BCAT News

Girl Scout Troop 70240 of Burlington is seeking to highlight various voices of the community in a special publication for their Silver Award.

The Silver Award is for scouts at the Cadette Level (Grades 6th through 8th) and recognizes those who identify a need in their community and address it through a project that can leave a lasting impact and reflect the scouts’ ability to lead, collaborate, and make meaningful contributions to their community.

Troop 70240’s is looking to publish a collection of short stories, poetry, and other creative writings related to gender equality and identity, racism, social justice, the environment and other important. issues.

Heather Medeiros, Troop Leader of 70240, explained how the girls conceived their idea for the book.

“As a troop, the girls spent time discussing issues that they feel are important but not always fully addressed in school or in everyday conversations. Through guided discussion and research, they identified several key areas of focus, including race equality, gender equality, environmental responsibility, self-advocacy and inclusion of individuals with disabilities. From these conversations, they developed a project centered on increasing awareness and encouraging thoughtful community engagement around these topics.”

Community members are invited to submit entries to the book here until May 10.

“We have already begun receiving a few entries and are encouraged by the level of thought and care reflected in the stories.” said Medeiros, “The participation so far demonstrates strong community interest in these topics.”

After the book is published, the troop will also build a Free Little Library where residents can access the book with other titles that promote inclusion, equality, environmental awareness, and self-expression. The troop is also planning a kickoff event in the fall to introduce the project to the community.

Medeiros hopes that the girl scouts will earn valuable leadership skills through accomplishing this project, and in turn raise awareness and encourage dialogue in the community.

“For the girls, this project provides an opportunity to take ownership of an issue, lead with purpose, and see the impact of their work. For the community, the goal is to foster greater awareness, encourage respectful dialogue, and create a shared resource that supports ongoing learning and reflection.”

For further updates, contact Troop through their Facebook page or email.