For thousands of years, labyrinths have been used as forms of worship, meditation and a way to reduce stress during ordinary and extraordinary life events – from the minor to the massive.
Faith Bennett, 18, of Newton Township, Lackawanna County, decided a full-sized walking labyrinth was just what her post-coronavirus pandemic community needed. She created a labyrinth for her Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania Gold Award project, which took three years to complete due to the shutdown limitations during the pandemic.
“We are living in uncertain times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, not only financially but emotionally,” Bennett explained in her Girl Scout Gold Award final report.
An Abington Heights High School Class of 2023 graduate, Bennett belongs to Girl Scout Troop 50800 and will attend American University in Washington D.C. to pursue legal studies this fall. The project Faith created is called Faith’s Labyrinth at Hillside Park.
She dedicated her time and talent to a holistic project aimed at reducing the continued effects of living in a post Covid-19 world. The labyrinth encourages people to spend mindful and deliberate time outdoors doing something positive for their health and well-being.
“People are suffering from extreme stress, depression, anxiety and isolation. In order to deal with the stress, doctors all over the world are suggesting people get outdoors as much as possible to reduce their levels of stress and anxiety,” Faith said in her report.
Located near Hillside Park’s Eston Wilson Lake, in South Abington Township, the labyrinth is surrounded by beautiful huge boulders that were excavated at the site. It was dedicated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on World Labyrinth Day, May 6, 2023.
The Labyrinth Society, an international, non-profit organization based in Hilton, New York, supported Bennett’s project, as did many local volunteers.
World Labyrinth Day is an annual event that brings people from around the world together to engage in moving meditation for world peace by walking labyrinths in a shared global experience, once a year.
In her report, Bennett said, the idea of creating a labyrinth appealed to her as a resource anyone – and everyone – could use.
“Research has proven that labyrinths can give an individual a new perception of life and knowledge. Labyrinths represent peace and connection, which is so vital to communities today,” Faith wrote.
She noted the severe side effects and impact on the human body from using anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications. Unwanted side effects are a reason to consider trying more organic ways to elevate mood and reduce stress. Walking in labyrinths is known as one way to offer self-healing properties.
In fact, labyrinths are being used in healthcare settings to promote wellness, according to a National Institute of Health report.
“A labyrinth can naturally reduce stress and transition one’s thoughts from an ordinary world into a feeling of rebirth, new knowledge and internal peace, providing hope that we can overcome our fears of isolation, depression and anxiety,” Bennett explained in her report.
As part of the project, Bennett
- conducted research
- enlisted volunteers
- created schedules and executed plans
- gave media interviews
- approached potential donors with presentations on the project
- implemented the labyrinth design, construction, and logistics of completing the project
Themes her project addresses include health and well-being for those at any age – from children to seniors – and the benefits of spending active time outdoors in mindfulness activities.
Labyrinths may be used as a time of walking meditation, contemplation, in prayer, or as a tool to reduce heart rate and clear the mind for spiritual thought and self-discovery.
“A labyrinth provides a safe place for all who enter,” Faith said.
Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania Gold Award Girl Scouts were recognized at a ceremony with a pin and various certificates. They also received government recognition and “Gold Award goodies” to share. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout may receive.
Bennett is among 60 Ambassador Girl Scouts to have earned the Gold Award from the 2022/23 spring class.
Gold Award projects typically take 80 hours or more to complete and demonstrate knowledge and dedication to making a positive impact on others with sustainable solutions to community issues.
The following people are featured in this slideshow: Faith Bennett; her mother, Denise; father, Mark; grandmother, Janet Bennett and sister, Grace. Janet Donovan, President and CEO of Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania; Holly Legate, Service Unit Leader for SU 511, 508 and active SOCA volunteer; and Joseph Quinn, monsignor for Our Lady of the Snows Parrish.