Barrington Resident Laura Whipple Earns Highest Girl Scout Award

Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois is pleased to announce Laura Whipple, 17, of Barrington recently received her Girl Scout Gold Award at a ceremony held at Station Middle School in Barrington.

Laura's project, Native Bird Houses, addressed the lack of shelter for native bird species in her community. She worked with local volunteers to create several types of bird houses while educating others on how habitat destruction and invasive species impact local ecosystems. The 38 new birdhouses were built at Crabtree Nature Center where they will be maintained for future generations of birds to enjoy!

The Girl Scout Research Institute found 99% of Gold Award recipients say belonging to Girl Scouts has positively impacted their life while 81% of Gold Award recipients now think of themselves as leaders. 84% of recipient feel they have had success in leadership, and 90% attribute their success in life to Girl Scouts!

About the Girl Scout Gold Award

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award in Girl Scouting. Girls who pursue their Gold Award aspire to transform an idea and vision for change into an actionable plan with measurable, sustainable, and far-reaching results. For over a century, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful change in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award acknowledges the power behind each recipient's dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself but also to making the world a better place for others.