# Full transcription available at [heartsofgoldpodcast.com](http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/)

## Episode Summary
Makayla Hoefs shares the inspiring story behind her Girl Scout Gold Award project, *"Coding for Cookies."* This innovative initiative bridges Girl Scouts and robotics, offering young girls hands-on STEM experiences through engaging events. Makayla discusses how her project evolved, collaborating with the Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes & Pines Council, and making the program sustainable for future generations. Listen to hear about the impact she's made, the challenges she faced, and how she encourages girls to explore STEM fields.

## More from Makayla
My name is Makayla Hoefs from Becker, Minnesota. I am a senior at Becker High School, and I plan on going to a four-year college next fall to get my master's degree in electrical engineering.

I have been a Girl Scout for about ten years. Throughout my time in Girl Scouts, I have earned my Bronze and Silver Awards and have completed many service projects. Last year, I was a Girl Scout delegate for my service unit.

I am also involved in Student Council, National Honors Society, archery, and robotics. This is my fourth year on the Becker Robotics team, *C.I.S. 4607.* I am part of the electrical department and facilitate *Failure Modes and Effects Analysis.* My time in robotics has inspired me to become an engineer and a woman in STEM.

## What You'll Learn in This Episode
- How *"Coding for Cookies"* introduced over 100 Girl Scouts to robotics
- The collaboration between Makayla's robotics team and the Girl Scout council
- Challenges in creating sustainable robotics kits
- Makayla's advice for Gold Award candidates and key lessons from the process

## Follow Makayla's Journey
Check out the resources from her project at [Coding for Cookies](https://sites.google.com/frc4607cis.com/cis4607/coding-for-cookies)

## Connect with Us
Follow *Hearts of Gold* for more inspiring Gold Award stories. Don't forget to follow or subscribe and leave a review!

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Montserrat Hidalgo, a recent high school graduate and environmental justice advocate. Montserrat shares her journey from Girl Scout Gold Award recipient to an emerging leader in her community. Learn how her project tackled urban heating and environmental racism in South East Los Angeles, the collaborative research that fueled her work, and the global connections she forged.

About Our Guest:
Montserrat Hidalgo is a recent graduate of South Gate High School and will be attending Williams College in the fall to double major in Environmental Studies and Biology. She has been a Girl Scout from 5th grade through 12th grade and completed her Gold Award by addressing urban heating and environmental racism in South East Los Angeles.

As a passionate environmental justice advocate, Montserrat founded Youth Action!, an environmental justice club at her high school. She also collaborated with Communities for a Better Environment (cbecal.org), a statewide environmental justice organization, to conduct NASA-funded research with UC Irvine and Chapman University on hot spots, air quality, and green spaces in South East LA. This groundbreaking work not only laid the foundation for her Gold Award project but also connected her with a global network of changemakers.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• The Inspiration: How Montserrat's experiences in South East LA motivated her to tackle environmental justice issues.

• The Gold Award Project: The impact of her work addressing urban heating and environmental racism and how it serves as a model for others.

• Youth Leadership: How she founded Youth Action! and collaborated with key organizations to make a difference.

• Actionable Advice: Tips for youth and community members looking to create meaningful environmental change.

Links and Resources Mentioned in the Episode:

• Communities for a Better Environment: cbecal.org

• Learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award: girlscouts.org/en/our-program/highest-awards/gold-award.html

• For more information about NASA-funded research: nasa.gov

This bonus episode has Isabel popping in to share her experience from her trip to the Sangam World Center in India.