[00:00:00] Walter: The hearts of gold podcast is brought to you by the grow and share network produced by off the Walter media productions.
[00:00:13] Sheryl: Welcome to hearts of gold. Today. We have Nicole with us. Hi, Nicole.
[00:00:18] Nicole: Hi.
[00:00:19] Sheryl: Can you tell us about your girl scout gold award project?
[00:00:22] Nicole: My girl scout gold award project was titled eating local San Diego, and essentially I made this project so that I could address a problem that I saw in com, my community, which is,
[00:00:35] the purpose of every gold award but I really wanted to focus on the importance of eating locally grown food and supporting local agriculture in our local farmers, which is a huge industry where I’ve grown up, which is San Diego county. So my project essentially encompasses a website that gives information about local farms and.
[00:00:58] Listings maps videos about those farms for each region in San Diego county. And I also have lists to other resources that people can read about the economic, environmental importance of eating locally grown food. How it’s a little better for the environment in terms of like the different farming practices that these farmers use in small farms.
[00:01:24] And also how, you know, When we support our local farmers, it keeps the money in our community and how that, you know, helps out these smaller scale farms. Another element of my project was creating some flyers that I distributed at diff at a at one of the girl scout events near me. And then I also had some local chambers of commerce post those on their website.
[00:01:48] Sheryl: And your website is very professional looking and very thorough. How did you design that and how did you find all that information that you have on your website?
[00:01:59] Nicole: It was a lot of research. I did most of it kind of throughout winter of 2020 getting into spring of 2021. So a lot of like categorizing the different addresses, what these farms have different aspects of the farm and that sort of thing.
[00:02:16] So. I put that all together on a spreadsheet. Then I took what was on the spreadsheet and I put it into the website and I used Google sites, which is actually a very easy way to make websites that I found. I didn’t have a ton of website making experience. So I watched a lot of YouTube videos and other like howtos on the internet.
[00:02:35] Because I was pretty clueless going into this, you know, I’d never made a website. I’d never like tried to purchase a domain or anything like that. So it was actually pretty easy. I would say a lot of determination, a lot of just dragging and dropping and resizing things and just seeing how it works and having my friends and family look at it, make sure that the tech size is good and everything like that, but it was actually not terribly.
[00:03:03] Hard. And a lot of the research I did, I submitted all of those listings to a statewide database of all of the farms that’s ran by the California Alliance for family farmers. So all of the San Diego listings or at least some of them there have added more in the time since, but were contributed from my project, which is super cool.
[00:03:24] Sheryl: Have you gotten any feedback from any of the farmers that you have supported through your project?
[00:03:29] Nicole: My project advisor is actually a local farmer in my community, who I was able to meet when I was working on my, so what journey and she has been such a great source of feedback for me, you know, as a farmer herself, she’s super familiar with.
[00:03:47] The ins and outs of, you know, marketing her farm and making sure that people know, you know, what they offer and that sort of thing. So she, you know, looked at my website, she would kind of, you know, give me some tips and tricks. On, you know, how to describe things and also how you know, what I can make to benefit her and what would, you know, benefit other farmers.
[00:04:12] And also, you know, what she thinks that the public should know more about with farming.
[00:04:17] Sheryl: Who else was on your team and how did they help you?
[00:04:20] Nicole: My committee mentor. She was a great help. Just in terms of communicating the different kind of, I guess, logistics of my project from the girl scout angle of things, especially, you know, doing a project during the pandemic, there was a lot of like changes that I had to make to my project.
[00:04:37] I started in May, 2020. So you know. There was a rapidly evolving situations in between may of 2020, and then April of 2022, when I actually ended up submitting my project. So she was a great help. And then just generally like a lot of. Different mentors of mine and Elisa and Faigie and Alisa Navon cottage are two of my closest mentors in the girl scout realm of things.
[00:05:05] And they are longtime girl scout volunteers, you know, with many, many decades of experience under their belt, they motivated me, but they also helped me, you know, figure out, okay, how do I implement this? You know, from your experience. They’ve, you know, they’ve coached other girls through the gold award projects before, throughout the years.
