Independent Newspapers

The 18 young ladies who make up Girl Scout Troop 1999 completed a project 18 months in the making April 21, with the dedication of a rock garden within the wildlife habitat at Apache Elementary School, 8633 W. John Cabot Road, where most of the girls attend.

The girls, under the supervision of three leaders, undertook the project as a way to honor and remember former Apache second-grade teacher Mary Hanson, who passed way in 2006. Ms. Hanson was a passionate rock collector and the girls felt that it would only make sense to apply Ms. Hanson’s interest into their project.

This particular project was a way in which the girls could achieve a Bronze Award, the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn. According to Karen Marino, one of the scout leaders, Bronze Award requirements include earning two badges that are related to the project, in this case "Rocks Rock" and "Your Outdoor Surroundings." Each badge requires that the group completes six out of 10 listed activities. A second criteria is that the girls must complete one of the Girl Scout Signs. There are four of these and Troop 1999 completed "Sign of the Sun" for this project. Third, the girls must earn the Junior Aide patch or the Leadership Award. This group earned the Junior Aide patch, which focused on leadership skills and helping others. Lastly is the Bronze Award project itself. The project should take about 15 hours to complete, provide community service, follow an action plan and follow safety rules.

The girls divided into five committees for the project: research, signs, plot and planning, ceremony and fundraising. Each committee had a chairperson: Ysenia DeCortes, Sarah Sawyer, Taylor Hibbetts, Julie Marino and Kaylee Clifton respectively, and the work provided leadership hours towards other awards.

Through the course of the 18 months of development, the girls went on field trips relating to rocks, such as a visit to Kartchner Caverns in Bisbee.

As a result of Ms. Hanson having taught some of the girls Spanish, they also decided to, when possible, make note of the Spanish names for the various rocks in the garden.

Everything cumulated April 21 with the dedication itself. In front of parents, Apache staff and faculty and Ms. Hanson’s family, the girls, each taking about a paragraph, recited "Everybody Needs a Rock," by Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall. They explained why Ms. Hanson was important to them and they handed out a rock to all in attendance. Then, a trek through the habitat ended with a ribbon cutting by Lisa Morris, daughter of Mary Hanson.