Blooming for Butterflies: Nurturing Nature, One Garden at a Time

Two Girl Scouts from Troop 3515, Madeline and Natalia, embarked on a mission to upgrade the butterfly garden at Bevis Elementary School as part of their Girl Scout Silver Award project. The project involved clearing the existing garden area and creating two new spaces designed to attract pollinators, adding a birdbath, planting pollinator-friendly plants, and laying down decorative pavers.

This effort not only enhances the natural beauty of the school but also helps raise awareness about the importance of pollinators, such as butterflies and bees, whose habitats are under threat. The garden provides essential food, water, and shelter for pollinators, while creating an educational space where visitors can learn about the environment.

The Silver Award, one of the highest honors a Cadette Girl Scout can achieve, requires dedication and community involvement. Through this project, Madeline and Natalia learned about the vital role pollinators play in producing one out of every three bites of food we eat and their contributions to maintaining clean air, water, and soil. Their project highlights how simple actions can help protect these essential species and benefit both the environment and the community.

The girls were able to complete their project with the generous support of local businesses, including donations of potting soil from Crossroads Ace Hardware and plants from Crossroads Produce.

Requirements for the Girl Scout Silver Award

To earn the Silver Award, Cadette Girl Scouts must:
1. Complete a Cadette Journey, including a Take Action project.
2. Identify a community issue they are passionate about.
3. Build a team or work individually, partnering with the community.
4. Explore their community to learn about the issue.
5. Develop a detailed project plan and submit a proposal.
6. Implement the project, dedicating at least 50 hours to planning and execution.
7. Share the project’s impact by giving presentations and submitting a final report.

The Silver Award represents the culmination of leadership, service, and commitment, and Troop 3515's butterfly garden project is a perfect example of Girl Scouts making a lasting difference in their communities.