‘Art in Hedgehog Park’ project promotes use of outdoor space
SALEM, NH | With all the retail development around the Mall at Rockingham Park, you might be surprised to find an oasis of green just on the other side of I-93 – Salem’s Hedgehog Park. While the town’s 28.6-acre recreation allows visitors to enjoy swimming, fishing, barbecuing, basketball, skateboarding and more, one Girl Scout decided that she needed to give back to her hometown by making improvements to the park. Christina Kennamer, 17, of Salem, put her artistic abilities and her Girl Scout leadership skills to work with her Gold Award project, “Art in Hedgehog Park.”
“My project addressed the issues of the underdevelopment of Salem’s local park and promoted the use of outdoor spaces in one’s community,” Kennamer said in her final project report. She hopes her work will give citizens of Salem a strong appreciation for the arts, as well as pride in Salem’s parks. She officially received her Gold Award designation on Oct. 10.
Christina, an Ambassador Girl Scout with Troop 10785, work with the town and Salem High School to carry out several beautification projects. The most notable is a large mural of flowers in a sunny field, with a hedgehog that seems to be napping on one large flower. She used the unveiling of the artwork in September as an opportunity to educate younger children and the public at large about the outdoors and the importance of art in our communities. The mural will be installed after the winter on the pavilion as you enter the park. She also planted a maple tree and some daylilies, and created a pamphlet about her project. This project will be sustained into the future by the town of Salem, which will continue care of the landscaping and mural.
“I learned how to manage a team and be a leader for my fellow Girl Scouts and the community,” the Salem High School senior said about her project. “I have a deeper understanding of how art can bring a community together.”
She added, “This project has reaffirmed my passion for art and I want to pursue as a career. I want to take illustration as a major in college and do concept art for movies and video games.”
You can view an interview with Christina at the unveiling of her mural on Sept. 15 at https://youtu.be/Jcq29W7eS40.
Christina exemplifies the Girl Scout DNA and takes the lead as a G.I.R.L. (Go-Getter, Risk-Taker, Innovator, Leader)™. To earn her Gold Award, each Girl Scout identifies and develops a Take Action project in her community that will stand the test of time, have a real and meaningful influence on people’s lives, and leave a legacy that lasts forever. It is one of the most challenging, exciting, and rewarding experiences a girl can have, and one of the most prestigious recognitions she’ll accomplish in life. And it’s only available at Girl Scouts.
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 recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. Gold Award Girl Scouts are courageous leaders and visionary change makers.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
- Gold Award Girl Scouts on average spend one to two years on their project.
- The average age of Gold Award Girl Scouts is 17.
- Since 1916, 1 million girls have earned the Gold Award or its equivalent.
- Gold Award Girl Scouts who join the armed forces enter one rank higher than other recruits.
- University research indicates that noting you are a Gold Award Girl Scout on a college application is influential in the admissions decision-making process.
- A Gold Award project must be sustainable after the girl’s involvement ends.
- 16 young women have earned their Gold Award in the past year in New Hampshire and Vermont as part of Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains.
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our innovative leadership programs help girls discover, connect, and take action as they develop strong values, a social conscience, and a deep sense of self and their potential. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
