Last summer I joined a butterfly count in Pass Christian, MS. We had a number of young people with us that day–members of Girl Scout Troop 4608. It was great to have them participate. Very little pleases me more than kids getting interested in the wonders of creation!

Little did I know that one of them, Lillian May, was working on her Silver Award project. A few days after I got back home to Monroe, I received an email from the Troop leader. Well, the email was from the Troop leader, but the message inside was from “Lily.” Would I be willing to help with her project by sharing some of my photos of butterflies?

YES! A thousand times yes! Nothing gives me more satisfaction and pride than having my photos used by another naturalist and citizen scientist.

So Lily had a list of what she needed. I went through my photos, found good photos of all except one, and sent them off to Lily via her Troop leader. Lily was so professional in all our communication, responding promptly, thanking me and offering to send me a copy of her project when it was finished.

It arrived in the mail a few days ago. I am so humbled and proud. Look what this young lady has done! BTW, it is clear to me that this booklet was hand assembled. If she had done this for my college-level design class, it would definitely earn an A.