Wisconsin Grant Summaries

2003 Council Grants:

Girl Scouts of Badger Council

Project Title: Burn! Remove! Restore! Our Prairie and Marsh Woodland Management

Project Description: Girls and adults learned the benefits of woodland management by participating in hands on programs educating them about invasive plants and marshland restoration efforts on their camp property and by mapping out property landmarks. During a father/daughter day and a mother/daughter overnight at camp girls and parents helped clear the invasive buckthorn plant. Participants investigated the invasive and native grass species and helped restore the native marsh environment. By hiking the trails and recording landmarks at camp, NRCS helped a senior Girl Scout use Global Positioning technology to create an accurate color-coded map of Camp Oakwood Knoll to be used in land management plans and environmental programs. More clearing of invasive species and prescribed burning is proposed as part of a prairie management plan being developed.

Federal or Sate Collaborating Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Local Collaborating Agencies:

Actual Number of Girl Scouts Served: 1,416

Diversity: 0.0% American Indian/Alaskan; 1.4% Asian/Pacific Islander; 3.9% Black; 2.6% Hispanic; 92.1% White

Girl Scouts of Black Hawk Council

Project Title: Bringing Back Savannah

Project Description: Girls began the initial phase of a 20 year prairie restoration effort. Girls helped by clearing land and planting native pairie seed on camp property. It has increased the total acreage of a prairie corridor in Iowa county, WI as part of a joint venture with the USFWS and neighboring land owners. This large restoration will help provide much needed habitat for grassland birds and other wildlife to repopulate in the years to come. This process will be applied to the council’s three other camp properties and the council service center, as well as serving as a model for other councils. Girls and adult volunteers increased their environmental awareness about ecosystem management, science careers and stewardship. Two Girl Scout staff were federally certified in fire safety and prescribed burning techniques. Girl Scouts who helped with this project are being recruited as volunteers for similar projects by other agencies.

Federal or Sate Collaborating Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Wisconsin Private Lands Office

Local Collaborating Agencies: Dane County Parks, The Nature Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusiasts

Actual Number of Girl Scouts Served: 740

Diversity: 0.0% American Indian/Alaskan; 4.3% Asian/Pacific Islander; 3.9% Black; 2.3% Hispanic; 89.5% White

Girl Scouts of Indian Waters

Project Title: Water Watchers

Project Description: Girl Scouts ages 8-17 were trained to monitor water quality of streams in their communities. Girls investigated water’s oxygen, temperature, PH level, water clarity, depth and flow and animal diversity. Their data and results were put into the DNR's Water Action Volunteer statewide database and their project will be presented to the council and community at the Beaver Creek Field Research Symposium in the Spring of 2004. Water monitoring kits are also available to be signed out for use by troops and the community. Girls developed better awareness, appreciation and understanding of our water resources and the impact that humans have on plants animals in our aquatic ecosystems while earning the Water Watchers patch.

Federal or Sate Collaborating Agency: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Local Collaborating Agencies: Beaver Creek Reserve, University of Wisconsin -Eau Claire, University of Wisconsin Extension

Actual Number of Girl Scouts Served: 169

Diversity: 0.0% American Indian/Alaskan; 3.6% Asian/Pacific Islander; 0.0% Black; 0.6% Hispanic; 96.4% White

2004 Council Grants:

Girl Scouts of Black Hawk

Project Title: Echoes of Prairie

Project Description: Seventeen acres of new prairie was re-established on Echo Valley Camp property and used as an environmental education tool to teach both Girl Scouts and adult volunteers about ecosystem management techniques, science careers, and stewardship ethics. This large restoration provides grassland habitat for birds and other wildlife to repopulate. It also adds additional acreage to a tall grass prairie corridor as a joint venture with the USFWS and neighboring land owners. This process will be applied to the council’s three other camp properties and the council service center, and serves as a model for other councils committed to land stewardship on their properties.

Federal or Sate Collaborating Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Wisconsin Private Lands Office

Actual Number of Girl Scouts Served: 1,405

Girl Scouts of Milwaukee Area

Project Title: Going Places…Saving Spaces

Project Description: A program that connected girls to the land by integrating education, adventure, leadership, and service opportunities into existing summer camp programs: troop trips, resident camp and day camp. The goal was to instill a sense of stewardship and kindle an environmental ethic that will result in continued personal action for all participants. Girls hiked, biked, climbed and paddled through local waterways and other natural environments and learned an appreciation for the land, the necessity for conservation and how to communicate stewardship to others.

Federal or Sate Collaborating Agency: United States Fish and Wildlife Service-Horicon National Wildlife Refuge, Take Pride in America. National Park Service – Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Actual Number of Girl Scouts Served: 319

Girl Scouts of Riverland Council

Project Title: Environmental Awareness Day

Project Description: A day to increase awareness of environmental issues and participate in a service project to benefit habitat on a local National Wildlife Refuge. A section of the refuge’s prairie land was adopted by the council to be maintained by Girl Scouts in succeeding years.

Federal or Sate Collaborating Agency: United States Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Actual Number of Girl Scouts Served: 169

2007 Council Grants:

Girl Scouts Wisconsin Southeast (formerly GS of Milwaukee Area, Inc.)

Project Title: Girls Lead: For Land’s Sake!

Project Description: A leadership development project that will link girls to a legacy of land leadership. Girls will develop and pilot a “Land Contract” for land-friendly practices and procedures at their Girl Scout Silverbrook Program Center and camp. Girls will discover national wildlife refuges and a scenic trail, explore conservation careers, and take action as environmental stewards. Three major outcomes for girls include: developing environmental ethic, connecting with each other and their natural community, and becoming empowered as advocates for land stewardship.

Federal or Sate Collaborating Agency: USDI Fish & Wildlife Service – Horicon National Wildlife Refuge; USDI National Park Service - Ice Age National Scenic Park and Trail Foundation

Actual Number of Girl Scouts Served: 140

Water | Wetlands, Oceans & Watersheds