Girl Scouts Cadettes Achieve Silver Award for Project Breathe
On May 12th, the Cadettes from Troop 05922 were awarded the Silver Award for their project “Project Breathe: Green Corner Oasis” by Ms. Kelly Bullard, Executive Director of USA Girl Scouts Overseas. The troop members include Grace G., Jacqueline R., Vivian F., Carina Z., and Erica S., all Grade 6 students at Concordia International School Shanghai.
The Cadettes were recently interviewed to learn more about their Girl Scouts experience and their “Project Breathe: Green Corner Oasis.” This is what we learned:
1) How long have you (each) been in Girl Scouts?
Grace: Two years. I joined Girl Scouts in 5th grade as a Junior and earned my Bronze Award during that time (Project ReUniform: Greener, Sportier, Smarter Uniform). This year I am returning as a 6th grade Cadette.
Jacqueline, Carina, Vivian and Erica: We are all new members who joined Girl Scouts in 6th grade as Cadettes this year.
We supported and learned from one another throughout the whole project.
2) What is your favorite part about being in Girl Scouts?
Carina: We love working together as a team to turn creative ideas into meaningful plans and contribute to our school community. Everyone brings different strengths to the group, and we enjoy collaborating, learning new skills and building close friendships along the way.
3) How did the idea for Project Breathe originate?
We noticed many classmates feel stressed with heavy schoolwork, and our campus lacks quiet green areas to relax. After learning that nature and plants can ease pressure and improve well-being, we came up with the idea of Green Corner Oasis. We teamed up with our Troop Leader and Mr. David Dasari, High School Curriculum Coordinator and the school’s Sustainability Coordinator, to carry out the whole project. We also created environmental posters to share eco-friendly knowledge. This project is our work for the Silver Award.
4) Why is Project Breathe important to you five?
Project Breathe is important to us because it lets us create a peaceful green space on campus that brings comfort and warmth to everyone. We believe small environmental actions can make a big difference in our school community.
Grace: I feel so happy and meaningful to share my experience with new friends and help everyone get familiar with Girl Scout activities, then finish the project successfully.
Vivian: I think the Project Breathe is very important to me, because working together to build the Green Corner makes me more responsible and teaches me the value of teamwork. Also, the Green Corner brings fresh air and a calm atmosphere to our café area. So I think this project carries forward the spirit of Girl Scouts, which means a lot to me.
5) Project information
• Project name: Project Breathe: Green Corner Oasis
• Timeline: We spent 6 months on research, site analysis, plant selection, design and budget planning
• Team responsibilities:
Grace: Coordinated the overall project progress and connected with teachers.
Jacqueline: Took charge of plant research and selection, picking suitable plants for the green corner.
Carina: Designed the overall layout of the green corner and created mood stickers for the area.
Vivian: Distributed questionnaires to gather students’ feedback and promote related environmental knowledge around campus.
Erica: Designed environmental posters to introduce and advocate for the Green Corner Oasis.
6) What do you hope happens after your project?
We hope to keep promoting the value of adding green spaces on campus and share more environmental knowledge with fellow students. We also wish our thoughtful plan can inspire more peers to care about environmental protection and come up with creative ideas to make our school a better place.
Erica: I hope everyone will love our Green Corner and take care of it. It will always bring warmth and peace to us all.
Jacqueline: May everyone cherish our Green Corner. When you feel down or upset, may it calm you down, and bring you warmth and ease once again.
7) Now that you’ve earned the Silver Award, what is your next step?
We will start our next Amaze Journey. As we are moving from Grade 6 to Grade 7, we are entering an important adolescent stage. This journey perfectly matches our current needs, focusing on self-awareness, emotional management, building positive friendships and resolving peer conflicts properly. We believe these skills will help all of us grow through adolescence smoothly, and also contribute to a more harmonious, friendly campus environment for everyone. Make Our School Better!
8) Additional information
This is our first large-scale team project. We learned how to communicate with teachers, organize fundraising plans and polish our design ideas. We sincerely thank our Troop Leader, Mrs. Christine Wang and Mr. David Dasari for their guidance. We believe every small idea can bring positive changes, and Project Breathe is just the beginning of our journey to build a warmer and greener community.
For the detailed presentation for this project, please click on “Breathe Journey.”
