http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, June 20, 2024 13
Both also had to show that the
projects will be sustained after they
leave S.A.F.E. Place which means
likely children and teens will benefit
for years to come.
“I created a relationship with a
group that pretty much agreed to
keep the teen nook stocked with
books,” explained Behnke. “They
were also the ones who donated the
bookshelf.”
Both Behnke and Osterhart said
their project opened their eyes to the
negative experiences that others in
the community experience.
“And, how people are impacted
and how you can’t always tell people
are being impacted,” Osterhart said
of domestic violence, “and just to be
more compassionate toward those in
your community because you never
know what they’re going through.”
Both Behnke and Osterhart said
they decided they wanted to earn
the Gold Award after learning that
Demarest’s daughter, now known as
Stephanie Cornish, had done so.
“It kind of lit a flame under both of
our butts to kind of keep going to do
it,” said Behnke.
Troop 80268, however, is not
a typical Girl Scout troop, added
Behnke.
“It’s definitely not your typical
Girl Scout troop where we go to
camps and stuff like that,” she said,
“because she quickly figured out that
we weren’t the camping group. So
instead we went to Chicago, we went
to Paris, we went to Washington
D.C. and on Monday, we’re going to
New York City.”
But it was all just about traveling
the world over the past 12 years, said
Demarest.
“There was a lot of community
service like going to the Calhoun
County Medical Care facility adopt-
ing residents at Christmas,” she said,
“the dog park, cleanup at schools. I
figured we gave over 20,000 hours
as a troop throughout the years to do
that and I think that’s carried on to
both of them and why they both car-
ried on with both of their projects.”
And, of course, there were thou-
sands of Girl Scout cookies to sell
to help cover the costs of all of their
activities over the years.
Demarest said she got involved as
a Girl Scout leader after her daugh-
ter, Stephanie, joined.
“I went through it with my daugh-
ter. And my granddaughter moved
here from Texas. And there wasn’t
one. So my daughter and daughter-
in-law at the time taught me to
do it,” recalled Demerest. “I said,
‘okay, but I’m not doing camp.’
Unfortunately, my granddaughter
only stayed for two or three years
but I was so attached to the girls, I
couldn’t leave them. I had such a
good group of parents who are just
amazing and that made me reallystick with it.”
Both Osterhart and Behnke gave
credit to their moms for supporting
them every step of the way.
“I think it’s definitely something
that I would definitely encourage
little kids to do,” said Osterhart
about scouting, “Because when we
started in first grade, there were, like,
eight of us and we’re all still very
good friends. We all pretty much
stuck together for the most part. And
I think that helped me. We had meet-
ings every Monday. So we all got to
hang out and everything. And it con-nected our moms so they’re all good
friends.”
“Each of their projects will
improve the lives of residents in
their communities by encouraging
volunteerism and highlighting the
importance of community service,”
according to the GGHSMOM. “Our
Gold Award girls are living proof of
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan’s mis-
sion to build girls of courage, confi-
dence and character who will make
the world a better place.”AWARD
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