Cheyenne Chalkus from Salem has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.
For her project, Cheyenne cleared overgrowth and restored vandalized headstones at Dickens Cemetery, a historic burial site owned by the City of Salem. First, she took a course on cemetery restoration and got the proper permits to start her project. Next, she went to work – fixing damaged memorials, clearing brush and removing poison ivy from the site. To ensure the cemetery would stay maintained, she held a public presentation and distributed pamphlets about volunteer upkeep of historic cemeteries. To emphasize the importance of treating aging burial grounds with respect, Cheyenne included genealogy of those who were buried during her presentation.
“Cemeteries are neglected over the years due to lack of knowledge,” said Cheyenne. “When I started you could only see five headstones,” said Cheyenne. “Now you can see sixteen.”
Younger Girl Scouts were interested in continuing to maintain Dickens Cemetery and Cheyenne plans to teach them what she learned. She also hopes to take an advanced restoration course. “I want to finish what I’ve started,” she said.
Along with a sense of accomplishment, Cheyenne also gained positive leadership skills while earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. “I am more assertive and more confident in myself,” she said. “I have set goals and now know how to meet them.”
Cheyenne is currently a senior as Salem Community High School. She is the daughter of Scott and Carole Chalkus.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.
For her project, Cheyenne cleared overgrowth and restored vandalized headstones at Dickens Cemetery, a historic burial site owned by the City of Salem. First, she took a course on cemetery restoration and got the proper permits to start her project. Next, she went to work – fixing damaged memorials, clearing brush and removing poison ivy from the site. To ensure the cemetery would stay maintained, she held a public presentation and distributed pamphlets about volunteer upkeep of historic cemeteries. To emphasize the importance of treating aging burial grounds with respect, Cheyenne included genealogy of those who were buried during her presentation.
“Cemeteries are neglected over the years due to lack of knowledge,” said Cheyenne. “When I started you could only see five headstones,” said Cheyenne. “Now you can see sixteen.”
Younger Girl Scouts were interested in continuing to maintain Dickens Cemetery and Cheyenne plans to teach them what she learned. She also hopes to take an advanced restoration course. “I want to finish what I’ve started,” she said.
Along with a sense of accomplishment, Cheyenne also gained positive leadership skills while earning her Girl Scout Gold Award. “I am more assertive and more confident in myself,” she said. “I have set goals and now know how to meet them.”
Cheyenne is currently a senior as Salem Community High School. She is the daughter of Scott and Carole Chalkus.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.
