Local Lake Forest Girl Scouts Earn Silver Award Through Sharing Free Library

Lake Forest Sports Park is a little bit brighter this week, thanks to the ingenuity and dedication of the Lake Forest City Hall, and three girls from local Girl Scout Troop #1859. Now, a Little Free Library is available to all who would take a book, leave a book and promote the love of reading.

On June 24, a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held with Little Free Library builder, Bradlee Rodecker, the Mayor-Pro-Tem Scott Voigts, and Stephanie Smith, the Lake Forest City clerk who secured the location at the Lake Forest Sports Park. Girl Scout Cadettes, Kaitlyn Schisler, Jenna Brown, and Astha Parmar earned their Silver Award and were presented with Certificates of Merit and special city pins in honor of their accomplishment in completing this project.

"In my budget goals for the year, I wanted to work with a group of scouts to assist them with reaching project goals," Stephanie Smith, Lake Forest City Clerk said. "The Lake Forest Sports Park opened in November of 2014, and it's our crown jewel. Luckily, Scott Wasserman--the director--thought it would be a great spot for a Little Free Library."

Smith contacted the Girl Scout Council, and reached the Service Unit Manager in Lake Forest.

"We spoke and I told her my needs, and she mentioned she knew some girls who wanted to do that exact thing," she said.

Smith, who was a girl scout for 12 years, and troop leader for her daughter from Daisies to Cadettes, met with the girls of troop #1859 who were seeking a Girl Scout Silver Award for community service.

"Kaitlyn Schisler, Jenna Brown, and Astha Parmar are 7th graders who love to read," mother Julie Schisler said. "They decided to share their love of reading with the community by creating a Free Little Library for their Silver Award Project."

According to Girl Scouts of America Web site, the Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, and gives them the chance to do big things and make the community better in the process. In order to earn the Silver Award, Cadettes must complete a project that will continue to serve their community for years to come.

According to Girl Scouts of America Web site, the Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, and gives them the chance to do big things and make the community better in the process.

"We started the process of a design, and got the ball rolling," Smith said.

The girls worked together to come up with 3 designs for the city to choose from, according to Shisler.

"Kaitlyn Schisler prepared the architectural design for the structure, Astha Parmar created the illustration of the design that was selected (with a tree house theme and a book on top), and Jenna Brown created illustrations to add to the beauty of the project," she said. "Although the city had budgeted for the Free Little Library project, the girls and their families decided to raise 100-percent of the money needed to complete the project."

Contractor Bradlee Rodecker--Jenna Brown’s cousin--donated time and labor to build the library.

"Jeremy Rodecker volunteered time to turn the girls’ illustration into a beautiful laser engraving," Julie Schisler said. "The girls worked closely with the builder and spent many hours painting and putting the finishing touches on this beautiful Little Free Library."

Friends, family, city workers and community members contributed with book donations. The scouts collected and organized the books and will help to keep the Little Free Library stored with books for the community to enjoy.

Stop by the Little Free Library at the Lake Forest Sports Park, in the courtyard between the Community Center and the fields: 28000 Rancho Parkway (949) 273-6960

Feel free to take a book or leave a book. You can also find many other Free Little Libraries all around the world at https://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/