Tag Archives: Jefferson County Commission

Evergreen Girl Scouts work on Silver Award project with JeffCo Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper

Submitted by Lisa Carter

Metro Denver

Evergreen

This Girl Scout troop is earning their Silver Award by collaborating with Jefferson County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper to address the issue of teen vaping. I’m so proud of their efforts and I’m in awe of their creativity.

The girls talked to Senator Tammy Story about their project. She invited them to testify at the State Capital this session when bills on vaping are introduced.

This story was submitted using the Share Your Stories form. You can share your Girl Scout moments, too.

Silver Award Girl Scouts work to ban disposable plastic bags

Girl Scout Cadettes Ella M., Amanda B., Mia J., and Giana A. of Troop 62458 from the Columbine area in Littleton waited for more than FIVE HOURS on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 to talk once again with Jefferson County Commissioners about why they should ban the use of disposable plastic bags. The girls are working to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest honor for a Girl Scout Cadette and the second highest honor in Girl Scouting. Even though Commissioners told the Girl Scouts they will not implement the ban, these Girl Scouts aren’t giving up. They now plan to talk with business owners and the public to encourage everyone to stop using disposable plastic bags.

The Cadettes first brought their idea to Commissioners on July 31 and made the following statement:

In Colorado, we see plastic bags littering our rivers and highways, and in trees all over our parks. The plastic bags degrade into our rivers, lakes, and reservoirs polluting our water, therefore damaging our ecosystem.

In addition, disposable plastic bags make our groceries more expensive. Stores pay anywhere from $1 to $6,000 per month on disposable bags. The stores then add that cost into groceries and products. The average hidden cost of bags that consumers pay is $37.50 every year. Consumers use 100 billion plastic bags per year. More than 90% end up in landfills where they are not exposed to elements that would degrade them. We cannot let this go on any longer. Plastic bags continually block drainage systems and put poisons into the water supply. Many animals mistakenly eat plastic bags and as more animals eat each other, the pollutants go up the food chain, and eventually end up on our dinner tables. It’s time we take control of the environmental impact of our actions by getting rid of disposable plastic grocery bags.

Commissioners wanted to recognize the girls’ hard work and dedication, so they presented them with a special coin on behalf of Jefferson County.

The girls talked with Dan Daru of Fox31/KDVR-TV after the second meeting with Commissioners: https://bit.ly/2Pa3Jtv

On Tuesday, July 31, the girls were interviewed by Ashley Michels of Fox31/KDVR-TV: https://bit.ly/2OAvfAo