Two sixth graders from Peekskill Girl Scout Troop 1549 celebrated the completion of a year-long project on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Depew Park. Their initiative, called “Leave No Trace” Hoop, encourages visitors to throw away their trash in a fun and engaging way. Their work earned them the Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve.
The project transforms a standard garbage bin into an interactive game designed to make throwing away trash fun. A basketball hoop is mounted above the bin, with spray-painted flowers and hearts to brighten the backdrop, along with the words “Girl Scouts” and “Peekskill.” During the unveiling, the girls added final touches by outlining the lettering and sealing the project with a clear glaze. It is placed across the street from the Depew Park public restrooms.
“People threw out some stuff already,” said Troop 1549 member Nia Sales, sharing her excitement at seeing the bin put to use so quickly.
Their Leave No Trace Hoop took months of dedication, planning, and teamwork, according to their troop leader Rosie Goldman. To earn the Bronze Award, scouts are required to commit at least 20 hours each to a community-centered initiative. To bring their vision to life, they brainstormed ideas, drafted proposals, presented to the Girl Scout community, and partnered with Peekskill’s Park and Recreation Department.
Goldman said the idea came directly from the scouts, who noticed how much litter was left around Depew Park. “They wanted to create something that would help keep the park clean and reflect the Girl Scouts sustainability initiative, ‘Leaving the Earth Better Than When We Found It,’ Goldman said. “I’m so proud of the leadership this took. They saw a problem in their community and created something fun and creative to solve it.”
With that in mind, sustainability was built into their project’s design. Troop leader Sherna Safford shared that the hoop itself was repurposed from a basketball set her children no longer used, and city staff provided materials to help mount the structure. “Part of our mission is to repurpose and recycle. This project shows how you can take something old and give it a new purpose.” Safford said.
“During the process, it felt really complicated,” said Troop member Assata Brown-Bey. “But now that we’ve accomplished it, it feels really good.”
The scouts were joined by their mothers at the unveiling, who proudly watched as their daughters smiled next to the finished project. The girls received certificates and were pinned by their troop leader, marking the successful completion of their Bronze award and community commitment.
For families interested in learning more about Troop 1549 or how to get their child involved in Girl Scouts, Goldman said, “it’s never too late to join.” More information is available at girlscoutshh.org.
