HAYDEN — Televisions, microwaves and thousands of shotgun shells made up only part of the 920 pounds of trash Scouting America Troop 222 removed from the Hayden Creek area over the weekend.

The all-girls troop coordinates several service projects each year — half of which are focused on conservation efforts, scoutmaster Megan Loper explained.

“Some of our scouting families frequent the Hayden Creek area and saw the need for it to be cleaned up,” Loper said. “A lot of people use the area for shooting and bring trash out to shoot, then leave it.”

The scouts hauled away furniture, spray foam and paint cans, stuffed animals and “countless other household items” from three of the smaller shooting areas.

Service projects like the cleanup in Hayden Creek teach scouts about environmental issues in their community in addition to problem solving, teamwork and confidence from a young age, setting them up for success as adults, Loper said.

Loper hopes to spread awareness of girls’ troops in Scouting America, formerly Boy Scouts of America, through acts of service.

“As leaders, we’ve seen how positively this program impacts our youth participants,” Loper said.