Profiles in Gold: GSSEF’s Very First Gold Awards Class 2009

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Just what makes a Girl Scout Gold Award project truly shine with a “golden” lustre? This year Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida has the honor and privilege of recognizing 25 young women as our Council’s very first Gold Award recipients. Their projects are as exceptional as they are – each one distinctive and special with its own “golden” appeal.

Introducing our GSSEF Gold Awards Class 2009 and their truly “Golden” projects :

Jennifer B.
Troop 40036
Delphinus

Let’s Feed 50

Jennifer knew all to well about the hungry in her community. She had an opportunity to volunteer for an organization called “Mustard Seed” and have first hand experience with the homeless and hungry. What hurt the most was that there were so many families with young children who had no food to feed the kids with. Jennifer decided that she would dedicate a summer ensuring that each week 50 families would have groceries to take and fill their pantries. She contacted the area schools and Mustard Seed to recruit help in finding the most needy families and resources to get the food donations. She rallied her friends and family to commit every Thursday to packing groceries last summer, so the families can come and pick them up. The families who were selected were thrilled to have at least one burden taken off of them, and Jennifer has this program set-up to continue through summer of 09.

Cecelia B.
Troop 20187
Aurora

Jamaica Mission Trip
Cecelia has been raised with a clear understanding of her Jamaican culture, she knows first hand that in her country, there are not the benefits that we have here in America. She wanted to give back, so she contacted a school from her home town, and found out what the needs were. Then she coordinated with the local schools and Girl Scouts in her area to collect the items needed for the children. Once she collected all of the items needed, she coordinated 10 girls in her Girl Scout troop to do a complete mission trip and deliver all of the items to the children themselves. Cecelia was happy to share her culture with her Girl Scout friends and show them that what they have in America should be very well appreciated, because children in Jamaica are hungry and living in very poor conditions. The girls brought much needed school supplies and while they were there, helped the children with their school work. Cecelia was proud to give back to her hometown and also show her fellow Girl Scouts another culture.

Lindsey B.
Troop 40718
Aquila

A Stroke Can Save A Life-Water Safety Awareness Day
Lindsey is an avid swimmer and a lifeguard. She is all to aware of the drowning deaths that happen each year to young children. She found a way to bring her local community to their community pool and spend the day creating awareness and swim lessons that would last a lifetime. Lindsey created a volunteer team, advertised and created the ‘training’ day for everyone! This event is now an annual event to help cut down on kids who drown expecially during the summer months.

Katharine C.
Troop 40718
Aquila

Neighborhood Literacy Program

Katharine is an avid reader and loves books. She wanted to find a way to bring her loves of reading and books to her community. Katharine contacted her local library and got permission to become an afterschool tutor for those needing help in reading. Once she got established with that, she coordinated a book drive to help a local Laundromat with a small library for kids who come and have to wait. This part of her Gold did not work so well, the laundry mat employees did not want the extra mess that the books brought to them, so she had to redirect and ended up donated 200 books to the Hibiscus House and translating books from English to Spanish for the local Catholic Charities.

Marissa C.
Troop 10864
Misimaka

Creating a Children’s Corner

After volunteering for the Salvation Army while earning her Silver, Marissa discovered there is a much greater need. There was no place for the children to play and just be kids. So Marissa reached out to her neighbors and community for help. After getting all of the donations, including wood for tables and chairs, toys and books, she started the cutting, and sanding of the wood to build the indoor play area for the children. The final day the children came home to a colorful new play area, they were all excited to have a place that they could be happy in such a transitional time in their young lives

Elizabeth D.
Troop 21043
Altair

Sunshine On A Leash

Elizabeth loves her dog Sasha and she knew there was something special about her when she chose her. Elizabeth has spent some time in the hospital, due to medical conditions and while away, she missed her dog. She found out that Sasha could not visit unless she was certified as a therapy dog. When Elizabeth came home on her last visit to the hospital she researched and certified herself and Sasha, then she formed a club with kids from her school and their dogs who visit local hospital and elderly homes to bring smiles to the faces of the lonely people.

