Note: In November 2021, we ran a story about Caitlin Sullivan, an Ambassador Girl Scout, who created a Peace Garden to serve the mobility impaired, and arranged for a bench to be installed at the Earth Sanctuary in Freeland. Now she’s been honored with a Girl Scout Gold Award. Chuck Pettis, owner and founder of the Earth Sanctuary said it was OK to run the following words he posted in a recent email:
For her Girl Scout Gold Award Project, she created an accessible place where people with mobility issues can feel peaceful. It is called the Peace Garden.
She says, “I was inspired to create the Peace Garden because many people in my community have mobility issues, including my grandparents and friends from work. I really wanted them to have a place to feel peaceful, and a place in nature to get away from the stress of daily life. Located beside the Dolmen, this is also the only area with seating and a view of the West Pond, one of Earth Sanctuary’s three scenic ponds.”
“The Girl Scout Gold Award is all about making a lasting impact on your community,” Caitlin explained. “I live in a community that has many retired people in it, and many of them have trouble moving around. Earth Sanctuary is a place I enjoy going to to feel peaceful and to take a break from the craziness of the world. The people in my community, many of whom are my friends, would have trouble enjoying the peacefulness of Earth Sanctuary, because there aren’t many places to sit and enjoy nature. Since Earth Sanctuary is one of my favorite places, I wanted to find a way to expand its reach to more people in my community.”
Caitlin got donations from Hanson’s Building Supply, a local lumber yard and hardware store, and Venture Out Nursery. She organized a work party made up of her Girl Scout troop and family. “Even as we were creating the space, people would come through with encouraging stories and excitement about my project. Now that it is done, and I’m away at college, I continue to hear about the good it is bringing to Earth Sanctuary’s visitors from Chuck,” Caitlin said.
