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A Golden Opportunity

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: October 8, 2008

RUSKIN - When Janet Zicht first donned a Brownie uniform at age 6, she dreamed of earning the Girl Scouts' Gold Award.

On Sept. 27, the Freedom High senior, 17, completed the last step toward that goal by hosting a program at Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center called Linking to the Land.

"I've always enjoyed the outdoors, working with plants and animals and with my hands," Zicht said. "I chose to do an environmental program because I wanted to educate people about native plants and how using them can help them conserve water."

During the free program, which was attended by more than 70 people, Zicht presented a clinic on Florida eco-friendly landscaping with Bruce Adams of Adams Lawn & Gardens and distributed goodie bags filled with information on making home gardens more Florida-friendly. Children received a separate, kid-friendly bag.

Plants from Camp Bayou's native plant nursery and Freedom High's FFA program were also given away. They were paid for through money Zicht raised.

Other activities included camp beautification - trail maintenance, removal of invasive plants, weeding in the plant nursery and mulching the butterfly garden - youth and family activities, camp tours and a finale, where Zicht planted a potted Fakahatchee grass plant between the camp's classroom and nature center.

"This is the last part of four years, well, actually 11 years, of hard work," Zicht said. "Getting my Gold Award is something I've dreamed of since I was a Brownie."

The event was "great," said Dana Ellerbrook of Sun City Center. "I learned about mulching and how eco-friendly plants conserve water and reduce the need for fertilizer, which helps protect the Florida aquifer.

"She did a wonderful job."

The Gold Award - the highest a Girl Scout can earn - is the equivalent of the Boy Scouts' Eagle Award, and the project is the culmination of hours of work a teen puts into earning the award.

The project, which must be approved by the Scout's local council, is service-oriented, and it must benefit the community, create change and be something that keeps going long term. It involves the extensive use of the Scout's organizational, leadership and networking skills.

Zicht had to develop and write the proposal; present it for approval; recruit others to help implement the plan; and raise money to cover all expenses. She also had to promote the event and track how the money she raised was spent. She is required to submit a follow-up report to her council. The award will be presented in May.

The project, Zicht said, helped her become a better leader, work without supervision, manage time better and speak with confidence in front of the public.

"She's definitely grown through the experience," said her mother, Karen. "It has improved her self-confidence and self-esteem, her knowledge and her comfort level in talking with others.

"She's very passionate about the use of native plants in landscaping. I can easily see her pursuing a career in a related field."

"Doing this has given me more insight into careers I didn't know were possibilities," Zicht said. "I'm looking into college programs like environmental science, agriculture and biological science."

Linking to the Land took place in conjunction with National Public Lands Day, a nationwide volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands. Last year, more than 100,000 people in all 50 states built trails and bridges, planted trees and plants and removed trash.

GET TO KNOW

WHO: Janet Zicht

AGE: 17

SCHOOL: Freedom High School

SCOUTING YEARS: 11; currently at Ambassador level

INTERESTS: Girl Scouts, cross country running, marching band, peer ministry at her church

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553.

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