Junior Girl Scouts earn top honor

SUPER SCOUTS- Members of Girl Scout Troop No. 1034 celebrate the Bronze Award they recently earned. For their award project, they served foster and underprivileged children in Ventura County. Back row, from left: Jacqui Gaball, Alyssa Scott, Becca Gordon, Marcia Gordon, Kathleen McKeegan, Maia Brown, Dorlee Rinkov, Hannah Rinkov and Kelsey Watters. Front row: Melanie Abramoff, Leah Seewack, Madeline Rickard, Rachel Gordon, Jennifer Maholchic, Monica Strauch and Erica Rosenberg.

Girl Scout Troop No. 1034 in Oak Park completed the highest form of award at the Junior level in Girl Scouting, the Bronze Award.

For their project, they helped a local charity called "Support for the Kids," which benefits foster and underprivileged children in Ventura County communities. The charity arrange for tutors in the children's homes and has yearly events such as a harvest festival and holiday parties.

For two years the troop donated school supplies, stuffed backpacks and put together goodie bags for several holiday events.

They ended the year by organizing, leading and implementing a Craft Day at a Women's Recovery Center in Ventura. The girls did activities with the families, such as reading books to children, making necklaces and photo frames, and taking digital photos to give to them. They also had a cookie-decorating table and sang Girl Scout sing-along songs.

"As the leader of this special troop, I am very proud of their accomplishments and dedication," said troop leader Dorlee Rinkov.

The troop has been together since second grade, and they will be going into seventh grade at Medea Creek Middle School in Oak Park.