THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 20, 1995 TAG: 9504190170
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CARRSVILLE LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
WHEN KATHLEEN RUSSELL decided to seek a Gold Award in Girl Scouting, she tackled three years of work.
The award, the highest in Girl Scouting, has several requirements. While reaching for the gold, each senior Scout must earn a Senior Leadership Award, four interest patches, a Career Exploration Pin and the Senior Girl Scout Challenge Award.
Seventeen-year-old Kathleen has successfully completed all five requirements and will be presented the award on May 7, at the Windsor Christian Church.
``Eagle Scouts are only 14 or 15 when they receive their award,'' said Sherry Russell, Kathleen's mother and Scout leader. ``Girl Scouts have to be in the 10th grade to become a senior Scout. Girls have so much going on by then, it's hard to make time for Scouting. But most who make it that far, want to earn the Gold Award.''
A native of Norfolk, Kathleen began her career in Scouting as a Brownie 12 years ago. And for much of that time, her mother has been her mentor and Scout leader as Kathleen advanced from Junior to Cadette and finally, to Senior Girl Scout.
``I have enjoyed camping,'' Kathleen said. ``I love the arts and crafts, hikes, and nature trails. We do more at camp than at meetings. Lately, it's been fun watching the new leaders.''
Recently, Kathleen spent a weekend at Camp Darden near Franklin helping to train two leaders who had never been camping.
In 1992, Kathleen earned a Silver Award by leading a trio of ``Sandpipers.'' She also helped another Scout earn her Silver Award, as well.
``Sandpipers are Brownies who have no troop,'' she said. ``I conducted little meetings at the Carrsville Elementary School and helped them earn badges.''
To earn her Career Exploration Pin, Kathleen did an internship during the summer months as an exhibit interpreter at the Virginia Living Musum in Newport News. She also helped staff the Museum tent at ``Bay Days'' in Hampton and at ``Kids Fest'' at Waterside in Norfolk.
``At the museum, I did small animal-handling and talked about the animals in the touch-tank and the aviary,'' she said. ``The greatest moment of my life was when a little Brownie came up to me last Christmas and said, `I remember you. You did a program with a bird.' If someone remembers two minutes of a talk, I'm happy.''
Due to her fondness for animals, Kathleen decided to champion the cause of the red wolf as her Gold Award project and enlisted the help of Pete Money, director of education at the museum. In 1976, the small red wolf was basically extinct.
``I chose wolves because I wanted to beat the Little Red Riding Hood theme,'' she said. ``They don't eat grandmas and climb into their bed. That story has given wolves a bad name.''
She did research and wrote letters to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake City Council, and the manager of the Dismal Swamp area. She also passed out fliers and secured the names of 300 citizens on a petition.
``I'm trying to create an interest in re-establishing the red wolf on the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge,'' she said. ``In 1969, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a plan to re-establish the red wolf on the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. The first pairs were released in 1987 and the program was a success. In 1991, they were re-established in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park.''
A senior at Windsor High School, Kathleen has received early acceptance at Virginia Tech where she plans to major in wildlife science.
``I prefer animals to plants because they have personalities,'' she said.``I would love to get a part-time job at a stable in Blacksburg and eventually, work at a national park. I would like to lead trail rides on horseback and talk about the plants and animals.''
Kathleen's hobbies are cross-stitch and horseback riding. She is the daughter of Sherry and Steven Russell of Carrsville. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Kathleen Russell will receive the Gold Award - the highest in Girl
Scouting - May 7, at the Windsor Christian Church.
by CNB