Neighbor News
Local Girl Scout Spruces Up South County Community Action Head Start Playground
Abbie Gordon, 14, updated the playground for her Silver Award Project.
WAKEFIELD – Students at one of Wakefield-based South County Community Action Agency’s Head Start locations returned from April vacation to find some new additions to their playground, thanks to Girl Scout Abbie Gibson, 14, of Westerly.
Gibson, whose mom, Deb, teaches at the Westerly Head Start, explained that she decided to update some of the playground fixtures there when she was considering what to do for her Silver Project.
“I visited Head Start with my mom and felt like it would be perfect to help the children,” Gibson recalled, adding that it took 50 hours to complete the project, which includes a new “buddy bench,” a potato garden in a Plexiglas box for easy viewing, a new sandbox, and striping for a new bike track.
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SCCAA President and CEO Joseph DeSantis said that Gibson’s work “has made a real impact” for Head Start students.
“Abbie showed great vision and effort in making this project happen,” DeSantis explained. “The result of her hard work is more than just a facelift – Abbie made sure that the Head Start playground continues to be a safe place of exploration and activity for our kids.”
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According to Girl Scouts of the USA, the Silver Award is the second-highest achievement for Girl Scout Cadettes to earn, with the intent of providing a “sustainable project” for their community.
By using old tires and building fixtures [with her dad’s help] that will remain in the playground, Gibson ensured that the project would meet that goal.
Along with the planting boxes and painting, Gibson also put together recess totes with chalk, crayons, notebooks, and reading materials for the Head Start students.
Gibson, a member of Troop #1307 in Westerly, will present her project for review to the Silver Award Committee in May.
“Looking back at the completed project, I can say that it was a great way for me to help the local children,” Gibson said. “It was so fun to see the kids discover the changes on their first day back after vacation.”
South County Community Action Agency Head Start classrooms are located in Wakefield, North Kingstown, Charlestown, and Westerly. For more information, call (401) 789-3016 x2307.
