Sienna Davidson of Girl Scout Troop 10492 in Watauga County has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for a community leadership and service project that addresses the overpopulation and homelessness among feral and abandoned cats.
To raise awareness of the critical role of foster care, the Girl Scout Ambassador partnered with the Watauga Humane Society in Boone for her Gold Award project, “Sassy Cat Supporters,” to create educational materials, assemble foster care kits and build partnerships with local animal shelters.
“I recognized that fostering can be a powerful solution to this problem, yet there were many gaps in public knowledge about the value of foster care as well as the fact that many people were unaware of how they could contribute,” said Davidson, a Girl Scout of 12 years. “By increasing awareness of foster care and empowering families, my project not only supports kittens in need but also helps create more space at local humane societies, allowing them to take in and care for more homeless kittens than before.”
Davidson aimed to provide immediate relief for kittens in need while contributing to a long-term solution of an informed and engaged society. She created a website and booklet to inform groups like volunteers, college students and Girl Scouts about the importance of fostering to inspire change and increase the number of available families. The kits she assembled support new foster parents with essentials such as litter boxes, food and blankets, and she presented community events to support the programs.
Girls in high school can earn the Girl Scout Gold Award by creating sustainable change on a community or world issue. They address the root cause of a problem, plan and implement innovative solutions to drive change and lead a team of people to success. Each girl must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and carrying out her project that benefits the community and has a long-lasting impact.
Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they are the leaders our community and world need, and those from the Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont (GSCP2P) council have created community gardens, addressed issues in foster care, combated bullying in schools and so much more.
When asked how earning this Girl Scout Gold Award impacted her, Sienna said, “I learned how important it is to get the community involved and how powerful education can be in making a difference. Overall, my project not only allowed me to help my community but also helped me grow into a more confident and compassionate person, ready to take on future challenges.”
Thousands of Girl Scouts across the country earn the Girl Scout Gold Award each year, which first began in 1916 as the Golden Eaglet. Earning the Gold Award opens doors to scholarships, preferred admission tracks for college and amazing career opportunities. In 2024, 40 GSCP2P Girl Scouts earned their Gold Award.
To learn more about earning a Girl Scout Gold Award, visit https://www.girlscoutsp2p.org/en/members/for-girl-scouts/badges-journeys-awards/highest-awards/gold-award.html.
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