GSEM Gold Award Project Catalog

Creative Cat Content

Gold Award Girl Scout: Natalie H., Troop 3778

Issue: Every year around 860,000 cats are euthanized and abandoned. Root Cause: Many people are uneducated on how to care for cats. Measurability: Natalie used the website and survey feedback and attitudes of visitors to Five Acres Animal Shelter to measure her project. Sustainability: Five Acres Animal Shelter, and the other shelters Natalie visited, will continue to share the website with visitors. The videos were uploaded to YouTube.

Project Details: After recognizing the need to find cats living in animal shelters a safe and permanent home, Natalie set out to support unadopted cats and dismiss the stereotypes. Natalie partnered with Five Acres Animal Shelter to create two animated videos, “How to Care for Your Cat!” and “Understanding Your Cat” to help individuals learn more about the animals and encourage them to adopt. For the videos, Natalie planned and sketched out the storyboard, animated the video and recorded a voiceover. Natalie also cleaned, decorated and painted four cat boxes to help draw attention to cats in need of a new home. Five Acres Animal Shelter will continue to maintain the cat boxes.

Bee Houses for the Community

Issue: There is a decline in bee populations.

Gold Award Girl Scout: Jasmine G., Troop 766

Root Cause: The decline is due to habitat loss and overuse of pesticides. Many people do not know there are different species of bees and the different habitats they need. Measurability: Jasmine counted the number of bee houses she gave out, as well as a before and after survey seeing if people learned about solitary bees. Sustainability: Those who learned about solitary bees will pass that knowledge on to those they continue to meet. The bee houses are sturdy and durable.

Project Details: To earn her Gold Award, Jasmine addressed the issue of declining bee populations in our area due to habitat loss and overuse of pesticides. Jasmine partnered with Forest Park Forever to construct structures for solitary bees and raise awareness of the importance of pollinators. Jasmine jumped into action, creating and testing multiple prototypes of bee houses, ultimately installing a special bee house at Bethesda Garden, as well as various private residential homes in the St. Louis area. Jasmine also designed information pamphlets to include with each bee house.