Teen earns Gold Award

A very passionate Woodinville teenager, Liza Schmidt, went above and beyond the call of duty to educate younger students about orca whales, their marine world, and the dangers they face today.

To complete her Gold Award, Liza organized three two-hour community outreach workshops for 1st through 6th graders in order to inspire them to protect orca whales and their habitat. She chose this age group because they are ambitious, open to new ideas, and have a lifetime to develop whale-friendly habits and conserve the marine environments where whales thrive.

Liza worked for more than 70 hours to make lesson plans which included facts, crafts, activities, writing assignments, and coloring pages. Her focus was on raising local students' awareness of orcas and the impact the students' actions have on the health and safety of whales. She also created a presentation and demonstrated it along with her lesson plans to a local school, a church, and a Girl Scout Brownie troop.

"I like the support that the Girl Scouting community has shown for women in science," Liza says. "I was able to challenge my leadership skills and expand them more. This project was a great opportunity to stretch my abilities in public speaking and taking charge. I also learned how to manage time much more efficiently," Liza admits.

Girl Scouts teaches girls like Liza to value and be responsible custodians of our natural resources. She earned her Girl Scout Gold Award – the highest and most prestigious leadership award in Girl Scouting – by successfully identifying a need, taking action, and leading others.

Lisa is a running start student at Everett Community College and participates in the Ocean Research College Academy where she hopes to complete her Associate of Science degree and transfer to a four-year university. In order to complete her Gold Award project, Liza utilized resources through the community college and partnered with many companies and nonprofit organizations including the Seattle Aquarium, People for Puget Sound, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Girls who earn the Girl Scout Gold Award are eligible for a variety of scholarships to continue their education at over 100 colleges and universities.