Emily E.
Troop 20372
Nova

Bring on the Butterflies

Emily started her project with 2 other girls, when they dropped out in the middle of the research, Emily decided to finish on her own. She discovered that there is a an old farm house in Trade Winds park called the McLean farmhouse that needed beautification. This farmhouse is visited by all of the local school children which is 100,000 visitors each year, she wanted to make a peaceful and colorful place. She researched native plants and butterflies, to ensure that this garden would be around for a long time and went to work putting it all together. She has received rave reviews from everyone who has come to visit the Mclean farmhouse.

Shelbey G.
Troop 20069
Jupiter

Community Butterfly Garden

Shelbey loves nature and discovered that her community did not have a place where they could reflect and relax. Her troop came up with idea of a butterfly garden that would be a peaceful place for people to come, and also a place to learn about plants and butterflies. After getting permission from her local town council, the “Butterfly Project” was underway. After a lot of research Shelbey discovered there are only certain butterflies and plants that can survive here in Florida. Now the Village of Tequesta can enjoy a beautiful botanical butterfly garden and learn about all of the plants and butterflies that are there. The community center will have brochures on hand for every visitor to view and learn about them.

Sydney G.
Troop 10044
Wetlands

NICU Redo

Sydney had a chance to intern at Vanderbilt in the NICU last summer. She learned a lot and discovered she wants to become a Neonatologist, but she also learned that Broward General Medical Center was in need of some changes in their NICU unit. She received donations of fabric and sewing materials and adopted a local sewing guild, along with some friends to sew, sew and sew some more. They completed enough screens and blankets so that there was enough to decorate the NICU with each passing holiday; ie pumpkins for Halloween and pretty flowers for spring.

Ainsley H.
Troop 10864
Misimaka

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs’ “Music Library”

Ainsley is passionate about music, she believes that music is imperative in young children’s lives. When she heard that due to budget cuts, the music departments classroom was dismantled in order for the room to be rented out. Ainsley decided she wanted to ensure all the students at her school would still benefit from the music department, and it would be a welcoming place. Ainsley also spent time with the younger children’s choir and taught them new songs for mass. Once the bookshelves were together and the new music on the shelves, the ‘Our Lady Queen of Martyrs’ choir now has an organized and clean music library to refer to when they need new music.

Melissa H.
Troop 20441
Sunray

Beautifying The Youth Camp

Melissa is a volunteer at the Everglades Youth Camp, and noticed that it was in need of being beautified. She requested help from her local community including South Tech High School, who allowed students from the Construction Academy put together and donate a picnic tables. Melissa got all of the native plants and mulch and grass donated and with the help of family and friends, she made a ugly area of the Everglades Camp beautiful.

Sandra J.
Troop 10123
Sandy Beaches

Classically Cool

Sandra has a love for music, especially classical. She discovered that children are not being exposed to classical music and so she decided, with the help of a choir and her teachers to bring the music to them. To get started, she sent a letter to all of the area elementary schools to encourage them to allow her band to teach and perform for their students. With the help of her band director and her entire band, they visited the local elementary schools and played classical pieces while teaching the kids about the music the give them an appreciation of a different type of music that they have never heard before.

Amanda K.
Troop 20069
Jupiter

Girl Scout Butterfly Garden

Amanda wanted to do a community impact project that all of her community can enjoy. After researching her community, she discovered that there is no “public garden” for everyone to enjoy and learn from. Amanda soon realized that this garden would be much bigger than just butterflies! She had to research the local plants and butterflies, coordinate an opening ceremony and get donations from local businesses in her community. She and her troop took a piece of Constitution Park in Tequesta and made a beautiful, peaceful and educational place for all residents.

