Junior
Troop #2113 designed a peace pole that was placed in the Garden
Of Tadge at Camp Agnes Arnold for its Bronze Award Project.
They held a dedication in October following the Fall Council
Meeting.
The peace pole honors the four world centers: Chalet, Pax Lodge,
Our Cabana, and Sangam. Since the centers were built to promote
international friendship, the troop felt they were a fitting
subject for their peace pole.
When they chose the project in 2002, they wanted a way to come
to terms with the events of 9/11. They felt making the pole
was a way to make a small difference by praying for peace.
The pole started simple and grew as they added more things.
The first planning session was in the fall of 2002. The troop
decided to make the words for peace in the four countries, Paz
in Mexico, Frieden in Switzerland, Peace in England, and Shanti
in India, out of pennies from around the world. Pax Lodge in
London was built from penny contributions, and the troop collects
pennies for the World Friendship Fund every Thinking Day. They
drilled all the holes for the pennies with two Do-Dads and glued
them.
The troop decided to build an international signpost with the
name of the centers at the top of the pole. They wanted it to
turn, sort of like a prayer wheel. A Do-Dad gave them this inspiration,
and he thought up a way to turn the top. |
One of
the leaders knew the owners of a metal shop, and they visited
there on a school holiday to watch them cut out the symbols
for each center from stainless steel. They also made them a
dove for the top of the pole. The troop visited another company
to make the plaques with all the information about the centers
on them. They made mosaics of the world center mascots at an
artist’s studio.
The other three symbols above the mascots are the trefoil of
each county, the flag of each country and a picture of the world
center. They used faux stained glass techniques to make these
on Plexiglas squares. They also used this technique to make
the Girl Scout symbols in the hangings.
They chose all the colors to go with the flags of the countries.
The glass beads above and below the pennies represent the flags
of each country, and all the colored beads in the hanging pieces
are chosen for their color and relationship to the country.
The wind chimes were added later in the project. They learned
how to tune a chime and using a mathematical formula, calculated
the length of the tube, then cut them into notes that play the
first lines of the world center songs. Once in a great while
the wind will cause them to strike in exactly the right sequence
so that you will be able to hear the tunes.
They tried to make the pole as sturdy as possible, and used
only materials that would not deteriorate. As a final touch,
a time capsule was buried at the base of the pole.
|
“We dedicate the pole on October 18 to the victims
of 9/11 with these words:
Let there be peace in our hearts, peace in
our homes, and peace in our world.”
The troop
would like to thank Bruce Anderson, Mary Burnside, Johnnie
Smith, Carrie Thompson, Cindy Hearne, and Don and Margaret
Jordan. Leaders were Terry Hedrick, Margaret Lincoln and Kimberly
Cain. Corporate sponsors included Blumenthal Sheet Metal,
Flexin Manufacturing, and Ms. Judy the artist.
|
Resident
Camp Open House Day will be from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March
7. Parents, future and returning campers, and their families
are invited to tour Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council’s
three resident camps: Camp Agnes Arnold, Camp Casa Mare, and
Camp Misty Meadows. Guests will be able to view the camp facilities,
living accommodations, and ask questions to the camp staff.
Each camp offers varied sessions every summer, so come and see
which camp is best suited for your child. A parent or guardian
must accompany each child who attends Open House. No registration
is necessary, and girls do not need to be placed at camp to
attend Open House. |
Visitors
may picnic in designated areas of the camp on this date only.
Remember to dress casual, wear comfortable closed-toe shoes
(at Camp Agnes Arnold and Camp Misty Meadows only) and bring
weather appropriate clothing. Please leave all pets at home.
Those who cannot attend the day or have further questions should
contact Program Manager Nicole McInnes at 713-292-0353 or nmcinnes@sjgs.org.
The resident camp catalog will be mailed mid-January 2004 to
girls, and camping information will be available on the Council’s
Web site, www.gssjc.org. |
| Who: |
Potential
campers and parents |
| What: |
Resident
Camp Open House |
| When:
|
Sunday,
March 7 |
| Where: |
Camps
Agnes Arnold |
| |
Camp
Casa Mare |
| |
Camp
Misty Meadows |
| Time:
|
Noon
- 4 p.m. |
| |
2
- 3 p.m., Question and Answer Session in the Lodge/Galley |
|