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Girl Scouts honored for Sand Hill Elementary School project
Gabby Carey
Gabby Carey puts the finishing touches on the Baby Bean Bag Toss at Sand Hill Elementary School. - photo by Photo submitted

Girl Scout Troop 30197’s Gabby Carey and Peyton Heller received the Bronze Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Junior may earn, in Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia’s first Virtual High Awards Cere-mony on May 3. 

To earn this award, each girl must work a minimum of 20 hours on a sustainable project that benefits their community. 

During the ceremony, words of congratulations and encouragement were given by CEO of Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia Sue Else, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA Sylvia Acevedo and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter.

Upon learning that Sand Hill Elementary School teachers had an interest in having blacktop games available for their students, Carey and Heller decided that topic would be the perfect project for them. The girls spent well over the required minimum of 20 hours of work as they planned, researched and painted the games. They also shopped for game supplies to donate to the school. The girls repainted the existing Hopscotch and Four-Square games and then added Checkers, Bean Bag Toss and a basketball court.

The girls had to work around several rain delays and in the summer heat. Carey and Heller said they learned patience, about working with a partner and the difficulty coordinating schedules. 

Heller stated that she had a lot of fun working to provide the games for the students at her old elementary school. Carey added that she wanted to do the project because she would have liked having games like this at her elementary school.

The girls thank Principal Christy Brown for allowing them the opportunity to provide this service to Sand Hill. They hope these games will be enjoyed by hundreds of students for years to come. They now have their eyes set on earning the Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette may earn.

In Girl Scouts, the next opportunity to stand up, speak up and take the lead is never far away. Participants will discover the G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader)™ in them. The possibilities are truly endless. 

Discover all you can be and everything you can accomplish when you have the right tools and a safe space to shine — and work together to change the world.

Ready to join? Visit gshg.org or call 478-935-2221 to get started today! Girls wanting to join an Effingham County troop may email effinghamgagirlscouts@gmail.com for more information.