A Spectacular Library with a Colorful Heart from Troop 7272
How an Eagle Scout Transformed GiGi’s Playhouse’s Library with Vision and Heart
In February 2023, I received a phone call from Martha Simonson, a high school student searching for a meaningful project to earn her Eagle Scout rank. Martha shared that she was part of Troop 7272—an all-female Scouts BSA troop, the first of its kind in Orange County, California. Established in February 2019, this troop, chartered by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6024 in Rancho Santa Margarita, operates as an independent unit with about 40 scouts. Its mission is to empower girls to become leaders in their communities.
Impressed by Martha’s initiative, I invited her to visit the Playhouse to discuss her goals. After touring the Playhouse and identifying areas for improvement, we decided her project would be to create a functional and inviting library for our extensive collection of donated books. At the time, our “library” was little more than a few metal shelves crammed with disorganized books of varying age levels, subjects, and authors.
The project’s objectives were clear:
- Replace the metal shelves with a beautiful and cohesive design.
- Organize the books by reading level for ease of use.
- Add purposeful elements to incorporate educational opportunities for our participants.
Martha was excited to take on the challenge. She worked closely with her troop leader to submit detailed plans, including her project’s design, budget, and timeline, which needed to be completed before her Eagle Scout ceremony in August 2024. Over the next year, Martha poured her energy into fundraising and planning, while also tackling the monumental task of inventorying every single book in our collection.
With help from her friends and fellow scouts, Martha meticulously cataloged the books and devised a color-coded system inspired by the GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County color palette. Each shelf was painted a different color corresponding to a specific reading level—pink for 0-Kindergarten, blue for parents, and various colors for levels in between. She even created matching colored stickers for the books, making it easy for readers to return books to their proper place.
Beyond aesthetics, Martha’s library design was intentionally educational. Participants could practice matching colors, sorting by category, and honing their organizational skills—all while finding the perfect book to support their reading journey.
Not stopping there, Martha used leftover funds from her fundraising efforts to purchase additional books, further enriching the library’s offerings. By April of this year, the project was complete, and the result was nothing short of spectacular—a vibrant, functional library that has become a beloved feature of the Playhouse.
The most memorable part of this journey was attending Martha’s Eagle Scout ceremony in August at the Norman P. Murray Center. It was an inspiring event, attended by the Kiwanis Club, the Mayor of Rancho Santa Margarita, troop families, and fellow Eagle Scouts. Four candidates presented their projects, and Martha shared her experience with GiGi’s Playhouse.
As Martha was pinned as an Eagle Scout—a significant honor that few achieve—I felt immense pride knowing the dedication, leadership, and talent she had poured into this project. Martha is truly an extraordinary young woman, and we are beyond fortunate to have been the beneficiaries of her generosity and vision. Her library will leave a lasting legacy at GiGi’s Playhouse for years to come.
For more information on the free programs offered at GiGi’s Playhouse Orange County, please refer to our website calendar by linking through the below button.
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