
Certified Wildlife Habitat for the National Wildlife Federation at the Our Lady of Fatima Grotto, Scarsdale NY
Cub Scout Pack 24 in Scarsdale has created a Certified Wildlife Habitat following the 4 elements under the National Wildlife Federation, at the Our Lady of Fatima Grotto. The Fatima Grotto is part of the Our Lady of Fatima Church, located in Scarsdale, New York, and the Chartered Organization for Cub Scout Pack 24. The site is a rock side setting, with a seating area for prayer. The service project area was cleared of debris and old plantings, some plants were relocated to better benefit their growth, erosion prevention of a small area of retaining wall, using green methods via natural plantings, and new plantings were added to attract and feed birds, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Additional sources of food and water for wildlife were added, such as bird feeders, suet boxes, dill for hosting caterpillars, and salt in muddling dishes for butterflies. We also added another bench for private reflection and wildlife observation. Birdbaths were added for water, and butterfly muddling dishes were created, using polished stones for the butterflies to rest and drink. In the spirit of the project, the stones were written with 12 core values of Cub Scouting, and a separate dish was created with stones written with spiritual words, including the word "peace".