2026 Reflections Program

GRACE POINTER For her Gold Award project, Grace addressed a significant community challenge: the lack of public knowledge and limited resources available to foster-based pet rescue services. Because organizations like St. Charles based 4 Paws 4 Rescue are entirely self-funded and rely heavily on community involvement, they often face understaffing and struggle to meet growing demand. To increase awareness and support, Grace organized a series of engaging, family-friendly educational events at accessible community spaces, including local public libraries. Each event featured a creative craft activity designed to spark curiosity and open conversations about the role of foster pet services, the needs of rescue organizations, and meaningful ways individuals can get involved. Through these interactive sessions, participants gained a clearer understanding of how foster programs operate and learned practical ways to assist—from volunteering and donating supplies to advocating for foster animals. Grace’s project strengthened community awareness, inspired compassion, and helped build a more informed and supportive network for foster pet organizations throughout the region. MEGAN PRATT When Gold Award Girl Scout Megan noticed that the playground used by her school’s Child Development Program had fallen into disrepair, she decided to take action to create a safer, more welcoming environment for young children and students in the program. Weather damage, outdated equipment, and even a wasp’s nest had made the outdoor play area unsafe and unusable. To address these safety and environmental concerns, Megan led a complete renovation of the playground, replacing the old fence with a new, donated one and removing damaged or hazardous play equipment. She and her team also installed plastic safety barriers and rubberized mulch to create a soft, accessible play surface. With the help of community donations, Megan added new toys and play structures for the preschoolers to enjoy. Understanding the importance of long-term maintenance, Megan collaborated closely with the St. Charles School District maintenance director to ensure the playground will continue to be properly cared for in the years ahead. She also built a new step at the door, making it easier and safer for teachers, students, and children to access the building.

District 14, Troop 4544 Fort Zumwalt North High School 12 years in Girl Scouts Milestones Bronze Award Girl Scout Silver Award Girl Scout 2025 Graduate Girl Scout

District 4, Troop 3970 St. Charles West High School 13 years in Girl Scouts

Milestones Bronze Award Girl Scout 13-Year Girl Scout 2025 Graduate Girl Scout