Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is proud to announce that Anna Sherman, a recent graduate at Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award—the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.
For her project, Athletic Zen: Building Mindfulness in Sports, Anna devoted 80 hours to creating resources that address the stress and pressure faced by student-athletes. Through a website, guidebook, and workshops, she provided mindfulness practices, journaling prompts, coloring pages, and videos to help athletes, coaches, and parents manage anxiety, strengthen focus, and build resilience. Her work ensures that student-athletes at her school and beyond have sustainable tools to support their mental well-being, including physical guidebooks now available in the school counselor’s office and a digital Canvas page for ongoing access.
The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts annually and challenges young women to identify a community need, develop a sustainable solution, and demonstrate leadership while dedicating at least 80 hours to their project. Gold Award Girl Scouts stand out in college applications, earn scholarships, and gain recognition from institutions and organizations nationwide.
“Anna’s project shows how important it is to support mental health in athletics,” said Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian. “Girl Scouts encourages girls to be friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, and to make the world a better place: it’s right in our Girl Scout Law. Anna’s Gold Award project exemplifies these values, and the resources she created will support students for years to come.”
According to the State of the Florida Girl Report, over half of Florida girls felt sad or hopeless for 2+ weeks in a row, and 1 in 4 seriously considered attempting suicide.
The report also found that in Girl Scouts, adult volunteers like troop leaders are proven to support overall positive mental health in girls. In fact, in a 2020 study focused on mental health support, girls cited their troop leader as the #1 source of positive mental health – above friends, family, and school.
With her Gold Award project, Anna has joined generations of Girl Scouts who have made sustainable change in their communities while exemplifying courage, confidence, and character.##
The Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared,” and seventeen-year-old Catelyn Holcomb is embodying this by making a life-saving impact in her community through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Operation Hometown Heroes.
This innovative project, developed in collaboration with the Sanibel Fire Department, provided hands-on emergency response training to local youth, equipping them with critical skills in fire safety, CPR, and first aid.
Operation Hometown Heroes was designed to address the lack of accessible emergency response education among young people. Through a two-day interactive camp, Holcomb and her team empowered third through eighth graders with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in emergency situations. Campers learned essential life-saving skills, including how to perform CPR, use a fire extinguisher, and administer basic first aid.
“Increasing public awareness and educating the community was the goal of my Gold Award project,” said Holcomb. “By educating children through the camp—and, in turn, their friends and family—I aimed to increase the number of people in my community who know how to perform CPR. This could potentially raise the percentage of individuals who receive immediate CPR above 40% and improve overall survival rates.”
The camp featured demonstrations by local firefighters, police officers, and EMTs, offering participants a firsthand look at the roles of first responders. Hands-on activities included fire extinguisher training, emergency simulations, and interactive lessons on when and how to call 911. The participants also dissected animals and met with detectives to learn about police work.
The success of the program was made possible through the support of local sponsors, including the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce, Sanibel Glass, Costco, Sanibel Deli, and The Magic Bus. Their contributions helped provide essential materials such as t-shirts, meals, and emergency preparedness resources.
Holcomb’s efforts align with national initiatives aimed at improving public safety awareness and emergency response preparedness. Recognizing the impact of her project, she has begun developing a curriculum that will allow other fire departments to implement similar training programs in their communities.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, awarded to Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts who identify a community issue and develop sustainable solutions. Gold Award projects require at least 80 hours of work and demonstrate leadership, creativity, and lasting impact.
Show your appreciation for bus drivers by participating in School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on April 22nd!
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida celebrated School Bus Safety Week in Oct. 2023. (Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida)
Every school day, bus drivers ensure that students get to and from school safely, often going above and beyond to provide a friendly smile, a word of encouragement, and a sense of security. School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, taking place from April 22, is the perfect opportunity to recognize their hard work and dedication.
For Girl Scouts, this is a chance to come together and express gratitude in a meaningful way. On Tuesday, April 22 Girl Scouts can personally deliver thank-you cards to the drivers who keep our communities moving.
Why School Bus Driver Appreciation Day Matters
School bus drivers are often unsung heroes, rising early and navigating busy roads to transport students safely. Many develop strong relationships with the children they drive, offering encouragement and ensuring a safe, positive experience each day. Their job requires patience, attentiveness, and care, and this special day is dedicated to recognizing their invaluable service.
