Congratulations to the 2024 Bronze Award Girl Scouts!
September 19, 2024
Girl Scouts shine brightest when they're making the world a better place. Congratulations to this year's Bronze Award Girl Scouts! This prestigious award is a testament to a Girl Scout’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to making a positive impact in their communities. Earning the Bronze Award recognizes the completion of a significant project that addresses a real need and demonstrates leadership and problem-solving skills.
We are proud to share here the remarkable projects completed by this year’s recipients. Photos of the project can be found in our Flickr gallery.
Troop 00653 - Pioneer Village Scavenger Hunt
Troop 00653 organized a scavenger hunt at Pioneer Village in Minden. Children received a free toy airplane glider after completion. The troop’s goal was to attract new visitors to the museum and provide a fun, engaging activity for families to enjoy together.
Troop 10569 - Pets & Babies
Troop 10569 decided to make hats for babies in the hospital. After learning to use crochet and knitting looms, they donated the completed hats to local hospitals. They then created play toys for the local humane society to address the needs of both the hospital and the animal shelter.
Troop 18145 - Foster Closet Friends
After learning about the challenges faced by foster children, Troop 18145 partnered with Foster Care Closet in North Platte. They restocked shelves with clothing and shoes, fundraised for toiletries, and organized a backpack drive for foster children. The troop plans to continue supporting the Foster Closet to keep their shelves stocked and provide essential items at no cost to foster children in their community.
Troop 20708 - Helping a Local No-Kill Shelter
Troop 20708 raised funds and secured donations to support The Cat House in Lincoln to support the no-kill shelter in caring for animals until they are adopted. Their project included organizing a community fundraiser at Chipotle, promoting the shelter on social media, and hosting a donation day at a local pet store to collect supplies.
Troop 20821 - Bluebird Project
Troop 20821 participated in the Bluebird Across Nebraska project, which aims to increase the number of nesting bluebirds in the state. They learned about the bluebirds' nesting needs including preferred food, nesting boxes, and ideal locations. After assembling the nesting boxes and feeders, they placed them in their yards to monitor and hopefully attract bluebirds. They funded their project through cookie booth sales.
Troop 28046 - Buddy Benches
Troop 28046 raised funds to place Buddy Benches at both public elementary schools in Falls City to promote friendship and awareness among students who may feel excluded. They also created sanitary hygiene packs for youth at South School.
Troop 28275 - Funds for Furry Friends
Troop 28275 raised funds during their cookie sales to buy supplies for animals at the Capital Humane Society and to increase awareness of pets in need. They collected donations, created signs, and managed funds to purchase wish list items for the shelter. They also participated in a tour and educational session at the Humane Society. Their efforts aimed to support the shelter and promote pet adoption in the community.
Troop 28411 - Animal Shelter Comfort
After conducting a community needs assessment, Troop 28411 chose to support their local humane society and focus on providing cat beds, blankets, and toys. The project involved interviewing shelter employees, collaborating with the school’s PTO board, researching how to make the items, collecting donations, and presenting the supplies to the shelter. They successfully created over 100 cat beds, 30 blankets, and 100 toys, and used troop cookie money to cover any shortfall. The Girl Scouts enjoyed the collaborative effort and new skills gained.
Troop 28591 - Donate to Friendship Home
Troop 28591 ended the 2022-2023 year with an activity that asked the Girl Scouts to think about what they would need if they had to unexpectedly leave their home. This discussion led to the organization of a donation drive for Friendship Home, gathering essential items from the Saline County community. Despite the cold January weather, they collected and delivered four full totes of donations to Friendship Home in February and received a tour of their operations.
Troop 28663 - Community Garden
Troop 28663 established a community garden in Beatrice to provide a gardening space for those without means or space to grow their own produce. They collaborated with local organizations for resources including planters, soil, flowers, mulch, and seeds, and set up a schedule for maintaining the garden. The garden now provides fresh produce to locals, teaches sustainable food practices, and serves as an educational space for all ages.
Troop 28939 - A STEAM Activity Day for Kindergarten Girls
Troop 28939 organized a science day for kindergarten girls on an out of school day. They identified a gap in early science education and used their skills to create engaging lessons on astronomy, plant science, physics, anatomy, and chemistry. They incorporated hands-on activities and crafts for participants to engage in. Their goal was to boost science exposure, literacy, and enthusiasm among young girls.
Troop 43061 - Birdhouse Fun
Troop 43061 found that many outdoor spaces at senior living facilities needed more color and enjoyment. Partnering with the Millard Good Samaritan Society, they enhanced the space with hand-painted steppingstones, birdhouses, a birdbath, and perennials that attract butterflies and birds. The improvements included low-maintenance flowers and practical birdhouses, too. This project created a vibrant and lasting outdoor environment for residents to enjoy.
Troop 45413 - Camp Cookbook
Troop 45413 created The Camp Cookbook to help campers plan enjoyable and healthy meals including recipes for cooking over a campfire. The cookbook is meant to simplify meal preparation, promote healthy eating, and foster troop connections through shared cooking experiences. The project challenged them to be creative, collaborate effectively, and design a resource that strengthens camp community ties.
Troop 46100 - Take a Hike! - Leading a Troop Camping Weekend!
Troop 46100 took on leadership roles for their multi-level troop by guiding new Brownies and Daisies during their annual end-of-summer camping weekend at Camp Maha. With changes in the troop leadership and many girls new to Girl Scouting, Juniors spent months planning activities, menus, and schedules. They managed various camp tasks including crafting, archery, and cooking. It was a successful weekend despite challenges like heavy rain, a spider, and mountain lion sightings.
