Sarah Bland is a high school senior from Richmond, Virginia, where she lives with her mom, dad, and brother. Sarah runs cross country and track year round, and she has been an active member of her Girl Scout troop for 13 years. In her free time, she loves exploring new restaurants, hiking with friends, baking, and working as a lifeguard. After graduation, she plans to attend university and study health sciences. Several years ago, Sarah experienced iron deficiency, which impacted her performance as an athlete and her health overall. After learning how common it is in female athletes, she decid ..read more

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Watch the full episode! https://youtu.be/Z4CUJSXgLOw Sophia shares her inspiring Girl Scout Gold Award project, "Beyond the Attic Boutique," aimed at providing formal and special occasion wear for foster youth without the need to disclose their foster care status. She discusses how she collected donations, the process for foster children to access the boutique, and the heartwarming feedback she received. Sophia also reflects on her previous bronze and silver award projects, her experiences as a National Girl Scout Convention deleg ..read more

Erika shares her journey from her Gold Award project to becoming a mental health advocate, speaker, and author. Erika's Gold Award project combined her passion for dance with her desire to work with children, leading her to teach dance to underserved kids in Chicago. This experience not only fulfilled her goal of exposing children to the arts but also taught her invaluable lessons about love, leadership, and the impact of creative outlets on mental health. Erika opened up about her personal struggles with clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety, which she has been dealing with since ..read more

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Sarah wrote a children's book interviewing girls from different countries. She connected with girls across the world to showcase how our lives may differ, but we share common interests and humanity. Sarah worked on this project all through high school and published the book on Amazon - what an impressive accomplishment! She shares her thought's on cross-cultural connections, youth leadership development, or taking on big creative projects. More from Sarah: I joined girl scouts as a daisy in 1st grade. I have been with the same tro ..read more

This newsletter has an accompanying video on YouTube. Introduction: Harnessing AI for Project Excellence In our ongoing exploration of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the Girl Scout Gold Award journey, we uncover innovative ways to enhance project development and communication. From initial ideation to final reporting, AI serves as a valuable companion, offering insights and support at every stage. Proposal: Uncovering Insights for Impactful Projects Imagine you're brainstorming potential Gold Award projects and encounter a perplexing issue like spiderwebs in your community. Util ..read more

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Elsie created a wildlife habitat at Council Ground State Park. Discover how she built a butterfly garden, birdhouses, and a bat house, and engaged the community through educational sessions. Listen as she reflects on the challenges she faced, the support she received, and the impact of her project on wildlife. Her love for animals shines through as she discusses her studies in animal and veterinary biosciences and her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation filled with tips on how you can h ..read more

Harnessing the Power of AI in Your Gold Award Journey Reflecting on the evolution of research and learning methods, from flipping through library card catalogs and scrolling through microfiche to today's digital age, it's evident how technology has transformed our approach to knowledge acquisition. As Girl Scouts, we've always embraced the spirit of exploration and learning, and now, with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), we're poised to take our Gold Award projects to new heights. AI is a powerful tool for research and learning, offering access to vast amounts of data and insig ..read more

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Afton, a former Girl Scout Gold Award recipient, shares her experience of completing her project in 2007, which involved collecting toiletries for domestic shelters in Knoxville, Tennessee. She reflects on the impact of her Girl Scout troop and her mother, who was the troop leader, in shaping her passion for community service and politics. Afton discusses how her Gold Award project influenced her career as a community organizer and state representative in Tennessee, where she advocates for voting rights and eliminating the grocery ..read more

Embarking on the Girl Scout Gold Award journey is an empowering experience filled with growth and learning opportunities. However, it's important to recognize that challenges are an inevitable part of this journey. In this newsletter, we'll explore how to address and overcome challenges at each stage of your Gold Award journey, from the initial proposal to the final report. By learning to navigate obstacles effectively, you'll emerge from your Gold Award journey stronger and more resilient than ever.   Proposal: Anticipating and Addressing Potential Obstacles   Embarking on your Girl ..read more

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ Margaret Anne Mary Moore shares her inspiring story of overcoming obstacles and achieving her greatest ambitions. Born with cerebral palsy, she relies on a motorized wheelchair, walker, and communication device. However, her family has a positive outlook, teaching her to see herself as a kid who could play, laugh, and learn just like anyone else. With the support of her mother, she pursued regular education, athletics, and activities like Girl Scouting. As a recipient of the Gold Award, she created the Yes, You Can Movement, motiv ..read more