[Fort Myers, FL] — Morgan S., a local Girl Scout Cadette, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award for creating and implementing a brain wellness program for seniors—an initiative that’s already making a lasting difference in her community.

The Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette, in grades 6–8, can earn. To achieve it, girls must identify a community issue, research potential solutions, build a team, plan and carry out a project that addresses the root cause, and ensure their work has sustainable impact. Each project must total a minimum of 50 hours of individual effort.

For Morgan, the issue was deeply personal.

Inspired by time spent with her grandfather at The Palms senior center, Morgan launched a wellness initiative to help residents strengthen their memory, cognition, and mental resilience.

“I planned activities and games that were fun, hands-on, targeted the 5 senses, and designed to keep the brain active,” she said. “By sharing tips, engaging the seniors, and encouraging healthy mental habits, I helped raise awareness about how daily choices can lower dementia risks.”

In addition to presenting information about nutrition, sleep, hydration, and social engagement, she created an easy-to-use “brain health box” that included all the materials and instructions seniors or staff would need to continue the activities well after the program ended.

Morgan also designed an educational poster display on brain health to remain on-site at the center, and shared highlights of her project online through her mother’s Facebook page—where it quickly garnered support from friends, family, and community members.

Morgan completed the entire project independently—from research and planning to outreach, supply shopping, workshop facilitation, and final reporting. The experience, she says, gave her invaluable real-world skills.

“I discovered that I truly can do what I want if I put my mind to it,” she reflected. “Whether it’s consistent planning or speaking up in front of people, getting over constant fears and reaching my goals was extremely satisfying in the end.”

Now part of a proud tradition of Silver Award Girl Scouts, Morgan hopes her project will continue to spark awareness about brain health while encouraging others to take action in their own communities.

To learn more about the Girl Scout Silver Award and how girls can create sustainable change in their own communities, visit www.gsgcf.org.