Messenger of Peace Award

Now that we aren't so focused on earning Rank Badges, we are ready to start our Messenger of Peace Award work.  Messenger of Peace info here.  I can take absolutely no credit for this coming together.  My amazing co-leader has poured her heart and soul into making this award a reality, and I have merely been the one she's bouncing ideas off of, and making suggestions of additional ideas.  I can however tell you how she's doing it!

First, she made a whole Power Point presentation divided into four parts:  children, animals, environment, and general awareness.  Each part had ideas and a list of organizations that we could partner with to help.  She presented the ideas at the den meeting, and the boys voted that they wanted to help animals.  

Next, we met with our school administration to ask for their help and support.  She shared the ideas, the administration added more ideas, and we came up with various ways the the scouts as well as all of the students could participate.

Third, she contacted several animal rescues, told them what we are looking to do, and asked if they would be interested in our help.  One woman responded, enthusiastically, that she would love to work with our group.  The bonus of this animal rescue is that they are partnered with a local pet supply chain.  I don't have too many details yet, because our meeting with the woman from the rescue and the school administration is tomorrow!  

Some of the ideas we've come up with, and some we've started implementing are below.

1.  Making pet baskets for the animals.  The baskets will contain a small blanket or towel, food, and toys.  These baskets would go to and stay with the specific animal, so they have comfort items while at the rescue, and familiar items to take with them to their forever home.  Our school family will be invited to donate these items, and the boys will make up the baskets.  The boys will also be making some of the toys.  There are some great instructions out on the internet for making safe and appropriate cat and dog toys!  

2.  Did you know that April is Animal Awareness Month?  The ribbon color is orange, so the boys will be making awareness ribbons out of orange duct tape.  There is a duct tape project group at our school, and the moderator has embraced letting the kids in the group make awareness ribbons to help as well!  

3.  Me and My Pet photo contest.  For a $1 entry fee, we're going to have a contest.  Kids will submit a photo of them and their pet doing something, reading to the cat, taking the dog for a walk, or just snuggling up on the couch.  We'll post the photos on the bulletin board in the lobby, and have the faculty vote for their favorite.  The winner will get some sort of prize, and the money collected will be used to support making the pet baskets.

4.  Volunteering!  The boys are going to work in shifts, at the pet store, with the rescue, on an adoption weekend.  Leading up, the boys will learn about the rescue, about the animals the rescue is serving, and about adoption awareness.  Hopefully the boys will be able to help some animals find good homes!  The awareness ribbons also come into play here: the boys will be giving them out, and collecting donations for the rescue.  

5.  School and classroom assemblies.  This will be worked out soon, but we're hoping the rescue can come in and talk to the students, and then the boys can come up with some grade specific activities for the younger grades to reinforce what they learned at the assembly.

Are you working on MOP?  What ideas have you come up with for your group, or has this given you some ideas on where to start?

Until Next Time,

CubMom