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Gold Award Spotlight: Camila D
Girl Spotlight: Camila Dominguez
Gold Award Girl Scout
Age 17 | Ambassador Girl Scout | Doral, FL
Bronze Award Girl Scout
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
Crocheting and baking.
In a word, what does it mean to say, "I am a Girl Scout"?
Action-driven.
As a senior, what are some of your future plans?
I plan to attend Florida International University and major in Finance. I've received the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, which covers 100% of tuition, along with the FIU Presidential Scholarship, and I'm currently awaiting final word on the Ortega Foundation Scholarship.
What is the title of your project?
Creation Station
Tell us more about your project and how you completed it.
My Gold Award project, Creation Station, makes arts and crafts more accessible while supporting creativity and mental well-being. I installed a free craft supply cabinet at Glades Park in the City of Doral, where community members can take or donate materials like yarn, paper, embroidery thread, and more.
To complement the station, I hosted hands-on workshops teaching simple crafting techniques and encouraging people to keep creating on their own. I partnered with the City of Doral Parks and Recreation Department, secured donations from community members, built and stocked the cabinet, and created social media platforms to spread the word.
Creation Station runs on a "take one, leave one" system that keeps the community involved in keeping it going. I also partnered with local Interact Clubs through Rotary, whose members committed to restocking and maintaining the station so it can keep serving the community for years to come.
Why is this project important to you? What gave you the inspiration to approach this topic the way that you did?
Crafting has always been an outlet for me — a way to manage stress and express creativity. Activities like crocheting and embroidery give me a real sense of accomplishment and calm, and I wanted others to have access to that same feeling.
My inspiration came from discovering the concept of a free yarn library. I loved the idea, but wanted to expand it into something more inclusive that welcomed every kind of creativity. I'd also noticed how much time people my age spend on their phones, often instead of doing something creative. I wanted to build something tangible that encouraged people to try new hobbies, build skills, and feel better through hands-on experiences.
What was the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?
One of my biggest challenges was navigating the approval process with the City of Doral — it took longer than expected and pushed back my timeline. Because so much of the project depended on outside factors, I learned a lot about patience and persistence.
I became more proactive by scheduling meetings early, following up consistently, and coming prepared to every conversation. Securing donations was tough too, since a lot of businesses didn't respond to outreach. Shifting to direct conversations with community members and organizations helped me build stronger connections and get the support I needed.
How does this project contribute to your future goals?
Creation Station helped me build leadership, organization, and communication skills I'll use throughout my career. Planning and running every stage of the project gave me hands-on experience managing timelines, coordinating with organizations, and leading community events.
It also taught me how much thought goes into building something with lasting impact. Learning to create a sustainable program reinforced that I want to keep developing meaningful solutions and leading projects that keep benefiting people long after they're "done."
What did you learn about yourself in the process of completing your project?
I learned I'm capable of more than I gave myself credit for. At first, the idea of working with city officials and creating a permanent community resource felt overwhelming. But by taking initiative and continuing to move forward, I found that progress comes from being willing to try, even when it's hard.
I also learned that I'm resilient and adaptable. Despite setbacks and a few rejections along the way, I stayed committed to my goal and kept finding new ways forward. This experience made me more confident, proactive, and comfortable stepping into leadership.
What did you learn about your community in the process of completing your project?
I learned that my community shows up when people are given a real chance to get involved. Some outreach didn't land, but direct communication and relationship-building consistently led to meaningful support and collaboration.
I also saw a genuine need for accessible creative spaces. The response to the workshops and Creation Station showed me that people are eager to explore creative activities — they just need the resources and access to get started.
