Emily Copley, Girl Scout Volunteer - Farm+Food Lab
Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Sanctuary Project
As a Girl Scout, Emily had several opportunities to serve the community and support the natural environment. Inspired to help save the endangered Monarch Butterly species, she pursued her interest through the Girl Scout Gold Award by teaming up with the Solutions for Urban Agriculture at the Great Park Farm + Food Lab to transform 3,700 square feet of the farm into a Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Sanctuary.
Project Description
November 1, 2022: Research, development, and approval of the project proposal & garden design.
Led Project Workdays
Work Day 1: January 28, 2023 - Led 15 volunteers in carving out the walking path in the garden area and planted seeds for the greenhouse.
Work Day 2: March 4, 2023 - Led 10 volunteers in transferring plants from the greenhouse to the garden, removed undesirable plants, installed the path barriers, and relocated the picnic table.
Work Day 3: March 25, 2023 - Led 13 volunteers to mulch the path, added additional plants, prep the ground for seed planting, scattered wildflowers & other seeds, and built & installed archways.
Work Day 4: May 20, 2023 - Led 4 volunteers to plant vines for archways.
Work Day 5: August 19, 2023 - Installed educational signs in the sanctuary.
Additional Work
Graphic design and development work for education and communication:
Designed a community notification flyers
Designed a Girl Scout Service Unit flyer
Designed two educational signs for the garden
Wrote newsletter article draft
Endangered Species
In July 2022, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classified the monarch butterfly as endangered and placed it on its “red list”. Monarch butterflies and indigenous pollinators are being threatened by habitat loss, climate change, and increased pesticide usage. Pollinators are an essential part of the environment and plant life cycles.
Garden - November 2022 (Pre Project)
Butterfly Garden After Renovation
Girl Scout Gold Award
The Girls Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious leadership award a senior or ambassador-level Girl Scout can earn. Only 5% of Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award every year.