Girl Scouts Krysta Fowler of North Port and Dakota Partelow of Port Charlotte recently earned prestigious Gold Awards for separate projects involving animal conservation and grief management.
The Girl Scouts Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, recognizing girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership and create sustainable, impactful community projects.
Krysta, a Girl Scout for 13 years, earned the award for an innovative and educational project titled “BAT-vocate: Appreciation and Awareness for Bats.” A student at North Port High School, Krysta dedicated her efforts to raising awareness about the importance of bats in the ecosystem, their critical role as pollinators and insect controllers, and dispelling common myths that portray the creatures negatively.
Krysta also achieved Bronze and Silver Awards, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to Girl Scouts and her dedication to leadership and community service.
Her Gold Award project included building and installing 26 bat houses throughout North Port and at Girl Scout campgrounds Camp Honi Hanta and Camp Caloosa. She also hosted educational events at the camps, where attendees learned about bat conservation, met ambassador bats from Peace River Wildlife Center, and participated in hands-on STEM activities.