Emily and Illyanna of Girl Scout Troop 6480 both earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award this year. The Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout can earn. It is earned by completing at least 80 hours on a project of lasting impact. Less than 5% of all Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award.
Emily’s project addressed the decreasing raptor and fowl populations in northern Virginia by building a variety of nesting boxes for these birds. The nesting boxes were installed in Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve with the goal of providing homes for these birds in a safe place to combat the decrease of their natural habitats due to urbanization. The project benefitted not only the birds, but the community which can enjoy seeing the birds at the preserve.
Illyanna’s project was to host art workshops at National Children’s Hospital to teach children how to make zentangle patterns and artwork to help them cope with the anxieties and stress of being in a hospital environment. In addition to hosting the workshops, Illyanna made art-to-go kits for children who could not leave their hospital rooms. The artwork made by the children during the two workshops were arranged into framed murals for permanent display at Children’s Hospital. Illyanna also held an art supply drive to collect a variety of art supplies for donation to the hospital.
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Well done, Emily and Illyanna!