Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Isabelle Wittmann of Orchard Park, NY, as a 2019 Gold Award Girl Scout. Wittmann’s project was titled “Save the Bats.”

Wittmann explained, “The purpose of my project was to help the decreasing population of bats in New York State. By building bat houses and hanging them around the town and village of Orchard Park, I’m hoping that not only will bats benefit, but also the community. If more people become inspired to build or buy their own bat house to hang, the increasing bug population will decrease, therefore balancing the ecosystem. I chose this project because the environment is very important to me. We cannot let another endangered species go extinct. I met with the mayor of Orchard Park, the town supervisor, and the highway superintendent. They gave me approval to begin my project and hang the bat houses. I painted them dark and hung them 15 feet above ground to ensure success. I also made flyers on why the houses are so important with instructions to build them. The flyer is on display at the village hardware store.”

Wittmann added, “Girl Scouting has taught me many things. I’ve learned how to be a leader, communicate with others, and how to manage my time.”

Wittmann will receive her Gold Award at the Gold Award Ceremony on June 1, 2019. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls.

The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and to enter the military a full rank higher than her peers.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious award in the world for girls, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers.

The Gold Award requires a Girl Scout to identify an issue and investigate it to understand what can be done to address the problem. The girl then forms a team to act as a support system, including a project advisor close to the issue who is not a troop leader or family member, while she leads the project. The Girl Scout creates a plan to ensure they know what steps they must tackle while working on the project. The Girl Scout submits a proposal for her project to her local Girl Scout council. After acceptance, the girl begins to work through the steps of their plan utilizing the assistance of her support team where necessary. Lastly, the project is used to educate and inspire others about the cause they are addressing.

To learn more, visit gswny.org.