Brownie Troop 8614 2010-2011 Date(s): April 3, 2011. Album by Chris. 1 - 209 of 209 Total. 1560 Visits.
1 One of the first things we did as a Troop was visit the Northampton Fire Station. This is Sara -- ready to go!
2 We learned that in addition to fire trucks, the Borough has water rescue vehicles too.
3
4
5
6 The girls loved the ladder truck.
7 They got to stand in the bucket, but it stayed on the ground.
8 One of the firemen demonstrated a special infrared camera that detects heat. The girls were fascinated by this.
9
10
11 Haunted mini-golf was the next fall adventure.
12
13
14
15
16 We held an Investiture Ceremony on November 17, 2011. The girls received their Brownie pins.
17
18
19 Fall camping weekend was November 19 - 21, 2011 at Camp Mosey Wood. We were invited to go with the Whitehall-Coplay service unit.
20 There were about 44 girls and 20 adults at camp.
21 The theme was "Spa Weekend". Activities began on Friday night with making tye-died tee shirts.
22 The girls wrote in journals about the activities of the weekend as part of camping and travel Try-its they are earning.
23 The girls made heart shaped baskets with fragrant sachets inside.
24 They made their own bath salts and decorated the containers.
25 They made hematite necklaces.
26
27
28
29 They also made candles and decorated the glass candle holder.
30 They gave themselves spa facials with home made scrubs and moisturizers.
31
32 They learned some yoga poses too.
33 And had makovers -- hair, nails, makeup, the works! The older girls helped the younger ones.
34
35 And finally, they had a talent show. Our Brownies put on a skit about the legend of the Brownie elves.
36 The view of the lake at Mosey Wood early Sunday morning. It was SO cold, but beautiful!
37
38 The whole group! Thanks to Cathy Biondi for the picture!
39 April 3, 2011 -- The Northampton Area Food Bank. The troop will be doing a project for the food bank -- installing flower beds around the building. Here are some "before" pictures.
40 The Borough installed sidewalks, but the grass hasn't grown in very well.
41 Another cement step is going to be installed here to fill the gap between the sidewalk and the walkway to the stairs. A relative of one of the food bank volunteers is donating that work.
42
43
44
45 The food bank faces West, so it gets lots of afternoon sun. Perfect for sunny, easy care perenniels and shrubs.
46 Looks like there is room for a few trees too. The girls really got excited about the idea of planting trees.
47
48 Perhaps the trickiest spot -- disguising the pipes, and not damaging them in the process of creating the beds!
49 April 20, 2011 -- the Troop visited Cihylik Farms to tour their greenhouses and plant flowers in the pots they made.
50 They learned about how the farm starts plants from seeds and smelled all kinds of herbs.
51
52 The loved the aloe plants -- everyone had to break open a leaf and rub the juice on themselves!
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63 Each girl also had to ring the bell!
64
65
66
67
68 May 11, 2011 -- the Brownies and Juniors have a Bridging Ceremony. The Brownies explained the meaning and symbolism of the World Association Pin that they received that night.
69
70 Some of the Juniors received the Bronze Star Awards, the highest award a Junior scout can earn.
71
72
73 Each 3rd grade Brownie walked over the "bridge" to be greeted by the Junior Troop leader.
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84 Sunday, May 15, 2011 -- Girl Scout picnic and Rope Runner Derby at Municipal Park in Northampton. The girls raced their rope runners and voted for who had the most colorful, cutest, and best overall decoration.
85 It was fun to see how each girl chose to decorate them . . .
86 Lauryn's was a Penn State themed Barbie!
87 Lena's strategy was that less decoration would make the rope runner go faster . . .
88 Courtney and her sister Sally both won prizes for their decorations.
89 As did Isabella . . . and her's ran pretty fast too!
90 Ayana's rope runner was dressed up like her Mom, complete with Mom's photo!
91 They each raced four times, two times on each line. The speed was recorded and the top three fastest rope runners won prizes.
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104 May 25, 2011 -- we started the landscaping project at the Food Bank.
105 We used a hose to outline the shape of the bed. Each girl got to use the marking paint to spray the outline.
106 Then we created the edge of the bed by shoveling out a V-shape.
107
108
109 There was no safe place for worms! The girls found all kinds of creatures and kept asking, What's this?!?"
110 Then Mark Milisits used the rototiller to loosen up the sod.
111 Everyone pitched in to break up the sod, shake off the good soil, and pull out any big rocks.
112 And the soil was VERY GOOD! We are lucky! It was easy to work with, rich, black soil. Good for the plants.
113
114 Wow, it's starting to look like a garden . . . .!
115 Thank you to my boss for letting me borrow our company van to haul the shrubs and tools.
116 Mark's helper, Dan, is a senior at Northampton. He dug holes for the shrubs.
117 Scott Shellock, Julianna's Dad, jumped in to help with the Alberta Spruce.
118 We used peat moss in the bottom of each hole. I explained to the girls what peat moss is and how the organic material provides good nutrients for the plants.
