Forks Township Girl Scout Strives for Gold Award

Seventeen-year-old Gabrielle Medina has been a member of the Girl Scouts for nearly 10 years, and this summer she will be earning her Gold Award, the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, through an ambitious venture of her own design.

Medina, who will be entering the 12th grade this year, has many accomplishments as a scout: She has done countless volunteer hours, has worked at a dance studio in Roseto for a year, has been a camp counselor for several years running, and has earned her Silver Award, all leading up to this top accolade.

Medina joined the Forks Township Girl Scout troop in first grade. “I had just moved here from Jersey, so it was sort of a way to make new friends,” she said.

According to the Girl Scouts website, a scout going for her Gold Award must complete a project plan that has a measurable impact on a community issue. While thinking up a project for her Gold Award, Medina’s mother happened across an article that pertained to her dilemma.

“My mom read an article that said that Forks Township needed more non-recreational activities… that there was too much emphasis on sports in the area,” Medina explained.

 “It was perfect timing,” said Paulette McKenna, Medina’s mother and a Girl Scout troop leader in Nazareth. “Everything came together perfectly.”

For her project, Medina has organized a weeklong summer camp for girls, the theme of which is “Girl Empowerment Week.” Any girls ages 10 to 14, not just Girl Scouts, are invited to the day camp.

“Basically I’ll be teaching girls activities that they’ve never done or wouldn’t normally do… sports, dance, anti-bullying tactics, yoga and meditation… and self-esteem tips,” Medina said.

The camp will be held for one week, Aug. 8 to Aug. 12 from 9 am to noon at Braden Airfield in Forks.

Most of her troop and some scout mothers are volunteering to help out. One mother will be coming to teach yoga and meditation; Dr. Meagan Grega, co-founder of the Kellyn Foundation of Bethlehem, will be joining to teach about nutrition and healthy living, and professionals from the Center for Humanistic Change will attend with self-esteem tips and anti-bullying techniques.

As of June 15, Medina has around 15 girls signed up for the camp. To sign up, girls may send an email to Gabrielle Medina at mrillnt@ptd.net. The camp is free to attend; the only thing Medina asks is that campers bring a donation of supplies for baby bundles (diapers, formula, blankets, bottles or toys) to be donated to the Third Street Alliance.

Medina, who is home-schooled, will be finishing her high school career in the 2011-2012 year. She also plans to take classes at Northampton Community College this coming year. Although she is still seeking the right college, she hopes to major in Marketing or Fashion Merchandising, with a minor in dance.

Elaborating on her inspirations for pursuing her project, Medina said, “A lot of girls today lose sight of their goals… they become under the spell of these MTV reality shows… that glamorize teen pregnancy and things like that. I want to inspire girls to reach for their dreams.”