Gold Award Spotlight: Dragonflies for Schools
Sara, a 2025 graduate of Jamestown High School and member of Troop 1004, turned her passion for creativity and community into a mission of appreciation with her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Seeing how busy life had become for both students and teachers, she realized that “not enough teachers and students get appreciated for their hard work. With the overwhelming nature of work and school, there seems to be no room for appreciation.” Determined to change that, Sara started a crochet club and began creating handmade dragonflies, known worldwide as symbols of gratitude and hope, to share across her school. After surveying her school community, she discovered that 71% of respondents felt people were underappreciated, proving just how meaningful her project could be.
Through her project, Sara aimed to make sure every student and staff member felt seen. “I included a little note that was attached to the dragonflies that let the students and teachers know that they are appreciated,” she explained. She also wanted her club to be a safe, welcoming place for anyone looking for connection. “Participating in the club can give the members a sense of belonging,” Sara said. “I let students at the school know that if they ever need to feel a sense of purpose or belonging, they can join the crochet club.”
Crocheting 1,400 dragonflies was no small task, but Sara found motivation in the stories that came from her community. “When I asked if dragonflies meant anything to them, someone responded that a dragonfly was the last thing they got from their biological mother,” she shared. “I felt that it was very important that we give dragonflies specifically.” On May 29, 2025, she and her club members distributed 625 dragonflies during lunch, watching smiles spread as they handed them out. The rest were given directly to staff and distributed to students in the fall, with the final batch delivered on September 22, 2025.
Sara’s thoughtful planning ensured the project’s lasting impact. She created pre- and post-distribution surveys, complete with QR codes, to measure how her efforts affected school morale. Her crochet club will continue to thrive under a new student sponsor.
