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Gold Award Spotlight: Growing Healthy Habits
Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast (GSCCC) and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) recently named Girl Scout Ambassador Claire A. of Suffolk as a National Gold Award Girl Scout. After a nomination from GSCCC, Claire was selected by GSUSA as one of 110 recipients from across the country to receive this prestigious honor. The recognition was accompanied by a $5,000 scholarship from GSUSA, which was matched by GSCCC, for a total of $10,000. Claire will return this fall to the University of Alabama as a sophomore.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and requires over 80 hours of leadership and service to achieve. Claire was one of 14 local young leaders honored with the Girl Scout Gold Award during a June 1 celebration held at the L Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center in Norfolk.
Her project aimed to address the underlying causes of childhood obesity, namely the lack of accessible recreational spaces and miseducation about healthy habits. Claire partnered with Jennifer Webb of Edmarc Hospice for Children, a Portsmouth-based facility, and Childhood Obesity Expert Joanne Wunderlich of the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters, for expert guidance throughout the completion of her service project.
Thanks to an equipment donation by the Suffolk Salvation Army, Claire was able renew the playground at Main Street Day Care and Preschool in Suffolk. After seeking consultation from area construction and safety experts, she enlisted a team of volunteers to assist with the takedown and installation of new playground features for the facility. In addition to installing new equipment, the Girl Scout also had the outdoor area re-mulched and installed a picnic table and benches for seating.
Along with the playground renovation, Claire educated the wider community about the importance of outdoor play during two “Healthy Living” workshops for kids and adults. The workshops were held at the Suffolk Salvation Army and at Main Street Day Care. Attendees were invited to complete hands-on activities while learning about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Congratulations, Claire!
