Ep 143 - Solving Overcrowded Shelters: Neha's Gold Award Journey
Hearts Of Gold - Reflections from Gold Award Girl Scouts
Release Date: 08/23/2024
Hearts Of Gold - Reflections from Gold Award Girl Scouts
Annie discusses her impactful Girl Scout Gold Award project, "South Florida Pet Safety." She highlights the alarming statistic that up to 30% of animal deaths are preventable and shares her mission to educate pet owners in her transient community about unique local dangers. Annie details her creation of a pet safety book tailored specifically for South Florida, covering crucial topics such as heat dangers, wildlife hazards, poisonous plants, and preparedness for natural disasters like hurricanes. She also shares insights on how she funded the project through community sponsorships, emphasizing...
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Aanya discusses her project, "Sharing the Joys of Cultural Diversity," which focused on fostering understanding and appreciation of cultural differences among children in her community. Aanya highlights two key components of her project: facilitating discussions about cultural identity in local schools and creating a children's book that details her own experiences as an immigrant from India. She reflects on her personal struggles with cultural acceptance and the importance of embracing one’s identity. Join us as Aanya shares her insights and the impact of her work in promoting cultural...
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Jola created an engaging video aimed at teaching kindergartners essential classroom behaviors, which she identified as a need due to the social challenges faced by children during the pandemic. We discussed the research she conducted on the impact of the pandemic on young children, particularly regarding social anxiety and interaction skills. Jola shared her experiences working with her family friend’s nieces, who starred in the video, and the challenges she faced during the filming and editing process. She emphasized the importance of patience and perseverance, especially when navigating...
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Shay shares insights into her impactful Gold Award project, an art exhibition held at the Overture Center for the Arts. The exhibit aimed to raise awareness about mental health among teenage girls in a positive light, showcasing the strength and creativity of young women artists from the Madison and Dane County area. Shay discusses her motivation to present mental health discussions more positively and highlights the submission process that led to the selection of 16 unique artists. The episode also touches on the themes explored in the artwork, including culture and sexual identity, and the...
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Marley shares her inspiring journey of curating and developing a children's art gallery in partnership with the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center. At just 16 years old, Marley embarked on this project to provide art-related opportunities for kids in her community in North Dakota, where such resources were scarce. She discusses her passion for art as a self-taught artist, the need she identified in her community, and how her collaboration with the Southwest Art Gallery, which shares her mission, facilitated the creation of this new space. Marley reflects on her experience as a volunteer...
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Imagine a world where friendships are built one letter at a time. That’s exactly what Hannah Crawley created with her Girl Scout Gold Award project—a nationwide pen pal program connecting Girl Scouts across the U.S. and even Japan. At a time when social media dominated communication, Hannah brought back the magic of handwritten letters, fostering deeper connections and lifelong friendships. Now serving in the military, Hannah reflects on how this project not only strengthened her communication skills but also prepared her for a future where letters remain a vital link. She shares the...
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Full transcription available on Cee-Cee Deslaurier-Tate about her incredible Girl Scout Gold Award project, which honors the legacy of Amanda Blake, best known as Miss Kitty from Gunsmoke. Cee-Cee dedicated over 1,000 hours to creating a documentary highlighting Amanda’s conservation work, including her efforts to save endangered cheetahs and launch the first no-kill animal shelter in Arizona. Through extensive research, interviews, and a fundraising initiative, Cee-Cee has helped preserve Amanda’s impact on wildlife conservation. She shares how her passion for the Old West and...
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# Full transcription available at [heartsofgoldpodcast.com](http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/) ## Episode Summary Makayla Hoefs shares the inspiring story behind her Girl Scout Gold Award project, *"Coding for Cookies."* This innovative initiative bridges Girl Scouts and robotics, offering young girls hands-on STEM experiences through engaging events. Makayla discusses how her project evolved, collaborating with the Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes & Pines Council, and making the program sustainable for future generations. Listen to hear about the impact she's made, the challenges...
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In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Montserrat Hidalgo, a recent high school graduate and environmental justice advocate. Montserrat shares her journey from Girl Scout Gold Award recipient to an emerging leader in her community. Learn how her project tackled urban heating and environmental racism in South East Los Angeles, the collaborative research that fueled her work, and the global connections she forged. About Our Guest: Montserrat Hidalgo is a recent graduate of South Gate High School and will be attending Williams College in the fall to double major in Environmental Studies and...
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This bonus episode has Isabel popping in to share her experience from her trip to the Sangam World Center in India.
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Full transcription available at http://heartsofgoldpodcast.com/
Neha's project, centered around dogs and the issue of overcrowded shelters, led her to create a nonprofit called Pawprints. The nonprofit focuses on raising awareness about the importance of microchipping and GPS tracking collars to prevent dogs from getting lost and ending up in shelters.
Neha shared her personal connection to the project, including her experience rescuing her dog Aggie, who was saved from euthanasia at an overcrowded shelter. She discussed the educational materials she created, which include information on properly registering microchips and options for GPS tracking collars.
One of the biggest challenges Neha faced was her fear of public speaking, which she overcame by preparing thoroughly and diving into the experience. She credited her mom, project advisor Kelly Carey, and council advisor Marty Hall for their support throughout the project.
Neha also reflected on her growth through the project, particularly in public speaking and time management, as she balanced her project with school and other activities. She encouraged future Girl Scouts to pursue their Gold Award despite the challenges, emphasizing the rewarding nature of the process.
Neha shared her future plans, including her goal to become a dentist, and her hopes for the continuation of her nonprofit. We wrapped up with a fun question about how she makes her s'mores, revealing her preference for slightly burnt marshmallows.
More About Neha:
After adopting her senior dog from a shelter, Neha understood the severity of overcrowding in animal shelters. While most people focus on pet adoption as a solution to overcrowding, she wanted to address the problem of people losing their pets, which often end up in shelters until they are found. Neha identified microchips and GPS collars as an easy but underutilized solution for lost pets. She spoke at shelters and created pamphlets, social media accounts, and a website to share information on GPS collars and encourage pet owners to purchase one for their pets.
Neha has been in Girl Scouts since she was a Daisy in Kindergarten and plans to continue until she graduates from high school this upcoming school year. Through school, she is involved in the speech and debate team as well as the varsity bowling team. Outside of school, Neha enjoys participating in Krav Maga and playing the piano. After she graduates, she plans to pursue a career in dentistry.
Key Takeaways from this episode:
- Addressing Root Causes: Neha's Gold Award project focused on addressing the root causes of overcrowded shelters by promoting the use of microchips and GPS tracking collars to prevent dogs from getting lost and ending up in shelters.
- Personal Connection: Neha's personal connection to the project stemmed from her love for dogs, particularly her own rescue dog, Aggie, who was saved from being euthanized at an overcrowded shelter.
- Overcoming Challenges: Neha faced and overcame her fear of public speaking through her project, which ultimately helped her grow and become more confident in speaking engagements.
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Editing by https://www.offthewalter.com/ Walter’s YouTube channel is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt0wFZRVaOpUd_nXc_8-4yQ