying program.
Troop 50296 - Bullying Program
Troop 50296 chose to create a school-wide program at Veteran’s Park Elementary School about bullying. They created a video to help educate students about what bullying is, how to identify it and how to protect themselves and others when bullying happens. They also created posters to hang around the school that promote being kind to each other and other positive messages. The girls went into individual classrooms and shared their video with grades 3-5. At the end of the video they guided a conversation about effective strategies to use to protect against bullying and how to get help. They also designed and purchased silicone bracelets with their program name "Bully Busters" to pass out to students to remind them to "live kindly" and help each other out when they can. They also wrote an anti-bully pledge for the students of VP.
The girls went into all classrooms in grades K-2 to read the story "Fill-A-Bucket" that encourages kids to practice acts of kindness and promotes a safe school climate. They also decorated and presented these K-2 classes with actual buckets and bucket fillers to use positive reinforcement when children are being kind and helpful and being "bucket fillers" throughout their day at school.
The girls went into all classrooms in grades K-2 to read the story "Fill-A-Bucket" that encourages kids to practice acts of kindness and promotes a safe school climate. They also decorated and presented these K-2 classes with actual buckets and bucket fillers to use positive reinforcement when children are being kind and helpful and being "bucket fillers" throughout their day at school.
Troop 50333 - Humane Society Animal Shelter
roop 50333 decided to earn their Bronze Award by providing support to the Connecticut Humane Society animal shelter located in Westport, which serves local towns including Ridgefield. The girls began by researching the origins of the Humane Society in our state. They then toured the facility to learn about the operations and needs of the shelter. The most surprising fact from their visit was discovering that the shelter accepts all types of animals, not just dogs and cats!
After their visit, the girls met to decide how best to support the shelter. They decided to employ a three-phase approach: collect donated food, towels and blankets; create items to sell; and deliver everything personally. They each made several posters to put up at supply collection points around town. Their first supply drive outside of Stop and Shop netted several hundred pounds of wet and dry dog and cat food and over $100 in cash donations. Meetings were devoted to the baking and packaging of homemade dog biscuits. A second supply drive at Animal Fair was equally successful, including the sale of the dog biscuits.
After their visit, the girls met to decide how best to support the shelter. They decided to employ a three-phase approach: collect donated food, towels and blankets; create items to sell; and deliver everything personally. They each made several posters to put up at supply collection points around town. Their first supply drive outside of Stop and Shop netted several hundred pounds of wet and dry dog and cat food and over $100 in cash donations. Meetings were devoted to the baking and packaging of homemade dog biscuits. A second supply drive at Animal Fair was equally successful, including the sale of the dog biscuits.
Troop 50356 - Nursing Home Visits & Sharing Talents
The girls in Troop 50356 planned, directed and executed friendly visits to several area nursing homes and senior facilities. This included sharing their musical, comic and creative arts talents. The girls developed and publicized their programs which had patriotic themes and special tributes to veterans. They made decorations and provided refreshments for the seniors attending. The troop has been invited back for future visits and they hope to continue these intergenerational relationships as they enter middle school.
Troop 50482 - Memory Garden
For their Bronze project, Troop 50482 began a Memory Garden at Ridgebury Elementary School. This garden expands on a bench and tree placed in Ridgebury's center circle in memory of a second grade student. The girls prepared the large garden bed by removing the lawn, weeding, repeatedly turning the soil to prevent grass and weed re-growth, and then edging it with stone. They began filling the "memory stream" with rocks, as well as planting bulbs. They prepared the garden for future plantings and community participation. The garden is not only a living memorial for this student, but a place designed for the enjoyment of all members of our town.
Troop 50787 - Bullying Issues
The troop chose to address the issue of bullying at the elementary schools. They wanted to give a presentation that would help girls in 3rd through 6th grade learn about what causes bullying and how they can react to it. They trained in improvisational comedy with the Inside Out Players, a high school group in Ridgefield. With the adult leaders of Inside Out, they crafted three skits, which they presented to an audience of about 25 girls and parents. Between the skits, the Inside Out leaders talked about the meaning of each skit and at the end, the girls answered questions from the audience. The program, called Pass It On!, is likely to be repeated at Farmingville and is available for any group that is interested.
