Here are some ideas and contacts for your girls, troop, and family.
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The Playground Project
An All-Abilities Playground in the Heart of Missoula
The All-Abilities Playground could be a fantastic project for the Scouts to learn about, as it embodies values of service, diversity and hospitality while teaching life lessons about people facing challenges with dignity, courage, humor and many other strengths. This is an amazing, inspiring, and FUN project that meets a huge need for local kids with disabilities and their families! This project is currently in the fundraising and planning stage, having raised about 25% of our $275K goal. Feel free to visit the website or download the brochure to learn how your troop can donate to this great cause.
Several agencies in town are working together (Parks & Rec, Community Medical Center, Child Development Center, Easter Seals, Rural Institute on Disability, Summit Independent Living, etc.) to develop this unique, safe and welcoming play space in McCormick Park (near Currents Aquatic Center) in Summer 2013.
This project has an amazing fundraiser coming up — an all-abilities baseball benefit in Osprey Stadium, July 26, 4-8pm. Girl Scouts can volunteer to come to the all-abilities baseball game as a cheering section for the players with disabilities. There would also be time in the half-time program if they would like to sing a special song or say a few words in support of the all-abilities playground.
http://www.allabilitiesplayground.org/ Brochure
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Missoula Children and Nature Network
Missoula Children and Nature Network aims to improve the quality and quantity of opportunities for connecting children with nature through education, recreation events and netwroking. They have developed the “Got Nature?” passport program which is a year’s worth of events where children track their participation for fun prizes at the end of the year. These events are free, or at a very low cost and are simply aimed to help children and thier familites reconnect with their nature nearby. For the event schedule and detailed information go to www.missoulachildrenandnature.org or call 721-7275.
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AniMeals
A non-profit Food Bank for animals and a No-Kill Cat Adoption Center.
AniMeals supplements the food needs of animals, great and small, in the care of shelters & rescue groups, pets of the homebound/disabled, caregivers of feral cat colonies and animals living on the street. Additionally they have widened their scope to include shelters/rescues that support horses, cattle, and farm/ranch animals in need of food and supplements.
They help all of Western Montana and cover approximately 50,000 square miles; from Troy to Dillon. They are the largest animal food bank in the Nation! Strong networks of spirited volunteers are the backbone of our organization and make it all possible.
They have many types of projects that would fit well with the Girl Scouts fun filled project list. Please contact Jessie at AniMeals for more details! 721-4710
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Riverside Health Care Center
The Riverside Health Care Center would like to offer Girl Scouts the opportunity to work with it’s elderly residents. There are many opportunities to volunteer throughout the year. The elderly welcome the energy and enthusiasm that youth bring with them during thier visits. In the summer they have a garden and in the winter you may help with various events and programs held in the facility.
Interested in bridging the gap between our youth and our elders?
Contact:
Kari Chisom 406.721.0608 kchisom@thegoodmangroup.com
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Car care opportunity for Girl Scouts through Jiffy Lube…
Jiffy Lube would like provide a free educational service to both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts about general vehicle safety inspections including how to check tire pressure, oil, and other basic things at their Jiffy Lube locations. They are targeting girls ages 13 and up. The entire inspection would only take about ½ hour and the inspection would be performed on the car of the adult that brings the girls.
If you are interested in this opportunity, contact:
Jaime Beverly, Customer Relations, 805-354-7077
Please let her know which date and time you would like to reserve (between 4-6pm is best for them) and how many girls they should prepare for (10-15 girl max). She will then let you know which of the 6 Jiffy Lube locations in Missoula can provide you with the service.
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Quilt Barn Trail – Threads of MT History
Our mission as a volunteer team is to research & preserve the fading stories and photos from O’Brien Creek, Target Range, Orchard Homes and Big Flat areas of South West Missoula.
