Scout Troop 223 Goes to Work on Santa Monica Canyon

Teens, led by Eagle Scout Lauren Whiteley, get to work in Santa Monica Canyon .

On Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 14 and 15, Scout Troop 223 tended to Santa Monica Canyon problem areas for a public service project.

Led by Eagle Scout candidate Lauren Whiteley, thirteen girls worked together on three different problem areas in the neighborhood. The scouts cleaned up the triangle with the small library at the intersection of Entrada and Ocean Avenue Extension, removing a large fallen branch that had been on the ground for over a month, while also whacking down weeds and cleaning the sides of the roadway. They painted a section of the white fencing along Ocean Avenue Extension, and they raked and cut overgrown foliage along the channel. 

Assisted by local residents Sharon Kilbride, who arrived on her moped with an electric saw, Tom Pryor, and Vince Imhoff, who brought freshly made chocolate chip cookies and a container of oat milk, the girls combatted speeding traffic, a loveliness of ladybugs (yes, the actual terms for a group of ladybugs), and the hot weather. 

Scouts who gave their time and effort under the supervision of Whiteley came from PaliHi, Santa Monica High, and Notre Dame High School and as far as Manhattan Beach. Many of the girls have been relocated because of the fire. Alicja Moraweic, Ella Long, Ella McNown, Grace Smick, Hayden Wagenseller, Jalynn Calderon, Marisol Rawlins, Mary McNown, Milanka Ratcovich, Nola Scott, Olivia Smick, and Vendela Harris all contributed to the effort. 

Shout out to the Whiteley family, who were there to support their daughter, and to Mabery resident Christy Lowe, who continues to help facilitate these projects. 

The motto of the Scouts of America is "Do a Good Turn Daily." It's something all of us should consider. 

Girls paint fencing along the Ocean Avenue Extension.

Sharon Kilbride (right) and a teen work on removing a fallen branch.