119
120 Planting the first shrub . . .!
121
122 The weeping cherry tree is the focal point of the garden.
123 Isabella's Dad, Mark Mohrey, also helped plant the cherry tree and the dogwood tree that they donated.
124 We raked out the soil and made it level. We didn't need to add any top soil since it was already so nice.
125
126 It's a work in progress, but already a big improvement!
127
128 Lauryn's Mom, Kim, gave me a few photos to add to the album . . .
129
130 Go Lauryn! I have to give the girls alot of credit. They all really worked hard on this!
131
132
133 Saturday, May 28, 2011 -- Ayana helped out with planting the perennials.
134 Alexis and her Dad, Jim, dug holes for the day lillies and sedum.
135 Sally Milisits and her mom took care of the middle section.
136 Megan Nagle and Cathy Biondo fought with the soil on the other end. Some of the holes were tough to dig today!
137 When the holes were ready, the girls put peat moss in and planted the flowers.
138 Saturday's gang!
139 Jim trucked the mulch in the cart while the rest of us spread it around the plants. He was our muscle today!
140
141
142 It was a day of hard work -- very HOT, challenged by the weed barrier and the tough soil -- but the results were worth it!
143
144 On this side we planted liriope at the base of the Alberta Spruce, with purple coneflower, black eyed susan, and coriopsis around it.
145
146
147 We tucked in a couple Canna plants between the shrubs. They grow tall with wide leaves and pretty red flowers. A more unusual variety of sedum is in the front.
148
149 Whew! We were all happy to be done and ready for some shade and a cool drink!
150 Saturday, June 4, 2011 -- the day to build the retaining wall. Mark Milisits and his worker, Dan Hoppes, placed the first brick.
151 After Mark used the backhoe to loosen the soil, everyone helped out with removing and leveling the ground where the wall goes.
152 We shovelled it up into the bucket loader . . . .
153
154
155 Jen Fandl and her daughters Alli and Jillian helped out.
156 A layer of fine screening stone was used to make the surface level before placing on each brick. They made sure each brick was level and aligned with each other.
157 I have to give Dan a lot of credit! He built the whole wall with Mark's guidance. Thanks so much Dan!!!
158 The girls helped to shovel the screening stone and move it over to the work area.
159 Going for a ride!
160 We're making progress . . . .
161 We curved the bricks over to meet the wall, then needed to dig up the mid-section and plant the dwarf English Boxwood.
162 Mark and Dan used a special saw to cut the caps to fit on top of the brick.
163 Then everyone helped out to fill in between the bricks with the remaining screening stone.
164 The first caps are glued on . . .
165 Each girl took a turn applying the construction adhesive. The said it looked like peanut butter!
166
167
168 When the caps were finished, we filled in the wall with top soil.
169 Jillian helped to clean up the sidewalk.
170 My proud wall crew! Julianna and Scott Shellock and Jenna Gogle also spent time helping out today.
171 We planted a few day lilies in the wall and admired our work!
172 On Sunday, June 5th, a few of the girls came over to my house to help make a stepping stone for the garden. Sara is using a stamp to make words on the stone. Lauryn, Courtney, and Sally also helped out.
173 Now it has to cure for a few days. It will be ready to present on Wednesday night!
174 June 8, 2011 -- our Dedication Ceremony at the Northampton Food Bank
175
176 We were thrilled to have a cameraman from Channel 69 show up and interview us!
177 The girls recited the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
178 Lena held up the Brownie Quest Map as I explained the three keys -- discover, connect, and take action -- that unlock the meaning of leadership.
179 I asked all of the girls to share one way they will continue to be a leader, and also share what their favorite part of the project was.
180 Pastor Nuscher, the Director of the Food Bank, thanked the girls for their hard work.
181 Pam Kametz, Treasurer of the Food Bank, shared her fond memories of being a Girl Scout and told the girls, "I wish I was part of your Troop!"
182 State Representative Julie Harhart congratulated the girls and presented each of them with a certificate.
183
184
185
186
187
188 Gregg Potter, Director of the Teen Works Program, commended the girls for their project and encouraged them to continue to be leaders in the community.
189 The girls presented the Food Bank Board with a plaque and dedicated the project in honor of their services to the community.
190
191 Pastor Nuscher holds up the stepping stone that the girls made for the garden.
192
193
194 Time for refreshments! Everyone took a break from the heat inside the cool Food Bank building and enjoyed cookies and ice cold water.
195
196 My friend, Tina Talianek, left, donated cookies from her bakery business, Teena's Treats, for the occasion.
197 Bridget Nagle and Abrienne and Cathy Biondo.
198 Bailey Miller and her family.
199 Michelle and Mark Milisits, our biggest benefactors for this project, donated the services of their business, Atlas Custom Services.
200 Cathy Biondo with Courtney Milisits, Abrienne, and Bridget.
201 Jenna Gogle with her family.
202
203
204 My daughter, Lena, and I by the plaque.
205 It's so great to see the finished project -- everyone has so much to be proud of!
206
207
208
209 Thanks again to all of the girls and their families, and all of the donors who made this project possible, for working so hard and helping to make the world a better place!
