Junior Girl Scouts Troop 8211 aims for Bronze award Hand out their “Emergency Busy Bags”

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On Tuesday, April 18th, Junior Girl Scout Troop 8211 went on a mission to hand out their homemade “Emergency Busy Bags,” to four Sparta organizations: Sparta Police Department, Mayo Clinic Health System, Sparta Ambulance and the Sparta City Fire Department. Members of the troop are earning their Bronze Star Award, which is the first award in a three-award series that the young scouts must earn, in order to attain the highest ranking, within the Girl Scouts organization. There is a period of two years in between each award-earning opportunity.

Leader of the Junior Girl Scouts Troop 8211, Michelle Rademan, explained the process and the reasoning of the scouts’ mission. “In order for the girls to receive their Bronze Award, they must come up with ideas on what some possible problems might be in the area, and then pick one to address. The goal of the girls then becomes to find a way to help out with that issue,” Rademan stated. “The girls identified a need for kids, who may be displaced, due to a home fire, or kids who must wait a long time, like the situations of a mom having a baby, or a parent or sibling is in the Emergency Room. In these situations, the kids are having to wait long periods of time, with nothing to do; so the girls came up with the idea of making ‘Emergency Busy Bags.’”

Rademan went on to inform the Herald that the Junior Scouts brainstormed on what should be included in the Emergency Busy Bags. “First they thought of toothbrushes, toothpaste and combs, for any longer periods of being out,” she said. “There were coloring and activity books as well. Then they thought about fun items that were not too big or bulky, and they came up with fidget spinners, which are spinning tops.” Rademan went on to say that all the items in the bags were paid for with the money the scouts had hauled in from recent cookie sales.

The first stop for Troop 8211 was the Sparta Police Department, where Lieutenant Corey Johnson met the eager scouts at the door. Lieutenant Johnson accepted the Emergency Busy Bags, then handed each member their own bag of goodies, from the Sparta P.D. The scouts were excited and started investigating their new items with reckless abandon, sending decibel levels into the red.

Lieutenant Johnson then took the troop on a tour of the station. When he asked if there were any questions, Gwen Chapman yelled, “How many interrogation rooms do you have?” Other questions during the tour involved jail cells (and chances for a tour), how many children get arrested and do you have a dog. The girls were in luck because Lieutenant Johnson does have a K-9, who answers to Kaiser. The kids enjoyed petting Kaiser and asked if he had a badge as well. Lieutenant Johnson informed them that indeed, Kaiser has a badge.

With the minivans loaded in seconds flat, the caravan made its way to the Sparta Hospital Emergency Room, where Troop 8211 was met by Alex Schanhofer, who reminded the youngsters to remain quiet in that area of the hospital; a request that they were not thrilled to be tasked with. Schanhofer accepted the bulk of the Emergency Busy Bags, which was 70 units. She thanked the Junior Girl Scouts, and it was back to the minivans and a jaunt over to Sparta Ambulance.

Troop 8211 was greeted at Sparta Ambulance by Director Mike Huber and Assistant Director Darlene Merow. With Emergency Busy Bags handed over, Director Huber asked if there were any questions. A flurry of queries exploded onto the scene. “Can we go inside [the ambulance]” echoed the sentiments of the young group.

Once that crucial detail was taken care of, and all of Troop 8211 was inside, putting Huber on the rapid-fire response team for their verbal volley. Mike answered why the clock inside was on military time; why there were walkie talkies; and that the proper name for “A big rubber band than goes around a limb,” is a tourniquet. Mike was also asked how many people needed the ambulances each week. “We average around 50 to 60 rides a week,” was his response.

 

Pulled quote - Mike answered why the clock inside was on military time; why there were walkie talkies; and that the proper name for “A big rubber band than goes around a limb,” is a tourniquet.

 

Once the photo op with the Herald was done, it was a short walk over to 715 West Wisconsin street; Arnold’s Service and Towing. Arriving at the station, Fire Chief Mike Arnold came out, as well as Robert Arnold, newly elected Alderman, and they engaged the Troop immediately. Mike wanted to make sure that a date could be set up for the Junior Girl Scouts to make it over to the fire station, as it seemed a lot of the youngsters were hoping to see them. Then it was another photo opportunity, in front of one of the bright-red tow trucks.

With all of the Emergency Busy Bags handed out, and Troop 8211 in the minivans, scout leader, Michelle Rademan, along with Co-leaders, Emily Chapman and Sarah Vian, drove down the road, having completed the Bronze Star Award with their Junior Girl Scouts. Michelle Rademan informed the Herald that there was a minimum of 20 hours that the scouts had to put into their project. “They are way past 20 hours, and we are really proud of them. Each girl will personally have to fill out their application for the Bronze Star Award at our next meeting, then we will send the applications to the Girl Scout Council. Once they are approved, we will hold an awards ceremony, shortly after school starts, next fall.”

When the awards arrive, the Junior Girl Scouts will wear them on their green sash. It is one of the highest awards they can earn. As stated earlier, it is the first high award, in a series of three. They will continue to wear the Bronze Star Award throughout their Girl Scout career. The girls have been together since kindergarten and will remain connected as a group for their entire journey through Girl Scouts.    

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