‘We wanted them to learn their voice makes a difference,’ Whatcom scout leader says
When Whatcom County Girl Scout Troop Leader Christine Olson and the group’s other leaders and volunteers asked Troop 46466 how they wanted to have an impact on their community as part of a Journey Badge project, the answer was simple.
“They said, ‘We want to help puppies and kitties and ponies,’” Olson told The Bellingham Herald
As the leaders began talking to the girls about how to do that and make an action plan to accomplish that, Olson said the leaders made the mistake of referring to “horses,” and quickly got corrected — “No. We want to help puppies and kitties and ponies.”
And help them they did, as Jan. 11 the troop presented Whatcom County Fire District 7 with five sets of pet oxygen masks so the all five stations could be prepared to help any puppies, kitties and ponies they encounter in emergency situations.
But Olson said this girl-led project meant much more than just helping animals.
“In a world where we have a lot of resignation and adults that don’t know how to make a difference with any one thing, these girls showed that they can,” Olson said. “What I love about being a Girl Scout leader is to see young girls that are able and willing to make a difference. It’s inspiring. Those are the kind of adults I want in our future.”
The 20 girls of Troop 46466, who Olson said range in age from 5 to 9, began researching how they could take action to help puppies, kitties and ponies and soon learned when a few watched a video that some pets die in fires because not all stations are equipped with snout-shaped oxygen masks, according to the release.
“The girls in this troop are very loving, and when they started talking about that, that’s when they knew what they wanted to do,” Olson told The Herald.
Troop volunteer Bonnie Myers reached out to District 7’s Linsey McAfee, who worked in coordination with Division Chief Ben Boyko, to see if a gift of pet oxygen masks would benefit the community, according to the release.
“We consider pets a part of the family and do our best to make sure they’re cared for. These masks are such a thoughtful donation and will make a difference in our community,” Boyko said in the release.
Troop members raised approximately $450 through Girl Scout Cookie sales last spring and nuts and candy sales last fall, and Myers said she purchased the sets of pet oxygen masks — each containing small, medium and large sizes — through Amazon.
But just teaching the troop members how to sell cookies and raise money was far from the ultimate goal of the project, Olson said. Leaders also spent several weeks teaching the young girls about animal care, and the troop even visited an animal trainer to learn more for the Leadership Journey “5 Flowers, 4 Stories and 3 Cheers for Animals!”
“We wanted them to learn their voice makes a difference, even at their age,” Olson told The Herald. “They can make the world a better place, and this project sets them up for a lifetime of believing they can. The empathy these girls have is so much. When they said they wanted to help dogs, cats and ponies, our answer as adults was, ‘Yes, how can we empower that?’ ”
Last weekend, the girls got to visit the fire station to deliver the masks in person and get a tour of the facilities and fire vehicles.
One of the highlights for the girls during the visit, Olson said, was getting to meet and take a picture with a female EMT and a female cadet at District 7.
And the girls made just as big an impact on the firefighters.
“Thanks to generous contribution from Girl Scouts of Western Washington Troop 46466 we have received five sets of pet oxygen masks,” District 7 wrote in a Facebook post Thursday, Jan. 16. “Some of our closest friends are our fur babies. In time of emergency WCFD7 firefighters can now provide high flow oxygen to your extended family.”
This story was originally published January 20, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
