(Photo courtesy Girl Scouts of WW – Erin with one of the logs that comprise her swale system @ Lincoln Park)
Only six percent of Girl Scouts ever earn a Gold Award, the highest achievement level in the organization, created 100 years ago by GS founder Juliette Gordon Low to “challenge girls to change their communities – and the world – in a way that has a sustainable impact,” according to Girl Scouts of Western Washington, which tells us a West Seattle Girl Scout is now a Gold Award recipient:
Erin Demaree from Troop 50253 in Seattle developed a water runoff system on a hillside that stops water and dirt from washing into the public shelter at Lincoln Park. The hill had naturally grown over, but people had walked a path along the hill that caused water to run directly into the shelter deeming it unusable when it rained. She recruited a group of local volunteers to accomplish the construction of the system while also educating them on environmental impacts and erosion issues. Erin’s runoff system now allows the shelter to be used during the rainy season as a proper shelter.
She says, “Completing my Gold Award has helped me in my leadership and critical thinking skills. I really wanted to help the community and because I knew that this park gets used a lot, I wanted to give back by supporting it.”
Research has shown that Girl Scout Gold Award recipients do well in life! They rate their general success in life significantly higher and report higher success in reaching goals in:
*Higher education and career
*Life skills
*CommunityThe Gold Award inspires girls to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities, which can have a positive, lasting ripple effect on the world!
Erin was honored during a gala at the Convention Center downtown earlier this summer.
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