After discussing ways to improve the community and secure a Bronze Award, members of Wantagh Girl Scout Troop 3654 decided to tackle the issue of trash and abandoned disposable masks that litter the Wantagh community and surrounding Forest Lake Elementary School grounds.   

Earning the Bronze Award requires a minimum 20 hours for junior Girl Scouts to build their team, explore the community, chose and plan a project, put a plan in motion and spread the word to educate and inspire others.  

Wantagh students Samantha Garbowski, Lauren Greaves, Nicolette Pagano, Skylar Pagano, Alyssa Palmer, Angelina Romero, Julia Schlosser and Leah Schreiner, with the help of troop leaders Desiree Palmer and Meghan Schlosser, explored areas around Beech Street, Park Avenue, the Wantagh train station and Forest Lake Elementary School before deciding that additional trash cans were needed to solve the issue of loose trash. The girls secured donations of two trash cans, which they scrubbed, painted and placed on the Forest Lake Elementary School kindergarten playground and by the back playground swing set. They also designed posters that educated the community to “Be part of the solution” and “Put trash in its place.”   

Forest Lake Principal Jessica Zimmer congratulated the students on their project and thanked them for improving the school grounds.