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The Junior Girl Scouts of Troop 9461 may only be in fifth grade, but they’ve already got a soft spot in their hearts for the South Pasadena Public Library.
Some of the girls remember being read to at the library’s story time; and many of them have marched in the balloon festival which starts at the library. Most of the girls say they now use the library at least once a week.
So the girls, from the fifth grade at Marengo Elementary School quickly focused their attention on the library when they looked for a way to earn a bronze award, which is one of three major Girl Scout service projects awards. The Bronze award is earned when the entire troop does a project to benefit the community.
On Saturday, March 16 ten scouts filled four planters and one plot in front of the Library’s historic Community Room with drought-tolerant, shade loving low-maintenance plants.
“The library is a city landmark so hopefully people will come and enjoy what we’ve planted,” said scout Marlowe Arrieta.
Jean Whang, one of three troop leaders said that to her, the library just seemed like the heart of the city.
The project was the result of a brainstorming project which began at the start of the year and involved the entire troop. The girls came up with a lot of and gradually narrowed their scope.
“Everyone wanted to do something that was not too small and not too big, said Grace Fayette. “We wanted to make the biggest impact that we could.”
“Everyone wanted to come up with a project that would make the community better,” added fellow scout Valerian Larios.
Money came from a bake sale and proceeds from the sale of girl scout cookies. Armstrong Garden Center provided the girls with a discount on the plants, and local landscape architect June Scott provided advice on a design plan.
The girls worked in shifts to divide up the work.
“This is a special group of girls,” said Jean Whang, one of the three troop leaders, before asking the girls “who wants to be the first woman president?” Three hands shot up. “I want to be an astronaut,” Grace said.
Junior Troop 9461 includes Violet Chin, Olivia Chin, Anna Kowal, Cayna Ghaly, Marlowe Arrietta, Annie Demaine, Grace Fayette, Madeline Park, Valeria Larios, and Laura Wheng.
Troop leaders are Christine Higgins Chin, Jenny Kowal and Laura Whang.
This article was written and produced by Andy Lippman and the South Pasadena Public Library
