Sights to See
Four Girl Scouts from Mars have earned a top award for their extensive work in exploring Butler County.
Jeanna Sybert, Lindsey Douglass, Sarah Offley and Hannah Clifford, all from Trefoil Girl Scout Troop 20534, won the Girl Scouts Silver Award in April for their creation of the “Explore Butler County” fun patch.
That is the highest award a Girl Scout on the Cadette level can achieve. The award recognizes scouts who have demonstrated leadership and completed a project that benefits the community.
Groups, classes and even families can earn the patch, which comes with a list of requirements.
The girls, all freshmen at Mars High School and now Senior Scouts, began working on the project three years ago, when they discovered that a number of activities they were considering could all be done in the county.
The four began choosing places, events and organizations in the county to visit and experience. Among the venues explored by the girls were the Butler County Symphony, the rock climbing wall at Slippery Rock University, the Penn's Colony and Mars Applefest festivals, the Butler County Farm Show, the Big Butler Fair, public libraries, and shops along the main streets of Butler and Mars.
They also learned about county history, famous county citizens and the impact of businesses upon the county, U.S. and world.
When it came time to compile the extensive information they had gathered into a project, each girl did a portion of the work.
Jeanna wrote the requirements to earn the patch, Lindsey designed the actual fabric patch, Sarah created a Power Point presentation outlining the troop's proposal, and Hannah researched the target audience and prepared promotional letters.
Once the project was complete, the girls asked the Butler County Tourism Bureau for funding.Sandra Gadzia, sales director at the bureau, said the girls recently visited her office to give the staff a professional presentation on their project.“The (tourism bureau) staff felt they had done a really good job, done their homework, and prepared the presentation very well,” said Gadzia.She said it didn't take the bureau long to offer its support to the program.“‘We are certainly thrilled that they decided to focus on Butler County,” said Gadzia. “(The project) played right into our mission. We are so pleased to be a part of it with them.”Gadzia said the tourism bureau agreed to buy the first order of 100 patches, and has posted the requirements for earning the patch on its website.“Any time they come to us and we're able to give them some support, I think it's a good thing,” Gadzia said.To view the Mars-themed patch or to check out the requirements to earn the patch, log onto www.visitbutlercounty.com, then click on “activities.” Click on “family activities” and scroll down to the Mars patch.
How well do you know Butler County? Try this quizA) Who was Butler County named after?B) Name a notable Butler heroine who was kidnapped by Native Americans and managed a daring escape.C) How many federated libraries are in the county?D) What pop culture zombie movie was filmed in Evans City?E) Where is the prehistoric prairie located?F) Name an Olympic medalist from Butler County?G) Who was the only Miss USA from Butler County?H) Name two events where you can experience agricultural life in Butler County?I) Name the established bicycle trail through the county.J) Where can you find a unique collection of Asian art in Butler County? Who collected that art?K) In what year was Butler County established?L) What was the name of the Seneca Indian who murdered Mrs. James Wigton and her five children near the Old Stone House?<b>Answers</b>A) General Richard Butler, who served in the Revolutionary War.B) Massey Harbison.C) Nine: Butler, Cranberry Township, Evans City, Mars, North Trails, Prospect, Saxonburg, Slippery Rock and Zelienople.D) “Night of the Living Dead” was filmed in Evans City in 1968.E) At Jennings Environmental Education Center in Brady Township. It also is known for the Blazing Star flower and the massasauga rattlesnake.F) Eric Namesnik was an Olympic swimmer for the United States and won silver medals in the 400-meter individual medley at both the 1992 Summer Olympics and 1996 Summer Olympics. He died Jan. 11, 2006, from injuries sustained in a car accident Jan. 7, 2006.G) Michelle McDonald of Penn Township won the 1971 Miss USA pageant.H) The Big Butler Fair and Butler Farm Show.I) The Butler-Freeport Community Trail starts in Freeport, and the final piece of the path is slated for completion this summer when a bridge crossing Coal Run into Father Marinaro Park in the Butler will be installed.J) Maridon Museum at 322 N. McKean St., Butler, which opened May 8, 2004. The art is from the collection of Mary Phillips, who donated her collection of nearly 800 items of jade, ivory and Meissen porcelain figures.K) Butler County was formed March 12, 1800, when the state approved its formation on 502,400 acres severed from Allegheny County.L) Sam Mohawk. He was found guilty and hanged in the March 22, 1844. It was the last public hanging in Butler County.
