Gold Award Focuses on Childhood Obesity

Morgan of Troop 2280 chose to hold a Fun Fitness Field Day as her Gold Award project because she wanted to educate children and their parents on ways to prevent childhood obesity and how proper fitness makes for a healthy lifestyle. She planned several events within the Jefferson and Shelby County communities, including Impact Family Counseling and Jessie’s Place. During the events she had various speakers to talk about how the participants could improve their health and offered fitness demonstrations. Morgan created a pamphlet to educate them on healthy living. Through this project, Morgan learned that if she set a goal for herself, she has the ability to achieve it. Morgan, a graduate of Shades Valley High School, attends Birmingham Southern College and is the daughter of Clotele of Birmingham.

The Gold Award is highest level of Girl Scout achievement. This award recognizes the Senior & Ambassador Girl Scout’s commitment to herself, her community, and her future. The girl who goes for the Gold embraces challenges, achieves excellence, and works diligently to make the world a better place, in her own unique way. Her leadership, vision, and boundless energy is an inspiration to all Girl Scouts. Each girl earning her Gold Award demonstrates excellence through a leadership project totaling more than 65 hours. Girls who earn their Gold Award are also recognized by the President of the United States, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Armed Services, state legislatures, colleges and universities for admission and scholarship opportunities, and the American Legion.

Madison County Girls Earn Their Silver Award

Troop 10619 members Ellen, Rachel, Olivia, Lindsay, Alicea, Hannah, Susan and Riley combined their love of wildlife and service to the community into their Silver Award project. After researching some options they decided to narrow their focus from wildlife to birds. At their service unit encampment they taught younger Girl Scouts to make birdhouses, and to make bird fountains out of flower pots. In addition, they taught the girls ways to identify different types of birds. The birdhouses were later installed at the Land Trust of Huntsville.

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn. This award symbolizes a Girl Scout Cadette’s accomplishments in Girl Scouting and community activities as she matures and works to better her life and the lives of others.

Jasper Girl Scout Pounds the Pound

Katie of Troop 125 held a “Pound the Pound” for the Walker County Humane Society in August to earn her Bronze Award. She researched pet safety/health information, and organized a booth at a local grocery store where she handed out humane society information, pet safety information, heat advisory information pertaining to pets, and encouraged people shopping to also donate needed items for the humane society (pet food, cleaning supplies, cat litter, etc). She also recruited fellow Girl Scouts to help her with her project.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn. This award recognizes that a Girl Scout Junior has gained the leadership and planning skills required to follow through with a project that makes a positive difference in her community.

Two Girl Scouts Represent the US at Guiding Mosaic in Canada

What did you do today? Troop 285 Seniors Amanda and Savannah spent two weeks in Ontario, Canada at Guiding Mosaic 2010. Guiding Mosaic was the Western Hemisphere centennial celebration for Girl Guides / Girl Scouts hosted by the Girl Guides of Canada. A total of 2300 girls and 500 adults from 15 countries including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand and the UK were present to celebrate the progression of Girl Scouts throughout the years. To demonstrate the different cultures present, each girl wore the Girl Scout uniform from their country to orientation. Though Amanda and Savannah were among the 27 girls representing the United States, they were the only two girls representing the Southeastern United States. The camp was divided into 11 neighborhoods, each representing a decade of Girl Guiding from 1910 to 2010. The girls remained in camp for most of the trip but did get the opportunity to take a trip around Ontario and even see Niagara Falls. Guiding Mosaic was a great opportunity that brought girls together from around the world to celebrate the history and the future of Girl Scouts.

Girl Scouts Learn About the Coast at Dauphin Island

Pictured: (left to right) Nyia, LaPrease, Briana, LaTisha,
Shauna and Olivia

What Did You Do Today? Seniors from Troop 362 in Homewood and Cadettes from Troop 229 in Westwood participated in a trip to Mobile to complete their “Shore to Sea” Interest Project Award. On the first day they participated in an educational workshop before embarking on a two and a half mile walk along the coastline. Along the way, they learned about the fragile ecosystem and picked up trash in preparation for any oil coming ashore. Later, the girls swam in the ocean, grilled hotdogs and s’mores, and had a night crab hunt. The next morning they went out on one of the Dauphin Island research vessels, “The Discovery,” where they learned how to identify various types of fish and other sea life in the estuaries. They had the opportunity to study plankton under a microscope and assist with two fish hauls by identifying the gender and species of the fish that were caught. After their sea adventure, the girls left Dauphin Island to spend the night in Mobile. While in Mobile, they toured the historic district, ate peanuts at the “Peanut Shop,” and toured The USS Alabama battleship. The girls declared this one of their favorite trips with their only regret being they didn’t stay any longer.