BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
What does it mean to be part of a community?
Fifteen second-grade students in Mahomet-Seymour Girl Scout troop #2941 have spent much of 2019 exploring the idea.
Is it a group? A town? A history? A nation?
While working towards completion of the five components of the “Celebrating Community” legacy badge, the girls learned that community includes everyone.
The final leg of the community journey took place on Monday when the troop presented and retired the colors at Middletown Prairie Elementary’s Veterans Day ceremony.
“The girls worked to learn the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of a flag ceremony during one of their meetings,” Troop Leader Abbey Houser said.
The troop learned about flag bearers, color guard and callers. On Monday, they presented the colors completely on their own.
But they were not on their own. Their community was there to support them as they honored those who fought for community.
Over the year, the girls have found that community involves both friends and strangers.
When they realized they needed a way to securely carry the flags, they wrote to a woman who was selling flag-carrying belts in Wisconsin.
“When she found out what we were planning, she happily just donated them to us and even shipped them at no charge,” Houser said. “As a scout leader for 20-plus years herself, she was so happy to donate.”
The girls wrote a thank you note to the woman, and will donate the belt back to the local chapter so that other troops can use it in the future.
The Girl Scouts knew that they could include more of their community in the celebration. They reached out to girl and boy scout troops in the Mahomet-Seymour area to see if they wanted to wear their scout attire and join them in the front of the gym throughout the ceremony.
“Girl scouts and boy scouts are large organizations,” Houser said. “Although they are split up into smaller troops, we are all in scouting for the same reasons, and we are all in the same community.”
The gathering was more than just bringing groups together, though.
Houser said her girls had the vision to bring unity, to serve as a model of community spirit and respect while also showing Veterans that young people wish to honor the flag, country and their service.
“I think already, the girls understand the seriousness of the event,” Houser said before the ceremony.
“I think for second-graders, they came away with a huge sense of how important this is to honor our flag in a respectful way. Even down to the body language, they know they should stand tall, have their feet together, and not move around.”
Houser said the scouts’ tradition lends itself to these principals of community, service and giving back.
Troop #2941 has been giving back in big ways since their time in Daisies two years ago.
As kindergarteners, the girls painted flower pots and hand-delivered them to residents at Bridle Brook. Last year, they raised money for and purchased an adaptive swing for the Middletown Prairie Elementary playground.
“So many people came together for this project, including administrators, therapists,and others to make sure it would be just right,” Houser said.
Mahomet leaders also came together to help the girls learn a little bit more about the history of their hometown.
After looking at community symbols, the girls also learned about community songs, such as “The National Anthem.” They took part in the Mahomet-Seymour homecoming parade, then visited the “Looking for Lincoln” marker near First School and talked to Village Administrator Patrick Brown about the plaque outside of the Village Administration Office as he explained how Mahomet got its name.
“There is so much value in having the girls create these goals, work to raise funds and plan, and then directly see the effects of what they accomplished,” Houser said.
“They are seeing in real-time how they make a difference, how it makes others feel, and of course in turn, how it makes them feel to bring their community closer and grow it stronger. Each year, they grow more independent, and get more excited about what they can do.”
Houser said her troop full of bold girls makes it a fun group with which to work.
“We have strong leaders, we have good teachers, we have artists, nurturers, inventors, athletes and comedians,” she said.
“It has been fun to see their development over the past two years as they begin to come into their own, and see how these different talents fit together with what they create and come up with.
“They are just a great group of young people who enjoy learning, creating, giving and adventure.”
