[00:00:00] Walter: The hearts of gold podcast is brought to you by the grow and share network produced by off the Walter media.
[00:00:11] Sheryl: Welcome to hearts of gold. Today. We have Valerie with us. Hi, Valerie.
[00:00:16] Valerie: Hello.
[00:00:17] Sheryl: Can you tell us about your girl scout gold award project?
[00:00:20] Valerie: For my gold award, it focused on the root issue of cat overpopulation, specifically in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, which is where I’m from.
[00:00:29] And so my local Humane Society called HAWS, they have an ongoing program called Project Guardian, where people in the community can trap, destroy, and kill cats. Also, it was like, they’re all cats, and so they will then bring them into Hawes to be spayed and neutered for free, and then they’ll be sent home with cat shelters, so the cat can heal, and then also kind of just have a place to come back to throughout its life just for shelter, and so I made two of those cat houses and dropped them up at Hawes, and then For the education portion, I made a video presentation that just talked about cat overpopulation as a whole, the causes, so which would be breeding in the wild, causing more cats to be out there also the effects, so that’s like overcrowded shelters, having to euthanize the cats, and it also affects The wildlife to in our area, because the cats will prey on those animals and then just how people can help.
[00:01:26] So, like, adopting or being part of a project, like project guardian, or just being a new or anything that animals in general.
[00:01:34] Sheryl: Can you help us picture what 1 of those cat shelters looks like? And where do they go?
[00:01:40] Valerie: Once they’re set home, people can just place them anywhere in the yards. They can look like a bunch of different things.
[00:01:46] Online will kind of show examples from the Haas website. We did them out of wood. So it was just like a wooden shelter with like a little doorway, kind of like a doggy door. You can picture it. And then we just had the roof kind of like opening up on a hinge. We put little like stuff on top of the roof.
[00:02:04] But you could also do it out of even just, like, a plastic bin or something, and you could put different things in there to make the cat comfortable, like straw or hay and things like that. But we just wanted to make sure, especially that it was very weather resistant, so the cat, you know, if it was raining or cold, the cat wouldn’t, you know, be hurting from that.
[00:02:24] Sheryl: What prompted this project for you?
[00:02:26] Valerie: So I knew I really wanted to do my gold award on something with animals. Cause I’ve just always loved animals and the environment. And so my dad and I have actually volunteered at Hawes, the Humane Society before, and so we got to. Like socialize the animals. So we basically just got to play with like kittens and all that stuff.
[00:02:44] And that was really fun. So I already had a standing connection with the human society. And so when doing my gold award, I just reached out to the volunteer coordinator and I was like, Hey, are there any, you know, issues going on either walk a shot or just in general with animals that needs to be addressed or you guys are trying to address.
[00:03:02] And then that’s when she sent me the project guardian.
[00:03:06] Sheryl: And how does the public enroll in Project Guardian?
[00:03:09] Valerie: I don’t know their standards now, but I believe you can just come into Haas and say, here’s what we’re doing. We have a cat or two that they’ve captured on their lawn. And then it, but yes, it’s open to anyone who wants to come in because Haas is a no euthanization.
[00:03:24] Shelter, so they really prioritize projects like that.
[00:03:27] Sheryl: When you were talking to Haas about things that they needed, projects that they could see, were there other options that you decided not to go with?
[00:03:36] Valerie: It was kind of the only project that I’m sure there are other things going on, but that was the main one.
[00:03:40] And that was a good thing too. When I started my project, I really did not realize how widespread of an issue that was not only in our community, Across the United States, like there are millions and millions of stray cats and also dogs and other animals too, but yeah, I just did not realize how widespread the issue was.
[00:03:58] So, it was exciting to be able to start on a project that kind of affected Walker shop, but also, like, all over.
[00:04:06] Sheryl: Especially when we’re talking about our junior bronze candidates and our middle school silver candidates, our cadets. Animals are often a very, a topic that so many of the Girl Scouts are interested in.
[00:04:23] We don’t see as many projects at the gold award level. I’m interested in how you accomplished some of the pieces that are specific to the gold award, like measurability and sustainability that make it harder to do these kinds of projects at that gold award level.
[00:04:41] Valerie: Yep. You’re absolutely right. Cause you can’t always measure, you know, the impact on a cat.
[00:04:46] And so Haws in general, they do have statistics just about their project about since they started it. Just humanizations and also just the population in our area has gone down. So you can see those stats. That was a thing too, where we really had, I really had to work with my project advisor about how, like, we could really like, Hey, spread the education and everything.
[00:05:07] And so that was actually one of the problems that I ran into because. I was originally wanting to, so my project was kind of at like the end of COVID. And so I originally wanted to go into Haas and because they hold a bunch of classes. And so I originally wanted to go in there, get in front of a group of people and talk about the project.
