cjwinters
Registered: December 2011
City/Town/Province: Lambertville
Posts: 1
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During the past year I completed my Girl Scout Gold Award. The project for this award was entitled ‘Closer to Wildlife’. Many times I have found injured wildlife near my home and brought the animals to the local Wildlife Center. I became actively involved with the needs of the Wildlife Center after taking a tour and asking questions regarding the needs of the center and the people who work and volunteer there.
The Mercer County Wildlife Center (MCWC) is a non-profit organization that cares for sick, abandoned and injured wildlife. My project was to educate the community about the MCWC and make them aware of their needs. My goal was to collect 250 lbs of newspaper and 1000 items. In the end I collected over 3000 lbs of newspaper and over 1390 items. The items collected totaled to over $9,000.00’s. Collecting the newspaper consisted of picking up the newspapers from the market several times a week, sorting the newspapers by removing all advertisements and circulars, and then taking the newspapers to the center. I collected the items, which included paper towels, dawn dish detergent, bleach, plastic trash bags and zip lock bags, from my community at local schools, churches and supermarkets. I well exceeded my original goals and because of my efforts I received a plaque from the Mercer County Park Commission for ‘Special Service to the Wildlife Center’.
In order to educate children in the community about the MCWC, with the assistance of Mrs. Nickerson (the director of the wildlife center), I created my own patch program for young Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. The patch program was entitled ‘Closer to Wildlife’. I researched online patch websites and was able to create my own patch. The patch program included: drawing a picture of a nondomestic animal, answer three questions about your animal (where your animal lives, what it eats and is it nocturnal), come to the MCWC for wildlife presentation, bring a donated item, and discuss your animal drawing and facts. After the completion of my Gold Award, I donated this patch program to the MCWC so that children in the community can earn the patch and continue to learn about wildlife and the center.
I also educated the community about the MCWC by presenting information while collecting items at the Pennington Market and St. James Church. I presented a booth at Pennington Day (a street fair in my town) and educated the community then as well. During GS Thinking day I had a booth so I could teach the younger people in the community about the MCWC and inform them of my patch program. During each presentation I ensured that the public could get a chance to learn something new and help a great cause. In order to make my presentations I spent time getting instruction from Mrs. Nickerson, and created and used my own, and poster boards from the MCWC. Collection boxes were located not only in the church, but also in the local schools, with the approval of the principals. With the money I received from donations I was able to purchase more items for the MCWC. The MCWC is always in need of so many items and I am delighted that I was able to assist them. I have decided to continue to collect newspapers over the next two years before I attend college, as long as there is a need. I will also have collection days several times during 2012.
In total, I spent over 124 hours on this project. This includes leadership hours for educating the community as well as the patch program for the young girl and boy scouts.
I have always cared for animals, especially my own. Knowing what I have done for the MCWC and helping the wildlife in my community, gives me a sense of accomplishment. I have developed a sincere caring for the staff because of everything they do to help the wildlife in the community. I have gained great respect for the people in my community because they were extremely generous and many were interested in the MCWC. I learned so much from this project that I plan on volunteering at the MCWC when I am of age to do so.
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