How Girl Scouts Can Participate
Participating in this initiative is simple and impactful. Troops are encouraged to:
✔ Download and print thank-you cards or design your own. ✔ Fill them out together as a troop with personal messages of appreciation. ✔ Wear Girl Scout uniforms to proudly represent the organization. ✔ Deliver the thank-you cards in person to bus drivers.
By delivering thank-you cards directly to the drivers, Girl Scouts can brighten their day and remind them that their work is truly valued. This simple act of kindness strengthens community ties and helps young girls develop empathy and gratitude—key values in Girl Scouting.
Share the Appreciation!
We’d love to see your troop in action! Take photos (with permission) and share them on social media using #ThankYouBusDrivers and tag our account @GirlScoutsofGulfcoastFlorida to spread the love and inspire others to show appreciation.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is proud to announce continued funding from United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties, reinforcing a decades-long partnership that empowers girls through leadership development, STEM education, and financial accessibility to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
United Way has been instrumental in supporting Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. The most recent funding allocations will directly enhance programming in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties by covering membership fees, troop supplies, and program scholarships for families facing financial hardships.
This year, United Way’s funding also helped launch the Mad Lab STEM Program, a hands-on initiative designed to engage girls in science, technology, engineering, and math through immersive learning experiences. The Mad Lab STEM Day at Camp Caloosa in Lee County, hosted in December, introduced Girl Scouts to robotics, engineering challenges, virtual exploration, and interactive science experiments. The girls gained skills and knowledge in a fun and supportive environment.
“United Way’s steadfast partnership allows us to expand our reach and provide life-changing experiences for girls who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, our unique, results-driven curriculum, girls develop practical skills in leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving—giving them a lifelong advantage in any path they choose. Whether they’re exploring STEM, taking on entrepreneurship, or leading service projects, they gain confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation that will serve them well into adulthood.”
Through this partnership, Girl Scouts in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties will continue to develop leadership skills, explore career pathways, and engage in meaningful service projects that strengthen their communities.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian with Girl Scouts Olivia T. and Mackenzie S.
A groundbreaking study, the State of the Florida Girl Report, has revealed significant challenges facing girls across the state, particularly in academics, physical health, mental wellness, and social well-being. The findings were unveiled on Jan. 29 at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida headquarters in Sarasota, where CEO Mary Anne Servian underscored the urgency of addressing these issues.
“Through the commissioning of this report, we are taking critical steps toward understanding the challenges girls face in our communities,” Servian said. “We all know that girls are full of potential. But what this research confirms is that today’s girls are facing unprecedented struggles, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are struggling in the classroom, in their relationships, and with their mental and emotional health.”
The report, commissioned by the Girl Scouts of Florida—a coalition of six councils serving girls statewide—analyzed publicly available data from reliable sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Florida Department of Education. Through unpaid collaborations with peer reviewers in institutions of higher learning across the state of Florida, the areas of analysis and related charts and graphs were reviewed for themes, context, and unintended biases.
The substantiated findings paint a troubling picture of gender disparities in key areas of well-being for Florida youth.
Source: Florida Girl Scouts
Among the most alarming findings:
Girls in Florida are three times more likely than boys to experience sexual violence.
One in six high school girls reported experiencing sexual violence in the past year.
Twice as many girls seriously consider attempting suicide.
More high school girls misuse controlled substances compared to their male peers.
One in eight female students reported missing school due to safety concerns.
More than half (52%) of high school girls reported symptoms of depression.
High school girls are 1.5 times more likely than boys to vape or use nicotine, with nearly 20% engaging in these behaviors.
Servian emphasized that these findings demand action. “We are reaching out to schools, foundations, and elected officials to share this critical information,” she said. “We are meeting with state leaders and policymakers to advocate for stronger mental health support in schools and expanded access to after-school programs.”
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Board of Directors Appointed Girl Representative and Gold Award Girl Scout Olivia Trader spoke about how her experience in Girl Scouting over the last 13 years has positively impacted her life.Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Board of Directors Girl Member at Large, Mackenzie Shockey, shared how Girl Scouts has helped her overcome social anxiety and become a leader in her community.
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida will take their advocacy directly to Tallahassee in March, bringing Girl Scouts in grades 7-12 to the Florida Capitol. There, they will meet with legislators and discuss the pressing issues highlighted in the report.
