The year is 2015. Music is digitalized, acid wash jeans are making a comeback and social media is all the rage. Climate change seems like old news. Global warming is an increasingly serious issue that is being neglected by a large percent of the population. Junior Girl Scout troop 471 set out to break the cycle of ignorance and inspire a change. On April 25th, the scouts led the First Children's Climate March down Congress Avenue, downtown Austin, Texas.
The idea for the march stared with a documentary titled The Little Red Wagon, about a young boy who marched across the United States with his wagon to promote awareness for and distribute care packages to the homeless. Troop 471 decided they wanted to do something similar in the name of climate change. Marty McDougal, the leader of troop 471 said that marching across the entire continental U.S. would be a bit too much. "Then we'll march across Texas", said the Girl Scouts. Mmmm, still too big. Eventually it was decided that the Children's Climate March and rally would take place in downtown Austin. Initially, the task of organizing such a huge event seemed nearly impossible to the group of fifth-graders. Time was the most difficult restriction to work around, seeing as they only had a few months until the big day. "I was having doubts about whether or not we would be able to make it happen", says Junior scout Jocelyn R. What the March needed was supporters. The truth of the matter is that the Children's Climate March would have been less successful without the help of social media. The troop created a Facebook page to spread the word, send invitations and share their progress. Luckily, word spread fast and the scouts gained supporters rapidly. These group and individuals had the resources and connections to contribute to the March's impressive turnout. In the weeks approaching April 25th, the Girl Scouts became discouraged, complaining that the project was just too big and would never be completed. Mrs. Marty kept them on track , knowing the March would be worth such hard work. "My hope is that children from other cities read this and learn how to organize their own march. Sustainability is key to a cleaner, greener earth", says Marty. On the morning of April 25th, Troop 471 and their supporters gathered on the steps of the Capitol Building in Austin, Texas. The scouts sang for the climate and performed skits about fossil fuels. Guest speakers included City Council Members Ann Kitchen and Delia Garza, Dave Cortez of the Austin Sierra Club, and jackie Goodman of the Save Barton Creek Association. Participants made seed bombs, signs and wrote letters to politicians, asking them for support in the fight for a cleaner Earth. ""The world needs to be fixed in many ways. Our job is to create a world we'd want to live in", says Lilly R., a dedicated Junior Scout. Following the rally, the group of activists marched down Congress, turning heads and encouraging change. The scouts couldn't have asked for a better outcome. The response from participants was extremely positive. Our hope is that the Children's Climate March can become an annual event. It's important that these girls realize they can make a positive impact on our world. I hope more children have the opportunity to learn from other people's mistakes and discover their potential. -Savannah Grace Riddles Cadette Girl Scout, Troop 471 |