Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Mallory Musterait of Orchard Park, NY, as a 2021 Gold Award Girl Scout. Mallory is from Troop 30517 and has been a member of Girl Scouts for 11 years.

What Mallory said about Girl Scouts

Girl Scouting has taught me to be confident and to go out and make a difference. I’m not afraid to do what I think is right. Currently, I am the only girl in my tech class. Some might find that intimidating but, because of Girl Scouts I know that I can excel in the class regardless.

Project: Lake Erie Shoreline Recycled Art Project

The past spring and during the summer I have been volunteering my time at the Woodlawn Beach State Park to help clean and promote the need to keep the parks clean while I work towards my Gold Award. I have collaborated with the park’s department and created a sculpture made from plastics washed ashore and left behind on the beach. I chose this Gold Award project because I am passionate about the environment and keeping it safe and clean.

The sculpture is of a giant beach umbrella representing the idea that people can have fun in the parks, but features a few of the endangered animals that live along the shores of Lake Erie to remind us that we need to clean up after ourselves after we have enjoyed the parks.

My hope is to help educate our community on the dangers and harm that litter can have on animals and how to protect the local environment. We have so many nice parks in the Western New York area that have been used extensively during the COVID-19 pandemic and these parks should be respected and protected to preserve their beauty.

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.