4th annual First Day Walk for Open Space
BSA Troop 280 hosted its 4th annual First Day Walk for Open Space on New Year’s Day, helping residents ring in the new year with health and happiness.
Approximately 200 people participated in the 2.4 mile walk from the Loantaka Way parking lot of Loantaka Brook Reservation, through Giralda Farms Preserve, and back. Everyone received a commemorative pin, and some displated all three pins they had received in prior years.
First Day Walk is a service project of the Troop, comprised of 40 girls ages 11-17. The Troop will celebrate its anniversary next month, five years after Boy Scouts of America permitted girls to register.
“It was so much fun to welcome people to First Day Walk,” said Nitya Raimugia, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader of the troop. “Everyone came with a smile and enjoyed the bells we rang as they started and finished their walk.”
Contributions by First Day Walk participants support the troop’s local conservation projects. Recent projects include two new bridges built across streams at Green Village Conservation Trail (accessible along Green Village Road next to Oak Knoll Fields), tree plantings at Colony Pool and Giralda Farms, garden rehabilitation at The Learning Path pre-school, and many others. The bridges were constructed as Eagle Projects by Sophia Maciejewski and Maria DePasquale.
The Facebook page “First Day Walk – New Year’s Day” provides updates on projects and the annual event. To learn more about the troop, please email troop280chatham@gmail.com or visit bsatroop280chathamnj.com or the Facebook Page “Troop 280 Chatham”.
The Troop meets Thursday nights at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church at 300 Shunpike Road, Chatham, and takes part in many weekend outdoor adventures.
Courtesy photos
