By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
Abbey Houser is a Girl Scouts troop leader who views her role as supervisor, not decision-maker.
“We try to keep scouting girl-led,” Houser said. “Wherever they want to take it, our job as leaders is to make things available.”
Houser said the leaders plant one seed in the minds of the young girls.
“We ask that they come up with a way to give back,” she said.
A year ago, the dozen or so members of Troop 2941 planned a project to do after completing their annual cookie sales, which conclude in March.
“The community buys cookies to support our troop, so what can we do to help the community,” Houser said.
The scouts, all kindergartners at the time, agreed on a project.
“Last year, we decorated pots and planted flowers and took them to (residents at) Bridle Brook and gave them out,” Houser said.
This year, the girls are a year older and came up with a much more elaborate project.
“At Middletown Prairie, there is no adaptive playground equipment,” Houser said.
The girls chose to put the money from their cookie sales to the purchase of a swing for the district’s newest elementary school. One of the troop members, Elena Oertwig, uses a wheelchair.
“They brainstormed and came up with a few ideas,” Houser said. “They voted, and this is the one they picked.”
The cost of the all-accessible swing and the accessories needed (chains, brackets, seat belt and harness) came to more than $900. The troop accounted for nearly half of the funds. The school donated the remainder.
“This project was a very personal and meaningful one,” Houser said. “It affected something they see and deal with every day.
“Instead of raising money to send to kids in another country, they could directly see the results of their work.”
The girls gathered at Middletown last month for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, shortly after the swing was installed. There was no dispute about who should go first on the swing.
“Elena was the first to try the swing,” Houser said.
There was one point, however, that was not universally agreed upon.
“They were arguing about who would get to push her first,” Houser said.
Oertwig’s mother, Genifer, is also one of the troop leaders.
She likes what the youngsters are learning.
“That’s what Girl Scouts is all about,” Genifer Oertwig said. “They came up with an idea and got to see it come to fruition.
“This group is an amazing group. They are definitely embracing the concept.”
The swing will not have limited use.
“Anyone in the community can use it,” Genifer Oertwig said.
The financial aspect was just one part of the overall project.
The scouts relied on the expertise of Middletown Prairie physical therapist Kathryn Rose, who finalized many of the details.
“She was helpful in the planning stages, ordering it and helping get it set up,” Houser said.
The members of Troop of 2941 include: Brooke Alderks, Brenna Dyer, Reagan Duchnowski, Olivia Hinton, Caroline Houser, Aly Kempher, Genevieve McMurry, Elena Oertwig, Maddie Rogers, Ally Sanders, Avery Sieben and Aria Sheets.
It’s too early to tell what the troop will do next year as second-graders, though Houser won’t be surprised by anything.
“They are very creative,” she said. “We’ll have to see what ideas they come up with.
“I think the most important thing is that they understand that giving back is not just something you should do, but it makes you feel good inside.”
Besides Houser and Genifer Oertwig, other troop leaders are Elizabeth Quick and cookie coordinator Sunny McMurry.