[00:05:25] And you know, they were like, okay, this, you know, doing XYZ would be more impactful and you know, that sort of thing. And they were especially, especially helpful during this you know, 20, 22, which is when I really kind of buckled down and started getting the implementation done for my project, cause I wanted to get it in before the April 1st deadline.
[00:05:45] Sheryl: What was your biggest challenge during your project and how did you overcome it?
[00:05:49] Nicole: A lot of other girls that I’ve talked to who have done their gold org projects, it was just kind of adapting to the situation with COVID and trying to change different aspects of my project to make it more conducive to an online setting.
[00:06:05] Luckily my project was already pretty online based, but you know, communicating with different chambers and people who could like promote my project digitally, I really wanted to kind of initially like go out there and talk to people. But, you know, especially during the height of COVID that wasn’t going to be safe.
[00:06:23] So I spent a lot of time, just drafting emails, reaching out to people. Especially within my own girl scout network. I had a lot of really awesome volunteers and mentors and friends of mine on my side, who were able to really share my project and spread the word, which was super awesome and really helpful, you know, in terms of kind of adapting to this different setting that I had.
[00:06:51] Like make my project within these different parameters. So what’s a favorite memory from your project? I was able to serve as a national delegate for my council girl scout, San Diego for the 20, 20 to 2023, but I guess 20, 22 tri and em and one of the volunteers who I, or I guess one of the other delegates I work for, she’s also a volunteer.
[00:07:12] And she spread the word about my project to her husband. Who’s actually a science teacher here in San Diego and he told his whole class about it. And his class was super excited about my project and they were excited about my website and that was so heartwarming to hear and like exactly what I wanted to hear, you know, young people engaging with my project and being more aware of local agriculture, because I think, you know, Often, I wasn’t really aware of the importance of local agriculture before, probably middle school.
[00:07:45] When I started to learn more about. Like the science of it and, you know, more just awareness of my, of like the different elements of my community and what’s really important in the economy. And it was just so gratifying and exactly what I wanted to be the result of my project so.
[00:08:03] Sheryl: And the initial light bulb for your project was when you did the sew what journey, which is
[00:08:09] one of my favorite journeys to do . Can you tell us, especially if there’s somebody listening that doesn’t know what the Sew What journey is, can you tell us about the journey itself and your experience with the journey that prompted you to go to the next level with your gold award project?
[00:08:25] Nicole: I did the Sew What journey when I was in 10th grade, it’s a senior journey.
[00:08:30] So for grades nine to 10 and you learn all about local agriculture. It’s essentially everything I address in my project, but you know, the different chains of purchasing when you’re talking about food and where it comes from and things like food miles and You know, I learned a lot about that in that journey.
[00:08:48] And I was just so inspired by that. And you know, it went into further depth than I’d ever kind of heard from my friends who are perhaps involved in agriculture or something like that. Or four H, FFA, et cetera. Me and my friend, we did this project together for our take action project. And we made a guide to all of the farms in our small community, which is a rural community in, or I guess a semi-rural community in east county, San Diego.
[00:09:13] And, you know, there’s about probably five to 10 farms on there. And I thought. You know, this was a great resource. We distributed to our local chamber of commerce. And I decided that I wanted to take it, you know, up a notch. I wanted to expand it to all of San Diego county, which I didn’t realize was a huge undertaking.
[00:09:34] I thought, oh, surely most of the farms are within my community. And you know, there’s not many more outside of that. And I was very wrong and it was definitely. A larger project than I thought it would be, but it was so gratifying in the end. You know, as I mentioned before, it was just so inspiring to be able to make a resource that was helpful for members of my community.
[00:09:58] Sheryl: I just wanna add the sew what journey really does encourage that local produce and agriculture. I have done the sew what journey though, with a focus on gluten free options or dairy free options, you know, depending on what that girl or the girl’s family might be interested in. It really, I like it cause it’s really flexible and you can really focus on, you know, something.
[00:10:21] That it really is meaningful to the girls in that are working on it. I think that’s why it’s one of my favorites. And of course it has to do with food who doesn’t like food? Hahahah!
