Mapping Mosquito Habitats with Girl Scouts: A Citizen Science Approach Using the “Mosquito Mission: Scout & Report!” Worksheet

Mosquitoes, though small, impact millions around the world by being significant vectors of diseases. The search for effective mosquito control efforts is ongoing, however, there is a gap in community involvement with a focus on recognizing and reducing potential breeding areas. Public engagement is a cornerstone of effective mosquito control. This honors thesis investigates the implementation of the Mosquito Mappers program with an original Girl Scout worksheet, “Mosquito Mission: Scout & Report!” This worksheet, which utilizes NASA’s GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper app, enables the Girl Scouts to contribute to real-time environmental monitoring. By guiding Girl Scouts through an inquiry-based science worksheet, this project explores how citizen science can both educate the youth and aid scientific data collection. This study assesses how the “Mosquito Mission: Scout & Report!” worksheet encourages environmental observation, supports mosquito habitat identification, and fosters action toward mosquito control.