Celebrating Our Education Intern: Olivia Hoover and the PAWS Girl Scout Art Badge
This summer, the PAWS Education Team had the privilege of working with Olivia Hoover, a dedicated and creative intern who helped develop a brand-new Art Badge experience for Girl Scouts. This program allows Girl Scouts to combine their creativity with their compassion for animals while learning more about PAWS’ mission to help cats, dogs, and wildlife. 
Olivia joined PAWS as part of her Master’s program, looking to expand her skills in education, collaboration, and project development. She not only made a lasting contribution to the Education Team but also continues to give back to PAWS today as a volunteer at our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
We sat down with Olivia to hear about her internship experience and the impact it had on her professional and personal growth.
On her favorite part of the internship
“My favorite part of the PAWS internship was the creative freedom I was given in contributing to the Education team’s projects. I was provided with a solid starting point, but from there, I was encouraged to develop my own ideas and received thoughtful feedback throughout the process. Seeing my ideas in action at the end of my internship was such a rewarding feeling, especially knowing that it is a project that will continue on at PAWS.”
Her creativity and thoughtful approach are now embedded in the Art Badge program, ensuring that countless future Scouts will benefit from her vision.
Skills for the future
Olivia’s time with PAWS helped her sharpen essential professional skills she’ll carry forward.
“My ability to collaborate with multiple organizations at once has shown me a glimpse of what it takes to develop large-scale and long-term projects. I also developed stronger planning and time management skills… One key lesson I learned was the importance of flexibility. Sometimes, you have to adapt and go with the flow to keep things moving forward.”
Internship goals and growth
For Olivia, the internship was more than a project—it was a stepping stone in her academic and professional journey.
“My internship with PAWS directly supported my progress toward graduating with my Master’s degree, while also pushing me to grow beyond my comfort zone. Through new responsibilities and unfamiliar challenges, I gained confidence and a deeper understanding of how to apply my academic learning in real-world settings.”
Advice for future interns
When asked what she would say to someone considering a PAWS Education internship, Olivia didn’t hesitate:
“If you can commit just a couple hours a week, I highly encourage you to consider interning with the PAWS Education Team. As someone who works full-time and is also a part-time student, I was so grateful for how flexible and supportive the team was. If you’re looking for a meaningful and manageable way to grow professionally, this is a great opportunity.”
A lasting impact
Olivia’s work has set the foundation for a badge program that will inspire curiosity, empathy, and creativity in Girl Scouts for years to come. And even though her internship has ended, PAWS is lucky to still have her as part of our community through her volunteer work at the PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
Thank you, Olivia, for your passion, creativity, and dedication—you’ve left a lasting mark on PAWS and on the future Scouts who will proudly earn their Art Badges!
Interested in interning with the PAWS Education Team? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] to learn more about internship opportunities.