Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Ariana Cookinham of Webster, NY, as a 2022 Gold Award Girl Scout. Ariana is a member of Troop 60834.

What Ariana said about Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts has given me many experiences that I probably wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. I’ve tried many activities through Girl Scouts such as horseback riding and archery, which have helped me discover what I enjoy. I’ve also learned new skills like building fires and using knives. Learning these skills has helped me build my confidence. 

Project: After School: Recipe Books for Comfort Care

I worked with Webster Comfort Care, a Hospice, to create a recipe book that they could use to build awareness or raise funds. Comfort Care lost the people in charge of making their cookie jar mixes that they sell to fund their organization. They needed a new product that they can use to stay running.

I collected recipes from volunteers at Comfort Care, members of my church, and family friends. I also asked them to include an inspiring message or memory. The recipe book will replace the jars they previously sold. I then organized these into a book and published it. I then gave it to Comfort Care so they could use it however would be most useful to them.

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.