Research shows when girls reach nine or ten, they begin to drop out of sports. This continues till nearly 2/3 of 17 year olds have stopped playing.

The causes include schedule conflicts with other interests, rising confidence issues during puberty, or the lack of opportunities extended to young female players in their schools and towns. Addressing all the issues is not something I have power to do but an older player who has benefitted from sports, I want to help. And as a Girl Scout, it is my responsibility to do what I can.

I decided to create a program that will facilitate the connection between older and younger players and build community within a team, with the goal of showing young girls that they are worthy of every opportunity, can benefit from playing sports, and are talented enough to pursue their goals. In order to keep girls in the game, it is incredibly important that young girls get to work with older players, not professional athletes that feel out of reach, but athletes in their own community. Not just my community and not just soccer — this is for every girl.

Girls Empowering Girls

Why It
Matters

Statistics from the Women’s Sport Foundation.

71% of women who played sports held a formal leadership role as adults.

71%

2.5x

Female athletes are 2.5 times less likely to suffer from mental health issues.

1.5x

Female athletes report 1.5 times more meaning and purpose

92%

Female athletes are 92% less likely to become involved with drugs.

THE INSPO

A Girl Scout Gold Award Project

A young female soccer player with red hair, wearing a navy blue jersey with orange number 35 and black shorts, poses with a soccer ball in front of a blue and white banner with a star logo, standing on a soccer field.

Loie Burwell
Girl Scout, XC Runner, Soccer Player

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My name is Loie Burwell, and I am a 15 year old living in Oak Park, Illinois. I go to Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF) where I participate in Women in Leadership club as well as Cross Country and Soccer.

Athletics has always been a driving factor in my life, and the immense amount of time I have given to sports has gifted me a love for hard work and improvement. I have had the pleasure of playing on the same club soccer team for 7 years, and the wonderful women on that team have made me who I am today. The love that I feel on and off the field from my teammates has created a safe space I have counted on since elementary school.

Entering high school brought even higher levels of the sports I love — and even more inspiration. Within cross country and soccer, we had “families” that brought together students from different grades and across team levels. We supported each other through high stress situations and low moments in our season…and had a lot of fun.

I have been able to find so much joy in two different sports, and each of them have instilled different values in me. Soccer has shown me the power in cooperation, while cross country helped me see how personal growth is more impactful when it is achieved with others.

I have been a Girl Scout for over a decade, and I currently belong to troop 45282. Girl Scouts take an oath to be dedicated to each other and their communities, and be a sister to all. My troop has certainly lived by that oath by participating in countless community service projects — all while being a community that cares about one another. Girl Scouts is a testament to the strength of a highly-motivated, all-female group.

These sisterhoods inspired me to pass down their legacy to the next generation of athletes and women. This is why I want to connect younger and older players.

Gold Award projects are all about recognizing a problem in your community and creating a sustainable solution. I decided to prevent girls from quitting sports by providing them with positive role models who will show them the importance of staying in sports.

