BUDDY BENCH: MORE THAN A SPOT IN THE SHADE
Members of Girl Scout Cadette Troop 5163 worked together to achieve their silver award, which they completed in 2022. Part of their work on the silver award was around the idea of being a friend and making new friends. To facilitate that within the Saint Mary’s community, the girls put together a new Buddy Bench for the Saint Mary’s playground.
The Buddy Bench idea came about in 2013 as a way to combat loneliness and isolation at schools. These benches are usually placed on school playgrounds as a place for students to sit to signal to others that they are feeling lonely and would like a friend to play with or someone to talk to.
Because of the recent renovation work at Saint Mary’s, it took a little while for the troop to be able to place the bench, but as these cadettes ready for their bridging ceremony from cadettes to senior scouts, and as they also prepare to graduate from Saint Mary’s, they are happy to see the bench set up and ready for action.
The Saint Mary’s cadettes pictured above are: (standing from left to right) Bailey L., Julia J. and (seated from left to right) Emma B. and Megan J.. Former troop member Bella S. also worked on the bench, as did two other members of the troop who do not attend Saint Mary’s.
The troop hopes the bench will remind everyone to befriend – and be a friend – to everyone.
ABOVE: First grade boys relax on the new buddy bench. (Photo: T. Newsome)
BELOW: Mrs. Benton and fifth grade girls appreciate a moment on the newly installed buddy bench. (Photo: S. DiFazio)
