Ep 138 From Passion to Action: Valerie's Gold Award Project on Feral Cats

Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/ 

Valerie's Girl Scout Gold Award project addressed the critical issue of cat overpopulation in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Partnering with her local Humane Society, HAWS, she contributed to their Project Guardian initiative by building weather-resistant cat shelters and creating an educational video presentation on the causes and effects of cat overpopulation.
Valerie shared her journey, from her initial inspiration driven by her love for animals to the challenges she faced, particularly with the technological aspects of her project. She emphasized the importance of communication and leadership, skills she honed throughout her project. Valerie also highlighted the support she received from her project advisors, her troop, and her family, which was instrumental in her success.
We delved into her favorite memories, including building the shelters with her troop and the satisfaction of seeing her project come to fruition. Valerie also offered valuable advice for other Girl Scouts considering their Gold Award, encouraging them to take the leap and reassuring them of the support available throughout the process.
Currently studying mass communications with an emphasis on public relations at Winona State University, Valerie aspires to work for an organization that positively impacts the community, potentially even Girl Scouts.

More About Valerie:

Valerie has been a part of Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast since 1st grade. Her troop created birdhouses for the Chinook Program Center for their Bronze Award and organized a community game night at their middle school to collect supplies and raise awareness for veterans for their Silver Award. Now, she and her troop return to day camp as alumni volunteers.

In addition to her involvement in Girl Scouts, Valerie has participated in the National Honor Society, the Girls Golf team, and the marching band at her high school. She is currently studying Mass Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations at Winona State University, where she is also a member of Delta Phi Epsilon. With her degree, she hopes to work for a business that gives back to the community, such as a local news station or her local Girl Scout council.

Project Link: https://hawspets.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/2021_HAWS_TattleTails_AUGUST_forWeb.pdf

Key Takeaways from this episode:

1. Valerie's Girl Scout Gold Award project focused on addressing cat overpopulation in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, by creating shelters for feral cats and educating the community about the issue.

2. Valerie learned the importance of communication, leadership, and time management skills throughout her project, highlighting the support and guidance available to Gold Award candidates.

3. Starting her project in the sophomore year allowed Valerie to develop skills and passion for her project, although she acknowledged that working with shorter timeframes might have helped her prioritize tasks more efficiently.

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Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