A group of young female soccer players and their coach smiling for a photo on the field after a game, with a stadium, trees, and a blue sky in the background.
A group of young female soccer players and their coach smiling for a photo on the field after a game, with a stadium, trees, and a blue sky in the background.
A group of young female Chicago Edge soccer players wearing red jerseys, dark shorts, and knee-high socks gathered around their coach on a soccer field during sunset, with equipment and water bottles on the ground.
A group of children and a woman inside a camping tent. The children are sitting or lying on sleeping bags and pillows, smiling and enjoying their camping experience. The woman is giving a thumbs-up sign and smiling.
A group of young girls in red soccer uniforms with the logo 'Chicago Edge' and their coach standing on a grassy field, posing for a team photo on a sunny day with trees and a large building in the background.
A group of young girls in red soccer uniforms with the logo 'Chicago Edge' and their coach standing on a grassy field, posing for a team photo on a sunny day with trees and a large building in the background.
Group of young girls in warm ups holding pom-poms, smiling, standing on a sports field, holding a large handmade sign that reads 'Girls Cross Country CC' with various signatures.
A group of young female cross country runners in matching orange and navy uniforms huddle together on a grassy field.
A group of young female cross country runners in matching orange and navy uniforms huddle together on a grassy field.
A youth girls' soccer team with two coaches or teachers, posing for a group photo outside in front of a brick building. The team is wearing blue and black soccer uniforms, and one girl in the front row is holding a soccer ball. The girls are smiling, and the photo appears to be taken on a cloudy day.
A youth girls' soccer team with two coaches or teachers, posing for a group photo outside in front of a brick building. The team is wearing blue and black soccer uniforms, and one girl in the front row is holding a soccer ball. The girls are smiling, and the photo appears to be taken on a cloudy day.
Two young women with light skin and freckles, wearing orange athletic Oak Park and River Forest tank tops with race bibs, standing arm in arm at an outdoor cross country race event surrounded by a crowd of people.
A group of young teen girls wearing winter jackets and hats, posed outdoors in front of two covered wagons with curved roofs, surrounded by leafless trees on a cloudy day.
Two smiling teens girls are seated wearing dark green t-shirts that say "OAK PARK CONSERVATORY" at a table outdoors with stickers and a stuffed black-and-white puppy on the table. The background shows a building with large windows and a door.
Six teen Girl Scouts standing behind a table with Girl Scout cookies outside a building with brick walls and large windows. The table is covered with a green tablecloth that reads 'CHEER! GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ARE HERE!'
Six teen Girl Scouts standing behind a table with Girl Scout cookies outside a building with brick walls and large windows. The table is covered with a green tablecloth that reads 'CHEER! GIRL SCOUT COOKIES ARE HERE!'
Group of ten teen Girl Scouts and two adults standing and kneeling on a sidewalk in front of a house with green bushes and trees, all smiling and posing for the photo.
Group of ten teen Girl Scouts and two adults standing and kneeling on a sidewalk in front of a house with green bushes and trees, all smiling and posing for the photo.
Group of young female cross-country runners in blue uniforms standing together in front of a blue backdrop with 'KNIGHT NATION XC' and 'SHS' logos at an outdoor event.
Group of young female cross-country runners in blue uniforms standing together in front of a blue backdrop with 'KNIGHT NATION XC' and 'SHS' logos at an outdoor event.
Girls' lacrosse team walking on a sports field with bleachers in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.
Group of young women standing side by side on a beach at sunset with calm water in the background.
Group of young women standing side by side on a beach at sunset with calm water in the background.
Two girls are sitting at a craft table, working on projects with various craft supplies like beads, thread, and decoration items, in a room with wooden walls and colorful decorations.
Two girls are sitting at a craft table, working on projects with various craft supplies like beads, thread, and decoration items, in a room with wooden walls and colorful decorations.

Every Girl Scout Gold Award is a solo effort, but every Scout is supported by an advisor, coach and team members — adults and young people who help make it happen.

Gold Award Advisor: Coach Renee Vai
Gold Award Coach: Julie Gilmartin
Gold Award Team Members: Melissa Clark, Megan Galeener, Julie Burwell, Brett Burwell, and Cheryl Knecht

My 2011 Chicago Edge Premier XL teammates for being my sisters for life and up for some mentor shenanigans. I love you guys!

The 2011 parents for being up for even more soccer. Always more soccer!

The 2015 Chicago Edge Premier and Select teams and their families for being a part of the fun.

Coach Murray and Coach Gavin of Chicago Edge for making space and time for our teams to workshop ideas.

Thanks to Intentional Sports for hosting two of our workshops.

And — of course — Coach Mark MacKinnon for first suggesting that my 2011 and 2015 teams had similar vibes. The idea that started it all! Coach Mark nurtured the chemistry on my team that inspired me to create this program. He has committed to making me a better player, and I have grown so much because of the time he has put into my development..

A Huge Thanks To My Gold Award Team!

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