This grant offers us the opportunity to have girls experience hands-on activities emphasizing wildlife, nature and the environment. We're making the most of this generous gift by building a new platform for the osprey at Cattus Island and at Camp Amity Acres.

The EarthPact grant has been provided through the Elliot Wildlife Values Project funded by Herford N. Elliot Trust Fund since 1977. The EarthPact grant supports partnerships between Girl Scout councils and the local environmental education, nature or science-related institutions to involve girls in field conservation activities and provide career exploration activities.

Senior Girl Scouts have already started organizing other girls as part of this grant program. Field experiences will be hosted at Cattus Island, Cooper Environment Center, Toms River. These workshops are open to all girls from kindergarten through 8th grade, free – but you must register; there are limited spaces available.

What We've Done

During January and February 2009, Brownie, Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts participated in workshops discussing the nesting habits of Osprey; learning about Osprey; why they are endangered, and its habitat. They agreed that humans have grown into the bird's habitat hurting the birds choices of nesting sites, poisoned food sources, eliminated some foods altogether and altered some food sources through things like DDT which also hurt the reproductive system of many birds.Girls from Troop 1002 and Troop 1003 have used this information to provide educational presentations to the community as part of their commitment to saving the Osprey. Senior Girl Scout Erin from Troop 1003 captained the team speaking with the public.

Helping Erin were Taylor, Haley and Kendall from Troop 1079; Jallah from Troop 1003, and Corina, Deshalyn, Diamond, Elyse, Jahniece, JoAnn, Johalis, Lauren, Leticia and Samantha from Troop 1002. They finished the platform nesting site at Ocean County Park, Cattus Island.

More to come

Our next field experience is scheduled for Sunday March 8th, again from 11 am to 1 pm. Lakewood Cadettes & Senior Troop 1002 and 1003 will take action and work with Bryan Ehret, director of property, to build a nesting platform at Lake Amity Acres (directions). At the same time, a workshop will be held for girls ages eight and older. This workshop is brought to you free through the EarthPact grant but you must register with Pat Kurz, 732-938-5454, ext.125.