Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Alayna Trautman of Lockport, NY, as a 2021 Gold Award Girl Scout. Alayna is from Troop 70257 and has been a member of Girl Scouts for 13 years.

What Alayna said about Girl Scouts

Girl Scouting has taught me to remain committed, dedicated, and willing to provide service to others through volunteering.

Project: Lanie’s Little Library

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to create a safe place that children and adults can grab a book or game to experience something different. I wanted to provide mental stimulation, some physical activity, and educational learning. My Gold Award project encouraged all families to get outside and participate in a safe activity and encouraged children to continue reading by choosing new books.

The goal of my Gold Award was to provide a safe area for neighbors to secure books, games, and puzzles during the COVID pandemic. It has provided a safe space for all ages unable to attend school or go to their local library. I built and installed the library with my grandfather, secured a charter so the little library is listed on the national registry, and I circulate books monthly.

I will also be conducting a book drive to expand offerings in the library. My project will also be sustained by two neighborhood girls that will support my library when I go to college. I will have books organized in totes for each month and holidays that I can provide them, and I will communicate with them while I am away.

About the Gold Award

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.

For more information on the Gold Award, click here.