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Girl Scout has kids in wheelchairs swinging
(by Sue Hoffman - March 18, 2009)
Girl Scout has kids in wheelchairs swinging
By SUE HOFFMAN
Students in wheelchairs will now be able to enjoy the same thrills as others do at recess at Timmons Elementary School in the Kenston School District. A wheelchair swing soon will be added to the playground as a result of a project by Elizabeth Bucklen, 16, a junior at Kenston High School.
"I have so many fond memories of being on a swing," said Elizabeth, who has led the project for a Gold Award, the highest rank in Girl Scouts, requiring a minimum of 65 hours of service. "Every child loves to use their energy to play on a swing."
Elizabeth, a Girl Scout since second grade and current member of the High Adventure Girl Scout Troop in Bainbridge, said she wanted to do a project that would help students with disabilities.
Her inspiration came from her brother, Peter, 14, she said. "I got the idea from my brother, who went through Timmons. I was motivated by him to do something for special education."
Elizabeth said she asked Timmons School Principal Katie Poe for ideas. "Mrs. Poe asked if I wanted to take this on," she said. Coordinating the project since August, Elizabeth is now planning the installation of the swing and access path.
"I was so pleased that she had such interest in completing this project," Mrs. Poe said. "The idea to install an adaptive swing started three years ago when the new high school was built, resulting in a reconfiguration of grade levels at the other buildings. A playground committee was formed to create a playground that would better meet the needs of the primary students at Timmons."
She said the committee planned to have an adaptive swing from the beginning, but fund-raisers didn't provide quite enough funds for both the swing and a handicapped accessible path.
Elizabeth led a fund-raiser which produced $1,300 for the swing. The $7,000 that had been previously raised and set aside by the school will be used for a bonded wood base, which will allow wheelchair access from the bus loop to the swing. Elizabeth and the High Adventure Girl Scout Troop will help install the new base during spring break in April.
"The troops will clear out the mulch and put down the new base," Elizabeth said. "The rubbery bonded material rolls out like carpet."
Elizabeth raised funds for the swing recently by hosting a spaghetti dinner at Timmons. Helping her at the dinner were Auburn Boy Scout Troop 101, Kenston's freshman Girl Scout Troop, and other students from the high school.
"We also had Girl Scout mothers, fathers and my grandmother helping at the dinner," Elizabeth said. The meal included spaghetti and meatballs and salad. Raised and Glazed Donuts, in Bainbridge, donated a sheet cake and Western Reserve Bread, in Bainbridge, provided the dinner rolls.
"The project fits nicely with Liz's passion to help," Mrs. Poe said, "and helps us complete the project. I'm happy we can follow through with the commitment we made to parents a few years ago. It was so nice that Liz approached me. She's worked hard, and I'm impressed that she was willing to dedicate herself to a project that has needed her attention for a good portion of the school year."
The swing will get much use, Mrs. Poe said. It will serve the county's special needs unit, which is located at Timmons, and will also be available to any community member.
If someone from the community wants to use the swing, Mrs. Poe said they are welcome to come to Timmons weekends and evenings and other non-school hours.
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