Girl Scout Week, March 12-18, celebrates the sisterhood of Girl Scouting and commemorates the day when the organization first started on March 12, 1912. Girl Scouts empowers young girls and enables them to build various skills, including leadership, entrepreneurship, active citizenship, while building courage, confidence and character. Fenton Girl Scout Troop 3316 showcased their Girl Scout spirit and commitment to their community when they solved a safety concern to earn their Girl Scout Bronze Award.
Sakura Cook, Amber Fronabarger, Vada Kinworthy, Melina Lang, Olivia Mess, Chloe Ressel, Payton Smith, Lucy Turnbough and Marlena Watkins worked together to solve a safety concern in their local neighborhood. After the girls noticed the issue of cars speeding through the area, they went door-to-door, conducted a poll, and identified neighbors who unanimously agreed with their concerns. These young leaders then contacted the St. Louis County Department of Transportation about adding a stop sign. When the girls were informed that adding a stop sign would not be possible, they devised a new plan. They reached out to the South County Police Department and arranged to have a speed tracker and hidden speed radar placed in the subdivision. The girls collected the data and found that adding the speed tracker reduced speeding through the neighborhood significantly. Finally, the troop purchased two KidAlert visual warning signs for the Homeowners Association to let residents use as needed.
“I’m honored to receive such an award because I know that I helped my community become a safer and better place,” said Sakura.
“I would encourage other Girl Scouts to go for the Bronze Award because it helps you grow as a person and as a troop, and it is fun to spend extra time with your Girl Scout friends,” said Marlena.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Juniors, girls in 4th-5th grade can achieve. It requires girls to identify a need in their community and dedicate more than 20 hours on average toward addressing and solving the issue. When Girl Scout Juniors focus on an issue they care about, learn the facts, take action to make a difference, and gain the confidence and skills that catapult them to lifelong success.