Carissa Chapa, a current senior at Oaks Christian High School, sought to bring recognition to a few of our favorite unsung heroes: guide dogs. These furry friends are essential to the blind and visually impaired members of our communities, however many are not familiar with the correct way to interact with them. With the goals … Continue reading Lending a Helping Paw – Carissa Chapa
Have you ever tried turning unwanted items into something that benefits others? That’s exactly what Sarah Donahue, a current senior at Santa Ynez Valley Union High, set out to do when she began her Gold Award project. By taking sweatshirt and pillow donations from her community, Sarah was able to transform gently used items into … Continue reading Beds for Furry Friends – Sarah Donahue
Lauren Sinopoli, a current senior at Westlake High School, was motivated to take her passion for soccer and translate it to meet a community need. She noticed that her local recreational programs did not offer sports-related activities for children with special needs, and immediately found the inspiration for her Gold Award project. Hoping to establish … Continue reading Sports Workshop for Children with Special Needs – Lauren Sinopoli
Mollie Cobb is passionate about protecting our planet. A true environmentalist at heart, when she noticed the amount of food waste created by a local elementary school, she knew she had to step in. By creating a lunchroom recycling program and establishing a student-run composting system, Mollie was able to teach her community small ways … Continue reading Earth Day! Every Day! – Mollie Cobb
Megan Larson grew up with ties to the military community due to her father’s position in the United States Army. As a Junior Girl Scout, her troop took a field trip to the Veterans Home of California in Ventura. She was so impressed that so many of our nation’s heroes lived at this facility, however, … Continue reading Outdoor Exercise for Veterans – Megan Larson
Central Coast New Tech High School in Nipomo, CA, is unique to the other schools in its area. The institution utilizes Project Based Learning (PBL), an instructional approach that shifts away from teacher-centered instruction and instead emphasizes student-centered projects. Instead of the traditional lecture format where students are often left wondering, “Why are we learning … Continue reading Leadership Competencies for High School Students – Riley Dart
In January of 2018 after a brutal series of fires and subsequent rainfall, devastating mudslides occurred in the city of Montecito. Less than 20 minutes away lies Carpinteria, where Emily Calkins was in her junior year at Cate School. As her community struggled to rebuild after the natural disaster, she couldn’t help but be grateful … Continue reading Renewing the Terraces and Trails Cinque Terre – Emily Calkins
By making a difference in their communities and the world beyond, Girl Scouts are able to gain valuable life experience, skills, and earn Girl Scout’s Highest Awards. These special recognitions are the result of taking initiative and creating lasting change, all while supporting issues girls care about. Juniors are eligible to earn the Bronze Award, … Continue reading The Dos & Don’ts of Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards
A current junior at Newbury Park High School, Taylor Burke noticed that the arts and crafts cabin at Camp Gilmore needed some extra attention. Camp Gilmore, a nonprofit Salvation Army camp, serves thousands of underserved youth every summer and relies on donations to fund the camp. Because they often do not have the necessary means … Continue reading Renovating a Crafts Cabin – Taylor Burke
Kylah Kennedy, a current senior at Westlake High School, has a passion for mental health advocacy. When she took notice of the social stigma surrounding teen depression and anxiety, she wanted to create a safe space where individuals could have an open conversation about mental health and receive the proper education. As a result, she … Continue reading The Sunlight Project – Kylah Kennedy
