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What is Project Paw Print?
What is Project Paw Print?
Project Paw Print is a Girl Scout Gold Award project that aims to support local animal shelters. This Project was started in January 2025, approved by Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains in July 2025, and was officially completed on January 12, 2026.
This project is dedicated to supporting animals in shelters and building a community that cares. Every year, thousands of animals enter shelters, many of them scared, anxious, and unsure of what will happen next. This project focuses on easing that transition by providing care baskets to newly arrived animals-- filled with toys, treats, cozy blankets, and other comfort items. These items are meant to help reduce stress, promote better mental health, and give each pet a more hopeful start as they wait to be adopted. But project Paw Print doesn't stop there. After research and speaking with local shelters, I have noticed that many lack the funds to take in more animals due to high vet bills and rising costs in food, toys, treats, and comfort items! To help combat this I have built a donation box and placed it outside of a pet store, a location that is guaranteed to find many animal lovers! The hope is that people will see the box as they walk in and buy something extra to put into the box! With the shelter receiving donations for basic necessity, the money can be more focused towards vet bills, allowing more animals to receive treatment and get re-homed, which later allows more animals to be brought into the shelter!
This website is also being launched to educate the public, encourage compassionate action, and create a lasting change for shelters and the animals they protect.
What is a Gold Award?
What is a Gold Award?
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout Senior/Ambassador is able to earn! It helps show leadership, vision, and commitment to creating lasting change. Unlike a single-time service project, the Gold Award requires a Girl Scout to identify and research an issue in their community. They then have to design a solution, and then build it in a way that will continue to make a difference long after the project is completed. Only about five percent of eligible Girl Scouts in the United States earn this distinction. Making it a rare and respected honor that is recognized by colleges, employers, and even military! But most importantly, it helps inspire younger generations to get involved and start helping others whenever they can!
To achieve the Gold Award, a scout must show leadership, problem-solving, planning, and dedication to the community while working independently and with local partners to implement the project vision.
For me, pursuing the Gold Award has meant turning my passion for animals into real, sustainable impact by creating a system that supports shelter pets now and into the future. It's not only a symbol of personal achievement but also proof that young people can lead meaningful change and inspire others to do the same.
When you see the name "Gold Award Girl Scout", it means someone stepped up as a leader, problem-solver, and advocate. It means she didn't just dream about making the world a better place - she built a plan, carried it out, and left a lasting impact that will carry past her involvement.
That's what I hope to do with Project Paw Print.
Educating the Community!
Educating the Community!
One thing I have noticed is that plenty of people want to help, but don't know how. Many people don't trust online donations but don't have the time to stop by the shelter to drop things off. By placing the box outside of the pet store, it allows people to donate physical items and not cut any time out of their personal time to donate to the shelters in person! This website aims to promote safe donation items and show people ways they can get involved with other people who share the same community!
Project Paw Print is designed to support both animals and people! By providing baskets for shelter animals with toys, treats, and comforting items that reduce stress and fear, it helps them become more adoptable as most people are more inclined to buy more active and energetic dogs.
Every Paw Counts!
Every Paw Counts!
Every toy, every treat, every act of kindness leaves a print on the life of a shelter animal. Together, a community can create a safe space where all animals feel seen, loved, and supported from the moment they arrive in a shelter.
Thank you for visiting Project Paw Print!
Leave your mark of shelter support!
About the creator!
About the creator!
Cailee Stiles is a 15 year old who is a rising High School Sophomore as of 2025! She has been doing Girl Scouts since 2nd grade and has lived in multiple different places! Through her experiences living in England and Belgium she has noticed that people all over the world are interested in helping others, but don't always know how to help! As a person who is passionate about animal care, teaching the community around her about shelter needs and ways they can help was a fun and exciting idea to her!
She wants young people to know that you don't have to wait to grow up to make a difference. Whether you're donating to a shelter, telling a friend about ways they can help, or creating your own service project - your voice matters. This website is a space for empowerment, action, and compassion.
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