Girl Scout Gold Arrangements

Last August I started working on my Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award that can be earned in Girl Scouts. This is an individual project for the girl to lead while incorporating the help of others. It must address a global issue in my neighborhood. The award consists of at least 80 hours of working on a community service project and 15 hours of that could go towards planning. I chose to remodel the activities room at Sunset Nursing Home. I had to fill out paperwork to explain my vision on how I was going to do it and when i wanted it to be completed. I wanted to build bookshelves in the room along with adding new curtains, books and games.

I went to the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri headquarters in St. Louis to explain my ideas and receive approval. When I was at my meeting to get approved one of the ladies told me about an event in St. Charles where they have a huge book fair and I could get as many books as I wanted for my project for free. I attended the event and got a whole trunk full of books, videos and audio tapes. The next step of putting my project in motion was getting donations to build the bookshelves. I went to almost every small family owned company or store
in Union and Washington. I presented them with a flyer explaining what the money would be used towards and what the Girl Scout Gold Award was about. I received $300 in donations and all of my wood and paint supplies for free from Hall Brothers. Once I got all the supplies my mother's work friend helped me make the bookshelves. He taught me how to use the sander, saw and a edge cutter. After he showed me how to use them i mostly did it on my own and got the shelves done in two days. The shelves were the biggest part of my project. I did run into a few problems and couldn't make new curtains due to fire codes. I adjusted my original plan by painting some old photo frames my aunt gave me and printed off old photos of Union. I put them around the room as a good conversation pieces.

When the room was complete I planned a party for all the nursing home residents, workers, and residents’ families to see my project..
After the party I had to fill out final paperwork in great detail of everything I did from the beginning to the end. After turning in my paperwork in February i had another meeting to receive final approval and was approved as soon as i sat down. I had been looking forward to this day of getting the highest award in Girl Scouts since I joined Girl Scouts in first grade. My award is going to help me in applying for scholarships. The leadership skills I gained from this award will help me with college and future jobs. In conjunction with this award I also earned the Gold Medal Congressional Award and Presidential Gold Award for my hours of community
service.