By Jasmine Burns
On Saturday, November 23, 2024, three Stafford Girl Scouts from Troop # 65046 were honored by their troop, families, friends, and representatives from Girl Scouts of CT, town government, the Board of Education, and other town organizations for their outstanding achievements and dedication to the community. The three members, Kinsley Burns (a 10th-year and 4th-generation Girl Scout), Lida R. Carroll (a 6th-year Girl Scout), and Quinn Kritzky (a 10th-year Girl Scout), were honored for completing their Girl Scout Silver Award projects in September 2024. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the second highest in Girl Scouting. The girls earn the award by focusing on an issue they care about, building a team, exploring their community, picking, planning, and putting their Take Action project into action. They demonstrate an understanding of sustainability and the wider world and share what they have learned with others. Each project required approximately 50 hours, from brainstorming to submitting the final reports.
Quinn Kritzky’s project was to improve the unofficial path between the library and the high school’s lower field. The publicly created path is routinely used by school sports teams and during town activities like Summer Fest. This path had not been maintained as an “official pedestrian path” other than by good-intentioned town members using pallets and plywood to bridge the waterway that runs through. This was not the safest solution and has led to injuries.
After many meetings, discussions, and approvals, the final design was decided as a decked walkway and bridge. Quinn worked with her family, the town of Stafford First Selectman, the Building and Zoning departments, the Inland & Wetlands Commission, the Stafford Schools Facility Director, Stafford Public Works, and the Stafford Rotary and SHS Interact Club. Next time you are at the library or an outdoor event at Stafford High School, stroll on the new pathway.
Kinsley Burns and Lida R. Carroll decided to work jointly on their project. Kinsley and Lida’s final project was not their original idea; the girls had to pivot and modify their project while keeping with their main idea. Their project is called M.A.A.L.T. and addresses the lack of knowledge by people on how to handle situations that may arise with those who are neuro-divergent. Sometimes, those who encounter or volunteer with children/teens are not from medical, therapeutic, or educational backgrounds. They may not know how to help a struggling child/teen when this occurs. The girls created a step-by-step process to help people interact with neuro-divergent children and teens. They made a video providing information and processes that can be used to identify a potential issue, react to the situation, and help the struggling child/teen. They also wanted the process to be used with those children/teens who are neuro-typically presenting.
With the assistance of co-leaders Jennifer Kelly and myself, Jasmine Burns and Marc Warnock, at Cox North Central Studio, the girls presented M.A.A.L.T. The girls made their video public by putting it on YouTube, and Marc added it to the local television channel. You can view the video at M.A.A.L.T (A step-by-step process to handling situations with neuro-divergent children/teens).
As a parent and Girl Scout troop leader, the families and I could not be more proud of these three girls. They deserve acknowledgment and gratitude for the hard work and dedication that they have provided to our town and communities as they continue to make our world a better place. Congratulations girls.