By Amy Batista, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — A group of local Girl Scouts are working to complete their Silver Award project and held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the outdoor classroom they created at their school.
"As Girl Scout Juliettes we work on activities that not only earn us awards but also benefit our community," said Eliza Peterson, 13, of Bordentown City. "Because we are students here, we felt that the community of our peers and teachers of this school is the one we know best."
The girls created and officially opened the first outdoor classroom at the Bordentown Regional Middle School at 50 Dunns Mill Road on Sept. 3.
"I was in class and were sitting on the curb and we were trying to write poetry about nature but we were sitting of the curb of the street and none of us were feeling inspired," she said.
She noted that around two years ago while at a Student Council conference she received a flyer on how to build an outdoor classroom at your school.
"Once we started discussing the outdoor classroom it seemed like the perfect project for us," she said. "One that would benefit students for years to come."
"We saw the need here for an outdoor classroom and we just kind of went from there," she added.
She noted that teachers would be able to plan lessons that are "enhanced by the outdoor setting."
"Students could sit on benches rather than on the curb," she said. "We knew that if we could complete it this project idea could turn into a special place."
"This is all their project," said Principal Rob Walder. "They made it. They proposed it. They organized it."
The girls worked with technology teacher Gregory Poole who assisted them in creating an outdoor classroom beside the school library.
"It’s so easy to come up with an idea, you can have a dream, you can send an email, have a good thought and then present an idea but to actually have the discipline, the hard work and to put the time in is the tough part," Mr. Poole said. "These girls really did."
The idea for the project originated on Back-to-School Night.
"It was just a conversation they mentioned to me," he said. "The following school year started and they were ready to go."
"A project like this involves many people, not just the four of us," said Maggie Hetman, 13, of Bordentown City.
The new media specialist is creating a calendar so teachers can reserve the outdoor classroom for lessons, Principal Walder said.
"It’s in motion," he said. "It’s ready to go."
Maggie said that the girls needed to get the approval of the Board of Education, Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey council and the school principal.
"We also need the advice from our tech ed teacher Mr. Poole who designed and oversaw the installation of the benches," she said.
Next, the girls needed to raise money for the wooden benches, gravel and flowering pear tree. They hosted Jeans Days at the school. The staff paid $5 to wear jeans to school on that day. Students and staff also paid to have their names engraved on the benches.
"A task that we did after school and during lunch periods," Maggie said.
The project was also supported by private donations and organizations, including the Bordentown Elks Club and Bordentown City Mayor Joseph Malone.
"All the people who helped us, we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them," Eliza said.
The girls are part of the Northern Burlington Service Unit and started their Silver Award project this past February.
"This is a very special occasion to us as Girl Scout Juliettes and as students of this school," said Keira McAteer, 13, of Bordentown City.
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout Cadette can attain. The honor is symbolic of a take-action project completed within the community. Through implementation of the project, girls build skills in goal setting, budgeting, public speaking and leadership.
Kiera said it "feels good and satisfying" to have accomplished their project.
"It feels good because it started out with something small and we just kept thinking we have all this work ahead of us and now we are at the end," she said.
She thanked the audience which was primarily composed of teachers, faculty staff, school administrators and their families.
"It feels good because now we can look back on this and tell people how we did this," Eliza said. "I know it sounds cliché but girls can do anything."
"We couldn’t have completed this project without the assistance from our community," said Maria Ryan, 13, of Bordentown City. "We hope that the future generations of students at BRMS will enjoy this classroom for many years to come."
"It’s Bordentown," said Superintendent Edward Forsthoffer. "It defines the whole community spirit of the towns, the community and the community groups working together."

