Inspirational Projects
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience in the words of Gold Award Girl Scouts
One of the best perks of being a Gold Award Interviewer is the opportunity to read the final reflection after they complete their Gold Award. I think what they have to say sums up the program better than anything I could say.
Describe what you learned from this project, including leadership skills you developed. What did you learn about yourself?
Excerpt from the Gold Award final report reflection of Alexis Ton, Gold Award Girl Scout
From this project, I learned that persistence is key. I had to adapt to a business-like mindset when speaking to my project advisor and other important adult figures during this project. Although tough, I learned that many people are extremely busy and even though my project was a priority to me, I needed to stay persistent with my emails and follow-ups in order to make significant progress. From this hardship, I learned one of the most important lessons of my life: In order for you to achieve your goals, you need to inspire others to take it seriously as well. As a leader, I needed to possess a certain charisma and assertiveness. I needed to be a fastidious problem solver and needed to continuously do and redo flyers which solidified the persistence and determination lesson. Procrastination could not be a factor in my project if I wanted to get it done, which I learned quickly. In the beginning, I took the project slowly and waited for others to answer my emails and queries but learned that even though I was making progress, slow progress is still procrastination. I made excuses to not work on my project at first, telling myself that "I emailed first, it's not my fault that I am not getting a response" but soon I had to be honest with myself and accept that it is my fault if others don't answer. I possessed a new sense of assertiveness and learned that I needed to continuously demand other's attention if it was not handed to me.
I learned that I am extremely strong-willed and industrious. I learned what it takes to be pro-active. I learned how to fight for the things that I believed in. I learned that I could make a change as long as I kept working at it and continued in the face of adversity.
From this project, I learned that persistence is key. I had to adapt to a business-like mindset when speaking to my project advisor and other important adult figures during this project. Although tough, I learned that many people are extremely busy and even though my project was a priority to me, I needed to stay persistent with my emails and follow-ups in order to make significant progress. From this hardship, I learned one of the most important lessons of my life: In order for you to achieve your goals, you need to inspire others to take it seriously as well. As a leader, I needed to possess a certain charisma and assertiveness. I needed to be a fastidious problem solver and needed to continuously do and redo flyers which solidified the persistence and determination lesson. Procrastination could not be a factor in my project if I wanted to get it done, which I learned quickly. In the beginning, I took the project slowly and waited for others to answer my emails and queries but learned that even though I was making progress, slow progress is still procrastination. I made excuses to not work on my project at first, telling myself that "I emailed first, it's not my fault that I am not getting a response" but soon I had to be honest with myself and accept that it is my fault if others don't answer. I possessed a new sense of assertiveness and learned that I needed to continuously demand other's attention if it was not handed to me.
I learned that I am extremely strong-willed and industrious. I learned what it takes to be pro-active. I learned how to fight for the things that I believed in. I learned that I could make a change as long as I kept working at it and continued in the face of adversity.
How do you think your leadership skills will grow in the future because of this project?
Excerpt from the Gold Award final report reflection of Lauren Dyke, Gold Award Girl Scout
Apart from the usual ways in which I grow through doing anything of this sort (organization, communication, efficiency, the devil’s in the details, etc.), I think I have truly come to understand how daunting leadership roles are and the type of people needed to fill them. Because with leadership comes responsibility, and in my case, responsibility of 94 families whom I don’t know but who will be benefiting from my project in the coming year. I do worry sometimes if all my efforts will be wasted, if perhaps Home for Refugees won’t sustain the project, but then I realize that I am not the only one who cares deeply for these families, and I know that Home for Refugees won’t let them down any more than I would. I am learning what it means to be a leader on and off the clock; what it means to put others before yourself, how to collect people whom you trust and know will do the right thing, and, above all, how to lead from the back of the crowd, not from the front. Because every train needs a caboose for the stragglers to jump on somehow. I am learning that being a leader means being that caboose, seeing the stragglers, and then slowing the train down, regardless of schedule, and saying to those stragglers, “Please. Come aboard. Welcome home.”
