Scouts
Helping animals through scouting projects
Youth volunteers are very important to our community. We can make a double impact when working with scouts on Take Action Projects, badges, patches, Awards (Eagle Scout, Bronze/Silver/Gold, etc.). This page highlights patch programs, funding opportunities, and past projects that scouts have done.
Looking for High Award Ideas? Here are a few ideas:
- Spay/Neuter Awareness
- Cruelty: No animals in hot cars
- Video program on pet issues (new pet, spay/neuter, cruelty, laws, poisonous plants and food)
- Pesticide impact on your pets
- Meals-on-wheels pet food program
- Pet Safety
- Living with Wildlife
- Pet Adoption Promotions
Animal Safety Patch
Girl and Boy Scouts are encouraged to earn this patch with two rockers. The Prince William SPCA is sponsoring the patch program and will be providing the patches/rockers for free to any scouts in Prince William County, Manassas City, or Manassas Park! Learn about how to keep pets and wildlife safe by doing fun crafts and activities. Sign up HERE for the instructions and to reserve your FREE patches.
Other scouts: Scouts outside of our area may request the patch requirements at no cost, but there is a cost of $3/patch and rocker set.
Looking for Funding? Scouts in need of funding for their higher awards should apply for a “Pawsitive Impact Program” grant (below) from the Prince William SPCA. We fund up to $1000 for animal-related projects for Gold/Silver/Bronze and Eagle Scout projects.
It’s Your Story Tell It!: Three Cheers for Animals Girl Scout Daisy Journey
This turnkey program encourages Daisies to learn about and help animals in their homes and in the community. We recognize that girls in kindergarten and first grade are very compassionate animal lovers. This program is designed to be easy for the leaders to incorporate into the Daisy year and also be fun and educational for the girls. This journey focuses on companion animals, which we know are very important to Daisy Girl Scouts. By completing the lessons in this program, your girls will earn their Journey award and other optional patches. To receive the information on the program, contact us here.
Pawsitive Impact Program
Prince William SPCA sponsors a program that aligns our mission with the work of creative young individuals seeking to make a difference in the lives of companion animals. The “Pawsitive” Impact Program provides resources and funding for student-led, student-run proposals that will make a positive social change for animals in our community. The program is open to K-12 youth working either in a group or as individuals. Focus will be on companion animal projects. The funding aims to support projects as part of service awards for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H groups, Honor Societies, etc. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts earning the highest awards in their organizations are encouraged to apply. Winning projects should make a substantial impact on companion animals in the community. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by a committee appointed by Prince William SPCA. Funding is limited and not all proposals will receive financial support. Sign up here.
Helping animals through scouting projects:
Gold Award Scout Develops Animal Safety Program for the Prince William SPCA
(May 2023) Thanks to Ambassador Girl Scout Natalie, the Prince William SPCA now has a new animal safety program. For her Gold Award project, she developed the program to help “open eyes to animal safety.” There is a series of pet and wildlife brochures that help educate the public on animal safety. She also led 4 in-person workshops for 70 scouts and students at the Boys and Girls Club. Her custom designed scout patch and instructions are now available to any scout (see info on this page). Patches are complimentary while supplies last. Finally, she developed a teaching tool for elementary school classrooms. We are excited about this program and know that it will help keep more pets and wildlife safe. Thanks, Natalie! Learn more here…
We hope this inspires you to go for your Gold Award and do an animal project!
Bronze Award Project (December 2023): Following in the footsteps of scouts before them, Junior Girl Scout Troop 80132 installed a new Little Free Library at the Manassas City Animal Adoption Center. The Junior Troop from Lake Ridge, VA, installed the library to earn their Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. Each girl worked at least 20 hours on the project by collecting books, organizing a pet food drive, and coordinating the installation. The girls love animals and wanted to share that passion through the library and animal-themed books. The scouts partnered with the Prince William SPCA, which funded the $900 project.
The previous library (see below) was installed in 2016 by Girl Scout Troop 1917, which also did the project with the Prince William SPCA as part of their Bronze Award. Due to normal wear and the elements, the library was damaged over the years and not able to be fixed.
Bronze Award Project (April 2016): Prince William SPCA partnered with Girl Scout Troop 1917 to construct two Little Free Libraries, one at each of the local animal shelter. The Junior Troop from Lake Ridge, VA, had an idea to sponsor the libraries to earn their Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. The girls love animals and wanted to share that passion through the libraries and animal-themed books. They decided there was no better place to have the libraries than at Prince William County Animal Shelter (library is no longer at shelter) and the Manassas City Animal Adoption Center (10039 Dean Drive, Manassas, VA 20110). To help with the cost of the $1,500 project, the troop partnered with Prince William SPCA. The libraries are open for business. Visitors are encouraged to take an animal book home or leave an unwanted book there to share with others. The library also features an informational brochure box, and a dog leash hook to keep Fido safe while visitors browse.
Eagle Scout Project (2021): Nathan C. completed his Eagle Scout project at K-9 Gunner Memorial Dog Park. The Prince William SPCA sponsored $884.92 through our Pawsitive Impact Program. Nathan installed a new agility course for the dogs and a shade structure to keep everyone cool in the summer. Check out the project by visiting the dog park at: 13000 Minnieville Road, Woodbridge.