Olivia Gascoyne of Girl Scout Troop 2493 in Guilford County has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for a community leadership and service project that allows children to explore the performing arts while developing confidence and collaboration skills.
To create an engaging and artistic outlet for students, the Girl Scout Ambassador partnered with Greensboro Academy for her project, “Youth Theatre Skills Education Sessions,” to introduce students to the joy of theatre.
“Students have learned how they must be responsible for their role as everyone depends on each other,” said Gascoyne, a Girl Scout of eight years. “Elementary students developed a greater sense of personal responsibility, teamwork and collaboration through group activities and performance preparation.”
Olivia taught students basic acting techniques through theatre games, improvisation activities, and simple performance exercises. These activities encouraged them to take creative risks, support one another, and discover their own voices on stage.
A central part of the camp was a collaborative writing process where the students created an original skit. Alongside their skit, the final showcase also featured a group musical number and additional scenes Olivia prepared to highlight different performance styles. Families and friends were invited to attend, giving the students the opportunity to share their accomplishments in a supportive, celebratory environment.
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.
“My Gold Award project had a lasting impact on me as both a leader and an individual,” said the Gold Award Girl Scout. “Over the course of running my theatre camp, I had the privilege of watching the students grow more confident each day.”
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 2025, 30 GSCP2P Girl Scouts earned their Gold Award.
For more information about local Girl Scouting and leadership projects like earning a Girl Scout Gold Award, visit www.girlscoutsp2p.org.
Blog 