What did you do for your Gold Award project?
For my Gold Award project, I gathered a team of volunteers to refurbish the existing benches at the Camp Alexander Chapel. We also built five new benches and applied a weather resistant coating to all of the benches.
Why did you pursue this Gold Award project?
I chose this project because my family and I have been very involved with the Pikes Peak Boy Scout Council and Camp Alexander. Through Venturing, I worked and volunteered at Camp Alexander for three summers and had some incredible experiences. This project was something I could be passionate about pursuing.
How did your Gold Award project make a difference?
My Gold Award project has the potential to reach the hundreds of kids that visit Camp Alexander each summer. It is used for weekly chapel services, award ceremonies, and other meetings. The once broken benches are now usable, and the addition of more benches will allow more people to use the space.
What skills did you gain through earning your Gold Award?
Throughout the planning process of the Gold Award, I gained leadership, planning, time management, and budgeting skills.
How did you make your project sustainable?
I documented every step in planning my project and created a presentation with the information. The presentation gave an overview of my own project, but also demonstrated how the process and skills needed could be applied to the planning of other service projects. I then shared this presentation with the Pikes Peak Boy Scout council, the Girl Scouts of Colorado, the YMCA of the Rockies, and Camp Elam.
What was your connection to the national or global community?
The Scouts that use the chapel at Camp Alexander are not only from Colorado, but come from around the nation and globe. Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas troops come to the camp regularly, but there have also been staff and scouts from China, Poland, Indonesia, Tunisia, El Salvador, and Pakistan.
What will you most remember about your Gold Award project?
The support I received from my family, friends, co-workers, and community surpassed anything I had expected. This support gave me the motivation to succeed.
How will earning your Gold Award help you in your future?
Because of my Gold Award project, I have more experience with planning and leadership. These are skills that will be important in any career I pursue.
Why do you feel the Gold Award is an important part of your Girl Scout experience?
I was able to use all of the skills I learned in Girl Scouts and other places through the years and apply them to a project that would benefit others.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog represents only a small fraction of the hard work, dedication and requirements that go into earning a Girl Scout Gold Award. It is simply a brief summary, which is meant to inspire Girl Scouts to Go Gold in the future. For more information on earning your Gold Award, please email highestawards@gscolorado.org