Activity Overview
Girl Scouts learn about the safety, health, and care of animals by talking to an animal expert.
- Discuss the importance of caring for animals.
- Have Girl Scouts talk to an expert, either on a field trip or in their meeting space.
- Encourage Girl Scouts to ask questions and understand the care routine different animals need.
Leader Guidance
Preparation: Plan an outing to a place where Girl Scouts can learn about animal care, such as an animal shelter, veterinarian’s office, farm, or wildlife rehabilitation center. If a field trip isn’t possible, invite an animal expert to visit your meeting space—in person or online.
Say:
- Some animals depend on us for their health and well-being. Caring for them means making sure they have the essentials: food, water, shelter, and safety.
- Why do you think it’s important to care for animals?
- What might happen if animals don’t get proper care?
- Animals can get sick if their environment is unsafe or dirty.
- Visiting a professional center (such as an animal shelter, veterinarian’s office, farm, or wildlife rehabilitation center) allows us to visit safe spaces for animals.
- Talking to an animal expert allows us to ask questions and receive accurate information on how to properly care for them. We’re going to talk to an expert today!
Take your field trip, or introduce your animal expert. Encourage Girl Scouts to ask questions and learn how animals are fed and groomed; how much space they are given to play, eat, and sleep; and how they’re cared for when sick. Have them make notes on their Talk to An Expert handout.
After their visit or talk, bring them back together and discuss their findings with the larger group.
Say:
- What did the animals eat every day?
- How often do they need to exercise or play?
- What special care do the animals need to stay healthy?
- How do caregivers make sure the animal feels safe?
- Let’s take turns listening to everyone’s findings. (Encourage but do not require Girl Scouts to participate.)
When everyone has had a turn, ask leading questions like:
- What surprised you about the care routines?
- How is caring for a pet different from caring for a wild animal?
- What can we do to help animals in our community?
Multi-level Tips
This activity is suitable for all Girl Scout levels. Girl Scouts can do the activity together, or split into groups during their field trip or expert discussion and share their notes on what they’ve learned. Older Girl Scouts can also help younger ones, if needed.
