Case Study: "Bee a Pollinator Protector": Empowering Young Leaders Through AI for Environmental Action

Beyond Cookies: Girl Scouts Lead the Way in Innovation with AI

Introduction:

Girl Scouts are known for their commitment to community service and developing young women of courage, confidence, and character. While their iconic cookies often take center stage, the leadership journey within Girl Scouts culminates in impactful projects like the Silver Award. This case study explores the "Bee a Pollinator Protector" project undertaken by four ambitious 7th-grade Girl Scouts from Troop 193 in Southern Illinois: Amilia, Libby, Gwen, and Olivia. With guidance from AI Leadership Solutions, these young entrepreneurs are leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to amplify their efforts in addressing the critical issue of pollinator decline. This initiative not only aims to raise awareness and support for pollinators but also provides a real-world platform for the girls to develop essential leadership, collaboration, and communication skills.  

Background:

The Girl Scout program offers a tiered system of awards that encourage increasing levels of leadership and community engagement. The Bronze Award, typically earned by Junior Girl Scouts (4th and 5th grade), introduces the concept of teamwork and community impact through a "Take Action" project. The troop, then consisting of 10 girls, provided the Bronze Award winning Goat Playground at Willoughby Heritage Farm. Amilia, a member of this team in her younger years, is the only member of the silver team to have earned the Bronze Award.

Moving into the Cadette level (6th through 8th grade), the Silver Award challenges girls to take on more significant leadership roles and address a root cause of an issue in their community. The team size is intentionally smaller (up to four girls) to foster deeper collaboration and individual responsibility. Recognizing the alarming decline in pollinator populations, including the recent placement of the Monarch butterfly on the endangered list, Amilia, Libby, Gwen, and Olivia decided to focus their Silver Award project on this critical environmental concern.  

Silver Project Team Leader: 

With a strong foundation in animal welfare and community engagement, Amilia brings a wealth of experience to the team. As a 4th-grade Brownie, she demonstrated her commitment to service by contributing to the Bronze Award-winning goat playground project at Willoughby Heritage Farm. Her connection to Willoughby runs deeper, however, as she was a longtime volunteer at the farm for three years, dedicating approximately 60 hours per year to assisting in the equine, bovine, and ovine habitats. This sustained involvement provided her with valuable insights into animal care and the workings of a local farm. Building on her passion for animals, Amilia is currently expanding her volunteer efforts with Partners for Pets, where she serves as a kitten foster, caring for pregnant mothers and kittens from birth until they are ten weeks old. Her prior experience with the Bronze Award and her broad knowledge of animal welfare, including pollinators, make her a natural and effective Team Leader, guiding the "Bee a Pollinator Protector" project with dedication and insight.

The Role of AI Leadership Solutions:

AI Leadership Solutions, a Federally Certified Women-Owned Small Business specializing in leadership support for nonprofit agencies, partnered with Troop 193 to guide the girls through their Silver Award project. Founder and President, Amber Donnelly, facilitated sessions with the young entrepreneurs, introducing them to the capabilities of AI technology, specifically Google's Gemini. The goal was to empower the girls to use AI as a tool to enhance their communication and outreach efforts with community stakeholders.

Project Conception and Planning:

The initial brainstorming sessions focused on identifying a project name that was both memorable and impactful. The girls were keen on incorporating a pun related to bees. After considering options like "Bee a Pollinator Protector" and "Bee a Pollinator Hero," they thoughtfully chose "Protector" to emphasize the urgency and importance of their mission, wanting to avoid the perception of a lighthearted "superhero" theme.

With the project name established, the girls began to explore how AI could support their goals. AI Leadership Solutions demonstrated how Gemini could be used for various tasks, including:

• Refining Communication: Editing letters to potential sponsors, ensuring clarity, and professionalism.

• Marketing and Outreach: Brainstorming creative ideas for marketing their project to the community.

• Educational Content: Refining fun and informative facts for the pollinator education placards they planned to install in local parks and nature centers.

Developing Leadership Skills and Teamwork:

The Silver Award places a strong emphasis on leadership development. Under the guidance of AI Leadership Solutions, the girls engaged in discussions about their individual strengths and how they could best contribute to the project. This led to a natural division of labor:

• Amilia: With her prior experience on the Bronze Award and existing knowledge about pollinators, Amilia took on the role of Team Leader, providing overall direction and ensuring the project stayed on track.

• Gwen: Her familiarity with the design platform Canva and her connection to the Mayor of Hamel made her the logical choice for Stakeholder Development, responsible for building and maintaining relationships with community partners.

• Olivia: Having access to a podcaster, Olivia embraced the role of Social Media Outreach, leveraging digital platforms to raise awareness and engage the community.

• Libby: Her outgoing and personable nature made her a natural fit for Sales and Fund Development, focusing on securing sponsorships and resources for the project.

This division of labor not only allowed the girls to utilize their individual talents but also provided them with practical experience in team dynamics, delegation, and accountability – crucial leadership skills for their future endeavors.

Community Partnerships:

The "Bee a Pollinator Protector" project has fostered valuable connections with several community stakeholders, demonstrating the girls' proactive engagement and networking abilities. Their established partnerships include:

• Big T’s Honey Farm: Providing expertise on bees and potentially resources for educational materials. Importantly, Tim from Big T Honey will enhance the girls' community market presence by providing a bee observation hive, offering an engaging and educational experience for the public.

• The Watershed Nature Center: A key location for installing pollinator education placards and a potential venue for hosting educational events, further amplifying the project's outreach.

• Solution Roofing LLC: Demonstrating valuable community support from local businesses, highlighting the project's broad appeal.

• Willoughby Heritage Farm: Building upon Amilia's prior involvement as a longtime volunteer and connection to the farm, Willoughby provides a familiar and supportive environment for potential pollinator-friendly initiatives.

• RP Lumber: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability by providing a generous donation of pallet wood for the construction of pollinator homes made from recycled lumber, adding a hands-on element to the project.

• Lincoln Land Community College: Offering a unique educational opportunity through the adoption of a beehive, providing the girls with in-depth knowledge about bee behavior and colony management.

Impact and Future Implications:

The "Bee a Pollinator Protector" project, slated for completion in September 2025, is already demonstrating a significant impact on the participating Girl Scouts. They are:

• Developing Marketable Leadership Skills: Through teamwork, delegation, communication, and problem-solving, the girls are gaining valuable skills that will make them strong candidates for future leadership roles in academic, professional, and community settings.

• Contributing to Environmental Awareness: By creating and installing pollinator education placards, they are actively working to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators and how the community can support their conservation.

• Building Community Connections: The project has facilitated meaningful relationships with local organizations and businesses, fostering a sense of civic responsibility and collaboration.

• Leveraging Technology for Good: The girls are gaining firsthand experience in how AI tools can be used to amplify their impact and streamline their efforts, showcasing the potential of technology for social good.

Conclusion:

The "Bee a Pollinator Protector" project exemplifies the leadership potential within the Girl Scout program and the transformative impact of empowering young women with innovative tools like AI. AI Leadership Solutions' role in facilitating this project highlights the power of mentorship and technology in nurturing the next generation of leaders and changemakers. As Amilia, Libby, Gwen, and Olivia continue their journey, they are not only making a tangible difference in their community but also developing invaluable skills and experiences that will undoubtedly shape their future success. Their initiative serves as an inspiring example of how young people, with the right guidance and resources, can tackle significant challenges and "bee" the change they wish to see in the world.