PAINTING FOR PATCHES: Area Girl Scouts descend on the Wild Trillium

Girl Scouts from three area troops descended on the Wild Trillium Tuesday evening to create nature journals and have a little fun in the process.
The activity will earn the girls their painting party patch. The patches, or badges, are worn on the sashes of their uniforms to represent accomplishments and skills mastered.
The Scouts at Tuesday evening's event represented several age levels.
"The girls are creating a nature journal they can use to record their thoughts and memories," said Sharon Corn, owner of the Wild Trillium. Corn said the activity earns the girls a "fun patch" for art in the outdoors.
Corn's daughter, Madison Hewitt, was using her camp counselor skills to help with the project. Hewitt, 18, is a senior at Benton Consolidated High School. She has spent several weeks working with scouts at Camp Manitowa. 
"I love working with the girls," she said. 
Hewitt's experience will be helpful as she continues her education. She will complete a final semester at Rend Lake College to earn her associate degree before heading to the University of Northern Colorado to seek a degree in social work.
Hewitt is one of several area students to take advantage of dual credit offerings to complete college requirements while still in high school.
Her counselor experience was evident as she adeptly handled working on her own creation while supervising and aiding several young artists at her table.
Hewitt said this project is just a first step for the scouts. 
"They can add additional experiences in their journals with more activities," she said.
Ten-year-old Cheyenne Brocken of Dongola, a member of Troop 8492, had something more to say about the activity as she decopaged her journal cover.
"It's fun," she said.