Alexandra L.
Troop 10849
Royal Palm Service Unit
Volunteers to the Rescue for VIP’s

Alexandra has a love of sports, she believes that through sports everyone “wins”. After having a chance to volunteer with a community program that worked with “special needs” kids called the VIP’s , she realized there is so much more she can give. When she found out that this program was going to be cancelled due to the retirement of the organizer, Alexandra decided she could not let that happen. She got to work and created a power point that she could show to potential volunteers and sponsors. It was a success, she got all of the volunteers needed and sponsors to donate all of the uniforms for the VIP group every Sunday. Through hard work and dedication, Alexandra is a great example of a true Girl Scout.

Lillian M.
Troop 20488
Jupiter

Migratory Bird Garden
Lillian has a passion for environmental sustainability. Lillian learned that due to a loss of critical habitat and resources, migratory birds that normally stop in South Florida were declining. Her goal was to design and build a Migratory Bird Garden that would not only house native plants for the birds, but would also serve to educate the community as well. For two years Lillian has led Jupiter High’s JERFSA ELEMENTZ Envirothon Team in designing, fundraising, building and maintaining the Migratory Bird Garden which has also resulted in the creation of an educational program for children to learn about their environment and how they can also make a difference. On April 18th, 2008, Lillian obtained funding (donations of over $1,200) and led a successful Power to Care Volunteer landscaping event at the Migratory Bird Garden which resulted in approximately 130 volunteers who helped shovel over 80 cubic yards of donated mulch, weed, plant natives, set up benches, add lines to the irrigation system and install an educational kiosk.

Nathalie M.
Troop 20584
Jupiter

St. Peter’s Green Initiative

Nathalie is a volunteer at Pine Jog Environmental Center, through this she learned a lot about her environment and what is means to “Go Green”. Nathalie decided that her local church was in need of learning what it takes to “Go Green” so she implemented the project for St. Peter Catholic Church. Starting with the recycling program, so that the plastics and aluminum will be separated and then changing all of the cleaning products to environmentally friendly products. Nathalie did not stop there however, she also updated the weekly newsletter with “Green” tips and created a weekly program for the children of the church to learn the importance of going “Green”.

Hilary M.
Troop 20880
Northstar

Connecting Generations

Hilary had a first hand look at how many elderly where left alone in nursing homes. It made her sad to see so many elderly have little or no visitors. She discovered that many of them had children who lived out of state, so seeing their family was not very often. Hilary decided to change that from the residents of Prosperity Oaks Nursing Home. She contacted over 100 kids from her school and coordinated times and events for each of them to work and keep the residents happy. She created a training that the kids had to go to, so that everyone knew what their job was, and were professional as well. She created town hall meeting and weekly bible studies for the residents to enjoy. Then she contacted a local elementary school so that the residents can spend time with the younger children as well. Hilary feels like her project was a success because the residents at Prosperity Oaks gave great feedback and the smiles on their faces said it all.

Emily N.
Troop 20069
Jupiter

Girl Scout Butterfly Garden

Emily loves her community, but felt like it needed some improvement. She wanted to create a place where everyone from her community, no matter what age could enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature. Emily never realized that in order to put a “Butterfly Garden, with a completed veranda and benches to rest on, it would take the support of community leaders and their family and friends. After many hours of fund raising and plant research, the butterfly garden was underway! Now the Village of Tequesta has a leisurely retreat that will be enjoyed by all for many years to come.

Nicole O.
Troop 10864
Misimaka

A Children’s Corner

Through volunteering at the Salvation Army, Nicole discovered that the kids who lived there, did not have a place to play and just be kids. So she got to work getting donations of toys, books and wood to create shelves. Armed with an automatic screwdriver, screws and paint, book shelves to hold all of the donated items were created! When the kids came home from school that day, they were excited to see their new “play area”! One of the kids even made a comment that said “ This is fantastic!”

Courtney P.
Troop 10279
New River
The Future of Little’s is Guided by Big’s

Courtney has a love for working with kids, she knew before she started her Gold, it would be helping kids. She was approached by Big Brothers and Big Sisters through her school, for a volunteer day. That is when she learned about the “Bigs in Schools Sites”. She loved the program and wanted to make this so much more, so armed with a packet of information about the program, she went from lunch “A” to Lunch “B” walking from table to table telling anyone and everyone about her project. She recruited her dedicated group( she told them all that if they could not commit the entire time, not to commit) and got started with her after-school mentoring program. This program was a success, one of the kids in her program says it the best “I love my Bigs because she helps me with my homework and reading, I don’t read very well, she rocks”!

