Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Juniors Earn Bronze Award Through Community Bird Recovery Project Following Tornado

ST. LOUIS, MO – Two Girl Scouts from Troop 97 are being recognized for their leadership, environmental stewardship, and community impact after earning the Girl Scout Bronze Award for their project, “Save the Birds.”

Juniors Katie Pion and Nora Ruff launched their project after the devastating May 16, 2025, St. Louis area tornado impacted their neighborhood and surrounding areas. In the aftermath of the storm, the girls noticed extensive destruction to trees, gardens, and natural bird habitats throughout their community.

“After the tornado, we saw fallen trees everywhere, including nests with baby birds,” said Katie and Nora. “We wanted to help our community after the tornado and help the bird population thrive.”

Determined to make a difference, the girls began researching ways to support local bird populations that had lost reliable food sources and nesting habitats due to the storm. They connected with Matt Barton, Urban Conservation Specialist at the St. Louis Audubon Society, who provided guidance on sustainable ways to help birds recover.

Following their research, Katie and Nora decided to focus their Bronze Award project on creating bird feeders and planting native berry-producing plants that support local wildlife. Using recycled milk cartons, dowel rods, twine, and bird seed, the girls constructed 20 eco-friendly bird feeders and distributed them to neighborhood families affected by the tornado. Throughout the winter months, the feeders provided food for local birds including finches and juncos.

In addition to the bird feeders, the girls researched how to grow American Beauty Berry plants from seed, selecting the native shrub because its berries are a valuable food source for robins and many other local bird species. Although the nearly 200 seeds they planted did not germinate as planned, Katie and Nora continued to demonstrate perseverance, problem-solving, and dedication throughout the process.

“We learned a lot about birds and got to observe them doing their activities,” the girls shared.

For Katie and Nora, the project became more than a service initiative. It was an opportunity to transform a difficult experience into meaningful action that helped both their community and local wildlife recover.

“One of the things we're most proud of is how we made 20 bird feeders and gave them to people in our community affected by the tornado,” they said. “It was altogether a fun, educational experience that we'll never forget.”

Through the Bronze Award process, the girls strengthened important leadership skills including responsibility, teamwork, goal-setting, and empathy.

“Girl Scouts has helped us gain many life skills and made us more tenacious and empathetic,” they shared.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri proudly celebrates Katie and Nora for their commitment to environmental conservation, community service, and leadership through their Bronze Award project. The Girl Scout Bronze Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. The award encourages girls in fourth and fifth grade to identify an issue in their community, build a team, explore the root cause of the problem, and take action to create a lasting impact. Through the Bronze Award process, Girl Scouts develop leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills while creating meaningful change in their communities.

For more information about Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s Highest Awards program, visit girlscoutsem.org/highestawards.