Social Media, Mental Health Lessons Coming To Westfield Schools Thanks To Girl Scouts

WESTFIELD, NJ — Three Westfield Girl Scouts are turning a concern they see every day into a lesson for hundreds of younger students.

As part of their Girl Scout Silver Award project, Cadettes Maika Balcet, Emma De Vito, and Colette Heim created a social media awareness program that will be incorporated into Roosevelt Intermediate School's sixth-grade health curriculum next year.

The project focuses on helping students better understand social media, healthy online behavior, screen time habits, and the impact technology can have on mental health.

“We chose this topic because social media is now playing a big role in our everyday lives, and we have observed how much social media is being used, especially with teenagers,” the girls said. “We wanted to take action to make sure that we raise awareness about the risks of social media to make sure that it is being used in a safe, healthy way.”

In addition to the classroom presentation, the scouts created a "No Phone Challenge," encouraging participants to spend seven days without social media while limiting overall screen time. The challenge encourages students to explore other activities, including sports, reading, arts and crafts, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.

“It requires no social media and limited screen time for seven days,” the girls said. “Those who have participated found the challenge to be difficult, but also refreshing to do other activities other than constantly being on screens.”

The initiative is part of the Girl Scout Silver Award, one of the highest achievements available to Girl Scout Cadettes in grades six through eight. The award challenges scouts to identify a problem in their community, research it, and create a project designed to make a lasting impact.

“The Silver Award project is amazing, not only because I will make a positive impact on my community, but I did this work with two of my best friends,” said Maika Balcet. “It has been a lot of fun doing this project with them.”

For Colette Heim, the topic felt especially relevant as social media continues to play a larger role in the lives of young people.

“I chose to do my Silver Award on the dangers of social media and teen mental health because I've seen how something designed to connect us can quietly isolate us, shape our self-worth, and impact our well-being,” Heim said.

The girls have already begun sharing their message throughout the community. During Mental Health Awareness Week at Roosevelt Intermediate School, they hosted an informational booth where they distributed materials about social media use and encouraged students to participate in the No Phone Challenge.

According to the group, Roosevelt has approximately 200 sixth-grade students who could be reached through the curriculum component of the project.

Their outreach efforts will continue at the Westfield Memorial Library, where they plan to present their project and discuss healthy technology habits with students, parents, and community members.

“We hope that younger students and families will be more informed about the way social media impacts children and pre-teens, especially their mental health, in this new digital age,” the girls said. “We would like to remind people that social media is not always a healthy or productive thing, and also to encourage others to explore healthier alternatives.”

Troop 40308 is led by Katherine De Vito and Maria Lamothe, with support from parent volunteer Melody Balcet. Community presentations are scheduled for Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to noon and Monday, June 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Westfield Memorial Library, where attendees can learn more about the project and participate in the No Phone Challenge.