Girl Scouts Support Group for the East End in Bay to Sound Trail Project
GIRL SCOUTS SUPPORT GROUP FOR THE EAST END IN BAY TO SOUND TRAIL PROJECT
Troops Remove Invasive Species from Preserves in Southold Town
(Southold, New York… March 2023) Group for the East End (groupfortheeastend.org) has been working on the long-term Bay to Sound Trails Initiative, in partnership with the Town of Southold, since 2007. With a goal of creating a trail network linking Suffolk County park land, Southold Town land, and Greenport Village preserves between Peconic Bay and Long Island Sound, the project fosters ecotourism opportunities such as birdwatching and nature hikes, and community groups get involved by creating and maintaining trails. As part of a recent collaboration with phase five of the project, the Group has enlisted the help of Girl Scout Troop 2125 to create and maintain these outdoor public spaces.
“The Bay to Sound Trails Initiative is a true example of community conservation in action,” shares Group outreach director Taralynn Reynolds. “Throughout the course of this project, it’s been a privilege to engage the public in helping preserve and protect these natural areas. Working with Girl Scout Troop 2125 over the past year has been amazing. It’s been inspiring to watch them really get in the weeds and work hard towards a shared goal. We need more people, youth in particular, to get involved in their communities, like those on the East End, where development pressure continues to increase and threaten our land, water, and wildlife, and our own way of life.”
Most recently, the Girl Scouts have been removing invasive species, primarily phragmites (Phragmites australis), from the stormwater runoff retention ponds around Skipper Horton in Greenport. Removing phragmites allows sunlight in so native plants have a chance to grow and support pollinators and other wildlife. The troops are nearing their required hours to earn their Silver Award.
“Group for the East End has offered the 8th grade girls of Southold Girl Scout Troop 2125 an incredible opportunity to learn and work with clearing invasive plants and planting native ones,” shares troop leader Catherine Kaelin. “It has allowed the girls to give back to their environment in an impactful and sustainable way. They literally got their hands dirty, over the course of a year, cutting back phragmites, putting up fences, planting native trees and plants, laying mulch, and going on hikes at various local trails to identify native and invasive plants.”
After the work with the Girls Scouts is completed, the Group will continue the work at Skipper Horton by ensuring phragmites is kept at bay, adding additional native plant species, and removing trash from the trails. Additional restoration projects within the Bay to Sound project area will continue throughout the year.
The Group applauds the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, and New York State for coming together to create funding for acquisition and preservation of public parcels. Volunteer support is critical to making this project a success. Individuals interested in helping out can contact Taralynn at treynolds@eastendenvironment.org.
Work conducted on the Bay to Sound Trails Phase 5 project is being funded by the New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund.
ABOUT GROUP FOR THE EAST END
Group for the East End protects and restores the environment of eastern Long Island, New York through professional advocacy and education. We inspire people to embrace a conservation ethic and to take action in their local community.
