Girl Scout’s love of reading helps her earn Gold Award

Ambassador Girl Scout Tess Robeson’s love of reading led her to create a book club for low-income Poway elementary students and earn the Gold Award, Girl Scouting’s highest honor.

“I picked this project because I have always loved reading and I wanted to share my passion with others who may have not been encouraged to read,” Robeson said.

Inspired by a job shadow experience with a Poway librarian helping children at the Solara complex, Robeson said she worked with Poway’s Community Housing Works to identify another group of youngsters who could benefit from a reading program. The book club had 20 second- through fourth-graders from Parkview Terrace Apartments, an affordable housing community.

“I made lesson plans with activities and informational questions for chapter books, which we read in our weekly meetings,” she said. “I also held a book drive and collected over 1,000 books, which were given to the students to take home and start a personal library.”

The Troop 8128 member joined Girl Scouts in second grade as a Brownie. Prior to earning the organization’s highest award she earned the Bronze and Silver awards and completed the Senior Journey.

“Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award means being able to apply the various skills I have developed through my Girl Scout career,” Robeson said.

The daughter of Poway residents Amy Robeson and Ray Robeson graduated from Poway High School in 2014 and just completed her freshman year at the University of San Diego, where she is a biology major. While at Poway High, Robeson was on the varsity golf and diving teams, earned a 4.1 G.P.A. and received a scholar athlete award. She has also played the violin for 12 years, was in the Poway High orchestra and among musicians for two of the school’s musicals.

When asked to recall her favorite Girl Scout memory, Robeson said, “On a camping trip it became windy at night and the big tent collapsed. We scrambled to get out, but one of the girls slept through the ordeal. We sent in a team to rescue her from the flattened tent. The five of us then snuggled into (a) two person tent.”

Editors note: Throughout the summer, Pomerado Newspapers will profile the five local Girl Scouts presented the Gold Award at the San Diego council’s annual ceremony on June 13.