Submitted photo Five Girl Scouts from Troop 20089 in Ripley were give the Bronze Award for their project on the role of honey bees in the world. Pictured beside a flower garden that they constructed as part of the project are: back row from left, Emma Moore, Vicky Carris and Adriannah Cettell. In front are Addison Chess and Sophia Simpson

RIPLEY — Ripley Girl Scout Troop 20089 was awarded the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Junior can achieve.

Troop members researched the role of honey bees in the environment, presented their findings to the Ripley Central School district Board of Education and constructed a butterfly garden in front of the school.

“The girls spent two months researching before the board presentation,” said Troop Leader Victoria Carris.

What began as a fun project became a journey of understanding the critical role honey bees play in our lives, Carris said.

“This project has helped to open the girls’ eyes to how their lives affect the environment,” Carris said. “It has also provided them with an understanding of the ripple effect that human choices make on the environment.”

During the two months, the girls learned how to research, how to recognize a reputable online site, how to compile the data and then use that data to create a report, Carris said. “Through their research, they realized just how important the tiny little honey bee is to our survival,” she said.

The girls presented their findings to the board of education at a meeting where they discussed the potential serious consequences of the decline in the honey bee population.

The scouts explained the reasons that the honey bee population is declining and noted that bees help produce much of the fruits and vegetables that humans eat.

They also requested and received permission to construct a flower garden around the bell on the front lawn of the school to attract pollinators. A local woman donated most of the flowers from her own gardens, Carris said. Her son, Sam Carris tilled the area, and the girls weeded, dug, planted and watered. A building maintenance mechanic at the school stenciled the border which the girls constructed with repurposed wood, Carris added.

Carris said the girls really put their hearts into this project.

“I am extremely proud of these young ladies,” Carris said. “They don’t do anything just to get it done. They are hardworking, dedicated, passionate young ladies.”

Carris said the girls who won the Bronze Award are Vicky Carris, Adriannah Cettell, Addison Chess, Emma Morin and Sophia Simpson.

According to girlscouts.org, the Bronze Award is given to Girl Scout Juniors who “make a difference in their community, while learning important leadership skills, discovering new passions, and watching how seemingly small actions make a big difference.” The Ripley Girls Scouts learned how the decline in honey bees could result in widespread starvation and they took action to help save the bees.