Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Sawyer Hoyt as a 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout.

Project: Promoting Inclusion and Engagement at Recess

Recess should be a time where every student feels safe, included, and engaged, but this isn’t always the case. Some students may struggle to connect with their peers or feel lost in the unstructured nature of recess. For these students, recess can be an unenjoyable experience. I partnered with Canandaigua Elementary School, where I designed and implemented more inclusive and structured recess spaces for students. To provide a variety of engaging options, I painted organized games and activities on the blacktop, allowing students to easily choose from existing activities rather than having to create their own. This approach encouraged participation from all students, particularly those who may have struggled to engage in less structured environments. Additionally, I developed resources for recess monitors, including game instructions and information about the importance of recess, to support their efforts in fostering a more inclusive and enriching play experience. By introducing a more structured environment and providing additional resources for adult monitors, more students were able to feel included and have a positive, enjoyable recess experience. This approach helped foster a sense of belonging and collaboration, ensuring that all students could actively participate and make the most of their playtime.

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.