Avery James of Girl Scout Troop 2171 in Rockingham County has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for a community leadership and service project that addresses the loss of the theater program at her school and the need for students to express themselves, come together and perform various skills.
Aiming to bring back a theater club at her school, the Girl Scout Ambassador partnered with staff and students at Bethany Community School in Summerfield for her Gold Award project, “Bethany Golden Theater,” so any student aged 11-18 of any race, gender, ability and passion at the school can learn and have fun with speaking, singing, acting and more.
“My goal was to bring back the theater community in my school where anyone can find their passion, themselves and help them practice real world experiences,” said James, a Girl Scout of 12 years. “This club would be an outlet for those in my school that are compassionate for the theatrical side of arts. Opening an opportunity for people who have never touched a script, they can gain confidence in themselves and feel comfortable about speaking or being themselves in front of others.”
Avery collaborated with her teacher to lead the club and after pitching the idea to the school’s leaders, the theater club was established as an after-school program. She hosted interest meetings, and students began to join after school each week to learn skills and work on productions. The club started with a production of Clue and, as it grew to over 30 members, they also planned a fall production of Alice in Wonderland where community members were invited to enjoy the art and the students’ hard work.
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 Scout must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and carrying out their 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.
“The students worked with each other to memorize lines, build props and work with each other to make the production come to life,” said the Gold Award Girl Scout. “We never know when our job wants us to memorize a presentation or to speak in front of a crowd, especially if their future career is always on stage or where they must speak in front of strangers. I want everyone to have a chance to experience those moments in a fun way – not only fun, but meaningful too.”
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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