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Gold Award Spotlight: A Circle Unbroken
Girl Scout Ambassador Lana, a senior at Windsor High School in Windsor, Virginia, knew she wanted to make a profound difference in the lives of some of society’s most vulnerable. She completed a Girl Scout Gold Award project that is making an impact on survivors of trauma in her community. Lana’s project created a permanent outdoor therapy space at Mill Swamp Indian Horses in Smithfield, Virginia, designed to serve children who have survived trauma, veterans with PTSD, and individuals with special needs. Lana is a trailblazing changemaker, having also earned her Girl Scout Silver Award as a Girl Scout Cadette and Girl Scout Bronze Award as a Girl Scout Junior.
Lana shared, “The area provides group and individual seating, has inclusive sensory experiences, and emphasizes the peace of nature.” She carefully chose plants not only for privacy and aesthetics but also to support biodiversity and pollinators, blending healing with environmental stewardship.
Lana’s project went beyond the construction of the therapy space. Lana raised awareness about the benefits of trauma therapy, including equine-assisted programs. Using her platform as Teen Miss Isle of Wight County, she engaged the public through social media, public speaking, and interactive displays at local events such as the Isle of Wight County Fair and Spring Fest. Her goal was clear: ensure survivors and their families know help exists and that therapeutic support is accessible.
Lana said, “Childhood sexual assault is especially difficult because it is severely underreported, and many survivors never disclose. While sharing my own experience of the benefits of trauma therapy, I spread awareness of resources available to trauma survivors throughout the United States.” She added, “Many survivors of trauma do not even know these resources exist, particularly children and parents of children who have been through trauma but are now at a loss of what to do in the aftermath.”
By addressing this root cause, Lana created both a safe physical space and a bridge to much-needed community resources.
Lana also engaged her audience in creative ways, distributing friendship bracelets color-coded to awareness ribbons for child abuse, sexual violence, domestic violence, PTSD, and suicide. Over the course of five community events, she handed out 220 bracelets and interacted personally with 78 additional individuals, providing direct connections to local and national resources. A QR code on her informational display offered further guidance, ensuring ongoing access to support for anyone who needed it.
Since its completion, the outdoor therapy area has been used regularly for sessions, hosting veteran trauma programs, youth initiatives, special needs programs, and even music therapy. Lana’s project exemplifies the spirit of service, empathy, and innovation, all pillars of the Girl Scout Gold Award. Through her project, Lana inspired her community to recognize the power of trauma-informed care and the transformative impact of one young leader’s vision.