Apart from the usual ways in which I grow through doing anything of this sort (organization, communication, efficiency, the devil’s in the details, etc.), I think I have truly come to understand how daunting leadership roles are and the type of people needed to fill them. Because with leadership comes responsibility, and in my case, responsibility of 94 families whom I don’t know but who will be benefiting from my project in the coming year. I do worry sometimes if all my efforts will be wasted, if perhaps Home for Refugees won’t sustain the project, but then I realize that I am not the only one who cares deeply for these families, and I know that Home for Refugees won’t let them down any more than I would. I am learning what it means to be a leader on and off the clock; what it means to put others before yourself, how to collect people whom you trust and know will do the right thing, and, above all, how to lead from the back of the crowd, not from the front. Because every train needs a caboose for the stragglers to jump on somehow. I am learning that being a leader means being that caboose, seeing the stragglers, and then slowing the train down, regardless of schedule, and saying to those stragglers, “Please. Come aboard. Welcome home.”
Girl Scouts of Orange County has two National Gold Award Girl Scouts in 2019!
ISABELLA: Raising Voices to Fight Violence Against Native American Women
Watch Isabella's powerful speech to the UN
Fast forward to 55 minutes
Watch Isabella's powerful speech to the UN
Fast forward to 55 minutes
MEGAN: Proved Girls + Robotics = A Perfect Match
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Who are the National Gold Award Girl Scouts)?
Every year, ten exceptionally inspiring Girl Scout Gold Award recipients are chosen as a National Gold Award Gorl Scout. This honor is given to Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors whose Gold Award projects demonstrated extraordinary leadership, had a measurable and sustainable impact, and addressed a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue. These young women are taking matters into their own hands and being the change the world needs! The 2019 recipients traveled to New York, spoke at the UN, appeared on the Today show and were each awarded a $20,000 scholarship.
2019 National Gold Award Girl Scouts
Every year, ten exceptionally inspiring Girl Scout Gold Award recipients are chosen as a National Gold Award Gorl Scout. This honor is given to Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors whose Gold Award projects demonstrated extraordinary leadership, had a measurable and sustainable impact, and addressed a local challenge related to a national and/or global issue. These young women are taking matters into their own hands and being the change the world needs! The 2019 recipients traveled to New York, spoke at the UN, appeared on the Today show and were each awarded a $20,000 scholarship.
2019 National Gold Award Girl Scouts
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SHARLEEN: 2017 National Young Woman of Distinction
Placentia teen creates nonprofit to get younger kids interested in sciences and math Girl Scout Sharleen a senior at Troy High School, earned the Girl Scouts Gold Award, the organization’s most prestigious award, for forming a nonprofit that brings STEM programs to underserved areas. She now attends Harvard University. |
th parents who were immigrants from Vietnam, I was always taught that my heritage should be cherished and respected. However, growing up, I saw that due to the lack of cultural awareness, there were many conflicts and misunderstandings among my peers. Therefore, I chose spreading cultural awareness to children as my project objective, so that they would be able to foster positive relationships with people of different cultural backgrounds. This issue is extremely prevalent in the United States, as our own society is a culmination of immigrants from around the world. Enriching them with this education at a
younger age would allow for deeper understanding of the different cultures of others, as well as foster appreciation for their own heritage. Hence, I chose to build upon this cause through creating an ongoing Children’s Cultural Awareness Program. |
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Blythe‘s research showed that the overuse of technology is a global issue affecting both children’s and adult’s ability to communicate, problem solve and think critically in face-to-face interactions. She launched a Tech-Check Night program at a local elementary school and challenged participants to take a tech reduction pledge. Her fun filled events encouraged families to enjoy board games, puzzles, crafts, and other technology-free activities. Both her participants and her team of volunteers reduced their tech use. Her program was so popular that the school staff is excited to carry it on for years to come.
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Gold Award Project - Crafts for Senior Citizens - A Two Year Long, Ready to Use Program
Several years ago, I discovered that my local senior center had been forced to end its craft program due to budget cuts. Upon hearing this, a group of girls from my Girl Scout troop and I took action. Earning our Girl Scout Silver Award, we created crafts and taught them regularly at the senior center for over a year. When our award was finished we continued teaching crafts; but I realized that once we left high school the seniors would again lose their craft program. And so, for my Girl Scout Gold Award, I decided to create a sustainable craft program for my local senior center as well as write a craft program that could be implemented at other centers. I connected several youth volunteer groups with my local senior center & trained them to continue to run the program. In addition, I created this craft book as a part of my Gold Award in the hopes that it will be used for many years to come. It is available as a free download on my website.
