Girl Scouts Band Together to Protect Sea and Shorebirds

The “Coastal Education Team,” made up of Girl Scout Cadettes from Troops 328 and 446 of the Girl Scouts of Gulf Coast Florida Council, is working toward their Silver Award. For their “Take Action” project, the girls set their sights on Florida’s coast, asking a simple but powerful question: How can we help?

They found their answer in the Least Tern, a small, charismatic shorebird whose nesting success has declined across much of its range due to habitat loss and human disturbance. Rather than being assigned a project, the girls chose to protect this species after connecting with staff at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park to learn where help was most needed.

“My group chose this specific project because DelnorWiggins reached out to us and told us about their Least Terns,” said Katherine J. “We thought that it was a very unique and fun project to do. I personally hope to learn leadership skills and more information about the types of birds and how to teach others about sharing the shore.”

For Develynn S., the project opened the door to a new understanding of coastal wildlife: “When I was informed about it, I was very intrigued. I never knew that shorebirds were so important, and I immediately wanted to be involved,” she said. “Shorebirds are key species in our ecosystem, so we should make sure we do our best to keep them safe.”

The opportunity came at a critical moment for the park. After a series of hurricanes in late 2024, and while still recovering from 2022’s Hurricane Ian, park staff made the forward-thinking decision to protect newly formed beach habitat. They posted the recently reshaped area with signs and fencing to give shorebirds space to forage during winter with the hope that nesting birds would return this summer. According to park staff, Delnor-Wiggins has not hosted nesting shorebirds since the 1980s. The new habitat offers a rare opportunity.

The challenges facing shorebirds were one reason Iris S. felt drawn to the project. “I chose this project because shorebirds keep leaving nesting sites because of boaters approaching sandbars and because of habitat loss,” she said. “I hope to learn more about shorebirds, especially Least Terns, from this experience.”

To encourage Least Terns to reclaim the site, the Coastal Education Team designed a decoy project modeled on proven conservation techniques. With support from park staff and guidance from Audubon Florida, the girls learned how decoys can attract nesting terns by signaling that an area is safe and already occupied.

Community partners quickly stepped in to make the idea a reality. Rick Schalk of the Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild donated his time, materials, and woodworking skills to create the decoys. Kathy, Carey, and Amy Slavin of Family Hobby Center supplied paints and materials. The girls painted each decoy by hand, transforming raw wood into lifelike models designed to draw real birds back to the beach.

On February 13, the project came together on the sand. Joined by their adult Girl Scout project adviser, Delnor-Wiggins staff, and Audubon Florida staff, the girls carefully placed the decoys within the posted area while learning how beachgoers can help protect nesting birds simply by respecting posted areas, leashing pets, and giving birds space.

Those small actions are central to the message the team hopes to share. “We can do things that may seem simple to us but are huge for shorebirds,” said Develynn S. “The next time you’re at the beach during nesting season, making sure you stay away from nesting areas can make a big difference.”

Education is at the heart of the Coastal Education Team’s Silver Award project. With resources and advice from Delnor-Wiggins State Park and Audubon Florida, the girls are now preparing to share what they’ve learned with their community and teach others how small actions can protect coastal wildlife.

Abi N. says the experience has shown the team how important those efforts can be. “In this project we have learned about how shorebirds are important to the coastline and why we should help increase their numbers,” she said. “Everyone can contribute to sharing the shore by giving the birds personal space and not entering their homes.”

In a place shaped by storms and recovery, the project offers something lasting: proof that conservation works best when communities come together. From Girl Scouts and park staff to conservationists and local businesses, this “Share the Shore” effort shows that stewardship isn’t just about protecting birds, it’s about empowering the next generation to lead the way.

This article originally appeared in the 2025 Coastal Report. Click here to read the full report.