Skylar Bowman installs pollinator boxes at JSP as part of the Girl Scout Gold Award project

Pollinators, like bees and wasps, "visit flowers to drink nectar or feed off pollen and transport pollen grains from plant to plant," thereby pollinating crops and many other plants and helping them reproduce. Pollinator populations are declining due to many factors, including loss in feeding and nesting habitat. JSP supports pollinators by creating native plant habitat, such as in our three native flower and grass meadows. Skylar's pollinator boxes provide nesting habitat and are a source for education and inspiration. She explains, "The pollinator boxes/habitats will help the pollinators population increase and create beautiful flowers for people and other animals to benefit from them. The boxes installed at JSP could influence others to want to do the same, including in their own backyards."



Skylar also shared that building the boxes provided interactive and fun ways for others to help with the project and learn about pollinators. "During the building process, I was able to spend quality time with my brother and Grandpa. They taught me how to measure, cut, and put the boxes together," Skylar reports. The Paul Sawyier Public Library's teen advisory group helped place the nesting material in the boxes, while Skylar shared information about the importance of pollinators.

Through this project, Skylar learned about pollinators, how they are endangered, and ways to help them. She also shares, "I learned time management, communication skills, and responsibility. I learned how to measure, cut, assemble, and install pollinator boxes. Most of all, I learned others can enjoy helping me and on projects that benefit the community and how important working together can be."

Skylar recognizes the following people for supporting her Gold Award project: "Kristin Nelson at Wild Birds Unlimited was my project advisor. Melvin Weber, grandfather, and Jack Sutherland, brother, helped me build the boxes. Abigail McKinney, friend, helped me gather materials to fill the boxes. Mora Rehm, Paul Sawyer Public Library, helped coordinate the teen council meeting for us to fill the boxes and teach teens about pollinators. Deborah Black, Girl Scout of the Wilderness Road Council, advises and reviews the gold award proposals, reports, and helped me create the pollinator patch and activity sheet. Jeri Howell and Mollie Rabiner, Josephine Sculpture Park, helped me find places to install boxes at JSP and promote the project. West Sixth Farm will receive and help us find locations for three more boxes at the Frankfort farm."

Published December 14, 2023