http://crafts4seniorcitizens.weebly.com/ |
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http://www.kidcaregivers.com/
My name is Hailey, I am 11.5 years old, and have been a caregiver for my grandma (who has Alzheimer's disease) since I was 4 years old. There are 1.8 million kids in the United States who are acting as caregivers. I want other kids to know that they are not alone; there are many of us out there! I believe that kids need to be recognized as caregivers. I also want to benefit the lives of Alzheimer's patients, with intergenerational programs (Puzzle Time and Creative Arts). My goal is to pair youth with the dementia community to enhance lives. |
11 year old starts non-profit to help kids relate to Alzhiemer's patients |
Silver Award Project - Anti Bullying Awareness Campaign
Awareness is key in overcoming bullying
Most Orange County schoolchildren can't wait for the recess bell to ring. But when Rebeca was 10, she would sprint to the bathroom to hide instead of joining in a game of soccer or playing with friends. The verbal assaults she experienced daily from classmates far surpassed the “mean girl” drama we've come to regard as an unfortunate part of growing up. Instead, Rebeca endured what the National School Safety Center identifies as a bullying epidemic affecting 2.7 million school-age victims.
“They wanted me to know that I was bullied,” remembers Rebeca, now 13. www.ocregister.com/2014/03/27/awareness-is-key-in-overcoming-bullying/to read more
Most Orange County schoolchildren can't wait for the recess bell to ring. But when Rebeca was 10, she would sprint to the bathroom to hide instead of joining in a game of soccer or playing with friends. The verbal assaults she experienced daily from classmates far surpassed the “mean girl” drama we've come to regard as an unfortunate part of growing up. Instead, Rebeca endured what the National School Safety Center identifies as a bullying epidemic affecting 2.7 million school-age victims.
“They wanted me to know that I was bullied,” remembers Rebeca, now 13. www.ocregister.com/2014/03/27/awareness-is-key-in-overcoming-bullying/to read more
Silver Award Project - Black Dog Club
Click here for more great Silver Award inspiration
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Girl, 9, creates campaign to combat hate, shares ‘I AM’ project with Garden Grove PD |
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Journey Take Action Project -
Harvest Award -Sow What Journey
Issue
Lack of fresh, organic produce at food bank
Solution
Harvest surplus citrus fruit from backyards & donate to food bank
Team - Food bank contacts, supermarket contact for donated boxes, people with fruit trees in local neighborhoods
Project
500 pounds of fresh fruit harvested & donated to OC Food bank,
Move towards sustainability Photo of the girls posted as home page of food bank website with message encouraging others to harvest their own neighborhoods.
How to turn it GOLD - Set up club or enlist & train groups to have a permanent relationship with food bank and harvest year round.
Lack of fresh, organic produce at food bank
Solution
Harvest surplus citrus fruit from backyards & donate to food bank
Team - Food bank contacts, supermarket contact for donated boxes, people with fruit trees in local neighborhoods
Project
500 pounds of fresh fruit harvested & donated to OC Food bank,
Move towards sustainability Photo of the girls posted as home page of food bank website with message encouraging others to harvest their own neighborhoods.
How to turn it GOLD - Set up club or enlist & train groups to have a permanent relationship with food bank and harvest year round.
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A 7 year old girl scout takes action for gardens.
http://www.ocregister.com/2014/04/23/2nd-grader-selling-familys-organic-cookbook-to-feed-local-gardens/
1 of 8Alicia Serratos, 7, holds up a copy of her organic cookbook, “Recipes To Grow,” while standing in the garden at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. Proceeds from the book will be donated to the center's Grow Your Own program, which helps support organic gardens at local schools.
By Brooke Edwards Staggs | Orange County Register April 23, 2014 at 6:40 pm
http://www.ocregister.com/2014/04/23/2nd-grader-selling-familys-organic-cookbook-to-feed-local-gardens/
1 of 8Alicia Serratos, 7, holds up a copy of her organic cookbook, “Recipes To Grow,” while standing in the garden at The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. Proceeds from the book will be donated to the center's Grow Your Own program, which helps support organic gardens at local schools.
By Brooke Edwards Staggs | Orange County Register April 23, 2014 at 6:40 pm
