Daisy Scout Troop 15104's members take turns planting the tree in Viola Devonshire Park on Friday night. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — On Friday evening, Daisy Scout Troop 15104 gathered together in Viola Devonshire Park to do their part in keeping the Girl Scout Tree Promise, a new initiative launched by the Girl Scouts of the USA organization, promising to plant five million trees in the U.S. by 2026.

Daisy Scout Troop 15104 planted an eastern redbud in the corner of the park, according to troop leader Jessie Ward.

“We wanted something native,” Ward said of the tree, noting other redbud trees were already in the park.

Plans for the tree planting had been in the works since January, according to Ward. While she knew that other Girl Scout troops had worked with organizations like the Shepherdstown Public Library or private landowners to accomplish their tree planting goals this season, Ward wanted to plant the eastern redbud in a spot that would be memorable for her troop.

“We could have planted a tree in my yard, but we wanted it to be a place where the girls can visit it and look back on it and say, ‘My Girl Scout troop planted that when I was six years old!'” Ward said, noting the public location would also make it easier for her and her troop members to check on the tree’s progress throughout the year.

Jessie Ward, certain, gives a lesson about trees to Daisy Scout Troop 15104 at Viola Devonshire Park on Friday night. Tabitha Johnston

According to Shepherdstown Tree Commission Chair Lori Robertson, being approached with the tree planting idea was a wonderful surprise.

“I was approached in late April by Jessie East Ward to plant a tree by her Girl Scout troop,” Robertson said. “We spoke about the park as it could use a new, smallish tree. I chose the location, since we had to remove a large tree from there several years ago.”

Prior to the tree planting, Robertson placed a circle of red flags to mark the planting location about a yard away from the stump of the tree that had previously shaded one corner of the park.

“It is part of the Tree Commission’s role, especially as Shepherdstown is a Tree City USA, to maintain our tree canopy. We were thrilled when Jessie reached out to us!” Robertson said. “This is the first time a Girl Scout troop has approached me [over an idea like this].”

According to Ward, planting this tree will earn her Daisy Scouts a Girl Scout Tree Promise Badge. But along with earning a badge, Ward hopes this activity will instill in her troop a greater understanding trees’ positive impact on the environment.

Daisy Scout Troop 15104 stand by the tree they planted in Viola Devonshire Park on Friday night. Tabitha Johnston

“This is our first tree. Hopefully, there will be many more!” Ward said. “One of our troop’s focuses is the environment and doing what we can to take care of the earth. Planting trees is a really good way to do that.”