Ruby Anton: Growing a Love of Nature Through Girl Scouts

An aging pavilion outside her church inspired Ruby Anton’s Girl Scout Gold Award project.

For the award, which is the Girl Scout’s highest honor, Ruby transformed the area into an outdoor gathering place complete with restored picnic tables, electricity, a revitalized butterfly garden and educational activities that will continue serving younger Girl Scouts for years to come. She also wrote curriculum and led workshops that teach girls about pollinators, gardening and caring for nature.

A Girl Scout for 13 years, Ruby will be a senior at Augustine Christian Academy this fall. We met Ruby at the garden space at Christ Church Episcopal to see her project and find out what inspired it.

TK: Tell us about your Gold Award project.

Ruby: Ever since I’ve been at this church, there’s always been this pavilion that was broken down, and nobody used it. At one point, they even had caution tape around it because they thought it might fall down. I realized it could be used in such a better way. There was also a butterfly garden that wasn’t being taken care of, even though it’s a certified Monarch Waystation. So I restored the pavilion, built picnic tables, revitalized the butterfly garden and created workshops to teach younger girls about pollinators and gardening.

TK: It’s amazing seeing everything you’ve accomplished. Which part of the project are you most proud of?

Ruby: Definitely the process of creating and writing curriculum and then using that curriculum to put on workshops for younger girls. I’m so glad I had a chance to reach out to those younger girls and teach them about planting, pollinators and many other things!

TK: If a younger Girl Scout visited your project five years from now, what would you hope she takes away from it?

Ruby: I hope if a younger girl or anyone visits my project, they would be able to see how important the nature is around us and why we need to care and tend for it.

TK: You transformed a neglected space into something beautiful and useful. What did that experience teach you about making a difference in your community?

Ruby: I feel like you always hear how important making a difference in your community is, but once you actually see the impact your time and effort has made toward your community, it really does encourage you to step out and make a difference more regularly.

TK: What has surprised you most about yourself through this project?

Ruby: My love for community service. My whole Gold Award has really started my love for serving others and my community. One of my biggest goals before I graduate high school is to get as much community service as possible. I’m pretty sure I have passed 300 hours so far! Serving provides you with so many different experiences, skills and opportunities to help your community.

TK: You’ve been a Girl Scout since kindergarten. What has Girl Scouts meant to you?

Ruby: It just opens up so many different doors and opportunities for you, and it gives you so many opportunities to try new things. Several of my hobbies now have come from Girl Scouts. I discovered my love of traveling through Girl Scouts. I realized I love gardening and helping younger girls through Girl Scouts. It’s such a positive community that encourages you to go out and try new things.

TK: You’ve had some amazing travel opportunities through Girl Scouts. Tell us about those.

Ruby: I’ve traveled to England, Scotland, New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Iceland through Girl Scouts, and this summer I’m going to Vancouver and Seattle. It’s really fun, and I’ve made friends from all over the country through those trips.

TK: What do you enjoy doing when you’re not busy with Girl Scouts?

Ruby: I love playing tennis. I also play electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass and piano. I’m involved with worship teams at my church and at school, and I enjoy art, too.

TK: What are your plans after high school?

Ruby: I hope to play tennis in college and major in either kinesiology or sports medicine.

Natalie Mikles is a mom of three and editor of TulsaKids Magazine. She writes about food, sharing recipes for busy families and picky eaters.