Ashley P.
Troop 10683
Wetlands

Children At Play

Ashley is an artist and she also loves children. She wanted to do a project that would help children through art, so she created murals that splash the walls at the Miami Children’s Hospital orthopedic center. Ashley knows all to well, how scary a visit to the orthopedic doctor can be, and while she had to wait she noticed that for a children’s section of the hospital the wall were drab and white. That is when the idea came to her to create an interactive mural that will be full of color and educational at the same time. She painted Disney characters like “The Little Mermaid” and then along with that, a questions and answer sheet for the kids to complete about the characters and the movie. Now all of the children who visit the Miami Children’s Hospital Orthopedic section, will not have to wait and be scared, there is a fun activity for them and their family to relax and have fun!

Kailey R.
Juliette
Charon

Scrapbook Station

Kailey is no stranger to being a teen and being stuck in a hospital for long, boring visits. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, she became a regular at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children , each visit the only “fun” that was offered were books and DVD’s. Kailey hated the long hours, and wished there was something she could do to make her visits more bearable. Due to the removal of the tumor and her short term memory loss Kailey loves to scrapbook, and thought that maybe other teens would to, so she contacted the hospital and companies to help donate the supplies and created a “Teen Scrapbooking” station. In all, she had 37 companies give to her station, and now teens who visit Arnold Palmer will have more to do that just lay in bed.

Rebecca T.
Troop 20880
Northstar

Connecting Generations

Rebecca’s troop spent a lot of time visiting local nursing homes, and through that experience she realized that most of the residents had little or no visitors at all. Rebecca decided to change that and for a time give the elderly from Prosperity Oaks Nursing Home some smiles and laughter. She started a club in her school called “Connecting Generations” where kids would dedicate time each week to create a fun and interactive program for the residents. This included a dinner party called “The Rat Pack”, After Noon Tea and Birthday Celebration dinners for all. With all of the coordination of that, she also coordinated the entire Junior Class to send letters and Christmas cards to the residents. The feed back from the residents was overwhelming and encouraging to all of the volunteers who became involved in this project. Rebecca feels her project was a success because of the smiles she put on the residents faces.

Christina U.
Troop 10501
Sunshine Acres

If You Give a Child a Book, She’ll Want to Learn the Signs

Christina loves to read books and knows the importance of reading. She wanted to find a way that kids can see that reading is fun and they can learn sign language at the same time. Christina has an appreciation for the deaf culture and she wanted to bring both of her passions together. So she recruited the help of friends and family to collect the books, and record her signing the books. Christina first had to learn sign language first, and then practice to get the correct version on the DVD. Once she did that, she contact 5 area elementary schools and distributed the books to the classrooms. She loved being able to watch the children in action when her DVD was playing and seeing the children interact with her DVD. Christina has 2 more books that she is making and will continue to distribute them so that all of the children in her area have a chance to view the books and learn sign language and appreciate and respect the deaf culture.

Arielle V.
Troop 20069
Jupiter
Girl Scout Butterfly Garden
In honor of the former late Ranger Frank Montigney, Arielle wanted to create something big in his memory. She also knew that in order to make this a community impact project, she needed to educate her community. The Butterfly Garden was developed, and not only is there a garden, but there are park benches for people to relax, complete with a walk over bridge and a veranda. Arielle helped to research local plants and butterflies, and was also responsible for the plants and mulch and advertising the “Opening Day” of the launch of the “Butterfly Garden”. Now, when the community visits Constitution Park in Tequesta, they can enjoy the butterflies and beautiful plants, as well as be educated through pamphlets that were created so that people can understand the importance of “native” plants for the Florida Eco-System.