Daisy Scouts mark Earth Day with planting project at Rhoades School

Daisy Girl Scout Troop #1280 from the Rhoades School marked the 45th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22 by planting a milkweed garden at the school, in an effort to help the declining monarch butterfly population.

Milkweed is a favorite plant of the monarch butterfly, and the hope is that the garden will attract butterflies to The Rhoades School campus.

The girls worked in teams to dig the holes, amend the soil, plant, mulch and water the school garden. The participating Daisy Scouts earned an “Earth Day” patch for their work on this project.

The Rhoades School has a long-standing tradition of establishing and supporting Girl Scout troops. The school’s Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts recently led a Flag Salute Color Guard Ceremony in conjunction with the Daisy Scouts at The Rhoades’ 35th anniversary celebration; the young Scouts benefit tremendously from the guidance, mentoring and friendship afforded by the older Girl Scouts as they interact.

Troop #1280 is made up of 19 kindergarten and first-grade girls. Daisies are the youngest Girl Scouts in the 103-year-old organization. Troop #1280 meets monthly in Encinitas with the goal of “making the world a better place” and is part of the Encinitas Service Unit and San Diego Council of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

Service projects such as the planting, care and maintenance of the milkweed garden help the girls on their leadership journey by giving them an opportunity to discover, connect and take action, a leadership philosophy of the Girl Scouts. The girls are working toward earning their Daisy Petals; each Scout activity is intentionally selected to help teach lessons about the Girl Scout Law and Promise by exploring 10 individual Petal topics ranging from honesty and fairness to friendliness and helpfulness. Next week, Troop #1280 will visit a local assisted living facility to sing and do craft projects with the residents.