Garden City Girl Scout Grows the Game

Madeline Mitchell, a tenth grade varsity goalkeeper from Garden City High School in New York and a senior-level Girl Scout, partnered with USA Field Hockey and her club team, Lasting Legacy, to work on her Girl Scouts Gold Award project Learning, Living, Loving: Growing the Game of Field Hockey. Her love of field hockey led her to doing her project to help introduce, support and develop the game of field hockey as part of her Girl Scouts Gold Award project.

Field hockey has had a tremendous impact on Madeline, “Field hockey has been a very influential and important part of my life. It has taught me so much and gave me the confidence to do anything. For my Gold Award project I knew I wanted to give girls the same experience and a chance to try a new sport.”

The Girl Scouts Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts of the United States. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award. Through pursuing this award, Girl Scouts change the world by tackling issues they are passionate about to drive lasting change in their communities and beyond while they learn essential skills that will prepare them for all aspects of life.

Madeline partnered with her club team, Lasting Legacy, to initiate access to an instructional league to help grow the game for local students. The instructional league was created to provide students in third to sixth grade with the opportunity to learn field hockey through match play. All skill levels were welcome. It was an exciting opportunity for girls to learn the game and develop skills in a fun atmosphere. Madeline sent out flyers, did presentations to inform students about the instructional league and volunteered at the sessions.

In addition to the instructional league, Madeline hosted a free introductory clinic for Girl Scouts in second to fifth grades. The Scouts learned about the sport of field hockey, while playing and interacting with volunteers from the Garden City junior varsity and varsity Field Hockey teams. Each participant took home a field hockey stick, ball and a patch from USA Field Hockey. She worked with USA Field Hockey to develop the clinic which introduces field hockey to younger kids with hopes of cultivating a love for the sport.

Madeline also created a pamphlet detailing the importance of “give back days” for junior varsity and varsity-level players and teams that will be shared with all Long Island teams. The community-service based give back days introduce and encourage the sport of field hockey in a fun and engaging atmosphere. The pamphlet details how to set up the give back days, as well as activities to make the interaction fun and engaging. USA Field Hockey was instrumental in helping Madeline formulate the pamphlet.

USA Field Hockey has done an incredible job in helping to develop the sport and grow the game. For her Gold Award project, Madeline notes that the organization offered advice, assistance and suggestions to support her goals.

“It has been a joy working with Madeline as she completed her Girl Scouts Gold Award,” said Jenna Ortega, USA Field Hockey’s Youth Engagement Manager. “She is a passionate, well organized, and driven leader who has worked diligently to grow the game in her community. It’s inspiring to see and support the young community leaders who pave the way for the next generation of players.”

For anyone interested in receiving USA Field Hockey’s resources and support to complete their Girl Scouts Gold Award, please contact sportdevelopment@usafieldhockey.com.