GSEM Silver Award Project Catalog

Raccoon Trash Boxes

Silver Award Team: Troop 4747

Issue: Raccoons and other animals frequently rummage through trashcans at camp. Root Cause: Animals who seek food or shelter often hide in trashcans.

Project Details: Knowing that animals, such as raccoons, have a habit of occupying trashcans around camp, the Cadettes from Troop 4747 hand-built trashcans so they were stronger, more reinforced, and harder to get into. Now, when visitors use the trashcans at camp, they will be able to throw away their waste without coming in contact with wildlife. Their efforts not only protect the visitor, but the animals as well, as a lot of waste is not animal safe. It also reduced the amount of waste not ending up in trashcans.

Target Audience: Campers and the wildlife.

Sustainability: The boxes are made from treated wood and painted so they will last a long time for future campers to use.

Snuffle Mats for CARE St. Louis

Issue: Many dogs live in harsh or under stimulating environments.

Silver Award Team: Troop 1230

Root Cause: Dogs may be abandoned, they may be surrendered, or their humans may move or even die and no longer be able to care for them.

Project Details: Wanting to provide shelter dogs with enriching stimulation, Troop 1230 made snuffle mats to help them enhance their sense of smell and hone their natural instincts. To make the mats, the Girl Scouts used leftover fleece fabric donated from a local small business owner, keeping the material from ending up in a landfill. After completing the mats, the Girl Scouts delivered them to CARE St. Louis Adoption. They also made a how-to guide on snuffle mats and shared the instructions with local Girl Scout troops so they can continue supporting dogs in local animal shelters.

Target Audience: The dogs at CARE St. Louis Adoption.

Sustainability: The snuffle mats can be used and re-used by dogs for a long time. The Cadettes also created instructions on how others can make snuffle mats.