Hearts Of Gold - Reflections from Gold Award Girl Scouts

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/  Amelia developed an app called Historic Lamont, a location-aware walking tour app that highlights the hidden historical gems of her hometown, Lamont, a suburb of Chicago. Inspired by a limited-availability walking tour from the Lamont Historical Society, Amelia wanted to make local history more accessible to everyone in her community...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/  Camilla's project aims to build more united communities by educating people about different Asian cultures through workshops, YouTube vlogs, and a beautifully illustrated book. Camilla shared that her project was prompted by the rise in Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, which motivated her to use education as a tool to foster un...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/  Neha's project, centered around dogs and the issue of overcrowded shelters, led her to create a nonprofit called Pawprints. The nonprofit focuses on raising awareness about the importance of microchipping and GPS tracking collars to prevent dogs from getting lost and ending up in shelters. Neha shared her personal connection to the p...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/  Adoriam, a passionate Girl Scout, shares her inspiring journey of earning the Girl Scout Gold Award. Adoriam's project focused on addressing the declining bird population in Houston, a city that ranks as the second worst in America for migratory birds. Through her project, she aimed to educate the community about the importance of be...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/  Savannah, a dedicated Girl Scout who shared her journey of earning the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award. Savannah's project focused on improving the trails at her local animal shelter. She identified the need for better-marked trails to help volunteers and visitors navigate the area more easily. Her project involved cleaning up exis...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/  We had the pleasure of speaking with Elizabeth, a freshman in college who recently completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Elizabeth's project, titled "Wisdom Wings," aims to support survivors of sexual abuse by providing care packages to police stations. These packages include stress toys, journals, pens, and informational pamp...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/  We had the pleasure of speaking with Haley about her impactful Girl Scout Gold Award project. Haley's project focuses on raising awareness about the dangers of distracted walking, particularly in her hometown of Houston, Texas. She observed that many people, especially younger generations, are often engrossed in their phones while wa...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/  Valerie's Girl Scout Gold Award project addressed the critical issue of cat overpopulation in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Partnering with her local Humane Society, HAWS, she contributed to their Project Guardian initiative by building weather-resistant cat shelters and creating an educational video presentation on the causes and effe...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/   Kaylee, an inspiring young woman who has achieved remarkable feats both in her Girl Scout journey and in her athletic endeavors, shares the story of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, where she built over 100 feet of wooden bridges on the John P. Saylor Trail in Gallitzin State Forest. This project was inspired by her own experience...

Isabel has been in Girl Scouts since kindergarten. Isabel and her troop have plans to stay together with her friends until they graduate from High School. They are saving all their cookies and fall products proceeds for a cruise in 2027. Some of Isabel's best memories in Girl Scouting were the photo booth they had at their Bronze Award Community Pet Care Fair, doing a baking class over zoom during...

Sarah Bland is a high school senior from Richmond, Virginia, where she lives with her mom, dad, and brother. Sarah runs cross country and track year round, and she has been an active member of her Girl Scout troop for 13 years. In her free time, she loves exploring new restaurants, hiking with friends, baking, and working as a lifeguard. After graduation, she plans to attend university and study h...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Watch the full episode! https://youtu.be/Z4CUJSXgLOw Sophia shares her inspiring Girl Scout Gold Award project, "Beyond the Attic Boutique," aimed at providing formal and special occasion wear for foster youth without the need to disclose their foster care status. She discusses how she collected donations, the process for foster child...

Erika shares her journey from her Gold Award project to becoming a mental health advocate, speaker, and author. Erika's Gold Award project combined her passion for dance with her desire to work with children, leading her to teach dance to underserved kids in Chicago. This experience not only fulfilled her goal of exposing children to the arts but also taught her invaluable lessons about love, lead...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Sarah wrote a children's book interviewing girls from different countries. She connected with girls across the world to showcase how our lives may differ, but we share common interests and humanity. Sarah worked on this project all through high school and published the book on Amazon - what an impressive accomplishment! She shares her...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Elsie created a wildlife habitat at Council Ground State Park. Discover how she built a butterfly garden, birdhouses, and a bat house, and engaged the community through educational sessions. Listen as she reflects on the challenges she faced, the support she received, and the impact of her project on wildlife. Her love for animals shi...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Afton, a former Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, shares her experience of completing her project in 2007, which involved collecting toiletries for domestic shelters in Knoxville, Tennessee. She reflects on the impact of her Girl Scout troop and her mother, who was the troop leader, in shaping her passion for community service and poli...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Margaret Anne Mary Moore shares her inspiring story of overcoming obstacles and achieving her greatest ambitions. Born with cerebral palsy, she relies on a motorized wheelchair, walker, and communication device. However, her family has a positive outlook, teaching her to see herself as a kid who could play, laugh, and learn just like...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Speak Up, Stand Out Journalism for Young Activists addressed a lack of diversity in her high school's journalism community. Grace developed a free camp for underserved kids in her community to introduce them to journalism. With the help of Dream Catchers, the camp became a part of their summer program and impacted 70 students. The cam...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Valencia's project, titled "Giselle Learns About Alzheimer's," was inspired by her personal experience with her grandfather's battle with Alzheimer's disease. Through her project, Valencia created a children's book to educate and support children who have grandparents with Alzheimer's or who are interested in learning about the diseas...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ As an adoptee herself, Madalyn's project was deeply rooted in her own personal story and the desire to raise awareness about adoption in her community. Through a thoughtfully designed poster and a YouTube video featuring interviews with individuals involved in the adoption process, Madalyn aimed to convey that every child deserves a c...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Dorothy shares how she was inspired by her involvement in the Munster Junior Historical Society and how she created seven trail signs that highlight different aspects of Munster's history. Dorothy's favorite sign focuses on women in history. She also discusses her collaboration with the Munster Historical Society to ensure historical...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Leila shares the story behind her Girl Scout Gold Award project, "Growing As You Grow Older," which centered around providing social interaction and increased mobility for elderly individuals in her community. Motivated by her grandmother's isolation during the COVID pandemic, Leila organized bi-weekly gardening meetings where partici...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Mirika's project aimed to promote literacy and engage youth with reading and literature. She organized workshops, conducted book drives, interviewed authors, and even started a podcast to share her love for reading. Despite facing challenges due to the pandemic, Mirika adapted her project to a digital format and expanded it globally,...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Amira created a three-day program to inspire youth to get involved in civic engagement and political campaigns, regardless of their political party. Amira discusses her inspiration for the project, including her experience working with older individuals in the political landscape at a young age. She also shares a life-altering event t...

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Callie shares her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which focuses on addressing the issue of food deserts in her town. She talks about her long-standing connection with the Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum and how she proposed the idea of creating a garden there to combat the lack of access to healthy foods. Inspired by World War II vic...