Junco Presented with Girl Scout Gold Award
OnFocus – Hannah Junco has achieved the highest honor available to Girl Scouts: The Girl Scout Gold Award. Only 5.4% of eligible girl scouts successfully earn the Gold Award. Helen Wronski, CEO of Northwestern Great Lakes Girl Scouts, traveled to Marshfield to present Junco with the award on Friday.
Junco has been a Girl Scout since first grade and in the past twelve years has moved through the scouting ranks. For her Gold Award project, she chose to address the current state of the climate crisis.
“I addressed this problem through creating a series of environmental activity binders for Kindergarten through Grade 6 students,” said Junco. “The binders are full of activities and discussion topics to be used as a consolidated resource for teachers and students. The activities and discussions can be used when the teachers or students have an extra 5-30 minutes to fill during their day, or on the bus during field trips or at the school forest, etc.”
Junco was inspired by her own school experiences.
“When I was in grade school and we were discussing environmental concerns, I always wondered, ‘What can I do about this problem?’ Well this project is my answer to that question,” she said. “It is meant to inspire and educate young students on how they can help our planet and the climate crisis.”
By also putting these activities on flash drives, Junco has been able to send her project to a number of school districts and organizations across Wisconsin, in addition to making it available to the five elementary schools in the Marshfield School District.
“I am so honored to reach this point and I am excited for what the future holds!” said Junco. “I am extremely relieved that I have accomplished this challenge, excited for all those my project will educate and inspire, and so grateful for all those along the way who have guided me.”
For those thinking about joining scouts, Junco says to “Just do it!”
“Disregard any negative stereotypes about Girl Scouts because we are way more than just selling cookies,” she said. “The program can be so rewarding if you take advantage of the opportunities given and seek out events and causes that interest you.”
She added that not all Troops are the same or focus on the same activities, so it’s important to take some time to find a Troop that fits each girl’s needs the best.
“The Girl Scouts program is increasingly diverse, always adding new opportunities and new badges that cover a vast range of topics especially the outdoors and Stem,” she said. “A Scout has ample opportunity to travel. For example, I have been able to travel Wisconsin and Michigan, go to Savannah, Georgia, the birthplace of Girl Scouts, as well as the countries of Belize and Canada!”
Junco wishes to thank her Troop leaders: Kris and Diane, her fellow Scouters of Troop 6181, Barry Wolfgram, the Nasonville Elementary PTO, the Nasonville Elementary staff, her mom and everyone else who has helped her along her journey.
She added one final message to young girls:
“Be strong and educate yourself! You are the future so do not be afraid to think outside the box and do not be embarrassed of who you are or your interests. You have the power to make a difference so believe in yourself and do it!”
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Author: News Desk
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