Oak Hills Girl Scouts complete storm drain protection project

The Beaverton Valley Times, Jul 19, 2010 (1 Reader comment)

Members of Troop 40488 show off the storm drain marker information hangers they have hung on area door handles explaining the project they completed in conjunction with Clean Water Services

Oak Hills Girl Scout Troop 40488 joined forces with Clean Water Services to mark storm drains in the Oak Hills neighborhood of Beaverton.

“This project was fun and easy for the girls to accomplish,” said Andrea McEnany, troop co-leader. “They feel a great deal of pride in having completed it.”

The project involved affixing bilingual “No Dumping, Drains to River” insignia on storm drains and hanging informational flyers on doors of surrounding homes. The 14-member troop placed 20 storm drain markers and hung more than 70 informational flyers in a two-hour period.

“Our girls are very interested in protecting our natural resources and wildlife, as well as helping in our community,” said troop co-leader Suzi Beech.

The members of Troop 40488 chose the project as the culmination of the Girl Scout Brownie Journey called “WOW! Wonders of Water.” The Journey focused on the water cycle and how individuals can help protect natural resources.

Members of Troop 40488 have been active in their community. In addition to their storm drain marking project, they have also completed service projects benefitting the Oregon Humane Society and Mercy Corps, as well as local senior citizens and their elementary school.

Clean Water Services offers the drain markers, adhesive, informational doorhangers and instructions to groups who wish to participate. The markers help people realize that whatever goes down the storm drains ends up flowing directly into nearby streams, rivers and wetlands, not water treatment plants.

More information can be found at www.cleanwaterservices.org/Residents/GetInvolved/Stormdrain.aspx.

Journeys were introduced by the Girl Scouts in 2008 to help encourage leadership. Each Journey is grouped around a theme and incorporates the three key elements of the Girl Scouts Leadership Keys: Discover, Connect and Take Action. The Journeys also spotlight women who have used their talents and skills to raise awareness on issues such as personal rights and discrimination, in addition to other global issues. More on Journeys can be found at www.girlscouts.org/program.

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