Gold Award Spotlight: Spreading the Green Thumb

Girl Scout Ambassador Trysta from Yorktown  has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor and achievement a girl can earn in Girl Scouting.

Trysta learned that some trees that had been cut down illegally by a local resident in an attempt to widen a pathway on York County Parks and Recreation land along Colonial Parkway. After hearing about this, Trysta decided that she wanted to help minimize the impact that this would have on the environment by replanting trees on the property. With the help of a volunteer team that she organized, Trysta replanted eight trees that are expected to grow to be at least 30 feet tall.

In addition to replacing the trees, Trysta also set out to teach elementary school students about her project and why trees are important. She visited local schools to share tips with children on how they can make a difference on the environment by recycling, picking up trash and conserving energy and water. She also engaged the children in conversations about why it is important to protect the environment.

“I chose to do this project because I wanted to show the younger generation that they can do little things, or even big things, each day to help make the world a better place for everyone,” Trysta said.

The Gold Award requires girls to identify an issue in their 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 Trysta to an elite group of female leaders across the country with the honor.