Utah Girl Scout Champions Forever Green Program Girl Scouts of Utah believes in girls taking the lead and recently appointed Salt Lake Girl Scout Sarah M., then just 15 years old, to serve as the "girl champion" for the Girl Scouts Forever Green Program, a new initiative piloted by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA). The purpose of the Girl Scout Forever Green Program is to teach girls to help the environment by saving energy, conserving water, improving indoor and outdoor air quality, and reducing waste. Girl Scouts Forever Green projects begin at the school level, fostering a healthier learning environment that results in improved school performance, student morale, and confidence. Students also achieve a greater sense of responsibility and connectedness to the environment and their communities. Utah's Girl Scouts Forever Green projects included "No Idling" campaigns and recycling programs at local schools. Girls also attended special events, such as an exclusive meeting with Wade Davis, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, and participated in a fun capstone event with the University of Utah's Lowell Bennion Center's Bend-in-the-River. Sarah provided guidance to the girls through the program's duration. "I led the girls and served as a mentor for them on their projects," she said. While the responsibility of leading girls could be a challenge at times, Sarah was excited about the friendships formed through the experience.

In June, GSUSA held a program debriefing at their headquarters in Manhattan, New York, to discuss program details. As champion for program efforts in Utah, Sarah attended the event and shared her experiences with adult council representatives from all over the country as part of a panel discussion.

"Girl Scouts has given me the chance to overcome fears," she shared. Public speaking can be a challenge for anyone but Sarah courageously addressed a room full of individuals more than twice her age.

It is evident that Sarah loves Girl Scouting and she has sought out opportunities for leadership development and personal growth. She earned her Girl Scout Silver Award in 2008 and is now pondering potential projects for her Gold Award project. "Girl Scouts has helped me discover my strengths and develop confidence. I am learning how to be a good role model for others." Sarah said.

Today's Girl Scouts are leading in new and exciting ways and Sarah has shown the great success that can come when girls raise their voices on issues that matter most to them. All of Girl Scouts of Utah's Forever Green girls have learned the importance of environmental stewardship and embraced their role as citizens of a global community. Thank you, Sarah, for setting the example for others to follow.

"Being able to represent all the girls back home at the Girl Scouts Forever Green debrief was an amazing experience. The feeling you get when you realize that what you say can impact thousands of girls is just wonderful. Being the first Girl Scouts Forever Green girl chair in the country was also great. After sharing my experiences with the other councils, many will take our idea of a Girl Champion taking the lead and apply into their future projects, whether it be just one girl or a whole board of girls."

Do you have a Girl Scout story to share? Email it to communications@gsutah.org.