Courtesy photo
Girl Scout Troop 96291 earns Silver Award
Submitted by Abby Hansen
Long Hill Girl Scout Troop 96291 has been together since kindergarten, led by Emily Caputo and Abby Hansen. The girls are now in ninth grade. They recently reached the milestone of earning a Silver Award.
The Silver Award is the second highest award given by the Girl Scouts of America and the highest award given to Girl Scouts at the Cadette level.
Their Silver Award project was focused on the restoration and preservation of trees in Long Hill Township. The girls were inspired by the devastating loss of trees from Superstorm Sandy and subsequent windstorms, and the looming threat of the spotted lantern flies which seek to destroy trees. All of the girls live in Long Hill Township and love what trees give to our community.
Three years ago they decided to start their Silver Award journey. To earn the award, the girls educated community members about trees, presented valuable information and played games with younger Girl Scouts to teach them about trees, developed a presentation that was viewed at the Long Hill Township Library, and gave away trees at the Watchung Farmers Market. Most significantly, over the course of two years, working alongside the Long Hill Township Shade Tree Commission, the troop distributed hundreds of trees at no cost to Long Hill Township residents. Their hope is that many trees were planted and will flourish as a result of their efforts.
On October 8th the troop was recognized by the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey for their hard work and dedication.
The troop members are Macaela Berquist, Maggie Caputo, Madeline Dec, Aspen Elsaesser, Leah Hansen, Abby Melamed, and Amelia Qian-Alves. The troop leaders are Emily Caputo and Abby Hansen. Christina Berquist and Annette von Brandis worked alongside the troop as well as Susan Jeans from the Long Hill Township Shade Tree Commission.
