About the Young Conservationists Behind My Home Tweet Home

Meet the Girl Scout Conservation Team Changing Maryland's Wildlife Future

Three passionate Girl Scouts from Troop #2156, SU 620 discovered that helping native birds isn't just about building birdhouses—it's about inspiring a generation of young conservationists. Under the guidance of their dedicated Troop Leader Ms. Tina Marie Carmona, this multi-level troop spanning from Daisies to Cadettes has made conservation education a cornerstone of their Central Maryland Girl Scout experience.

Through their Bronze Award project, My Home Tweet Home, these dedicated youth environmental advocates have created comprehensive DIY birdhouse plans that help restore critical habitat for Maryland's declining bird populations. What started as a troop discussion about community service transformed into a award-winning conservation initiative that now impacts wildlife across the region.

Three Girl Scouts holding DIY birdhouses for native Maryland birds conservation project

finding our cause

We talked about a lot of different problems in our community—like pollution, food insecurity, and mental health. But the more we learned, the more we felt connected to helping local wildlife. Birds are all around us, but many people don't realize they're losing their homes and struggling to survive. We thought that by helping birds, we could make a real difference for our environment and inspire others to care too. It was a way for us to combine something we love with something that really matters.

why birdhouses?

Before we began, we spent time learning about problems facing native birds in Maryland. We discovered that many birds are losing their nesting spots due to habitat loss and fewer old trees. After talking about ways to help, we decided birdhouses would be the perfect take action project. They’re fun to build, long-lasting, and give birds a safe place to raise their babies year after year. Plus, we knew we could teach others how to make them too!

take action project - Selecting our bronze award project

This project started with a big question: how could we help our local environment in a real and lasting way? As Girl Scouts working on our Bronze Award, my friends Amelle, Sofia, and I explored many issues affecting our community—from pollution to mental health—but one thing kept coming up: birds. We all love animals and nature, and we were surprised to learn how many native birds are losing their homes because of habitat destruction. That made us want to focus on wildlife, especially birds right here in Maryland.

After researching and sharing ideas, we decided that building birdhouses would be a great take action project. It’s a way to give birds a safe space to raise their young and teach others how to do the same. Each of us chose a native Maryland bird to help: I chose the Carolina Chickadee, Amelle chose the Tree Swallow, and Sofia chose the American Robin. We created special homes for each one and a website to share what we learned so that others can build along with us. Our goal is to inspire more people to care about birds and take simple actions that make a big impact.

These pictures capture what we did from beginning to end.

Individual Conservation Journeys

Genna - carolina Chickadee Champion

Junior Girl Scout Genna Haines from Troop 2156 promoting native Maryland bird conservation and youth environmental action

GIRL SCOUT JUNIOR

Bronze Award Focus: Backyard bird conservation through community education

Genna's passion for wildlife habitat restoration began watching her backyard video bird feeder, where she first noticed the decline in songbirds each spring. Her conservation journey includes participating in her local chapter Audubon Society bird counts and engaging with the YMOS group on birding events.

"I built Chickadee Cottage to give Carolina Chickadees a safe place to raise their families. These tiny birds are full of personality, and through my research, I learned they're losing 20% of their nesting sites each decade due to habitat loss. But here's what I discovered: if everyone makes one birdhouse, that's millions of new habitats for birds rapidly losing their homes."

Genna's Conservation Journey:

Creator of the innovative Ask Birdie tool at myhometweethome.com/ask-birdie, making bird conservation as simple as entering your zip code
Connected with Maryland Ornithological Society and Harford Bird Club, expanding her focus from backyard birds to understanding migration patterns and habitat needs
Developed family-friendly DIY birdhouse plans accessible to varying skill levels, recognizing not everyone has "an engineer dad with a full workshop"
Advocates for the "ripple effect strategy"—simple, actionable solutions that create massive cumulative impact when adopted widely
Practices ornitherapy (mindful birding) as a tool for managing anxiety about big life transitions like starting middle school

Her Conservation Philosophy:

Genna believes the path to saving birds lies in simplicity. Rather than overwhelming people with statistics, she focuses on empowering families with immediate, achievable actions. Her approach has inspired Girl Scout troops across Maryland to build birdhouses and has created a growing community of young conservationists who understand that individual actions, multiplied by thousands, create the habitat restoration birds desperately need.

