GSEM Silver Award Project Catalog

Senior Soirée

Silver Award Team: Troop 4127

Issue: Senior citizens often experience loneliness and poor mental health. Root Cause: A lot of senior citizens living in nursing homes lack social activities or events. Target Audience: Residents at Bethesda Dilworth and The Rockwood Senior Living. Sustainability: Residents at the nursing homes are able to keep the donated items for as long as they need.

Project Details: Girl Scout Troop 4127 worked with two retirement homes, Rockwood Senior Living and Bethesda Orchards, to host multiple game and BINGO nights. The troop also hosted a mini performance art series for the residents, where they created original performance pieces including songs, dancing, skits and instrumental concerts. During these events, the troop not only bonded with the residents but helped enhance their mental well-being through personal interactions. The troop plans to continue visiting the senior centers throughout the coming year, while enlisting the help of additional area Girl Scout troops so they can expand their events for the residents.

Raised Sensory Garden Planter

Silver Award Team: Troop 1791

Issue: At Cedarhurst Retirement Home, the existing planter was broken and too low for residents to access, creating a need for a raised replacement. Root Cause: The residents’ old planter had fallen into disrepair due to age and use and staff had no time to fix it.

Project Details: To earn their Girl Scout Silver Award, Cadettes from Troop 1791 wanted to take a creative approach at fixing a planter that had broken at Cedarhurst Retirement Home. Instead of deciding to simply donate another planter, the Girl Scouts looked for ways to turn the planter into a multipurpose item. The Girl Scouts came up with the idea of turning the planter into a sensory garden, as they are known to help with stress and anxiety. The Cadettes certified the planter was raised and easy to use, and encouraged community building among the residents.

Target Audience: Seniors at Cedarhurst Retirement Home.

Sustainability: The planter will stay at the retirement home and will be available for use for many years.