Girl Scout garden beautifies Buswell Community Center

BEDFORD, NH – The Stevens-Buswell Community Center has been under renovation for years. Many of its rooms have been refreshed and the Bedford Historical Society has been working to get those renovations to the finish line and open the building to the public. Though the center is not yet open for public use, one Girl Scout took the initiative to improve the grounds and created a pollinator garden where visitors can relax and where bees, butterflies and birds can thrive.

Exelia Rourke, 15, of Bedford, is a Girl Scout in Troop 58108 and now a ninth-grader. She did the work to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest honor possible for a Girl Scout in grades 6-8. It was not an easy journey for her, as she planned a garden for one site and then had to adjust to finding a new location for the garden. She overcame that obstacle, working hard to achieve her goal.

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She planned her project with her troop and her mother, leader of Troop 58108. Pam "flask" Gude, a Master Naturalist and outdoor living expert in Vermont, gave Exelia advice on how Silver Award projects work and advised her regarding ways to adjust her plans. Because Exelia wanted native plants in the garden, The Native Plant Trust helped her choose appropriate plants. The Frizz Home Garden Center also contributed.

"Because I garden with the family," Exelia said, "I have my own garden equipment. I will also be adding a plaque/sign that explains how the garden positively impacts the environment or how other people can take action or create their own garden so that other people can learn from work and I can hopefully help someone or teach the community something new."

Exelia learned a lot about herself and how to handle adversity with the project.

"Sometimes it's frustrating when things don't go according to plan," she said, "but sometimes when they don't it can be a good thing, like when I was unable to get a certain plant that I wanted I found one that was better. So I realized that I shouldn't be frustrated when something goes wrong because I can just keep working and I will be successful."

Exelia received at $250 Take Action Mini Grant from Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, the council serving Girl Scouts in New Hampshire and Vermont, for the project. Her troop and family also donated funds.

She began her work in the winter of 2025, then in May of 2026 the Buswell Community Center expressed a need for someone to assist with improving the exterior and grounds. In July she set her budget and researched plants and installed the garden in August. Buswell Center volunteers will care for the garden in the future.

Anyone who would like to learn more about Girl Scouting and how it helps girls to find the confidence and power within to make the world a better place is invited to learn more at www.girlscoutsgwm.org.

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Girl Scouts discover who they are, tap into the power inside them, and build the confidence to let it shine. Through programs from coast to coast and overseas, girls of all backgrounds and abilities come as they are to explore their passions, meet new challenges, and develop hands-on skills. They find their strengths in science labs and on hiking trails, at cookie booths and in front of city councils. Backed by millions of alums and a network of dedicated adult volunteers and mentors, Girl Scouts drive change to make the world a better place. Along the way, they uncover the tools they need to lead with joy, on their own terms. Join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate.

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains serves girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont through volunteer-run troops, events, and virtual programs. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org to learn more.