Girl Scout Parker Builds a Neighborhood Pollinator Garden
When Girl Scout Parker from Rapid City, SD, noticed that her family’s garden wasn’t producing like it used to, she didn’t just shrug it off—she got curious. She observed fewer bees, butterflies, and other pollinators visiting her yard and soon discovered a much bigger issue: pollinators are declining worldwide due to habitat loss, pesticides, and environmental changes.
Determined to make a difference, Parker turned her concern into action for her Bronze Award project.
After researching the vital role pollinators play in helping gardens grow fruits and vegetables, Parker set out to create a space that would support these essential creatures. She learned about the best plants for providing continuous blooms from spring through fall by visiting a local greenhouse and talking with experts. Using that knowledge, she designed and built a pollinator garden for her neighborhood—complete with flowers specifically chosen to provide food, water, and shelter for a variety of pollinators.
To help others learn and get involved, Parker also created and installed a QR code in the garden. Visitors can scan the code to access information about pollinators, learn why they are important, and discover how declining pollinator populations impact the environment and food systems.
Parker’s project does more than support pollinators—it inspires her community to understand and protect the natural world around them. Through her Bronze Award work, she has created a lasting space that nurtures both pollinators and the people who stop to enjoy the garden.
