Are you or your troop working on a service project or highest award dedicated to the environment?
If so, you’ll want to apply for the 2023 Becker Eco-Advocacy Award to receive funds to help in your efforts to make a difference in your community. The deadline is May 19, 2023.
Becker Eco-Advocacy Award recipients are Girl Scouts who advocate for and build sustainable projects to preserve the environment and make lasting differences in their communities.
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana would like to recognize the 2022 Becker Eco-Advocacy Award recipients who are environmental superstars in their community and living out the Girl Scout mission of building a better world.
Congratulations to: Faith from Troop 20871 in Chicago, IL, Troop 45856 from Lakemoor, IL, and Troop 15459 from Munster, IN.
Please read on to learn how their efforts are contributing to making the world a better, healthier, and safer place for all.
Faith, Troop 20871, Chicago, IL:
Faith was inspired to expand the community garden so all residents in her community could harvest fresh and healthy foods. Faith constructed new garden beds close to the sidewalks so people could pick food free of charge. Faith also included raised garden beds that are exclusively for people with disabilities, allowing people to harvest the vegetables standing up so they don’t have to bend down. “A neighbor of mine, Mr. Kevin, recently had a stroke. He wants to garden but can’t bend down. He can now use his wheelchair to harvest the vegetables,” said Faith.
Faith will continue her work by tending the garden beds to ensure that the garden will flourish with fresh vegetables and remain in her community for many more years.
Take a look at some of the photos below of Faith’s project.
Troop 45856, Lakemoor, IL:
Troop 45856 is working with the Lake County Forest Preserve to create a pollinator garden at the Ryerson Woods Visitor Center. The troop is currently picking out the plants, growing, and designing them so they can turn their pollinator garden into a certified monarch waystation this summer. When the troop met with Superintendent Bob Gold of Big Hollow School District to share about their project, he announced that the school district board wanted to double the money being put into the troop’s project and dedicate the garden to one of the school’s staff members retiring this year. The support from the Becker Eco-Advocacy Award and the school board allows Troop 45856 to expand their project into something more meaningful and sustainable than they ever anticipated.
Troop 15459, Munster, IN:
Troop 15459 is currently building a butterfly garden in their community to complete their Bronze Award. They hope to have this done by the end of spring 2023.
Stay tuned for more updates from all our 2022 Becker Eco-Advocacy Award recipients.
About the award:
The Philip J. Becker Eco-Advocacy Endowment Fund honors the memory of Philip J. Becker, a life-long educator who was devoted to inspiring young people to understand the urgency of transitioning to innovative, renewable, and sustainable energy sources. His family, with strong Girl Scout ties, honors his memory and his passion for the environment by funding these awards to inspire girls to take action to make the world a better place.
How can I receive this award?
Becker Eco-Advocacy Award recipients are Girl Scouts currently working on a service or highest award project dedicated to environmental issues.
Becker Eco-Advocacy Award applications are open now and will close on May 19, 2023.