Special to IFN
Girl Scout Troop #13043 of Iredell County recently made waves on the Gulf Coast by addressing marine life quality and the pollution and erosion of the coastline by creating reef balls, which earned them a Girl Scout Silver Award.
Girl Scout Cadettes Lily Johnson and Bayley Moore travelled to Sarasota, Fla., to partner with Larry Beggs, president of Reef Innovations. Not only did the girls gain hands-on experience in creating reef balls, but they also learned how they support marine life and help with erosion along the shoreline by providing shelter and growth.
“With this project, I discovered how much I really enjoy not just the beaches, but the ocean and the life that lives within it. I found that I was prouder of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone to achieve
this goal. I also learned what I can do to make a difference in the world no matter how small it may be,” said Johnson, a Girl Scout of eight years.
Reef balls play a role in protecting the beaches from erosion by breaking up the wave energy that can destroy the coast. They help with the growth of life in various places, and the materials can withstand storms, anchor drops and passing debris without destruction to the ball itself. This project will help to preserve, protect and enhance the waters for the environment and for future generations.
“Lily and I came up with our Girl Scout Silver Award to do reef balls, educate people about how the reef is disappearing and about trash pollution in the oceans. We made calls to set up the project up in Florida, put together a trash pickup around the ocean and put together information on slides and posterboard and presented it to a group of people,” said Moore, a Girl Scout of 11 years.
To share the importance of protecting our oceans and the dangers of pollution, the troop created a slideshow to inform local service unit members and created a YouTube video to educate the public on their experiences with Reef Innovations.
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette in grades 6-8 can earn. This community service project is a chance to enhance skills like confidence and teamwork, discover the world around them and make communities better in the process.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about community service awards and skill-building for Girl Scouts, visit https://www.girlscoutsp2p.org/.
About Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont
Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont, a United Way agency, is one of 111 councils nationwide chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA to deliver Girl Scout program within specific geographic boundaries. The local council serves nearly 7,000 girls and 4,500 adult volunteers in 40 counties and maintains three camp properties and four service centers offering unique experiences for girls and adults. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to GSCP2P, call 800-
672-2148 or visit www.girlscoutsp2p.org.