Submitted by Debby Burnett
Mountain Communities
Cowdrey
Gracelyn read the World Thinking Day 2020 Activity Guide and came up with a plan to focus on diversity. She made a DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) collage with pictures of diverse people, as well as the word “diversity” printed in various languages around the perimeter. She made a word web with her name in the middle, listing various characteristics and qualities that define her (for the “I Am” Circles game). Gracelyn and I (her fellow Girl Scout troop member due to the pandemic restrictions) made observations at our local (tiny) post office as it pertains to inclusion of those with disabilities in our community. She decided that there are several limiting factors that need to be addressed.
She and I went “shopping” in the Global Marketplace and learned a lot of hard lessons about how it might be to live with much less than we have right now, what is the most important (clean water, good food, education), and how to spend our money in the best way. This made us both very appreciative of the good fortune in our lives, even if we are struggling to live with the social distancing restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
Finally, Gracelyn focused on a group of people in our community whom she feels may not be treated with the respect that they deserve, our seniors. Gracelyn designed a Take Action project to focus on senior residents at Casey’s Pond in Steamboat Springs. She folded approximately 80 origami cranes and wrote the word “RESPECT” on their backs. Then, she made little pieces of paper with the word “RESPECT” written on it, with the words detailed out: Really Epic Senior People Existing Community Treasures. She was trying to send each resident at Casey’s Pond the message that they are truly community treasures and deserve our respect.
Gracelyn enjoyed this activity, improved her origami skills, and felt good about sending a positive message to the senior residents at Casey’s Pond.
Gracelyn is a member of Troop 50315 in Steamboat Springs. She is completing Girl Scout activities at home, with her mother as her main troop member at this time due to pandemic restrictions, but is eagerly looking forward to troop meetings in the future.
We want to hear how your girl is using her Girl Scout skills by taking initiative, caring for the community, and Girl Scouting at home. She can send in her story here.