[00:05:25] And that too, you can even see more of the impact when you’re seeing their faces and everything. But just because of it was still the end of COVID, they weren’t holding as many classes, the class schedule was really unpredictable. So then I did end up doing the video. Presentation, which has been distributed by Haw through their blog and everything.
[00:05:43] But yes, just. Cause keeping people anonymous, you know, we were like trying to see, Hey, can we see where these cat shelters actually went? And we can’t, but we do know that they have been used.
[00:05:53] Sheryl: Can you tell us more about your video, how you determined what to have in it, what your process was with the video, what you learned?
[00:06:03] Valerie: I again, I wanted to hit the big pillars just of the causes in the effects and everything. And so when putting on. The video presentation, I definitely am not the most tech savvy person. So I think that could have been another part of my project where I enlisted someone as part of my team to help with the tech aspect, but I did want to make it more interactive.
[00:06:25] So it wasn’t people would just click on the presentation. I had to read a bunch of different things. And so I kind of intermix. you know, more statistics on the written part. And then it was kind of just me standing by my shelters and just kind of doing a more interactive explanation of that.
[00:06:43] Sheryl: Who was on your team and how did they help you?
[00:06:45] Valerie: My project, it spanned over about a year and a half, like two years. So I did go through the hands of a couple project advisors, but my last one was Sumalina. And so she just really kept me on track and really helped near the end with just, you know, How do I submit and everything? And it was really nice to have her checking in with me all the time.
[00:07:06] And she’s also just been a great contact to know now looking towards being a career and Girl Scouts and just to talk to. So I had her, and then I also had a woman named Trisha. And so she is. She lives in Montana and I got connected with her and her life passion is kind of is about like cat overpopulation and she has a ton of cats that she’s rescued and so that was really cool to like, because, you know, I started a project.
[00:07:30] It’s like a passion about animals, but it’s like, to have someone who’s like, right there and like, passionate about like, The specific issue of cat overpopulation kind of fueled my interest and passion in the project. And it was really good to get her insight. And I just, everyone at Hawes who answered all my questions and we’re kind of there throughout the process as well.
[00:07:49] And then my troop and my troop leaders offered a lot of support. And then my family. So my brother earned his Eagle Scout. So that was a huge inspiration for me to, to start everything. And then my mom really helped me. Just kind of like, even just wording emails or like just kind of the logistics of it definitely helped me with that.
[00:08:07] And then my dad was a huge part in buying the supplies and getting everything because I hadn’t had a lot of experience really building anything. And so buying, going to Menards and buying the supplies and then actually executing it.
[00:08:19] Sheryl: What did you learn about leadership during your project and working with all of those people?
[00:08:24] Valerie: In high school, I was definitely very reserved. So I think that’s 1 of the main things to just overall about my project is just my communication skills. It’s definitely it’s a 2 way street because it’s like, yes, everyone’s there to help you, but it’s like, you kind of need to put your best before and you need to be the 1 reaching out and stuff.
[00:08:40] So definitely that leadership and communication is. A 2 way street and also just the importance of just getting on a zoom call or on the phone instead of waiting to email and everything. But, yeah, it’s just really nice because everyone was so willing to help. But that, yeah, just being motivated to make the first step and kind of share your ideas with your team.
[00:09:01] Sheryl: What was your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
[00:09:04] Valerie: The video presentation and how to navigate that with all the technology. Looking back, definitely. Yeah, I definitely should have enlisted someone on my team to help with that. Maybe a little more higher quality, but I do hope that the message got out fully and then also time, which I feel like is kind of a basic answer, but it was true.
[00:09:24] Like, I was like, oh, I have so much time and then it’s like, oh, but school came up. Oh, and then this came up. So, yeah, I think definitely just pushing through it because I didn’t have so I started like, sophomore year and then I ended it. Kind of end of junior year. So yeah, definitely just time management, which has helped me a lot in college and just prioritizing.
[00:09:46] Sheryl: Sophomore year is starting a bit before a lot of Girl Scouts do. How do you think that that impacted your project by starting earlier in your high school career?
[00:09:56] Valerie: It was good to get to start early now kind of looking at my whole process, but I do think if I did start it later, I would have been able to probably prioritize it.
[00:10:07] More and kind of say, okay, I want to get it done. And like this year. So like, if I started at the start of my senior year or something, you’d be like, okay, I have a year to do it, but I think it taught me a lot again, getting all those communication skills right off the bat and sophomore year. So it did take me a little bit longer, but I feel like.
[00:10:22] I learned more, but from a time of aspect, yeah, if I started senior year, I’m like, okay, I have a year. I probably could have used a lot of different skills. Like, okay you know, or like, planning skills. Okay. Let me plan out my year and stuff like that. But I am glad that I started at sophomore year. So I had the amount of time to learn everything and also just get more passionate about the project and like, learn about cat overpopulation.
[00:10:45] Sheryl: I’m curious with that, with that answer, because not what I was expecting. Are you in general somebody who works better with shorter timeframes? Is that something that maybe is why you think senior year might have been better for you?
