About Girl Scouts and High Awards

Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians (GSCSA) helps girls grow into leaders who are purpose-driven and work toward positive social change. To encourage girls on their journey, we are offering financial support with a grant program to develop leadership opportunities and skills.

As we are in the midst of High Award season, girls are being honored with Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards for incredible and unique Take Action projects. These projects are created and established by Girl Scouts and have a sustaining affect on their communities. On top of completing many service hours, the supplies for these projects can add up. Luckily, there is a grant program to aid in these times of need!

Cadettes, Seniors, or Ambassadors who are working on a community service, Take Action project, or High Award can apply for a Joyce Maienschein Leadership Grant to help make their dream a reality. Not only can the girls receive funding for up to $500, but they gain life skills like writing, budgeting, organization, and teamwork.

Who is Joyce Maienschein?

Click HERE to learn more about the Joyce Maienschein Grant and High Awards!

Silver Award Girl Scout Interviews

A lot of Gold Award Girl Scouts seek out this grant for aid in their projects. However, as mentioned above, girls in the Cadette level and up are eligible to apply! Girl Scouts that are pursuing their Silver Award are encouraged to apply for this incredible grant!

We interviewed several Girl Scouts that have been working on their Silver Award with the help of the Joyce Maienschein Grant. We hope these stories inspire you or your girl, and see the potential path that this grant can pave for High Award Projects.

Addison S. – Helping Students Believe in Themselves

Addison is helping students believe in themselves by sharing inspirational quotes on bathroom doors!

A Girl Scout since she was in Kindergarten, Addison recalls that elementary school was hard for her, as she got bullied. She was eager to find a way to help others with self-love and to send the message to not bully because someone is different than they are. She developed the idea to put inspirational quotes on bathroom doors in her Elementary School, so everyone that passed through would feel encouraged!

Without the Joyce Maienschein grant, she wouldn’t have been able to afford the supplies for this project, as she didn’t want to drain her Troop’s funds.

When asked what her advice for other Girl Scouts just embarking on their High Award projects would be, she said, “Do something you love, not something else just because your friends are doing it. Don’t hide. Be you. Do what you feel is right!”

Addison is still thinking about pursuing the Gold Award.

She has learned skills and lasting experiences from Girl Scouts. A big one is “leaders and followers.” “There is a lot to be said about being a good leader, especially being a good example to the younger girls,” she said. “It is also very important to be a good follower and have a good attitude.”

Addison is currently thinking about becoming an RN or anesthesiologist in the future!

Chloe A. – Welding for the Disabled

Chloe saw a need for a handicap accessible welding table, so even more students can have an opportunity to learn to weld.

Chloe has been in Girl Scouts since 1^st grade as a Daisy. Now in 8th grade, she has taken a welding class in school. It was awesome getting to work with her hands and create things! Looking around her, she realized that there wasn’t an option for handicap individuals to learn and partake in welding. Thus her project, Welding for the Disabled, was created! With local partners, she was able to complete a handicap accessible table. Encouraging even more individuals to take an interest in welding and to have access to the option.

Having the courage to do new things is one of the top skills and experiences Chloe has gained from Girl Scouts. To encourage other Girl Scouts who are just now embarking on their High Awards projects is “Don’t give up! Do it!”

Especially when it comes to the JM grant, Chloe is an advocate to help other girls in making these projects possible. “Many don’t know about this grant. Please apply for it if you need help! I was able to actually put this idea to reality.”

As far as her future endeavors, Chloe is definitely considering a Gold Award project! When it comes to college or career paths, she is still figuring it out!

Elisabeth A. – Bags of Love

Elisabeth prepared and delivered care bags to the Isaiah 117 House to help foster care children.

Elisabeth has been in Girl Scouts since she was a Daisy. When considering what to do for her Silver Award project, she was moved by her concern of the well-being for children who are taken from their homes. She wanted to make sure that these children have the essential needs fulfilled, thus coming up with “Bags of Love” and partnering with the Isaiah 117 House.

The JM Leadership Grant provided the additional funded needed to carry out the promises Elisabeth and her mother made to Mr. John when they did the walk-through of the Isaiah 117 House. Their needs were so great at the time (leading up to the Grand Opening) that they wanted to do their part in making this house feel like a home for the children who would come through it.

Through being in Girl Scouts, Elisabeth learned that in order to be the change that you want to see in the world, some times you have to take charge and make it happen. In light of learning these things in her GS journey, she is thinking about pursuing her Gold Award.

In the future, she plans to become a professional dancer while studying psychology and/ or physical therapy.

Amirah & Katelyn – Kateri Garden

This duo created a natural habitat, the Kateri Garden!

Amirah

Amirah has been with Girl Scouts for seven years!

When asked about this Silver Award project, Amirah explains, “We were approached by All Saints Catholic Parish to help them with their Kateri Garden and I knew it was a project that I would love to participate in.” Katelyn and Amirah joined together to take on this project.

