Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Silver Award Project Helps Young Children Learn Life Skills and Stay Safe
ST. LOUIS, MO – Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM) is proud to recognize Girl Scout Cadette Marie Bush for earning the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve.
For her Silver Award project, Laced Up Learning, Marie addressed a common challenge facing young children: learning how to tie their shoes. After noticing that many preschool and elementary-aged students were struggling with untied shoelaces and experiencing falls and injuries as a result, Marie developed a creative solution to help children build this important life skill.
Marie created a comprehensive learning program that included a website, printed and video instructions, and a hands-on learning tool designed specifically for young learners. She donated the practice kits to a local elementary school, hosted an in-person workshop for students and teachers, and developed instructional videos to ensure the project could continue making an impact long after its completion.
"The Silver Award has always been a goal of mine since becoming a Girl Scout Cadette in sixth grade," said Marie. "For a long time, I struggled to find a problem that I felt I could help solve. When I realized that many young children in my community were having difficulty tying their shoes, I knew I had found a project that could make a real difference."
As part of the project, Marie worked directly with preschool and elementary-aged students to teach shoe-tying techniques and demonstrate how to use the hands-on learning tools.
"I wanted to create something that would help children learn through practice and give teachers a resource they could continue using year after year," Marie said. "By donating the kits to the school and creating instructional videos, the project can continue helping students long into the future."
Throughout the process, Marie gained valuable leadership experience while learning more about how children develop new skills.
"One of the most important lessons I learned was how much fine motor skills and attention spans can vary among younger children," she said. "Working with students of different ages taught me the importance of patience, flexibility, and adapting my approach to meet their needs."
The Girl Scout Silver Award challenges Cadettes in grades 6–8 to identify an issue they care about, investigate its root cause, and take action to create lasting change in their communities. Through Laced Up Learning, Marie not only helped young children gain confidence and independence but also provided educators and families with resources that will continue benefiting students for years to come.
"Girl Scouts has helped shape who I am today," Marie said. "Through my experiences, I have become a more independent and confident person, and I have learned that I can make a meaningful difference in my community."
For more information about Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s Highest Awards program, visit girlscoutsem.org/highestawards.
