Girl Scout troop makes wreaths for Foxfield Preserve
Patricia Faulhaber
November 18, 2012
336
Summary:
Girl Scout Troop 777 spent a recent Saturday morning honoring those buried in the Foxfield Preserve nature preserve cemetery in Wilmot by making wreaths made of birdseed for gravesites.
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Wilmot, OH – The holidays are a good time to make happy, festive memories that last generations. Its also a good time to remember those that are no longer living. One way to do so is to visit gravesites and leave a holiday decoration.
A group of Brownies and Daisies from Girl Scout Troop 777 from Glenmont, OH did just that on a recent Saturday morning. They made holiday wreaths from birdseed to place on gravesites at Foxfield Preserve nature preserve cemetery operated by The Wilderness Center in Wilmot, OH. The scouts, ages 6 – 8, made the wreaths using all natural materials such as birdseed.
The wreaths were mixed and shaped in a Bundt pan then set out on trays to dry before being placed on the gravesites. The decorative wreaths will provide food for the many species of birds that make their home in the area through the winter months.
The scouts also made holiday tree ornaments out of birdseed before leaving to visit Foxfield and place the wreaths. Each ornament was pressed into a cookie cutter. When the ornaments were dry, a hemp cord was used as a hanger making the entire ornament all natural.
Our troop visited The Wilderness Center last year and when we were contacted about this project, we were interested in coming back here to participate, said April Parks, troop leader.
The troop is working on several pay it forward type projects this year and this project fit that goal, she said.
Sara Starr, a Foxfield Preserve steward, said the natural burial cemetery opened in 2008 and currently has 40 people interred. Its the first of its kind in OH and the first in the U.S. to be operated by conservation organization. Foxfield offers an economical and environmental alternative to burial at the same time offering a way to improve wildlife habitat, nature and water quality.
We think it is great that the scouts want to work on stewardship programs like this one, Starr said.
Only biodegradable materials go into the burials in Foxfield and the area has become a wildlife habitat as well. Putting this kind of wreath on the gravesites holds true to our mission. Plus, it helps educate the girls about the preserve and about wildlife, she said.
The mission of The Wilderness Center is to connect to community with nature, educate people of all ages, conserve natural resources and practice environmental stewardship. It is located near Wilmot, OH and is funded through memberships and industry-leading ecopreneurial ventures.
All of the girls and the volunteers took a short drive from The Center to Foxfield and walked to each gravesite. They each took a moment to carefully place each wreath. The troop finished the day with lunch and a short hike on one of the many trails at The Center.
To learn more about Foxfield Preserve, visit www.foxfieldpreserve.org or for more information about The Wilderness Center, visit www.wildernesscenter.org.
