Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Isabell Timm of West Henrietta, NY, as a 2020 Gold Award Girl Scout. Timm’s project, Breese Park Birdhouses, involved building and installing six birdhouses at Breese Park in Henrietta to help visitors observe the wildlife and to assist with the migration of bluebirds.

Timm explained, “With Breese Park being dedicated for only 10 years, it does not have many structures to view or use. I decided I could attract more birds to the park by building birdhouses. While walking the trail, I met a couple from a different town that came to this park because someone told them there were new bluebird houses placed. They told me they have been there every week since then to see if there are any more birds. The last time I went to check on the birdhouses I saw a bluebird and cardinal near them.”

Timm stated that her project choice stemmed from her love of birdwatching and listening to their calls. She could see the potential the park had and determined that attracting bluebirds would be good for the species. She said this was a great chance to use the woodworking skills she learned while earning her Silver Award in 2018 while making bat houses. The Girl Scout Silver Award is available for sixth- through eighth-grade Cadette Girl Scouts to complete a community-based project either individually or as a small group. Timm said that although she had prior woodworking experience, she was able to expand her skills by learning to use a circular drill bit and power sander on her Gold Award project. She also strengthened her leadership skills as she learned delegation and capitalized on the strengths of her volunteer assistants by pairing them with a task they were suited to.

By earning her Gold Award during the 2020 Girl Scouting year, Timm will be included in a virtual acknowledgment this June. All 2020 Gold Award Girl Scouts will receive the option to be a part of the 2021 in-person Gold Award ceremony next year to receive their Gold Award pin. 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 she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade.

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.