Girl Scouts of Connecticut Honor 86 Girl Scouts with Gold Award

Photos: Hyde, Toman; Walsh

Sydney Hyde, Megan Toman, and Annelise Walsh of Killingworth have received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

Celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, the Girl Scout Gold Award requires Girl Scouts grades nine through 12 to spend at least 80 hours researching issues, assessing community needs and resources, building a team, and making a sustainable impact in the community. A Gold Award recipient’s accomplishments reflect leadership and citizenship skills that set her apart as a community leader. Nationally, only 6 percent of older Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award.

Sydney created and spearheaded a day of awareness to educate children in her community about water safety. Sydney held an event at her local YMCA where children learned about water safety and life-saving techniques. Attendees were also able to swim with trained instructors and learn about lifeguard safety. Sydney created an informational brochure that she shared with parents over the summer and to keep at the YMCA. The YMCA will continue to implement Sydney’s program.

Megan helped bridge the communication gap between EMTs in her town and the deaf community. Megan sent out a questionnaire to the EMTs to see what their needs were and what words or phrases they need to know to communicate with the deaf. Megan brought in an interpreter to teach the EMTs American Sign Language and created booklets and a visual presentation for the EMTs. Megan’s project not only benefitted the EMTs, but also helped the deaf community feel appreciated and supported. Students from Megan’s video class also filmed the presentation, which will be posted online. The booklets will be available in the ambulances so that they can be referred to whenever necessary.

Annelise created a nature program and Killingworth Explorer Booklet to help encourage children in her community to spend more time exploring the outdoors and connect with the environment on the Parmelee Farm property. Annelise’s booklet contained activities and information for children ages 5-11 to complete and earn a signed and stamped certificate as a “Killingworth Explorer.” The first 200 explorers also are able to receive a patch. The booklets are available at the Killingworth Library and are online on the Parmelee Farm website.

“Since 1916, approximately one million Girl Scouts have made a sustainable impact in their communities,” said Mary Barneby, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “We are so thrilled to honor a record number of girls this year and we are excited to see how many more incredible young women will continue to change the world in the next 100 years!”

For more information about the Gold Award or how to become a Gold Award volunteer or mentor, visit http://www.gsofct.org/pages/goldaward.php.