Previously, we reported on the Scuba Scouts, high school-aged kids who study, monitor, and work to preserve the ocean. Rebecca Shultz isn't a Scuba Scout -- she's a Girl Scout -- but she's certainly be doing her fair share of work! For the last year and a half, in fact, Schultz has been busy casting concrete molds to serve as artificial reefs in the Miami area. So far, she's created 30 molds, each of which weigh between 200 and 1500 pounds. (I guess Shultz casts one new reef ball about every 3 weeks.)
With the help of her marine biology teacher, Schultz applied for and received a $4,500 grant from the Reef Ball Foundation and another $2,500 grant from the Girl Scouts to complete the project. This weekend, she and some friends snorkeled near one of the reef balls, which was submerged on March 25. According to Schultz's partner, Veronica Lafranchise, the sites already have "some yellowtail, parrot fish and angel fish near the reef." As a result of her hard work, Schultz earned a "Gold Award," the Girl Scouts' highest award. She's also been named Divester's Hero of the Week.
[Via Dive News]
