Five Highlands Ranch Girl Scouts earn Gold Award

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Five Girl Scouts in Highlands Ranch were among 40 to earn the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouts.

Only open for those in high school, a Girl Scout earns the distinction by taking the lead in designing and enacting a plan for change in their community that makes a positive impact.

e Gold Award project involves seven steps; identify an issue, investigate it thoroughly, get help and build a team, create a pla, present the plan and gather feedback, take action and educate and inspire.

Ella Meyers started her Girl Scout journey in the second grade when she became a brownie, now she is about to graduate from Mountain Vista High School.

Her project, Get Outdoors, focuses on encouraging kids and families to go hiking and enjoy the outdoors.

“I read an article that kids only get four to seven minutes of outdoor time a day and when I was a kid, I went outside a lot,” said Meyers. “I had access to a lot of hiking trails, things like that. I really wanted the opportunity for other kids to experience that as well.” e project took over 100 hours of work. Meyers worked with the Trails and Open Space Coalition to create a comprehensive online resource that recommends hikes friendly to those ages ve to 14. e website, https://coloradohikinggold.com/ is a place where kids can access and nd hiking trails. e trails include a short description, the distance and if it is easy, medium or hard. e website also provides tips for the trail, information about winter hiking and nutrition. e most challenging part for Meyers was creating the website since it was something she had never done before but found fun in doing it.

Although the project was challenging at times, it was also rewarding as Meyers feels like this has boosted her con dence levels.

“It’s more than just earning an award, it’s about learning new things and building con dence, getting outside of your comfort zone and I really appreciate that,” said Meyers. “Encourages me to be a more active member of the community and help people wherever they need it.”

Tessa Baker earned the Gold Award for Raising Awareness of e kit also included a pamphlet in Spanish and English that shared the importance of dental hygiene, along with community resources.

Invisible Disabilities, where she created a cartoon to explain what it is like to live with an invisible disability.

Baker also worked with her school psychologist to ensure the school had the tools to help spread awareness for teens but also help teens in the years to come.

Noticing a lack of resources that teach teens and young adults basic life skills needed for adulthood, Britney Berlin focused her project on practicing practical skills.

Berlin created a website that consolidates online resources for practical skills all in one place, making it easier for individuals to navigate and nd what they need.

Greta Lindstrom’s project was on Dental Care and Health. She provided people experiencing homelessness in Denver with dental hygiene kits, packed with a toothbrush, toothpaste and oss.

Making a Better World for Animals was Megan West’s project. To support the fundraising e orts of 2 Blondes All Breed Rescue, West went to local events to not only raise awareness but recruit volunteers and potential adopters to the organization.

Each Girl Scout will be recognized for their work at the Denver Metro ceremony at the end of May.