Local Girl Scout Creates Little League Recycling Program
Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England is excited and proud to announce that Sophia Dutra from Pawcatuck, CT has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting.
SOPHIA DUTRA
Sophia’s Gold Award project is titled Little League Recycling Program. For her Gold Award project, Sophia addressed the lack of recycling at the Stonington Little League in Pawcatuck, CT by implementing a recycling program and providing education on the importance of recycling.
During the first year of this program, eight 2-yard dumpsters of items were recycled—items which would otherwise have ended up in a landfill. This is the equivalent of saving approximately 118 cubic yards of landfill space. Recycling consumes 66-79% less energy than creating new plastic from raw materials, which decreases reliance on fossil fuels. Through the support of the Stonington Little League, this program will continue and remain impactful for the community.
“This project was really important to me because using our resources wisely and not being wasteful, making the world a better place is something I have always tried to do my part in and when I saw a need for this at the little league to not be wasteful and help others not be wasteful, I knew I needed to take action and honor those words that I have been reciting in the Girl Scout Law since I was a Daisy. I knew I could help make a difference and an impact with improving this process in my community.” said Sophia Dutra, Gold Award Girl Scout.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
Since 1916, Girl Scouts have been making meaningful, sustainable change in their communities and around the world while earning this award. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting, 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. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. They are our future, and it looks bright!
Sophia will join the millions of Girl Scout alum around the world who have successfully created, developed, and executed “Take Action” projects that have positively impacted their communities and the world, earning Girl Scouts’ highest award.
Gold Award Girl Scouts become innovative problem-solvers, strong and empathetic leaders, confident public speakers, and focused project managers. They learn resourcefulness, tenacity, and decision-making skills, giving them an edge personally and professionally. As they take action to transform their communities, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they’re the leaders our world needs. The 2026 Gold Award Girl Scout class identified issues in their communities, took action, and found or created solutions to earn their Gold Awards, addressing real-life problems such as environmental sustainability, racial justice, mental and physical well-being, and gender inequality in STEM.
According to recent research, Gold Award Girl Scouts are more likely to fill leadership roles at work and in their personal lives and are more civically engaged than their non-Girl Scout peers. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of Gold Award Girl Scouts agree that earning their Gold Award gave them skills that help them succeed professionally. Seventy-two percent (72%) said earning their Gold Award helped them get a scholarship. Changing the world doesn’t end when a Girl Scout earns her Gold Award. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of Gold Award Girl Scout alums take on leadership roles in their everyday lives.
Earning the Gold Award is just one of the amazing things girls and gender-expansive youth can do as part of Girl Scouts. To join Girl Scouts or learn more about volunteering, please visit www.gssne.org/join.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs across Southeastern New England, girls and gender-expansive youth of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves in a safe space as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges. Backed by strong friendships and trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. Girl Scouts feel comfortable trying new things without the pressure to be perfect, speaking their minds, and processing their emotions in healthy ways. They discover how being different makes them special, strengthens their sense of belonging, and, ultimately, makes them proud to be themselves. That’s the magic of Girl Scouting. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit gssne.org, follow @gssne on Instagram, follow @GirlScoutsofSNE on Twitter, and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GSSNE.