Two Freehold Girl Scouts earn Girl Scout Silver Award

The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore honored 35 Girl Scouts from Monmouth and Ocean counties, including two from Freehold, with the Girl Scout Silver Award on Thursday, November 29, at the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore’s Program Activity Center, Farmingdale.

Emma Duke from Freehold created a monarch butterfly waystation for her Girl Scout Silver Award project. Located at the corner of a Green Acres property on Elton Adelphia Road this project utilized a kiosk built by others that was in need of repair. Duke repaired the kiosk and installed new Plexiglas to protect the educational posters from the weather. While viewing the posters, visitors can scan QR codes for more information. Duke also planted a garden that included flowers that butterflies use for food and shelter. The garden also gives butterflies a place to lay their eggs where caterpillars can thrive.

For her Girl Scout Silver Award project, Ilana Sharon from Freehold increased community awareness of the need for pet adoption. She volunteered with the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to collect donations of products that could be given to new pet owners. She also created a PowerPoint presentation to be shown in local schools and in her community to make others aware of the high number of animals in need of adoption and care.

“By earning the Girl Scout Silver Award, these young women have proven that they are committed to changing society for the better,” said Eileen M. Higgins, CEO, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. “They have made a difference in their community and improved the lives of others by taking action on an issue that’s important to them.”

The Girl Scout Silver Award is the second highest award girls can earn in Girl Scouting, and the highest award attainable at the middle school level. To earn the Girl Scout Silver Award, recipients must complete a leadership project that exceeds 50 hours with a lasting and sustainable impact on her community. The Silver Award helps girls build skills, explore careers, gain leadership skills, while making a commitment to self-improvement.

Girl Scouts prepares girls to make a difference in the world at every age through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience—a collection of engaging, challenging, girl-led activities like earning badges, travelling, exploring science, experiencing the outdoors and completing community service projects. While girls may be exposed to these subjects at school, in other youth programs, or even on their own, Girl Scouts allows her to experience them in a unique way that puts her on a path to a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.

For more information about the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore or the Girl Scout Silver Award program, contact Erick Rommel, chief communications officer, by email or by calling (800) 785-2090.

About Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore

Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore serves more than 10,000 girls ages 5-18 in Monmouth and Ocean counties, providing a time-tested leadership experience that inspires and motivates them to take action for themselves and their communities. For over 100 years, Girl Scouts has helped girls become women of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. For information on how to join, volunteer, partner or donate, visit jerseyshoregirlscouts.org or call (800) 785-2090.