Abigail “Abby” Thierer, of Northampton, is in Girl Scout Troop 8614 and has put on the finishing touches of her Girl Scout project.

Her current project was to install a bat box at Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club, 2110 Canal St., Northampton. Abby noted brown bats are endangered, and she feels this project could raise awareness of the importance of bats.

According to Abby, 75 bats can use the box she is installing. Her plan was to place the bat box facing the east, so the bats can feel the warm sun as they sleep all day.

Being nocturnal animals, the bats can zoom around the Lehigh River eating bugs and flies. One small brown bat can eat 1,200 bugs every night. They can eat 100% of their body weight in one night.

Abby noted the area around the Lehigh River is sprayed with pesticides to kill bugs. Her hope is that with enough bat boxes, the amount of pesticide use over the river can be reduced.

Abby is in eighth grade and has been a Scout most of her life. She was a Daisy, Brownie, Junior and now a Cadet. Abby is looking forward to the next level — Senior — which is followed by Ambassador.

She has an unbelievable level of success and achievement as a Girl Scout. Her future goals include achieving the Girl Scout Silver and then Gold awards. She has already achieved the Girl Scout Bronze designation. Having impressively amassed more than 40 badges and three Journey awards is a testament to her focus and motivation.

One of these awards was after her completing the Media Journey. Her work to achieve Journey status was to examine the treatment of women in the media regarding stereotyping of women, particularly in advertisements.

Abby’s Scouting activities are fully supported by her mother and father — Kathleen and Dan — who reside in Northampton.

Abby is considering future studies in health care or perhaps a career in the legal profession.

“I like helping people, and I am really outgoing,” she said.

Her father chimed in that she is a good negotiator and could fit in well in the legal arena.

When asked what her favorite aspect of being a Girl Scout was, Abby did not hesitate to say camping was her favorite. She said she is writing a speech to address the importance of camping and to raise money for kids whose families cannot afford to send their kids to camp.

Visit girlscouts.org/join to learn more about Girl Scouting and how to join. The Scout motto is “Be prepared,” which encourages Scouts to be ready to help others and to face challenges with confidence and resourcefulness.