Under bright sunshine and mild spring temperatures, Webelos Scouts from Cub Scout Pack 31 gathered at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center to take part in a hands-on Earth Day project, planting a butterfly bush to support local pollinators and beautify a shared community space.
Fifteen fourth-grade Scouts, ages 9 and 10, worked together on April 18 to dig, plant and learn about the role butterflies and other pollinators play in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The project combined environmental education with community service, a core part of the Cub Scout experience.
Den leader Heather Incandela said the idea developed as the group looked for ways to connect their lessons on endangered species with a meaningful local impact.
“We were doing a section on endangered animals and animals who need help,” she said. “And we were trying to tie everything together with what can we do in our community with animals and help a creature that might need some help and what can we actually do. The moms have had butterfly kits in years past, and we thought, ‘What if we were able to have our own butterfly bush at the rec center?’”
Planning the project required coordination with the recreation center for approval, selecting a suitable planting area and sourcing the butterfly bush, which is not always readily available early in the season. Once everything was in place, the Scouts took on the physical work of planting during the event.
The day also featured a symbolic butterfly release. Several Scouts had raised butterflies from kits at home, and as the insects were released, the group reacted with excitement — some butterflies even paused briefly on the children before taking flight.
“They were really thrilled to be active and get a little bit dirty and to see something really happen,” Incandela said.
Beyond the planting, the Scouts also received Pinewood Derby trophies from a race held in March, adding to the celebratory atmosphere. A plaque donated by a local business in Rockville Centre was installed near the planting site, marking the Scouts’ contribution and giving them a lasting connection to the space.
Incandela said experiences like this are designed to show Scouts that even small actions can have a meaningful impact on the environment and their community.
“I think that every part of our earth matters, that it doesn’t matter how small something may be,” she said. “Everything matters and we impact our world with everything that we do.”
