Bronze Award Project

The Girls Scouts in Troop 106005 enjoy riding their bikes and take pride in practicing bike safety. To help keep other bike riders safe, the girls installed a bike repair stand at a local park. Then, they invited a Daisy troop to the park for a bike safety clinic. Their concern for other bike riders and their community earned the Junior troop a Bronze Award.

The Bronze Award is the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn. Girls must spend up to 20 hours working on a community issue that is deeply important to them. After choosing an issue, the girls develop a plan, carry it out, and spread the word about their project.

The troop installed the bike repair station at Cypress Creek Park at Timberlane in Spring with the help of a troop dad. The troop got the idea from Harris County Precinct 4, which has a list of park projects that community members can complete. The troop chose to install the repair station purchased by the precinct.

The troop dad helped the girls drill holes into the concrete to secure the repair station to the ground. The girls took turns using the drill with close guidance. The station, which has cables that tether from the stand and hold bike tools like an air pump, screwdrivers, wrenches, and tire levers, is a godsend for bike riders.

After installing the bike station in May, Troop 106005 later hosted the bike safety clinic at the park in April. After the clinic, all the girls went for a bike ride. As they rode their bikes, they saw a boy using the repair station they had installed. The troop has its meetings at the park, so they see people using it all the time now, said Troop Leader Liz Stevens.

The girls said they had fun working together to create the poster and flyer for the bike safety clinic. Troop member Sara said the girls watched videos about bike safety and then brainstormed ideas for the poster content. They ended up with seven bullet points about bike safety. “We told the younger girls they should wear bright colors, know the signals for left and right turns, always wear a helmet and knee pads, and always be aware of their surroundings,” Sara said. Vanna, also a troop member, said she enjoyed sharing information with the younger girls and that talking to them was easy. “My sister was one of the Daisies, so I was used to talking to little kids,” said Vanna, an avid bike rider. She said her troop made the clinic exciting by allowing time for the younger girls to ask questions. At the end of the clinic, the girls asked the Daisies review questions. She said the Daisies “did pretty good” answering the questions. “It makes me feel really good having all this knowledge, and it makes me want to share it with other girls,” Vanna said. “It’s like having cupcakes at school. You have them, and you want to share them.”

She and Sara said they feel proud of themselves and their troop for earning the Bronze Award. It took all of them and their parents to make it possible for the troop to achieve the award, they said.

The other girls in the troop are Ava, Derrion, Gabrielle, Kaitlynn, and Niyah.

Ch’rai, a member of Troop 118159, also earned a Bronze Award for a similar project on bike safety. She made a video about bike safety using her cell phone. Her dad helped her edit the video. Ch’rai later gave a presentation and showed her video during a safety program at her school.

She said she is glad she completed the project because “it’s something that will help the community.” She is also excited about earning the Bronze Award. “It’s an example that Girl Scouts can do anything if you put your heart to it and try your best,” Ch’rai said. Her troop leader posted the video on the troop’s YouTube page.