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Gretna Girl Scouts to plant 100 trees October 13
for 100 years of Girl Scouting


SEPTEMBER 2012

One hundred trees planted in areas around Gretna, one for each year of Girl Scouting, is the premise behind Gretna Girl Scout Cadette Troop 40457’s community service project currently being planned in partnership with the City of Gretna for October 13.  One hundred Girl Scouts from Gretna Service Unit 453 will plant red maples, crape myrtles, water oaks and bald cypress that Saturday, which were donated by the National Wildlife Federation and its supporters, in areas selected by Gretna council members Vincent Cox, Milton Crosby, Belinda Constant, and Raylyn Beevers.

The Girl Scout organization, which is recognizing its 100th anniversary this year in a year-long celebration, is encouraging its troops to plan and implement a 100th anniversary Take Action project within their local community.

“The girls decided to plant trees for their project as this has a lasting impact on their own community,” said Nina Poche, Girl Scout Cadette troop leader. “But it’s really been a team effort with the city of Gretna.  Tourism coordinator Ronnie Gauthreaux has been a tremendous help with the coordination of the tree planting locations.”

A reception will follow the planting at the Gretna Marketplace. Gretna Mayor Ronnie Harris has been invited to join other city officials, community leaders and educators, and local Girl Scouts at the reception. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) hopes to have a representative attend as well.  Their Trees for the 21st Century program is a national effort to engage children to learn, plant and care for trees in their own community.

“Planting a tree is a perfect opportunity for scouts and community member to make a difference  - right in their own community,” said Eliza Russell, Director of Education for the National Wildlife Federation.  “The action of tree planting  not only can clean the air, clean the water, provide food and homes for wildlife and humans, ,but it also creates a legacy – like Girl Scouts – for future girls (a healthy footprint left behind).”

Girl Scout’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. For more information about Girl Scouting on the Westbank, contact Girl Scout Membership Executive Hillary Christiansen at 504-733-8220, ext. 2257.

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Media contact: Marianne Addy, VP of Communications
(504) 733-8220, ext. 2226 or maddy@gsle.org 

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