How Scouts Can Help Animals (and Have Fun Together)
Helping animals is one of the most meaningful ways kids and teens can make a real impact in their communities—and for scouts of all kinds, it’s also an incredible opportunity for learning, personal growth, and fun. Whether your child is a Girl Scout, Scouting America Scout, or part of another scouting organization, animal-focused service projects are a win-win: they give animals in need a better chance at life while giving young people the chance to grow.
By partnering with local animal welfare nonprofits such as the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), scouts can participate in hands-on projects, learn about animal care, and earn badges along the way. Here’s how it works—and how your child can get started.
Why Scout Projects That Help Animals Are a Win-Win
Learning About Animals and Building New Skills
Scouts who take part in animal welfare projects will find themselves learning all kinds of fascinating facts about animal behavior, habitats, food needs, and more. For example, PAWS educators offer scout workshops that teach kids about these topics through games and other activities. These group sessions also help kids develop real-life skills, such as responsibility, communication, leadership, and critical thinking.
Making a Positive Difference for Animals
When scouts volunteer with an animal rescue and welfare organization such as PAWS, they’re contributing directly to the rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming of animals in need. PAWS cares for both wild and domestic animals—everything from baby squirrels to injured owls to cats and dogs in need of homes.
This gives young people the opportunity to understand the challenges animals face in both natural and urban environments. It empowers them to take compassionate action through service projects for kids and teens, whether that’s organizing a donation drive for pet supplies, educating their communities about responsible pet ownership, or building wildlife habitats.
Enjoying Fun Team-Building Activities and Earning Badges
Animal service projects aren’t just rewarding — they’re also a lot of fun, especially when scouts work together. Fundraising events such as PAWSwalk are great scout team-building activities that allow kids to bond while raising awareness and money for a worthy cause. In this fundraiser, scouts can walk or run with their families and pets, enjoy games and treats, and celebrate animals. They can even engage in friendly competition for leaderboard spots. It’s a great way to combine exercise, teamwork, and doing good.
Many service projects for animals also align with badge and rank requirements for some scout groups. For example, the Girl Scouts Animal Badge series introduces girls to ways they can help pets and wild animals, from designing enrichment toys to exploring careers that involve animals. Girl Scout badges that can be earned with PAWS workshops include the Daisy Bird Bath Award, Brownie Pet Badge, Junior Animals Habitat Badge, and the Cadette Animal Helpers Badge. Check with your child’s scouting organization to learn about similar badge-earning opportunities.
Animal Service Project Ideas for Scouts
Looking for other ways to get involved? Many animal welfare nonprofits such as PAWS offer opportunities specifically designed for the needs and interests of different age groups. These programs can help fulfill scouting badge and service hour requirements while making a lasting impact on animals’ lives. Some possibilities include:
- Host a donation drive. Collect much-needed wish list items such as pet food, towels, and toys for shelter animals. This is an easy and impactful project that scouts can organize with their schools, faith communities, or neighborhoods.
- Create animal enrichment toys. Many shelters and wildlife rehabilitation centers use toys and other items, such as snuffle mats and cat scratchers, to keep animals mentally stimulated. Scouts can hand-make enrichment items using approved materials and donate them.
- Make pet beds or blankets. Warm, soft bedding helps dogs and cats feel safer and more comfortable. Scouts can learn basic sewing or crafting skills while making pet beds to donate.
- Promote pet adoption and animal safety. Scouts can create posters, flyers, or social media campaigns to encourage adoption and educate others on how to treat animals with compassion.
- Choose an animal-focused project for your Eagle Scout or Girl Scouts Gold Award.
If you’re a Scouting America or Girls Scouts of USA member working toward one of these achievements, consider an animal project that makes a lasting impact. Popular past projects include building dog agility equipment, installing bat houses, writing storybooks about important issues, and creating bird habitat trails.
Scouting is about so much more than hiking, badges, and camping — it’s about growing into responsible, compassionate leaders. Helping animals through community service, educational programs, and fundraising events such as PAWSwalk gives scouts of all ages the chance to make a difference while developing new skills and forming strong friendships. And in doing so, they help create a kinder, more caring world—for animals and people alike.
Participate in Scouting Service Projects for Animals With PAWS
PAWS is people helping cats, dogs, and wildlife go home and thrive—whether home is the family room or the forest. We achieve this by rehabilitating injured and orphaned wildlife, sheltering and adopting out homeless cats and dogs, and educating the community to inspire compassionate action. We also partner with community scouting organizations so kids and teens can help animals while bonding with their troops and learning important life skills.
Need help with a wild animal? PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center operates an emergency hospital and specialized recovery facilities designed to rehabilitate sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife, helping them recover and return to the wild. Our wildlife rehabilitation center has moved to 13508 State Route 9 SE in Snohomish, Washington. If you need assistance with a wild animal, use our online self-service form or call 425-412-4040.
Since 1967, PAWS has united more than 170,000 cats and dogs with loving families, cared for more than 160,000 sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals, and made the world a better place for countless others through outreach, education, and advocacy. Please consider making a donation or volunteering with us today!