[00:11:00] Valerie: Yeah, I definitely do think that because yeah, it’s like if I have, you know, a whole span of time, I can be like, Oh, well, but this is more important right now.
[00:11:07] This is more important right now. Whereas, yeah, I definitely would have been able to, I, yeah, I do prioritize things better when it’s like, okay, I have this and I have to get it done in a set amount of time. So it’s very like, laid out for me versus just like, oh, I have all the time in the world, which it felt like that software.
[00:11:23] You’re like, oh, I have like, you know, 2 or 3 years. Do you have a favorite memory from your project? Of course, just like dropping off the shelters and being like, all right, here you go. Like we did it. But I think, I mean, I learned a lot throughout all my process. Definitely my favorite memories were like having my troop come and help like build the shelters, build the wooden shelters with me and learning those kinds of skills and just doing that with my dad and also having it be, being like a tangible thing I can do.
[00:11:52] It was really cool to kind of see that. come together. So I would say definitely the building and just even like, even throughout the process to just talking to like my friends about what I’m doing or like telling them and just kind of more like sharing about like the Gold Award in general. That was really cool.
[00:12:09] Sheryl: What did you learn about the Gold Award process itself that you didn’t know and would might be helpful for other Gold Award candidates?
[00:12:16] Valerie: You will have support throughout the entire thing. I think coming in, it’s like, oh my gosh, it’s so like daunting and I’m going to have to do this on my own. And it’s like, it was so nice that like the project advisors, like they were there for you, there for you, like every step of the way.
[00:12:31] And so just, yeah, knowing that like, you will be supported, like, it seems like a huge project, but it’s like, everyone’s there to help you and they’ll constantly be emailing you with good information about the project. So that was, So yeah, gang, everyone Girl Scouts is great, so I shouldn’t be surprised, but it was just very like, nice to kind of recognize that once I started, and it’s like, okay, like a whole bunch of people are going to be here for me, supporting me on my project.
[00:12:56] Sheryl: What are some of your other favorite Girl Scout memories?
[00:12:59] Valerie: We did a couple of trips. We went to Hockey Hills, Ohio, which was really fun. So that’s a lot of like hiking, a lot of zip lining. So that was kind of our big trip. But just being in the Milwaukee area, we had, we’ve had a lot of cool experiences.
[00:13:12] Like we did Maker Faire downtown. And so we are making like little trinkets for fairy gardens. And so we went there as a troop and kind of taught people how to do that. And we also had another opportunity downtown to be in a, it was like a girls in STEM, women in STEM Girl Scout event. And so my troop and I, we got to go down there and kind of just show girls.
[00:13:32] We, I think we were building different like Lego things at our station, but yeah, it’s been really cool to be in the Milwaukee area and get those. opportunities to and then my troop and I, we still go back to camp Alice Chester, which is really fun. So we still return as alumni volunteers to help out.
[00:13:49] So that’s camp is definitely a favorite Girl Scout memory.
[00:13:53] Sheryl: What is in your future?
[00:13:54] Valerie: I am at Winona State University currently. And so I’m studying mass communications with an emphasis on public relations. And so I do really want to work for, cause I love writing, which is why I did public relations. And I do really want to work for a business or company organization that really just helps the community.
[00:14:14] So news station or even Girl Scouts is something I’ve really been looking at. Just cause I really, with writing and everything, I really just want to help. Impact like my community.
[00:14:24] Sheryl: What else would you like to share with the audience?
[00:14:26] Valerie: I would just tell like Girl Scouts to just do it. Just stick with it.
[00:14:30] It’s so much fun. Like I look back and I’m just so glad that I’ve done Girl Scouts and all that it’s given me. And also that you do have time to do the gold award and to stay in Girl Scouts. And it’s just, yeah, it’s just such a good experience. And so, yeah, just do it. And again, like I said before, like people are going to be there for you and your goal of the world, like every step of the way.
[00:14:51] Sheryl: How do you make your s’mores?
[00:14:53] Valerie: When I’m craving something, I just want to eat it right away. So I would say I’m just the person that just sticks it in the coals and if it starts on fire, great. And then I can eat it right away and that’s how I do it.
[00:15:03] Sheryl: Well, thanks for joining us today.
[00:15:05] Valerie: Yeah, of course. Thank you for having me.
[00:15:07] Sheryl: Make sure to click follow or subscribe. So you always know when new episodes are released, power your passion and conquer your challenges.
[00:15:17] Walter: Thank you for listening. If you’d like to be on the show to share your story of how you earned your gold award, reach out and send an email to growandshare@outlook.Com.
[00:15:27] Be sure to catch up on our previous shows on any of your favorite podcasting platforms, as well as view the full video versions at youtube.com/SherylMRobinson. Thanks again for listening, and we’ll see you next time.