Enjoy a self guided driving, biking and walking tour of the Quilt Barn trail! The Quilt Barn trail is helping to raise awareness of old buildings and is helping to keep local history alive through education of the public via this neat trail that highlights old barns and ice houses. Visit these sites to see quilt murals that have been added to barn exteriors and to learn about why they hold importance in Missoula’s local history.
http://www.mthistory.us/Quilt-Barn-Trail.html
Ideas for community service projects…
Bright Orange Hug Program
Kim Parrow is a student at the University of Montana that is spearheading a campaign in partnership Fish, Wildlife and Parks called the “Bright Orange Hug Program” for river safety. She offered to do a 5-10 minute speech at your meeting in return for creating Orange Hug pins. They are similar to the yellow ribbon pins but look like tiny life jackets. They need to have thousands created by this spring and could use anyone’s help. If you have girls who love to float the river and want a nice craft service project this would be perfect!!
Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will provide the supplies: ribbon (pre-cut and singed), string, pins, glue and (if needed) low temper glue gun to the troop(s). If this sounds like an interesting project for your troop, contact Kim Parrow, 406-546-2568, kimberly.parrow@umconnect.umt.edu
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Hero Packs for kids in military families
Hero Packs are backpacks that contain items such as: letters of support, stuffed animals, books, toys, photo frames, disposable cameras, and more. These packs are given to kids of all ages when a parent or loved one departs for military duty. They are a tangible expression of support for military families in communities accross the state. Operation Military Kids is always looking for contributions to their “Hero Packs” through donations and community service volunteers.
If you wish to contribute to the creation of Hero Packs contact:
Montana Operation Military Kids, Caroline Dettle at 406.994.6241
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Backpacks for kid’s
This program is for kid’s rmeoved from thier homes by social services. Often these children must leave all their belongings and go to a group or foster home. These backpacks that are created by volunteers and groups like the Girl Scouts are given to the kid’s to take with them wherever they go so that they always have something of their own. Bernina donates the precut material for pillowcases to be sewn, simply go into the Bernina store and request some kits. Girl Scouts have in the past made pillowcases and packed the backpacks with donations from business and other organizations. However, there are lots of opportunities to assist with this project.
Contact:
Nancy Delger at 543.4668
with questions on how to get involved
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Caps for Good
This is an exciting service learning project that aims to engage youth in the U.S. to help save the lives of nearly four million newborns in the developing world. Girl Scout troops around the country are getting involved in helping with this project. Here is an article about a Girl Scout Troop that has already participated- http://www.westport-news.com/default/article/Westport-Brownies-efforts-help-infants-in-828329.php
Caps for Good is a grassroots initiative led by Save the Children and the Warm Up America! Foundation that calls upon Americans of all ages to knit or crochet a cap to keep a new baby warm and help increase his or her chance of survival. This is part of Save the Children’s larger newborn and child survival campaign which aims to mobilize U.S. citizens to help reduce the number of newborn and child deaths that occur each year from preventable and treatable causes (www.GoodGoes.org).
The Caps for Good initiative offers a way for girls at any age to engage in a local project that has a global impact. As a Girl Scout troop leader or volunteer, your troop can participate by following the easy steps below that support the Girl Scout Leadership keys- Discover, Connect and Take Action.
Discover – Organize a troop meeting where girls can learn how to knit or crochet a baby cap and talk about how this project will make a difference in the lives of newborns around the world.
Connect – Encourage your troop to work together to complete their baby caps and to use this project to raise awareness in their school and community.
Take Action – Engage your troop in advocacy by having them send a letter to President Obama about their participation in Caps for Good.
To get started, visit www.GoodGoes.org/caps and view our action kit with information on how to make your cap and find more ways to get involved.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you have or if you would like to discuss how your troop will be participating: cdonaghy@savechildren.org
Sincerely, Caitlin Donaghy
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New Dawn MT Farm Sanctuary
Non-profit farm animal sanctuary
689 Red Hawk Trail, Stevensville, MT 59870
You are welcome to do an approved project of your own creation. Here are some examples:
Direct care of the farm animals, feed, brush and spend time with them, clean barn and grounds. Clean and maintian education area. Maintenance of the property: fix fences, weed and help with the summer garden, help add or repair needs to existing buildinga nd other building proects. Assist in requesting donated items from feed stores and other businessed, including office supply businesses. Anyone that will donate a positive product or service to the sanctuary is appreciated.
Education: enjoy arranging/visiting a any-age school class or other group to bring outreach to our gentle ambassador chickens and encourage kindness towards farm animals and all animals.
