Sara and Katy Zaloudek assist Magnolia Springs at Bridgewater while working on Girl Scout Gold and Silver awards
Before opening, Magnolia Springs at Bridgewater, a new assisted living community on Carey Road between 146th and 151st streets, was receiving support from the Westfield community and two young residents. Sisters Sara and Katy Zaloudek each worked on their Girl Scout projects to assist residents, better the environment and increase awareness for Alzheimer’s.
Sara, 17, a junior at Westfield High School and a member of Troop No. 1462, completed her Gold Award project as her younger sister, Katy, 13, an eighth grader at Westfield Middle School and a member of Troop No. 931, worked on her Silver Award.
“They are entirely different projects,” said Sara, “but we were able to help each other out.”
Sara’s Gold Award project
Sara’s project, Larene’s Forget Me Not Sensory Garden, is in honor of her grandmother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s nine years ago.
“It’s a struggle for our family. … It’s hard to communicate with her,” Sara said, adding that her projects have allowed her to work with the Alzheimer’s Association and learn more about the disease.
For her Silver Award, Sara planted 1,500 Forget Me Not plants in downtown Westfield. Sara said she knew she wanted to expand on her work with the Alzheimer’s Association and found a flier about Magnolia Springs.
“That really sparked my interest,” she said. “The sensory garden has herbs and different plants that can trigger the senses. They can smell, touch and see different colors.”
Sara said Suzie Platte at Perennials Plus donated 72 plants (valued at $750) to her project. In addition, Sara grew 25 to 30 potted plants at her home during the summer that were transplanted to Magnolia Springs.
“We laid out every single plant based on height, width and color on four pieces of paper. It took a lot of planning,” Sara said.
Sara began her project on Nov. 26, 2013.
“It’s great to know I have it done,” she said, adding patience was the biggest skill she learned during the process. “I learned to go with the flow, patience and time management. It also helped improve my skills of leadership. I was learning just as much as the people I was leading.”
While her project is complete, Sara remains an active sight at Magnolia Springs. She volunteers her time teaching an iPad class.
“I’m really involved in technology,” Sara said, adding that she plans to attend Indiana or Purdue university and major in the computer technology or computer information technology.
Katy’s Silver Award project
For Katy’s project, she built potting benches and bird feeders on 10 brightly colored shepherd hooks.
“Residents can feel like they are back at home gardening (and have) the nice memories of working in the garden, being independent and enjoying it,” she said.
Funding for Katy’s project came from Westfield businessman John Schaaf, who earned his Eagle rank while a Boy Scout.
“He saw me with my potting bench stuff and asked what I was doing. I told him about my project and he offered to sponsor the whole project. We wrote me a check on the spot,” she said, adding that money earned from her baby- and house-sitting were funding her project. “Costs were piling up. I was just getting overwhelmed.”
The Zaloudeks said Sherwin-Williams of Westfield also donated paint for the projects.
“I’m grateful to everybody in my community who helped,” Katy said. “I learned more leadership skills and to get more people involved.”
When Katy becomes age eligible to work on her Gold Award, she plans to return to Magnolia Springs.
“I feel motivated to keep going and help the residents and employees who live and work here,” she said.
The projects’ impact
Cindy Colpitts, director of Memory Care at Magnolia Springs, said each project is contained in the facility’s memory care courtyard.
“It’s very exciting,” she said. “We designed the courtyard with purpose.”
Colpitts said the courtyard has a circular walking path with several gliders and is handicap accessible. The Girl Scout projects are added amenities that benefit everyone.
“The courtyard is next to the dining room windows, so people can go and sit and look out over the courtyard,” Colpitts said, adding the community’s chef is using some of the garden’s herbs in making meals for residents.
“It’s been truly amazing. Both are very impressive young ladies who are wise beyond their years,” Colpitts said. “It’s very important to see young people trying to do a service for other people, especially addressing a social aspect of an assisted living community. These keep folks engaged.”
Know more
Silver Award
The Silver Award is the second highest award of the Girl Scouts of the USA. Only Cadette Scouts ages 11-14 or in grades 6-8 can earn it.
Requirements:
● Girls must complete a Cadette journey prior to beginning their project.
● Once the journey is completed, girls must complete a 50-hour service project that leaves a lasting impact on the community. Upon completion of the Silver Award project, the Girl Scout may need to submit the Silver Award report to her local council.
● Girls do not have to complete their bronze award to do this award.
Gold Award
The Gold Award was introduced in 1980. It is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by senior and ambassador scouts. Only 5.4 percent of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award.
Requirements:
● Complete two senior or ambassador journeys or complete one senior or ambassador journey and have earned the Silver Award.
● Plan and implement an individual “Take Action” project that reaches beyond the Girl Scout organization and provides a sustainable, lasting benefit to the girl’s larger community. It requires a minimum of 80 hours of work in planning and completing the project. All of these hours must be completed by the scout. Plans must be developed with the aid of an advisor, then a project proposal must be submitted and approved by the girl’s local council before starting the project, and a final report must be submitted after the project’s completion.
