Learn how to make rain barrels with Elgin Brownies

Submitted by Brownie Girl Scout Troop 559

Given the drought of last summer and the finite amount of clean fresh water, join second-grade Brownie Girl Scout Troop 559 on Saturday, April 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Country Trails Elementary School, 3701 Highland Woods Ave. in Elgin, for an “Every Drop Counts” event.

Troop 559 will be hosting an Earth Day event which will provide a demonstration on how to make rain barrels, include water conservation games and activities as well as displays of ways to save water. Attendees will also be able to help paint rain barrels. They will have a free raffle for several barrels along with all the hardware necessary to make them into a rain barrel. Troop 559 has spent the entire school year participating in the Girl Scout Leadership Journey “WOW — Wonders Of Water.”

The Brownies have learned about water around the world, water shortages in the Third World and ways that kids can help conserve water. The Brownies will lead various activities to teach kids and parents important facts about water in the U.S. and around the world.

Brownie Troop 559 would like to thank Coca-Cola Distributing in St. Charles for donating the empty syrup barrels that will be converted into rain barrels. The Troop is using their Girl Scout cookie proceeds to purchase the faucets, hose adapters and screen used to convert the empty syrup barrels into water conserving rain barrels.

Beyond the rain barrels, families will have fun running in Third World Water Gathering relay races, making “dirty ocean” wave water bottles to take home, learn how much water runs off their roof during a storm, and understand why they should use a broom and not a hose to clean their driveway/sidewalk.

For information, contact Mari Kaye Rath, Troop 559 Leader, at (847) 373-9782 or colmkr@aol.com.