Although Melody Smith had medical restrictions because of a poison ivy rash, her family put the finishing touches on her Silver Award Project on a recent weekend.
Smith, from Girl Scout Troop 459, began work, about a month and a half ago, on a reflection path behind the Blooming Grove Humane Society. The idea is for pet owners to purchase memorial plaques to place around the path. In the center is a picnic table and bench where they can enjoy lunch or silent reflection.
“It’s really nice because the shelter is really small,” Smith said. “I would assume there are not a lot of places to eat lunch or just to think, so they can go on their break, sit and talk and have a good time, as well as reflect on the animals who passed away.”
The first step in the process was to type an essay about the project and its benefits and submit it to the Hudson Valley Chapter of Girl Scouts for approval.
Smith originally looked at the SPCA for her project, but realizing they have a number of volunteers, she chose the Humane Society because the shelter doesn’t have as many volunteers.
In getting the final approval for her project, Smith had to deal with a complication. Her initial project was creating a pet cemetery, but while the shelter approved the project, the Village of Washingtonville, which owns the land, did not. Instead she came up with the 150-foot reflection path.
Smith originally wanted the path to run adjacent to Satterly Creek, but the slope was too steep and could have been a hazard to those walking the path.
Smith recruited her father, brothers, and sister to help remove brush and dig the path. Her fellow Scouts helped raise funds to purchase the picnic table and bench, as well as other supplies.
Stop and Shop in Washingtonville allowed the Scouts to hold bake sales in front of the supermarket. About $1,200 was raised.
