Scouting is an important part of the Plumley family in Geneseo, and Megan Plumley, daughter of Marshall and Valerie Plumley, is the third member of the family to receive the Gold Award. In addition to Megan’s story, I have included what I learned from a conversation with her Mom, Valerie.

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Megan Plumley has made an impact in her community.

The 2023 graduate of Geneseo High School, now a student at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point, climbed to the top in scouting by earning the Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn…Her project included building a compost bin, bird, bat, and owl houses.

Her project came about after she learned about the yard-waste issues in the parking lot at Cole Cabin, located north of Geneseo and used by both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

“I wanted to give back to the environment as well as to Cole Cabin, a place that has taught me what being a Girl Scout is all about,” Plumley explained.

Due to concern of misuse of the compost bin at Cole Cabin, Plumley decided to put the compost on private property. Plumley built the bird, bat and owl houses and installed those around Cole Cabin. There are buckets to collect waste which is deposited in the compost bin.

She spent over 80 hours working on the composting project and she believes it will allow her “to help educate younger children about the importance of giving back to the environment that provides so much for us.”

The idea to build a compost bin surfaced after Plumley spoke with Cole Cabin trustees about possible Gold Award project ideas…”The trustees were having problems with people leaving yard waste in their parking lot, and because Cole Cabin is a place that has done so much for the Girl Scouts, I felt that making a compost bin would be a great way to give back to my community,” she said. “Unfortunately, I was unable to build a compost bin for the trustees due to location issues, but I did build bird, bat and owl houses that were able to go on Cole Cabin property.”

The compost collected from Plumley’s project will be used in local community gardens such as the Eagle Award project garden located at Richmond Hill, Plumley explained.

“The compost bin is now located on local property and is available for local Girl and Boy Scout Troops to use,” she said. ‘My own family is currently working on adding our own compost to the bin and I am monitoring the wildlife houses during my breaks to make sure they are getting the proper use and care they need.”

The environment has always been important to Plumley and she explained how that began in her childhood when she would go hiking with her parents on their family farm.

”The environment gives our community so much from resources to oxygen and even entertainment,” she said. “We are blessed to have something so beautiful and it is important that we give back to what makes life so wonderful. If we did not maintain the environment not only would the wildlife that use its resources be hurt, but so would we.”

Plumley also cited the importance of educating younger generations about taking care of the environment…”The future of our environment will fall to the hands of our future leaders and it’s important for them to understand everything that the environment has to offer and what we need to do to keep it alive.”

Over the summer, she plans to help educate young Girl Scouts on the importance of composting. She also plans to attend a summer field experience where she will continue her education and learn more about local wildlife, she said.

Plumley is still involved with her Girl Scout Troop (Geneseo Girl Scout Troop 5828) and even though she will not be in person helping with the Scouts’ Day Camp this summer, she plans to provide instructions for other camp counselors on how to operate the compost bin and she hopes to return to counseling in the upcoming years.

“I hope to be able to share what I learn with others and make a bigger impact on the world around me,” she said. “Girl Scouts will get a chance to add to the compost bin and make a difference in their community.”

Plumley is a student at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, where she is a Wildlife Ecology Major and she said she chose that area of study “because I have always had a passion for the outdoors. Girl Scouts taught me the importance of caring for the environment and I want to continue my passion on a larger level. I also have always loved wild animals, so I plan to work with rehabilitation and release of wild animals after college.”

Her own journey with Girl Scouts began when she was five years old and in kindergarten…”My sister was in Girl Scouts at the time and my Mom asked if I wanted to join a troop, to which I said ‘yes.” Ever since that time I have dedicated many hours toward Girl Scouts. It has always been a part of who I am and I love sharing all the things I have learned with others. My grandmother, my Mom, and sister were all in Girl Scouts and my father and brother both are involved in Boy Scouts. My grandfather also worked for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois before he retired.”

When asked about advice she would share with younger Girl Scouts, Plumley said she would tell them “to not give up on your goals, dreams and desires. There might be times in your life where you run into problems and you are unsure of how to get to where you want to go, but always know that there is always another way to get there. It might be a difficult journey, but no matter the time constraint or the problem, know that you can always find a way through (and it might even be a better path than the one before). I would encourage anyone thinking about being a Boy or Girl Scout to not be afraid to try something new…You will learn so many skills that can help you throughout the rest of your life. Scouting will teach you compassion, confidence, bravery, loyalty and many other life lessons.”

“Scouting provides many opportunities to give back to the community,” she added. “Don’t forget that one small act can make a big difference in the world around you and can make it a better place.”

VALERIE PLUMLEY

The roots of scouting run deep in the Plumley family, and Valerie Plumley explained that daughter Megan is a fourth generation Girl Scout…”Her maternal Great Grandma, her maternal Grandma, her maternal Grandpa, her Mom, her sister and I were and are in Girl Scouts. Megan’s brother and Dad have also been active in Boy Scouts.”

Megan is the third member of the Plumley family to achieve the honor of receiving the highest award in Girl Scouts – The Gold Award.

“Through her project, Megan utilized the connections she has made in scouting to educate troops in composting at Cole Cabin,” her Mom said. “William’s brother was a member of Boy Scout Troop 131 and Megan also has friends in the troop. She was able to meet with them and educate them on the importance of bat and owl habitats as well as composting.”

“Through Scouting, and making connections and friendships in Scouts and in other aspects of her life, with both girls and adults, she had help with her project from local Girl Scout leaders and girls, a troop leader from Troop 131 (both teens and adults) and family.”

Megan has been in Girl Scouts since she was five years old and became a Daisy Scout. She currently is registered as an adult with her Troop in order to help or participate when she is able.

She sat on the Camp Liberty Girl Advisory Board in her sophomore, junior and seniors of high school at GHS, and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa Western Illinois Board of Directors during her last year of high school.

She has volunteered in different Geneseo Service Unit activities such as Easter basket and food drives for the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry, cookie rallies and local Day Camp throughout the years.

Her mother added, “Megan has been mentored throughout her scouting by wonderful Girls Scout Leaders - Kathy Young, Taunya McGee, Jennifer Nelson, Board members and staff of GSEIWI and Resident Camp counselors while at Camp Liberty.”

When asked why she and her husband encouraged scouting in their family, Valerie replied, “Through our scouting experience, both Marshall and I encouraged our children to join scouting. Scouting not only gives individuals the chance to interact and develop friendships with numerous people, it develops leadership, communication, networking, artistic and STEM skills. Scouting opens many doors throughout one’s lifetime and gives scouts opportunities that they may never be able to do such as trips, serving their community and serving on Council Board’s as Megan accomplished.”

She continued, “Beyond encouraging our kids to try scouting, we ultimately left the choice of continuing with Scouts up to them as individuals. As parents, we are happy for Megan, and her siblings, that they had wonderful experiences in their scouting careers which they have carried into their adult lives in order to continue to serve others.”