Troop 48003 - Muddy Paws Donation Drive
Troop 48003 partnered with Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue to gather food, toys, and blankets for animals in need. After researching community needs and consulting with the rescue about their most pressing requirements, the Girl Scouts organized a donation drive. They dedicated significant time to planning and executing the drive to support the animals.
Troop 48004 - Care for Cancer
Troop 48004 created care kits for cancer patients which included handwritten cards, crafts, aromatherapy items, snacks, journals, comfort items, and travel-sized toiletries. Each kit was custom decorated by Girl Scouts and given to the staff at the cancer clinic for distribution. The project supported patients physically and emotionally by providing helpful items and encouraging words.
Troop 48147 - Blanket Making
Troop 48147 wanted to offer comfort to children facing illness or hardship, so they decided to make and donate blankets to Project Linus. Their project aimed to provide a comforting and supportive gesture to children in need.
Troop 48430 - Table Grace Herb Garden & Fundraiser
Troop 48430 supported Table Grace Cafe, a pay-what-you-can restaurant in downtown Omaha. They raised $2,500 through a neighborhood fundraiser to help make the restaurant ADA-compliant and built a custom portable herb garden to provide fresh herbs for meals.
Troop 48823 - Ta-Ha-Zouka Park Beautification and Little Library Restoration
Troop 48823 partnered with the City of Omaha Parks Volunteer Program (VIP) for a beautification project at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Elkhorn. The Girl Scouts picked up trash, removed debris, swept play areas, tended to garden beds, and restored a Little Free Library with a fresh coat of paint.
Troop 48834 - Animal Shelter Donation Awareness
Troop 48834 helped animals by learning about shelter needs and donation options. They created a donation awareness campaign for local elementary schools, collected and donated items to nearby shelters, and made toys for the animals. Their efforts also included educating the community about the benefits of donating items.
Troop 48902 - Pawsitive Impact
Troop 48902 supported Critter Close-Ups after learning about a fire that destroyed supplies and harmed animals. They created enrichment items like foraging mats for various animals and collected donations of kennels, blankets, toys, and other necessities from the community. The troop was thrilled to meet the animals they helped and expressed their gratitude to Abby and Mya for their assistance.
Troop 50371 - Book Nook
Troop 50371’s Book Nook project collects and donates books to local public and school libraries and caters to young readers' diverse interests and reading levels. The Girl Scouts identified needs by interviewing librarians and children, gathered and sorted donations, and ensured the books were distributed where they were most needed. As a result, children now have more options for books that match their interests and reading abilities.
Troop 50371 - Neat Necessities
Troop 50371 focused on establishing a care closet at their local schools to provide students with a change of clothes or toiletries as needed. The Girl Scouts researched needs, collected and sorted donations, promoted the project, and delivered the items. This initiative supported students by offering essential materials for those in need.
Troop 58826 - Shelby Senior Center Product Drive
Troop 58826 discovered that their local senior center relies heavily on donations and wanted to support the seniors in their community. They advertised the center's needs and collected essential items at their local farmer's market. They then presented the items to the Shelby Senior Center.
Girl Scout IGM Eden C. - The Importance of Girls in Martial Arts
Eden wanted to increase community involvement in martial arts and boost confidence in self-defense. She spread awareness about the benefits of physical fitness and competition in martial arts, focusing on Taekwondo and Jiu-Jitsu. Eden hosted a free seminar for girls and those identifying as girls, ages 10 and up.
Girl Scout IGM Scarlet F. - Two Mini Libraries
Scarlet created Little Free Libraries for United Faith Community Church in Valley and for the town of Mead at their city park. Her project promotes reading for all ages and provides easy access to free books.
Girl Scout IGM Emma G. - New Cassel Holiday Cards
Emma decided to create holiday cards and goodie bags for retirement homes to bring festive cheer. She made seventy-five cards and goodie bags and delivered them to New Cassel, an assisted living center. Her goal was to brighten the residents' holidays and provide a thoughtful gesture during the season.
Girl Scout IGM Kinsey H. - Pet Blessing and Fellowship
Kinsey wanted to create a fun and engaging way for pets and their owners to connect and build friendships. Initially planned as a pet blessing ceremony, it expanded to include all pets and interactive games to enhance participation. Future enhancements include checking community calendars for conflicts and promoting the event to both the church and neighboring community.
Girl Scout IGM Ruby K. - Adoption Ambassador Day
Ruby’s Adoption Ambassador Day project raised awareness about overcrowded animal shelters by organizing an event at the Nebraska Humane Society. She and her team helped guide visitors through the adoption process, served as greeters, and directed them to the appropriate areas. The team prepared by learning about the shelter’s layout, animals, and volunteer requirements, and promoted the event on social media.
Girl Scout IGM Jillian S. - Pre-Teen Book Club
Jillian created a book club to show kids that reading can be a liberating experience rather than a chore. She aimed to provide a safe space where kids and pre-teens could discuss their love for books without fear of judgment or bullying. The club has become a supportive community where members can share their passion, dress up as their favorite characters, and be themselves. Jillian hopes to grow the group by spreading the word about this safe space.
Girl Scout IGM Addylen W. - Groovy Glow Run
Addison organized a Groovy Glow Run to raise funds for Girls on the Run, a program that encourages confidence building and improves running skills. The money raised was donated to support the program's mission of promoting healthy living.
