Fencing for All: GSNETX Gold Award project is an inspiring journey to inclusion
October 12, 2023
Emersyn with special guest paralympic fencers
En garde, world! Girl Scouts are making it a better, more inclusive place. One of those trailblazers is Girl Scout Ambassador Emersyn Runions, an enthusiastic and determined high-school junior whose long-term épée fencing involvement inspired her project for the Gold Award, the highest achievement in the Girl Scout program.
Emersyn's Girl Scout journey began as a Brownie, and she says that
over the years she’s found that it “provides a community, and I know
there’s this group of girls who are always going to be there for me,
no matter what.” That dedication to community and supporting others
was the driving force behind her decision to embark on her inspiring
mission for her Gold Award project.
As a fencer with seven years of experience, including being a
two-time All-American and All-Academic First Team member, and a member
of the Cadet National Team, Emersyn had a unique goal in mind. She
wanted to share her love for fencing by making it accessible to a
community that typically wouldn't have the opportunity to experience
this sport, in this case, children with different physical abilities.
While Paralympic fencing clubs exist, there is often a fee involved.
Emersyn wanted to cross financial barriers as well by bringing more
access to the sport she loves without the burden of prohibitive
fees.
Her project led to her developing and executing,
in partnership with 1CP Sports+,
a six-week spring fencing day camp specifically designed for children with cerebral palsy. The children followed her on a journey of physical activity within their abilities, skill-building, and camaraderie. The training equipped the participants with sport-specific skills while also dismantling conventional mental barriers, broadening the campers' horizons to a wide array of future possibilities. Emersyn designed the camp programming to foster a supportive environment for growth and learning.
“One of the most special moments at the camp was the very last
day,” Emersyn recalls. “I held a mini tournament, kids against
parents, and the campers were able to see all their hard work pay
off. The kids won by a huge margin, and it was amazing to see how
excited they were! I brought in two very special guests that day,
both competitive paralympic fencers, and it was so much fun to see
them interacting with all the kids. I just remember stepping back to
take everything in and seeing everyone so connected by the sport of
fencing. That was the moment I knew I had truly made a change in
these kids’ lives, and it's also when I decided that I wanted to
take this camp as far as I could in the future.”
Her aspirations extend beyond her Gold Award project. She dreams of sharing information about her project with other regions of the country so that similar initiatives can be replicated for children elsewhere. Next summer, she plans to hold a session at a weeklong camp in Missouri to expand the program. She is also currently working on getting fencers in other states to hold camps of their own.
Fencing for All
The process of bringing her project to life
was not without challenges. Emersyn began planning right as the world
was emerging from the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, and she
had to navigate logistics of her program with precision and care. The
initial steps were daunting, and she had some initial reservations
about reaching out to organizations for support. However, her resolve
to launch the camp pushed her forward.
Emersyn encourages other Girl Scouts to pursue the Gold Award, despite any initial intimidation of their own. She found after taking her initial steps, her path for the project became clearer and less daunting.
“Through the project, I have developed a lot more confidence,” she says. “Going into the camp I was super nervous, but the minute I started teaching I really surprised myself with how much confidence I had gained. I want to convey this message to all the kids, and I want them to know that even if something may seem daunting at the beginning, if they can just get the ball rolling, things can actually be a lot easier to do than they thought.”
Her dedication to her project not only highlights her inspiring commitment to inclusivity; it also exemplifies the transformative power of Girl Scouting in shaping young leaders who are making a tangible difference in their communities. Learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award and listen to her chat more about her project on the First to 15 fencing podcast. You can also view Emersyn’s TikTok recap of her camp and a GSNETX video interview.
