Gold Award Spotlight: Courtyard for Virginia Home for Adults

Girl Scout Ambassador Anna from Chesapeake has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement in Girl Scouting. For her project, Anna revitalized the outdoor patio at the Virginia Home for Adults in Chesapeake, which is an assisted living facility for adults who are homeless, abandoned, living in poverty or can no longer be cared for by family members. Anna recognized that the residents there rely on community service to improve their daily living, which is why she decided to create safe, wheelchair accessible outdoor area for them.

The original patio area was cracked from tree roots, covered in layers of pine needles and did not offer adequate seating for residents. Anna decided to relocate the patio because in its original location, tree roots would continue to cause cracks in the concrete. After placing pavers to make a new patio area, Anna built three concrete potting urns that she planted herbs in and three benches to create seating.

“I wanted to do something for the residents at the Virginia Home for Adults that would enable them to enjoy the outdoors and sunshine,” Anna said.

Following the completion of her project, Anna hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony, during which she was able to introduce the residents to the new outdoor space.

The Gold Award requires girls to identify an issue in the community and carry out a Take Action project to address the matter through leadership work. Nationwide, less than 6 percent of eligible Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award, which adds Anna to an elite group of females across the country with the honor.

Anna is a third generation Girl Scout. The Girl Scout pin that she proudly wears on her uniform today was originally pinned on her grandmother  in 1948 and then on her mother in 1971.