Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Nicolette Faller of Sanborn, NY, as a 2022 Gold Award Girl Scout. Nicolette is a member of Troop 70097.

What Nicolette said about Girl Scouts

Through Girl Scouting I have learned skills and had experiences that I never would have had otherwise. Girl Scouts has taught me how to be a leader, how to be independent, and has inspired me to go into my adult life with the goal of making the world a better place. Through my 13 years of Girl Scouting, I have had experiences that exposed me to new topics and have shaped me into the person I am today. Because of the wonderful opportunities I have had with Girl Scouts, I am prepared to take on any challenges I may experience going into the future.

Project: The Beautification of the Memory Garden at Camp Windy Meadows

For my Gold Award project, I aimed to help restore the Memory Garden at Camp Windy Meadows in Cambria, NY. I fundraised through holding bake sales at a local concert series with the Lewiston Council on the Arts and was graciously sponsored by the Lewiston Garden Club.

At the camp, I built a stone walkway which led to a bridge and was surrounded by a garden of hostas. Around the garden, I painted large rocks with words and phrases from the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Through my project, I hope to inspire girls who visit the camp to make their world a better place. My project can also be used for bridging ceremonies and learning opportunities for local troops.

About the Girl Scout 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.