Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Elizabeth de Smidt of Rochester, NY, as a 2022 Gold Award Girl Scout. Elizabeth is a member of Troop 60683.

What Elizabeth said about Girl Scouts

Without Girl Scouts, there are opportunities I never would have had, people I never would have met, and adventures I never would have gone on. Girl Scouts has made me a stronger individual and it has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to help others. I was given a place to grow in Girl Scouts, and I changed beyond my wildest imagination. Girl Scouts has led me to the tops of mountains, to other countries, and to a better version of myself.

Project: Helping Begin Again Horse Rescue

For my Gold Award project I worked with the staff at Begin Again Horse Rescue (BAHR) included building an insulated hose box and new shelving unit, organizing equipment and supplies for easier access. I also made room for more stalls, fixed two doors in the barn, boarded up an unused door, brushed horses, rehung fire extinguisher signs, and installed a new tractor battery. The purpose of my project was to make the quality of life for the previously neglected and abused horses at BAHR better, and to make it easier for the limited staff to take good care of them. My project not only made the horses lives better and the caretakers jobs easier, but it also set an example for other horse rescues in our community and around the world.

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.