The report also explored the root causes behind these challenges, pointing to the immense social pressures placed on girls. “Several troubling trends presented in the report fundamentally stem from unrealistic expectations,” the study noted. “From body image concerns to rising levels of anxiety and depression, girls are adapting to the damaging demands of social pressure.”
One of the report’s key recommendations is to provide girls with safe, supportive, single-sex environments—such as those offered through Girl Scouts. In girls-only settings, they feel safe to talk about issues they wouldn’t necessarily talk about with boys, try out new activities without a fear of failure, and experience less pressure to look or act a certain way.
“An all-girl environment presents better outcomes in mental health interventions and academic performance,” the report stated. “Girls benefit in deep, important ways from a supportive, all-girl setting that may not always be available through family or school.”
As Florida grapples with these findings, the Girl Scouts of Florida continue to push for systemic change, advocating for policies and programs that will empower girls and help them thrive.
Savannah Stewart, District Aide for Rep. McFarland (HD73) and Debbie Trice, Vice Mayor City of Sarasota attended the event to hear the report’s startling findings.From left: Heather Hackett, founder and CEO of Local Relief; Tim and Cynthia Holliday, owners of Children’s World Uniform Supply and Girl Scout volunteers; Background: Susan Trader, Girl Scout mom and volunteer; and Richard Cyphers, former GSGCF Board President.Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida aims to expand partnerships with local schools, businesses, and organizations to develop new programs and policies that advocate for the well-being of girls in Florida.The Pledge of Allegiance
Since 1989, the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. Board of Directors has awarded college scholarships to graduating high school senior Girl Scouts. Girl Scouting provides opportunities for girls to develop skills, leadership, and citizenship. The Board established this scholarship fund to recognize outstanding young women for their achievements and academic success while encouraging them to pursue higher education.
Eligibility criteria and the application for the 2025 Dr. Elinor Crawford College Scholarship Fundare available on the council website. The completed application, including all required attachments and letters of recommendation, must be received by March 5, 2025.
We remember Dr. Elinor Crawford for so many reasons. She was a friend, an advocate for all women and girls, and a dedicated board and committee member. In 1987, she helped establish the Girl Scout Scholarship Committee, which was later renamed The Dr. Elinor Crawford Girl Scout College Scholarship Fund in her honor. She remained actively involved in the committee for many years, taking great pride in reading each application and celebrating the achievements of young women. She cherished every thank-you letter and was deeply moved by the impact the scholarship had on recipients.
As a professor of physical education at the University of Northern Iowa for 30 years, Elinor played a crucial role in advocating for gender equality in education. Crawford joined the UNI faculty in 1949 as an instructor in the Department of Physical Education for Women. She was named acting head of the department in 1975 and head in 1977. She retired in 1979. She was instrumental in developing the women’s intercollegiate athletic program in 1968 and also served some years as women’s field hockey coach. She was a key contributor to the writing and passage of Title IX, the landmark federal legislation that transformed opportunities for girls and women in sports and education. Her legacy lives on in the achievements of countless female athletes and scholars.
Dr. Elinor Crawford passed away in 2016, but her dedication to empowering young women continues through the scholarship that bears her name.
Over 50 eager Girl Scouts from across the Gulfcoast Florida region gathered at Naples Airport on Saturday, September 21, for an inspiring Girls in Aviation Day event, hosted in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.
This special event, designed to empower young girls with knowledge about aviation and highlight women’s contributions in the field, featured an engaging tour of Naples Airport. Participants had the unique opportunity to explore various aircraft, guided by experienced professionals.
Highlights of the day included hands-on activities such as sitting in a Cessna, practicing a pilot’s checklist, and mastering airfield communication using marshalling signals.
The event also included a captivating Q&A session with a female pilot, providing valuable insights into the excitement and possibilities within the aviation industry. This interactive session encouraged girls to consider aviation not only as a thrilling hobby but also as a promising career path.
“This event was a fantastic opportunity for our Girl Scouts to explore the world of aviation firsthand,” Mary Anne Servian, CEO at Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “We’re grateful to Naples Airport for their partnership in making this day both educational and inspirational. Experiences like these help our girls envision their futures in fields they may not have previously considered.”
Girls in Aviation Day at Naples Airport was open exclusively to registered Girl Scout adult members with approved background checks, ensuring a safe and enriching environment for all participants. Adults were able to register on a first-come, first-served basis, reflecting the event’s popularity and the community’s enthusiasm for introducing girls to new opportunities.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. 