Amelle - Tree Swallow Advocate

GIRL SCOUT JUNIOR

Bronze Award Focus: Youth environmental education and habitat creation

Growing up near Maryland wetlands, Amelle witnessed firsthand how development affects migratory bird populations. Her conservation work includes organizing neighborhood clean-up efforts and teaching younger scouts about wildlife protection.

"My birdhouse, Swallow Suite, is specifically designed for Tree Swallows' unique nesting needs. These incredible aerial acrobats migrate thousands of miles to reach Maryland, and they deserve safe places to raise their young."

Conservation Experience:

Led community clean-up projects
Created handouts and organized checklist for the maintenance of the birdhouses season after season.
Promotes native plant gardening for bird-friendly landscaping

sofia - American Robin Protector

GIRL SCOUT CADETTE

Bronze Award Focus: Community action for wildlife habitat preservation

Sofia environmental advocacy started with noticing fewer robins in her neighborhood each year. Her conservation efforts focus on connecting human communities with local wildlife through hands-on education and habitat restoration projects.

"Robin's Refuge represents more than just a birdhouse—it's a symbol of how young people can take meaningful action for wildlife conservation. American Robins are Maryland's most recognizable birds, making them perfect ambassadors for broader conservation awareness."

Conservation Experience:

Created bird conservation presentations for local communities and troops.
Volunteers with park services for native plant restoration
Advocates for bird-safe building practices in her community

The My Home Tweet Home Project: From Idea to Impact

Research and Development Process

Our comprehensive research revealed alarming statistics about Maryland's bird populations:

67% of bird species have experienced population declines over the past 50 years
Habitat loss affects 80% of native cavity-nesting birds
Climate change is shifting traditional nesting seasons by 2-3 weeks
Urban development removes an average of 500 natural nesting sites per square mile

Design and Construction Journey

Each DIY birdhouse plan underwent rigorous testing to ensure optimal dimensions, ventilation, and safety features for specific bird species. We consulted with local ornithologists and tested prototypes before finalizing our designs.

How Young People Can Start Conservation Projects

Every Action Creates a Reaction

The most important message we want to share with other young conservationists is simple: just start somewhere. You don't need expensive equipment or years of experience—you need curiosity, dedication, and willingness to take action.

Conservation Project Ideas for Youth

For Bird Enthusiasts:

Build species-specific birdhouses using our free DIY plans
Create bird-friendly gardens with native Maryland plants
Organize neighborhood bird watching groups
Document local bird species for citizen science projects

For Broader Wildlife Conservation:

Install pollinator gardens for native bees and butterflies
Build bat boxes to support insect control
Create wildlife water stations in urban areas
Advocate for pesticide-free community spaces

For Community Environmental Action:

Organize local clean-up events in wildlife habitats
Educate neighbors about bird-safe building practices
Start recycling programs focused on reducing habitat destruction
Partner with local environmental organizations for larger projects

Getting Started: Your Conservation Journey

Step 1: Choose Your Focus Identify one local environmental issue that interests you. Whether it's native birds, pollinators, water quality, or habitat restoration, pick something you feel passionate about learning more about.

Step 2: Research and Learn Spend time understanding the problem and existing solutions. Connect with local environmental organizations, wildlife agencies, and experienced conservationists who can share knowledge.

Step 3: Start Small, Think Big Begin with a manageable project that you can complete successfully. Our birdhouses started as a simple idea to help three bird species—now we're impacting hundreds of birds across Maryland.

Step 4: Share Your Knowledge Create resources that help others take similar actions. Document your process, share your results, and inspire other young people to join conservation efforts.

Step 5: Measure Your Impact Track the results of your work and celebrate the positive changes you create. Every bird housed, every habitat restored, every person educated makes a difference.

Connect with Our Conservation Mission

Ready to start your own wildlife conservation project? Our comprehensive DIY birdhouse plans, educational resources, and community support materials are completely free and designed specifically for young conservationists.

Download our resources:

Species-specific birdhouse construction plans
Native Maryland bird identification guides
Community workshop planning materials
Conservation project development templates

Join the movement: Share your conservation projects with us and inspire other young environmentalists to take action for Maryland's native wildlife.

Every action creates a reaction. When young people take conservation action, they inspire families, communities, and future generations to care for the wildlife that shares our world. Start your conservation journey today—Maryland's native birds are waiting for your help.

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