Girl Scout Troop 292 earns the Bronze Award

IC photo by Christine Young

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Holly Porter (back left) and Chris Martinez (back right) lead Girl Scout Troop 292 from Saint Vincent de Paul Parish. The girls worked 15 hours gardening at the Saint Vincent de Paul Nano Nagle Day Care Center, and about nine hours helping the young an

SALT LAKE CITY — “You all received the highest award in Junior Girl Scouting, which is the Bronze Award,” said Holly Porter, Girl Scout leader. Her co-leader is Chris Martinez.

Girl Scout Troop 292 from Saint Vincent Parish was awarded the Bronze Award, at a reception in its honor at Saint Vincent de Paul Parish Oct. 2.

The group of 14 girls formed an amazing bond of friendship and camaraderie working, playing and socializing together throughout the past few years. Many of them have been together since they were Brownies. Most of the girls attend Saint Vincent de Paul School and are in the sixth grade.

“We all want to stick together through college,” said Anastasia Gonzalez. “We want to stay together to earn our Silver Award.”

“Earning our Gold Award, the highest award in scouting would be a dream,” said Micki Martinez.

“The girls had to put in 15 hours of service,” said Porter. “Six of the hours had to be helping other people. Our girls worked at the Highland Care Center, a rehabilitation center. They held a beauty day with the elderly in which they gave them manicures. They also had a craft day and made wreaths for their doors. They played games with the elderly, and they went to each of the rooms and talked to the residents.”

Porter said the Girl Scouts also had to put in six hours assisting the Daisies, the youngest Girl Scout group, by going to three meetings. Porter is also a Daisy leader because she has a 6-year-old daughter.

The project they selected for their Bronze Award was yard work at the Nano Nagle Day Care Center at Saint Vincent de Paul School. They worked 15 hours in three weeks. They used their own money to purchase the plants and flowers.

During this time period, they also earned their Religious Award.

“The majority of our troop is Catholic,” said Porter. “But we have one girl who is Presbyterian.

“I loved earning my Religious Award because there are really fun people at my church, Mount Olympus Presbyterian Church,” said Alex Payne. “I also loved going to Girl Scout Camp. Being a Girl Scout has taught me to work together with my friends and have a really great time and still focus on what we are supposed to be doing.”

Amanda Maxfield said her favorite thing in earning her Bronze Award was volunteering at the Highland Care Center for about six hours.

“It was fun painting the nails of the elderly because it made them feel pretty and younger,” said Maxfield.

“I liked volunteering at the Highland Care Center because I liked seeing the smiles on their faces when we talked to them,” said Bryn Petron. “We also gave them Girl Scout cookies. One man even gave us a donation. It made everyone really happy and made us feel good, too.”

“I liked planting flowers at the Nano Nagle Center,” said Sarah Farrell. “We even planted a tree and made a garden.”

“What I remember the most was making a sandbox with my friend Micki Martinez for the kids to play in, and we did it all by ourselves,” said Katya Wahl.

“I enjoyed planting pumpkins, corn, beans, peppers, and peas at the Nano Nagle Center,” said Taylor Ham. “It takes a long time and it is hard work.”

“The first day we worked five hours at the Nano Nagle center and it was pouring rain and muddy. We got soaking wet and cold,” said Maddie Porter. “We also helped out at the old folks home and made wreaths for their doors. It takes a lot of work to earn a Bronze Award and you have to have patience, a lot of patience.”

Madison Ulibarri liked making crafts at the old folks home because the residents really thought it was cool to have them come in and help, especially because the girls were Girl Scouts.

“We also planted pumpkins, peas and sunflowers at the Nano Nagle Center,” said Ulibarri. “It was a lot of work, but it paid off because we earned our Bronze Award.”

“My favorite part was when we went to the Highland Care Center because we gave them some Girls Scout cookies,” said Marissa Ulibarri, Madison’s twin sister. “I really liked working at the Nano Nagle Center because it was working together with the other girls. We put some wood in the recycle bin and it tipped over and we had to pick it up.”

“I loved working with the Daisies, the 6-year-olds,” said Rebecca Henkels. “We helped them with a project, learn new songs, and played games with them.”

“Our first day at the Nano Nagle Center was awful because it was cold, but I actually had fun,” said Anastasia Gonzalez. “Earning a Bronze Award taught me to be a leader, how to work as a team, how to make friends, and how to stick together as a troop.”

“I really enjoyed getting my Bronze even though it was hard work sometimes and not so hard other times,” said Micki Martinez. “But no matter what, we all had fun gardening in the rain, sweeping in the rain and planting flowers that would not stand up in the rain. Helping the Daisies was fun because they all have cute little faces. We had awesome leaders and a great Girl Scout family.”

“It was a vigorous year because they earned their Bronze Award, which requires a lot from them,” said Porter. “I could not have asked for a better troop. They were phenomenal.”

Following the award ceremony each girl from Troop 292 graduated from Junior Girl Scouts by crossing over the lighted bridge to Cadets.