Greenville ducks get signage thanks to Girl Scouts

GREENVILLE―Ducks have been quintessential to Greenville for more than 60 years, paddling and splashing in the pond at the center of town.

Now, thanks to a group of Girl Scouts, there is signage to honor these beloved famous fowl.

Zoey Duncan, Grace Garry, Addie Rauf, Daphne Schachner and Florence Weeks of Greenville Troop 5503 chose the ducks as the theme of their Bronze Project. Earlier this month, the sixth graders unveiled an informational sign near the pond at Veterans Park that includes photos of the ducks, a brief history of their residency in Greenville, and a list of safe and unsafe foods for them.

“To earn the Girl Scout Bronze Award, when the girls were in fifth grade and were Juniors, they had to address an issue in their local community,” explained Aileen Rauf, one of the troop leaders.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can receive. To earn it, girls must team up to identify a community issue, research its root causes, and execute a sustainable action plan.

“Each girl dedicated at least 20 hours to this project,” said Rauf, who along with Mandy Kistinger and Alicia Weeks have been leading the troop since the girls were in kindergarten.

Throughout the six-month project, the girls interviewed Durham farmer John Hull, who owns the ducks, and attended two town board meetings. They also recruited help from Town Historian Don Teator and graphic designer Daryll Litts who assisted in designing the signage.

As the sign notes, the ducks spend each spring, summer and fall at the pond. In the winter, they are safe and warm at Hull’s farm.

“The ducks belong to John Hull who has been bringing them to the pond to share with the community since the 1980’s,” said Town Supervisor Paul Macko.

“Before that, they came from the McCarthys on Irving Road,” he added.

And it was back in the 1960s that the tradition got started when a woman named Nellie Husted brought the first duck to the pond from her hatchery in Norton Hill, as the sign states.

As for snacks, which visitors frequently bring, the Girl Scouts researched which ones will keep the ducks healthy. Some good choices include chopped lettuce, shredded carrots, plain oats or corn. Not so great options are bread, crackers or chips.

In the event the sign is damaged, Macko said the Girl Scouts had two extra ones made.

“Scouts have done so much for the town over the years,” said Macko. “We are grateful to them, their parents and leaders who make projects like this possible.”