Girl Scouts are known for their dedication to serving the community around them. Many troops take part in multiple volunteer and fundraising activities, and based off of each scout’s motivation to help their surrounding society, they receive badges and awards to salute them for their efforts.
The highest honor that can be received in Girl Scouts is known as the “Gold Award.” While this is an incredibly difficult title to achieve, Junior Erin Dunn has recently received that honor.
To receive the Gold Award, a Scout must complete 80 hours of community service surrounding a project that would benefit the community, select a mentor to supervise the program,and fill out multiple pieces of paperwork both before and after the program. This program is only for the most passionate and dedicated scouts, with only about 5% of scouts receiving this honor.
For her program, Dunn decided to host a swimming clinic that’s main focus was teaching special needs kids how to swim. Dunn has been swimming for eight years herself, and she also has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy (CP).
CP consists of various movement and posture disorders which affects Dunn’s ability to have muscle control, balance and coordination.
Dunn comments on what it is like living with CP, saying, “Some days it’s hard living with CP, but it’s cool, because it is a part of my character. Swimming has helped me strengthen my muscles.”
Swimming is known to help those with special needs by providing relief from the stress that gravity puts on their muscles as well as offering them a greater range of motion and flexibility.
“Swimming gives people with disabilities the freedom, confidence and sense of equality that’s hard to find anywhere else, and that’s why Erin’s advocacy matters so much to me. I want every swimmer to know that the water is a nice place that they belong,” comments High School Swim Coach and Supervisor of the program Carla Hartley.
The program took place in June and July of 2025, twice a week, where Dunn and Hartley would teach five special needs students from grades 5-12 how to swim, while also helping them gain a sense of confidence and independence. Many of the participants plan to continue swimming through one of the other programs offered at the Trinity Middle School Pool, such as Learn to Swim or Trinity Swim Club, also supervised by Hartley.
Outside of her program, Dunn is a part of the Trinity High School Swim team, where members say she is an aspect they couldn’t thrive without. A new section has also been created this year at both the WPIAL and PIAA levels, which gives Dunn the opportunity to qualify for Para WPIAL events.
“Erin is one cool chick who always keeps us on our toes! She is the girl who is at every practice or event, loves to be a part of the team and cheers for everyone,” Hartley says.
Dunn’s older sister and fellow Gold Award recipient, Riley Dunn, had the pleasure of watching Dunn pursue her goals to impact her community over the summer and is extremely proud of her hard work and dedication to Girl Scouts.
“Erin is an example of someone who has persevered through life’s difficulties. She is someone who does not allow disability to hold her back and continues to make a difference in her world. The fact that this program put a spotlight on her is impactful as well, as she is a great role model that kids could learn from,” Riley Dunn states.
As for the program, it benefitted not only the special needs students who participated in the program, but also the entire Trinity swimming community, because now, people are starting to take notice of the school’s pool and how much opportunity there is for the community in it.
Dunn plans to host the program again this summer, with hopes of it expanding even more.
