Gulf Coast Girl Scouts honored for their commitment to bee conservation
Three members of Troop 521 of the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida recently received the prestigious Silver Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve, for their project titled “Bee The Change Bradenton.”
Isabel S., Olivia J. and Audrey C. chose the project to highlight their commitment to environmental conservation and community education. Bee The Change Bradenton addresses the critical issue of declining bee populations due to habitat loss and widespread pesticide use. Aware of the important role bees play in pollinating crops and supporting food production, the girls wanted to highlight the importance of bees and encourage the creation of pollinator-friendly gardens.
“Working on this project has shown me that no matter how young we are, we can still have a significant impact on our community,” said Audrey C.
Each of the girls dedicated more than 50 hours to the project. The team developed educational materials, including posters, brochures and a coloring book for children, explaining the importance of bees in the ecosystem.
“I learned that with perseverance and teamwork we can achieve anything,” said Isabel S. “It was a great feeling to see our project develop from an idea into something that can actually help the environment.”
The girls have also made seed paper with Florida-appropriate seeds that community members can plant to create their own pollinator gardens. To ensure the sustainability of their project, the girls have created a website, beethechangebradenton.com, where they offer resources and information.
“This project made me realize how important bees are to our daily lives. I am proud that we were able to make a difference, even if it was just in a small way,” said Olivia J.
The Girl Scout Silver Award recognizes outstanding achievement and leadership skills among girls in grades 6-8. To earn the award, Girl Scouts must complete a Take Action project of at least 50 hours that addresses the root cause of a problem, has a measurable impact, and is sustainable over the long term. The girls learn project management, teamwork, and communication.
“The Girl Scout Silver Award challenges our young members to identify real-world problems and develop sustainable solutions,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “By pursuing these highest honors, girls learn the value of hard work, resilience and the impact they can have on their communities. We encourage girls to take on these projects because it helps them grow into confident leaders capable of making meaningful change in the world.”
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida serves nearly 3,500 girls in preschool through 12th grade and has more than 1,500 adult members in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier counties. For more information, visit gsgcf.org.
Submitted by Jessica Miano
