Junior Scout follows in footsteps of troop members

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

Kaylyn Norville, 11, has followed in the footsteps of former Junior Girls Scouts in her troop by completing a service project that will help others, and earn her the Bronze Award.

The Bronze Award is the highest honor in Junior Girl Scouts.

Last year, five girls in St. James United Methodist Church Troop 806 prepared comfort care and activity kits filled with toiletries to benefit people that have gone through disasters.

This year, Norville decided that she wanted to do the same thing for her service project.

“It helps other people when they have fires, floods or other disasters,” Kaylyn said.

"The comfort kits the Girl Scouts have generously donated to the American Red Cross Frederick E. Turnage Chapter will be given to Edgecombe County residents that become the unfortunate victims of single family fires or other natural disasters," said Tiffany Wester, director of health and safety services for the American Red Cross.

There were specific requirements about what could go in each of the kits, so Norville reviewed the list and made sure that she had all the right items in the kits.

She filled the comfort care kits with shampoo, deodorant, soap, wash clothes and other hygiene and toiletry products.

The activity kits were filled with coloring books, stuffed toys and other recreational items for children.

These products were received through physical donations of the items or monetary donations. Norville said a majority of it was monetary, which required her to go to the store and pick out the items to include in the kits.

“I think it was a really good project for her to figure out how to spend money wisely,” said Jennifer Norville, Kaylyn’s mother.

It took her about two weeks to collect or buy the items for the kits, but meeting other requirements for the Bronze Award took longer.

Norville said she was working on earning two badges, a leadership award and a sign award over the course of a year to meet the criteria for a Bronze Award.

Earning a Bronze Award is voluntary for any Junior Girl Scout in the fourth-or fifth-grade. Scouts move up to the Cadet level when reaching the sixth-grade, and then have the option of earning the Silver Award.

“I’m proud of her for taking the initiative of completing and getting it done before moving up to the next level," said Dawn Redman, troop leader.

Out of four girls that were in the Junior level of the troop during that time period, Norville was the only girl that decided to pursue the award and get it completed in the time allotted.

Currently, Troop 806 has all levels of Girl Scouts including one Daisy Scout, Brownie Scouts, Junior Scouts, Cadet Scouts and Senior Scouts.

Redman said the organization teaches the participants leadership skills.

“It teaches girls to be a leader as they progress through their life … It’s really about them growing and being the best they can be,” she said.

“I have a lot of fun with it, and we get to do different things,” Kaylyn said.

Now Kaylyn is in the Cadet level and plans to earn the Silver Award. She has been in Girl Scouts for about six years.

She is in the sixth grade at Pattillo A+ School, and is the daughter of Rick and Jennifer Norville of Tarboro.

In May, she and her mother donated their ponytails to Locks of Love during Relay for Life. They have donated more than 60 inches of hair over the years collectively.

Her older brother Kyle earned his Eagle Scout award – the highest rank in Boy Scouts – earlier this year.

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