The Scouts show off the results of their service project.

ONEKAMA DAISY TROOP PUTS THE ‘CARE’ IN CARE PACKAGE

Old towels, sheets, bleach, dryer sheets, and unmatched socks… at first mention, these do not sound like treasures. However, to the employees at Manistee’s Homeward Bound Animal Shelter, these items are gifts in high demand.

The nine girls in Onekama School’s Kindergarten Daisy Troop spent the past month collecting items and making special treats to put in a care package for Homeward Bound Shelter. The Daisy Scout curriculum is organized around a series of colored petals.  Each petal of the daisy represents a different quality, such as “Considerate and Helpful,” “Honest and Fair,” or “Courageous and Strong.” During meetings, activities focus around understanding each of these qualities and how they relate to the girls’ lives.

The theme for the final petal of the year is “Making the World a Better Place.” After discussing potential service activities, the girls selected Homeward Bound Animal Shelter for their project. The troop’s leader, Megan McCarthy, first contacted the shelter to find out what contributions were most needed. The organization requested old bedding and towels to line the animals’ cages, bleach, paper towels, laundry soap, and unscented dryer sheets.

After collecting these items, the Scouts also brought in discarded socks to make “Happy Feet” for the cats at the shelter. The girls filled the socks with polyester fiberfill and catnip, creating simple toys used to calm the cats as they adjust to their new surroundings. “The Happy Feet help make the cats fell comfortable when they get nervous,” explained Daisy Scout Maegan H. “And they were fun to make, too.”

For the Happy Feet project, three Onekama Junior Girl Scouts, Taler Bohannon, McKayla Haske, and Makayla Spearman, who were working towards their Bronze Award, helped the Kindergarten students assemble the Happy Feet.

“It was fun to help the younger girls, and it makes me feel good to help them,” said Haske. “I was a Daisy Scout when I was young. Maybe someday when these girls are Junior Girl Scouts, they can remember us helping them and they might want to help a Daisy Troop, too.”

Makayla Spearman approved of the Daisy’s choice of projects. “Homeward Bound is a great organization because they don’t put animals to sleep,” commented Spearman. “They have a lot of animals who need good homes. I’m glad the Daisies chose Homeward Bound for their service project.”

Daisy Scout Madisen C. and Junior Girl Scout Taler B. work together to make pet toys for Homeward Bound’s furry friends.

Through this and other activities, Onekama’s Daisy Scouts are well on their way to accomplishing the goals of Scouting: to learn about and believe in oneself; to develop an awareness of others and a sense of personal responsibility; to build a sense of personal worth; to develop a concept of good citizenship; and to develop a growing awareness of the world.

 

Link to Daisy Scouts Meet

Mr.Kudlack's Main Class Page

The Main Elementary Page for 2009-2010

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