Dakota Partelow, a member of Girl Scout Troop 608 in Englewood, recently completed her Gold Award project. She transformed a room at Valerie House, a dedicated children’s grief center in Southwest Florida, into a comforting and welcoming space for children to play and cope with grief.

Dakota’s project began with the goal of providing a space for children at the Valerie House to express their emotions and cope with the challenges they face while grieving. She was inspired to complete her project after utilizing the services at Valerie House and recognizing that children could benefit from improved mental health and wellness if they had access to a more welcoming space.

“I reached my goal by restoring the room’s beauty by painting the room,” Dakota said. “The staff at the Valerie House were so stunned by the transformation that they had no words.”

Recognizing the therapeutic benefits of play in processing grief, Dakota also created designated play areas for the children with a rug for playing with cars. This space was designed to encourage a safe and comforting environment for them to express themselves. She gathered donated toys, books, and stuffed animals from her fellow troop members and added two comfortable bean bag chairs, which she purchased with funds raised by making and selling chocolate lollipops.

“I can do things that I didn’t believe I could do,” Dakota reflected on the completion of her project.

Despite facing learning differences that make communication a challenge, Dakota was able to overcome these obstacles with the support of her family, troop leaders, and sister Girl Scouts, demonstrating remarkable growth through her project.

Kathy Van Note, Dakota’s troop leader, witnessed Dakota’s progress firsthand. “Communication is a leadership skill. Dakota grew by being able to talk to people.” Van Note shared. “She also grew as a young woman and was starting to be able to talk with adults at the counseling center. She has a very hard time talking to people, but in the years that she has been with me, I am so proud of how well she is doing with her peers and adults. She was a delegate for our service unit. In the beginning, you did not hear a word from her, but this past year she started talking in front of all these adults.”

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn. The award requires the completion of a sustainable project that addresses a community issue. The project requires over 80 hours of dedicated planning, research, and implementation and must demonstrate leadership and have a measurable, sustainable impact on the community. Through this achievement, girls build essential life skills such as leadership, problem-solving, and time management.

By taking on this project, Dakota has made a lasting impact on her community and developed valuable skills that will serve her throughout her life. Dakota’s project will continue to benefit the Valerie House as her sister has committed to regularly checking in and ensuring that the space remains welcoming for the children who visit.

Dakota will receive formal recognition for her Gold Award at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s annual Young Women of Distinction Ceremony in May.