Local girls attain top scout honor
|
Leslie Bohr, 17, and Jessica Dykes, 17, were among 65 teen Girl Scouts honored from Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. They are members of local Girl Scout Troop 1096, led by Leslie’s mother, Mary Bohr.
The Gold Award – equivalent to the Eagle Scout Award in Boy Scouts – is the organization’s highest leadership honor. It symbolizes a girl’s outstanding achievements in the areas of leadership, community service, career planning, and personal development.
One of the projects the girls worked on to achieve their award was renovating the Fairview Community Center playground. They repaired old chains and seats on the swings, cleaned up the basketball court and created two flower gardens at the facility as well.
“I’m really excited,” Bohr said about receiving the award. She has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and says being a part of the organization has meant a lot to her. “It’s just something that has helped me make friends and has guided me through my adolescence.”
She encourages other girls to try scouting.
“They should join the Girl Scouts because it’s a good way to make friends, participate in various activities and help people.”
Bohr and Dykes have been friends since fourth grade and worked together on all of the projects they had to complete to achieve the award.
“She’s just a really good friend to me,” Leslie said of Jessica.
Jessica had much the same to say about Leslie.
“We’re really close, really good friends.”
The award had been a long-time goal for Jessica.
“I was very proud I earned it,” she said, “I worked very hard for it. I’ve been in Girl Scouts for 11 years and I was very proud to go and receive that award.”
Jessica also feels strongly about the influence scouting has had on her life.
“Girls should definitely get involved in Girl Scouts,” she says, “It’s a lot of fun and will bring a lot of opportunities into their lives.”
Leslie is the daughter of Kenneth and Mary Bohr. Jessica is the daughter of Jeffery and Tonja Dykes.