Girl Scouts Earn Silver Award While Building Awareness of Watchung’s History
Submitted by G.S. Troop 65624
Two girl scouts from Watchung have completed their Girl Scout Silver Award: Annika Schmidt and Gianna Tautonico of Girl Scout Troop 65624. The girls met with Susan Tucker of the Watchung Historical Society and explained how their silver award plan involved Watchung’s history. Susan Tucker was delighted to receive some help in preserving our town’s history and promoting the opening of the Texier House Museum. First, the girls went to the small historical town cemetery on Stirling Road where they washed the tombstones and made rubbings of the stones’ engravings using rice paper and special wax blocks. These framed rubbings form a small exhibit showcased in the museum and at special community events.
Annika and Gianna supported the opening of the Texier House by hosting historical games and crafts that simulated the grave rubbing process at local History Days. For schools visiting on field trips, they created an educational scavenger hunt full of interesting facts about the museum. The girls also invited the younger Girl Scout Troop 65004 for a colonial tea party in the Texier House. An authentic colonial style luncheon was served along with engaging storytelling and crafts for the attendees. Special thanks to Mrs. Susan Tucker; the Watchung Historical Society; Dianna Beck-Clemens, councilwoman of Watchung and GSHNJ Board of Directors member; Shelini Parikh, co-leader of troop 65004 and Diana Churchill, leader of Girl Scout Troop 65624.
(above Front Row, l-r)Troop 65004 Reese Fishelman, Giya Parikh, Nicole Dahl, Isabella Posado, Garance Lesegretain, Hannah Stefanovic, Julia Biviano, Bridge Biviano. (Back Row, l-r): Gianna Tautonico and Annika Schmidt.