[00:10:30] Nicole: Yeah. It’s so tangible. And I mean, I personally, I am actually vegan, so it’s been kind of cool, like to just be able to see more farmers and that sort of thing, and like see where my food is coming from.
[00:10:44] So yeah I just, it’s always been so fun and I, I love it. And I actually helped out a local troop leader with some activities for her sew what journey so that was super fun.
[00:10:53] Sheryl: As you went along your journey through the gold award process. What did you find out about the gold award itself that you weren’t aware of as you started that might be helpful to others in the future?
[00:11:05] Nicole: There were so many mistakes that I made when I was doing my project. I think like any, you know, any person who finishes the gold award, you know, you look back on it, hindsight’s 2020, but I would say, you know, Learning to be flexible when you’re writing your proposal, you know, things will change and you can always write, you know I don’t recall what they were, the forms that are called, but you can always change what’s in your project, you know, you can, or notification of change.
[00:11:35] You can always fill one out pretty quickly. And, you know, luckily, you know, my council was pretty quick about getting back to me and just accommodating the changes that I made in my project. Different suggestions from people too. I think, you know, luckily I don’t think I was too stubborn in terms of where my project was gonna go, but, you know, I think if you’re someone who tends to have like a really strong idea of something and you wanna just pursue that, you know, you might have to kind of adjust a little and, you know, If you’re talking to someone about your project and they say, what if you try this and, you know, think about it, think about incorporating that and really you know, ask other people for their input.
[00:12:14] I think that’s definitely something that I learned to do more. And, you know, before that I was kind of like liked to really just judge my own work and that sort of thing and like was a little self-conscious with people kind of reading what I’ve written or looking at what I’ve created, but I kind of learned to shed that, and really just tried to realize that when I get kind of criticism, constructive criticism from others, that’s how I create the best product.
[00:12:42] And that’s how I’m going to best serve the most people in my community through my project is having the best, most impactful version of this service project.
[00:12:51] Sheryl: The more you take in from others and include it in your, in your outcome, you know, it is the better it is for your community. And you know, that’s what that project advisor is there for.
[00:13:01] And those committee members, you know, as you talked about, you know, doing notifications of change or just questions that come up, like that’s what those committee members are. There is to help you support and go through your process. The whole goal award is a learning experience. And it sounds like you took away exactly the things that are it’s intended for.
[00:13:20] You also have done a lot of other things with girl Scouts, including you created a group focused on environmental advocacy. Can you talk about that?
[00:13:30] Nicole: During the beginning of that summer, I actually did an online journey. One of my mentors who helped me with my project, Anne Fagie, she was running a lot of the senior and ambassador journeys and an online format, which I thought was super great.
[00:13:44] I needed to, I think well, I didn’t need to do another. Journey to fulfill my requirement for my gold award, but I just wanted something to do, you know, virtual school. I was finishing up by around 10 o’clock. I got my work done, you know, super early in the morning and I had tons of time on my hands. So I decided, you know, I’m gonna do, I think it was the girl-topia journey online and I thought it was so fun.
[00:14:08] And you know, it really encouraged me to go get outside when I was kind of just sitting in my room, you know, doing whatever, kind of just watching TV shows and yada yada, yada, whatever we did during the beginning of the pandemic, we started talking a little more after the journey, you know, just about reflecting on it and what I enjoyed about it.
[00:14:26] and we wanted to kind of expand that to like cadets and I think at the time it was mostly senior journies so also including some ambassador journeys and we actually started with doing the, so what journey, which is when she hadn’t yet adapted. So I spent a couple weeks working with Ann to adapt that journey to an online setting.
[00:14:48] And we did that in, I think it was early August was when we launched it. And we had tons of girls who went through the journey. And after that, we decided to make a proper group out of it called girls for environmental action or GEA. And in the time, since we have done monthly meetings with different educational topics, like food waste or water use, we also have done different workshops.
[00:15:14] Like we did a whole workshop on plastics and pollution which is especially pertinent that we live in San Diego and there’s like, Beaches that are super close to us. And we see plastic waste pretty much every day at the beach. And then we’ve also done a summer internship program where girls were actually able to make their own workshops to present to cadets.
