After four years of working toward her Gold Award, recent Warwick High School graduate and Girl Scout with Troop 70256 Abby Musser completed her "One Swing at a Time" project in July and received her Gold Award in August. Along the way, she learned how to overcome fundraising and other obstacles and learned a few lessons that have already influenced her choices for the future.

Musser's project involved installing an adaptive swing in Lititz Springs Park to make it possible for children with special needs and their families to enjoy the playground equipment. By early 2020, Musser had raised about $5,000 of the approximately $15,000 she needed to complete the project by selling bracelets and putting donation jars in several Lititz-area businesses. Then, COVID-19 restrictions hit, closing down the businesses and the main fundraising sources. "I felt guilty asking businesses in Lititz to contribute to a project," shared Musser, so in May of 2020, she went to work cleaning up yards. "It's something I enjoy a lot," said Musser, who asked a minimal amount for whatever work she did, but received more from many customers, raising more than $1,000 from the work. Those who knew why she was raising the funds told her stories of relatives and friends who had children with special needs and how they would appreciate the swing. When businesses reopened, she held a community cup day. The jars she put at the businesses yielded about $100 each toward the total. When Musser was on the news talking about her project, her website donations increased.

By this summer, Musser was close to her goal. She had enough to cover the swing and the installation, and she had already paid for the building permit. When Lititz Springs Park donated $1,400 worth of mulch, Musser only had to cover the expenses of adding a stone path from an existing path to the area of the swing. By July 21, she was able to open the swing for use by area children. To make sure the swing is used properly, she is working with the park grounds crew to add signage to the equipment.

With the swing completed, Musser had only to complete her Gold Award paperwork, and on Aug. 8, she and her family gathered at St. Luke's United Church of Christ on Broad Street in Lititz for her pinning ceremony.

Overcoming the challenges of the project gave Musser insight into her future. "It has introduced me into the business world, and I discovered my love for it," said Musser, who noted that she was required to take part in marketing, financing, and management activities to reach her goal. "I got to manage this whole project and see it come to life, so I am majoring in business management at Chatham University in Pittsburgh," said Musser, who moved into her dorm in mid-August.

Musser also learned some lessons about herself. "I am such a planner, but through COVID, I have learned that sometimes it's OK to be spontaneous and just see where life takes you," she said.