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This pin and all program supplies are available from our partner site MakingFriends®.com.
Suggested Group Craft
Create a habitat for helpful insects and bugs in your own backyard with this fun insect hotel craft from FreeKidsCrafts.com.
Suggested Prerequisite
Completing one of the Advocate level Patch Program®s above is a suggested prerequisite for earning your Animal Habitat Delegate Pin. Your advocate experience will help provide you with the knowledge needed to become a delegate for animal habitats. You can also opt to complete the Advocate requirements during the time you earn this Delegate pin.
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Requirement 1: Choose It!
Points to Consider When Choosing An Animal Habitat Action Project;
- Wildlife Corridors; Helpful Link: Corridor FAQ
- Invasive species; Helpful Link: Invasive Species FAQ, Species Distribution Maps
- Threatened or endangered species in your area; Helpful Link: U.S. Threatened or Endangered Species by County
- Species extinction; Helpful Link: How does extinction happen?
- Your community’s carbon footprint. Helpful Link: Reduce your community’s carbon footprint.
- Native Plants; Helpful Link: Native Plant Finder
Some Ideas:
- Create a certified wildlife habitat
- Create an urban forest.
- Revitalize a park.
- Make a butterfly garden.
- Make a bat habitat.
- Create an animal sanctuary in your community.
- Reduce your community’s carbon footprint. Helpful Link: Reduce your community’s carbon footprint.
- Reduce your community’s use of plastic.
Project considerations:
- What are your skills and talents?
- Do you need a mentor or adviser? Who will it be?
- Will there be legal or permit issues to resolve?
- How many others can you recruit to help?
- Will your volunteers need special skills or training?
- How many hours can you devote to the project?
- Will there be a project deadline?
- How much money will you be able to raise for the project?
- Can you get a sponsor to help with the costs?
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Requirement 2: Plan it!
Goal Setting
Setting goals will help give you a long-term vision and short-term motivation. It helps you to organize your thoughts and determine exactly what needs to be done.
- Decide exactly what you want to accomplish and give your project a name.
- Break it down into smaller steps.
- Set up a timeline.
Recruit Volunteers
Although smaller projects can be done alone, many projects will require a team. As the project delegate, one of your most important roles will be building a successful team. Helpful Link: 7 Super Steps to Recruit Volunteers.
- Find a mentor with experience in your project area.
- Enlist an Advocate to help you recruit volunteers. Consider using a volunteer release form especially if you are working with children. Helpful Link: Volunteer Release Form
- Decide which jobs you can do alone.
- Will you have teams?
- How many people will you need for each team?
Budgeting
Budgeting allows you to create a spending plan for your project. Sticking to your budget ensures that you will have enough money for the things you need to complete it. If you copied the table above you will see there is a section for budgeting.
Raise Money
There are many ways to raise money. If you are working with an organization such as Girl Scouts* check first to see what is allowed. Helpful Link: A Beginner’s Guide to Fundraising
- Consider GoFundMe, CrowdRise, DonorsChoose, or Kickstarter.
- Organize an event like a car wash, bake sale, or benefit dinner to raise awareness around your fundraiser.
- Host an event such as a walkathon, run, or bike rides.
- Ask local businesses and community members to donate items for a silent auction or a live auction.
- Sales of customized products like tee shirts, pens, and buttons will not only raise funds but generate awareness about your project.
- Invite the local media to your fundraiser or at least supply them with a photo and caption after the event.
Specific ideas for Animal Habitat Fundraising
Get clever with your ideas. Think of things related to your cause. It will help bring awareness and set up a “fun” atmosphere, while raising the money you need to complete your cause.
- Have a hike-a-thon.
- Make a habitat wish list at Amazon.com or other retailer.
- Ask children to take nature photos. Make enlargements and auction them off. Make sure Grandma is invited!
- Buy gummy butterflies or other candy in bulk. Make a sticker to put on the package and resell.
- Host a stepping stone making party. Stepping stones can be placed along a trail in the habitat.
- Get sponsors for educational signage that identifies plants and animals in the area.
- Have a cupcake bake sale with sea turtle cupcakes, owl cupcakes, frog cupcakes, or any other animals you are supporting in your habitat project.
- Give habitat recognition gifts for sponsorships. Set donation levels such as $20 for an owl and turtle pin, $40 for a tee shirt.
- Organize a “turtle” bike race. Who can ride the slowest from point A to point B without putting their feet on the ground?
- Have a nature photo scavenger hunt.
- Sell plush animals that represent animals in your habitat.
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Requirement 3: Do It!
You should now be ready to put your plan into action. Join in during your project to supervise and provide assistance at all levels.
After completing the plan, remember to thank the community.
Ways to say Thank You:
- Personally thank individuals and businesses who helped. A handwritten letter is always nice. Helpful link: How to write a thank you letter.
- Thank the community as a whole with posters.
- Create a follow up press release and include the names of individuals and businesses who participated. Helpful link: How to write a press release,
- Give certificates of appreciation.
- Thank the community as a whole on social media.
Congratulations on completing your animal habitat action project! The Animal Habitat Delegate pin makes a great reward for completing your project. It also makes a great gift to program sponsors and mentors.
See all our current Delegate level pin programs:
Related Fun Patch Ideas:
Note: Many of the links provided to assist with completing our Patch Program®s are external and do not imply an endorsement or recommendation. At the time of publication, external content was vetted to the best of our ability. Your views and ideas may vary and we do not intend for you to substitute our opinions for yours. Research the topic thoroughly before beginning a project. As always, make sure children access the internet only under safe-surfing conditions.
*youthsquad.makingfriends.com and MakingFriends®.com are not affiliated with, endorsed by or a licensee of Girl Scouts of the USA.
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