[00:15:35] And that was just super inspiring. And now I think it was six of those girls joined our team, our leadership team. So it’s up to about nine people now, which is just so fantastic. And we’re just looking for different ways to kind of make sure that environmental education is really accessible to girls, you know, wherever they live in San Diego county, because our Council covers both San Diego and Imperial council or counties, which are pretty big you know, tons of people, but also just a very wide swath of area.
[00:16:10] And so girls, aren’t always able to make it to our central council location where a lot of the meeting rooms are that we would do these sort of activities. So GA. Provides that setting to where girls can you know, just log onto a zoom meeting or look at these different activities and do something and learn and really benefit and gain the skills that are necessary for higher rewards or just, you know, leadership in life in general.
[00:16:36] You know, from their homes, which is just something that we all kind of learned to do throughout the pandemic. But I think it’s just a really great mode of education for something like this.
[00:16:45] Sheryl: What other girl scout activities have you been involved?
[00:16:49] Nicole: I also served as a national delegate. My term comes up in the next month, so kind of past tense, but that was such a great experience to be able to engage with.
[00:17:02] I think it was a team of around 17 different delegates throughout who were located throughout the county. And. It was just such a fascinating experience. I had very minimal experience working with proposals or really anything at the national level before becoming a delegate my sophomore year of high school back in 2020.
[00:17:24] And I loved it. I connected with, you know, women of all different ages and also just delegates. And I was really able to. Understand, I guess, kind of the workings of girl Scouts as a national organization. I’ve been a girl scout since kindergarten, but I don’t think I had a full grasp for this sheer enormousness.
[00:17:48] for lack of a better word of the organization and its impact on girls. And yeah, it was just. Such a wonderful experience, you know, being able to really hone my skills in terms of like nitpicking language when we were reading through proposals and even writing some potential proposals for the next Trium, it was just fantastic.
[00:18:11] Sheryl: I was also a delegate and yep, there were some long conversations in that. But it was really, really interesting. It was my second term. Being a delegate. So, and for those that don’t know, as we’re going on to Orlando next year, what we’re discussing is the national delegate conference convention, the national convention, which is the business meeting part.
[00:18:32] And then they’ll also have girls phenom, which is. Like the fun and games part, which we didn’t get, hahaha.
[00:18:39] Are you planning, are you planning on going to Orlando?
[00:18:42] Nicole: Well, I’m gonna be in college, so I’m not totally sure that I’m gonna be able to make it. I’m not sure what my plans are next summer, so we’ll see. But hopefully, hopefully I’ll be able to make it.
[00:18:54] Sheryl: Well, they’ve been planning for six years now. Well, at least by the time they get there, so they’re gonna really throw a party.
[00:19:00] Nicole: I had a friend who was actually on the original I think they, the G I R L committee who was in charge of planning it, and, you know, it didn’t end up happening, but they put in so much work to it and I think it’s gonna be great.
[00:19:11] Sheryl: Yeah. Those GI R L girls really put a lot of work into it and. Pivoted so well when COVID hit and turned on, turned in all their online stuffs to keep girls interested. They did a great job.
[00:19:25] What did you do for your bronze and silver awards?
[00:19:28] Nicole: I worked alongside my troop. We collected a bunch of donations and we presented them to a local horse rescue that I think is actually no longer in existence, but that was a.
[00:19:39] Fun project. I really enjoy going to the horse rescue and, you know, you got to cut the horses and we had tons of different supplies from members of the community donations that were just so great. I mean, people were, I live are really familiar with equestrian stuff and horses and horse care. So it was pretty easy to collect donations.
[00:20:01] I mean people knew what the proper things to donate were and what horses liked and that sort of thing. And then for my silver award project, which I think I did back in 2018, my true collected we actually made pillow cases. For the children of the San Diego Plinski children’s center which is kind of a transitional housing center for youth who are in dangerous situations at home.
[00:20:30] And that was really great because one, I learned how to Sew. Which I didn’t really know before that. And I actually really love sewing now. So I picked up a great scale other than how I was able to benefit my community, but it was really great because we made these children who are in such harsh situations, something really tangible that they can have that is their own.
