Silver Projects in Meck 1

Operation Monarch Migration -- Troop 1508

Several girls from Troop 1508 are working on a Silver project they're calling Operation Monarch Migration. Monarch butterflies are a threatened species which pass through North Carolina on the way from their winter grounds in Mexico to their breeding grounds in Canada. Troop 1508 is planting seeds and seedlings to create nectar sources for butterflies and are also distributing butterfly greeting cards which contain seed packets and useful information about creating butterfly-friendly gardens.

Monarch butterflies begin life in Canada, where they lay their eggs on milkweed plants. The caterpillars then feed on the milkweed because it makes them poisonous and hence unattractive to predators such as birds. Troop 1508 is not, however, planting milkweed because milkweed is not native to North Carolina.

Monarch butterflies are a threatened species due to deforestation, excessive pesticide use, illegal logging of nesting grounds, and genetically modified crops. In this news article, Mexico blames Canada and the U.S. for what they say is a 75% decrease in the number of Monarch butterflies seen in Mexico in 2004 compared to previous years.

In addition to handing out packets of seeds, Troop 1508 will plant seedlings this spring at the Ada Jenkins center and the New Neighbohood in Old Davidson. They have planted some buddleia (also known as "butterfly bush") but having since realized that buddleia is not native to North Carolina, have decided not to plant any more of it.

Troop 1508 has been assisted in their efforts by The Dollar Tree stores, who donated the packets of seeds, and also by Our Towns Habitat for Humanity, who donated the cards.

For more information about Monarch Butterflies, check out Journey North. To learn what you can plant to help Monarch Butterflies, see UnPave the Way for Monarchs.

Huntersville Soup Kitchen -- Amy S., Troop 1509

Amy needs Junior Girl Scouts to help her bake cookies, brownies, and cakes for the Huntersville Soup Kitchen. Juniors will earn community service hours as well as meet several criteria for the Creative Cooking badge.

Carolina Raptor Center -- Elene C., Troop 1509

Elene is selling crafts to raise money to buy lumber to make fence poles, which she'll use to build a new festival center at the Carolina Raptor Center. She needs Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts to help with construction.