Brookings and Watertown Area Girl Scouts joined together for a three-day progressive camp at Oak Lake Field Station. The camp was Olympic themed, and girls participated in many activities. These activities included canoeing, archery, volleyball, ax throwing, and learning about the history of the Olympics. In addition, the girls earned several badges including the paddling badge and the eco junior camping badge.

One night the girls were able to relax around the campfire and enjoy campfire snacks. During the day, girls were also able to learn about the work SDSU does at the Field Station and hike the area. In addition, girls were able to hear a presentation from Alex Knobloch, a local Girl Scouts Gold Award recipient about her work constructing blue bird houses for the field station to bring blue birds back to Oak Lake.

The camp was a great success and tons of fun. Brookings Area Girls Scouts thanked their sponsor for this camp — the Optimist Club. The Optimist Club very generously purchased the shirts worn by the campers and volunteers. In addition, the camp would not be possible without the volunteers who went the extra mile to organize the camp.

Margaret Dailey honored

Recently, Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons announced that Margaret Dailey of Brookings earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award to be achieved in Girl Scouts.

Dailey earned her Gold Award with her Boys & Girls Club Teen Center art room project. For this project, she worked to repurpose an unused space in the Boys & Girls Club — Teen Club into an art space. The space is geared toward high school students to work on art projects with their peers. In addition, Dailey created a year-long art curriculum that can be used by the Boys & Girls Club.

Her accomplishments reflect leadership, citizenship, and foundational skills built through Girl Scouts.

“Girl Scouts has been one consistent thing throughout my time in school,” Dailey said. “I like that I’m able to do projects and learn about things I want to learn about while stretching myself.”

Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world. The Girl Scout Gold Award acknowledges the power behind each Gold Award Girl Scout’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others through remarkable take action projects that have a sustainable impact in their communities and beyond.

“Margaret saw a need in her community and took action,” said Marla Meyer, CEO of Girl Scouts-Dakota Horizons. “Her extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership is making the world a better place, and we’re honored to present her this award.”

Dailey is a senior at Brookings High School with plans to attend college and study digital design and theatrical production. She received her award at the council’s Honoring Excellence recognition event on June 9.