Amirah’s advice for girls who are just embarking on their High Award projects would be, “Pick a project that you are passionate about or else going through it will get boring and you will have little motivation to do it right.”

Throughout her years being a Girl Scout, Amirah recalls, “I have learned how to be a leader and take charge of the situations I want to be in. I have also learned how to manage money and sales through cookie sales.”

After her journey with Girl Scouts, Amirah wants to go to college for engineering and become a biochemical engineer.

Katelyn

Girl Scout, Katelyn, has been with the movement for nine years now! When considering her Silver Award, she tells us, “I decided to participate with The Mary Gardeners at All Saints Catholic Parish to help make two gardens designated to worship.” Her project partner Amirah was excited about this project as well!

To encourage other Girl Scouts in their High Award, she tells, “I would tell other girls to choose a project that they are passionate about, and to persevere through problems, without losing hope.” With her drive and passion to do well in this project with Amirah, they applied for the Joyce Maienschein Grant. “I took advantage of the grant to help cover to costs of my silver award project and I encourage anyone eligible to apply because it greatly funded my projects greatest aspirations”, Katelyn shares.

When asked about earning her Gold Award, she is not particularly passionate about starting a Gold Award project, only because she doesn’t have many ideas that would be particularly appealing to her at this time.

Throughout her journey with Girl Scouts, she has learned to take charge in any situation and really respect every person because of the heart she knows they have. It has really opened her eyes in regards to making the world better. “I have learned so many skills to be a basis on my life!”

In the future, she plans to go to college in the medical field to combine her love of science with her social personality. She hopes to someday be working with patients in their medical situations and help them as much as possible.

Troop 20596 – Beauty in Blue & Gold

This troop did their project on the beautification of the Chilhowee Intermediate School main entrance.

The girls in this troop have been a part of Girl Scouts for various amounts of time! Abi (8th grade) has been a Girl Scout since kindergarten, starting as a Daisy and is now completing her 9th year and preparing to bridge to Senior. The other four girls started as Juniors in either 4th grade (Ivy and Megan) or 5th grade (Savannah F. and Savannah P.), so 4-6 years of membership each.

When the troop was asked what lead to this project, they simply responded, “It’s home. We went to school there.” Savannah P. also mentioned the “ugly” bushes and Megan agreed that “it needed a refresh.” So they saw a need and wanted to make the outside better! Abi is the only one who didn’t go to school there, but she really wanted to do something outside with plants, as her family owns a nursery. The project was a good fit for everyone!

These girls have a few tips for girls just starting their High Award journeys! Abi said “I would tell other girls that it is A LOT of work! They have to be ready to put the time and effort to finish the project. And make sure it is something they enjoy doing because they will spend a lot of time working on it.” The girls agreed that planning ahead and watching the weather is particularly important for outdoor projects. If doing an outdoor project in the summer, realize it is going to be hot and project work is best at times of the day when it is not as hot. Other advice included learning how to set goals, delegate tasks, have snacks and drinks handy.

Many of the girls in the troop are considering a Gold Award project. They are going on a leadership retreat with the troop to complete the Senior Sisterhood Journey this summer, which will meet an important Gold Award prerequisite. As a whole they have a really strong interest in animals, wildlife and may look at project ideas in that area. Abi wants to “do something with hungry people. Maybe Mobile Lifehouse or Second Harvest Food Bank.”

The JM grant funding was important because it helped them buy the supplies they needed to complete the project. Items such as benches, rocks for the rock garden, stepping stones, and more! Abi also added that without the grant their project would have been much smaller and wouldn’t have been able to make such a difference at the school. She also said “I would encourage other girls to do a high award project because it is a big honor to complete it and it does a lot of good for other people.”

Girl Scout has taught these girls many life skills. Overall, they have learned to always try their best, how to organize projects, and how to work with other people. Specifically in their project, they learned about landscaping and plant care. They also noted that leadership is gained in these project processes.

Abi adds, “My troop is very active. We have gone skiing, hiking, horseback riding and camping. We made books and cooked for my church. I’ve learned how to make a plan and how to adjust the plan when things don’t go the way I thought they would. I have learned how to hear “no” from cookie sales and still ask the next customer.”

All five of the girls said college is in their plans. Megan is very set on a zoology major while others mentioned animals or not sure yet. Abi said something more hands on like horticulture or electrician or contractor after college.

Conclusion

While girls are resourceful, smart and ambitious, the financial aspect of these projects can be a hindrance for some. The Joyce Maienschein Grant is a wonderful way to help pave the path for these Silver and Gold projects to come to life! These incredible Silver Award Girl Scouts are from all walks of life and regions of our council. Each one had a need that was able to be fulfilled and more! Encourage your girl to apply in her Silver or Gold Award journey!