Girl Scouts 'Pay It Forward'
Angela Becker, age 13, Alex Kearney, age 13, and Kaity McDougall, age 13, of Girl Scout Troop 421 took a big step toward earning the Girl Scout Silver Award at the April Crystal Lake city council meeting when the mayor officially approved their proclamation to declare April 26-May 2 as Pay It Forward Week in Crystal Lake.
The girls' goal is to increase local kindness by encouraging others to do good deeds without asking for anything in return, except that the recipients do something kind for someone else.
The girls formulated their project plan after their troop did a random act of kindness for the Crystal Lake Fire Department. The girls baked cupcakes and delivered them with a thank-you note.
"They had a blast doing it and felt that the fire fighters really appreciated it," says Kim Becker, Troop 421 Leader. The girls started researching ways they could use random acts of kindness in earning their Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6-8) can earn. Eventually, they decided to create a Pay It Forward project.
The girls chose Diana Kenney, executive director of Downtown Crystal Lake/Main Street, as their project adviser. Kenney helped the girls brainstorm, listened and advised on the project, even suggesting the girls ask the mayor for a proclamation to make the project official.
Together the girls designed a website and email flyer for individuals and businesses. McDougall created a logo, and the girls decided to use it on all of their materials, including a congratulations card. The girls also did a presentation to local Girl Scout volunteers about their project and invited them to make book marks advertising the project.
The girls are not revealing what they plan to do during Pay it Forward Week, because they want people to be surprised. They are encouraging people to write or post pictures of Pay It Forward activities on their website at payitforwardcl.wix.com/pay-it-forward-cl.
"The girls want to emphasize that Pay It Forward isn't about buying something for someone. There are lots of good deeds that require little to no money. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, old or young," says Becker. "Everyone can do something to spread kindness. If every person does just one extra act of kindness, we can show the world that Crystal Lake truly is 'A good place to live.'"
Community members wishing to participate in Pay It Forward Week can email questions or activities to payitforwardcl@outlook.com; visit the girls' website at payitforwardcl.wix.com/pay-it-forward-cl; search and like Pay It Forward Crystal Lake on Facebook, or check out payitforwardcl on Instagram.
Going for the Girl Scout Silver Award - the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn - gives girls the chance to show that they are leaders who are organized, determined, and dedicated to improving their community. Steps in earning the Silver Award include completing a Girl Scout Cadette Journey, identifying issues girls care about, building a team or going solo, exploring the community, and choosing or creating a Take Action! project. It typically takes girls 50-plus hours to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award.