Eastern Missouri Girl Scouts Create a Skit to Promote Recycling
National Green Week, which takes place the first week of February through the end of April, raises awareness for environmental stewardship and promotes the three “R”s: reduce, reuse and recycle. Recently, Kirksville Girl Scouts decided to educate their community on the importance of recycling to earn their Girl Scout Bronze Award.
After learning that the City of Kirksville was looking for ways to promote recycling, Katie Barhorst, Avery Carriker, Olivia Leaton, Kaylena Mahurin, Emma McFadden, Kadence Selby and Ayiana Smelcer wanted to do their part for the community. These young changemakers began by researching the recycling process and visiting a local recycling center to better understand the issue. Then, they wrote and filmed a short skit to demonstrate what can and cannot be recycled and posted the video on YouTube.
The Girl Scouts also created a presentation and flyer with a QR code to their video to raise awareness. They shared their project during local community events, with college students in the area and with fellow Girl Scouts.
“We watched these girls start to feel more like contributing members of the community,” said Amber Johnson, Girl Scout troop leader. “That sense of belonging and agency to make your community a better place is absolutely worth the effort of working towards the Girl Scout Bronze Award.”
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.
