Several local Girl Scouts are gold.
Five Scouts spent countless hours in their final year of Girl Scouting completing prerequisites, as well as more than 50 hours each serving the community, before earning the highest award in Girl Scouting — the Gold Award.
The award honors girls who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to their communities and an outstanding dedication to achievement. Each recipient is recognized for outstanding accomplishments in leadership, community service, career-planning and personal development. Between 3,000 and 3,500 Senior Girl Scouts earn the award each year nationally.
Each senior-level Girl Scout completes her own project, although troop leader Jackie Pal, many adult volunteers, project consultants and fellow Girl Scouts supported them through the process. The scouts’ projects are detailed below. (Troop leaders didn’t provide last names.) ■ Céline’s project, entitled Puppet Pals, involved her making hand puppets and two puppet theaters. She gave them to young children at a Jewish home for orphans. The project consultant was Bryan Maxwell. ■ Mackenzie helped the Los Angeles Free Clinic through her Bag-O-Smiles project. She made small, drawstring bags and filled them with toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to help prevent dental problems in the future. She also included a booklet on dental care. The project consultant was Stephanie Sykes. ■ Through Kostumes for Kids, Claire created 20 costumes for underprivileged young children to give them the opportunity to play “dress up.” They were donated to the recreational therapy unit of Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services. Costumes included princesses, ballerinas, kings and more. She spent more that 45 hours designing, cutting and sewing. The project consultant was Bryan Maxwell. ■ Circle of Children benefited from Natalie’s project, Bookcauses. She built two bookcases and decorated them with felt and chalkboards on the back and held a book drive to collect books. Natalie spent more that 35 hours making the bookcases, measuring, cutting, painting, sanding and assembling. The project consultant was Noelle Mugush. ■ Kimberly made 10 layette sets, which included crib-sized blankets, booties and onesies for her Bundles for Babies project. They were given to a women and children’s shelter in Hollywood. The blankets were made out of snuggles and quilting fabric, and the booties were crocheted. The project consultant was sister Joan Mary Moore.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2005. Read the original PDF.