[00:20:51] and we also collected a lot of other donations of personal care items, toys, and just other items that could make their lives a little easier during this kind of transitional setting for them.
[00:21:04] Sheryl: What are your future plans?
[00:21:05] Nicole: This fall I’m actually going to be going to the university of California, Los Angeles or UCLA.
[00:21:11] Go Bruins I’m really excited. I’m going to be majoring in environmental science. I’m hoping to do a minor in environmental engineering with a possible like dual minor in conservation biology. I’m super excited. I’m. I mean, it’s a huge goal to have just like those sort of research opportunities and connections.
[00:21:31] I’m hoping to join the daily Bruin which is their student newspaper. And hopefully either do some like writing or editing. I’m not totally sure yet what I wanna get involved with. Hopefully the local girl scout council, which I think is girl Scouts of greater Los Angeles. Continue doing volunteer work with the girl Scouts, I just, you know, it’s something I grew up with and I can’t imagine leaving that behind, but yeah, I’m just super, super excited for what’s in the future for me.
[00:22:02] Sheryl: Well, that does sound exciting. And, and it’ll be interesting to go from girl Scouts of San Diego, to girl Scouts of greater Los Angeles to very big. Councils and they’re each unique anyway.
[00:22:15] Is there anything I haven’t asked, you’d like to share with the audience?
[00:22:18] Nicole: I would really encourage any girl who is, you know, thinking about doing her girl scout gold word project.
[00:22:27] Or, you know, is maybe worried about it, you know, it’s just to try it and just start the process and just keep going, because I think that’s something that I wish I had heard was just to keep going and keep pushing, because I definitely had lulls. I had multiple month long lulls. Throughout my project, where it was just so overwhelming.
[00:22:47] And I was just like, okay, I just have to put it off for a few months and get back to it. At a later time, I wish I could have gone back and told myself, like, just keep going, just keep talking to people. And that, you know, adults want to see you. Succeed in this project. I think I was really scared of like talking to people in my community and reaching out.
[00:23:07] You know, I didn’t want to be you know, wasting anyone’s time or being a burden, but people really want to see your project succeed and wanna see you succeed and you grow you know, the girl scout gold award has so much recognition nationally that people know what you’re doing. It’s not like. A foreign concept to them.
[00:23:25] And that it’s really something that they can see as both benefiting you again and benefiting the community. So why wouldn’t they wanna help you? But yeah, just, just keep going and just try it, just, you know, do the first steps, just keep going. And, you know, eventually, hopefully you’ll, you know, earn the girl scout gold award and be able to reap all of the amazing benefits for both, you know, you and your community.
[00:23:49] Sheryl: How do you make your s’mores?
[00:23:50] Nicole: Because I’m vegan. I have to get special vegan marshmallows. I especially love the trader Joe’s ones and a non-dairy peanut butter cup in there. Excellent.
[00:24:03] Sheryl: And I’ve heard those trader Joe marshmallows are amazing.
[00:24:06] Nicole: Oh, they’re so good. And they actually last in the pantry for a really long time.
[00:24:10] So if you’re like me and like, you know, you don’t make s’mores too often cause getting the whole bonfire together is a bit of a, a bit of a, a push totally recommend it.
[00:24:20] Sheryl: Well, thank you for joining me today.
[00:24:22] Nicole: Thank you for having me.
[00:24:24] Sheryl: Make sure to click, follow or subscribe. So you always know when new episodes are released.
[00:24:29] And make sure to, power your passion and conquer your challenges.
[00:24:36] Walter: The hearts of gold podcast is brought to you by the grow and share network produced by off the Walter media productions. Thank you for listening and spreading the word on what we do. If you want to share your story of how you earned your goal award, reach out and send an email to growandshare@outlook.com.
[00:24:54] Be sure to listen to the newest episodes on your favorite podcast app, as well as view the full video episodes on youtube.com/SherylMRobinson. That’s youtube.com/Sheryl, the letter M, Robinson. Take care and we’ll see you next time.