Girl Scouting builds community.
By giving a voice to the under-represented and reaching out to those
in need, girls bridge gaps, heal wounds, and create lasting connections.
They improve their schools and neighborhoods and develop an understanding
of their important place in a complex world.
Get involved!
Looking for a service project for your troop
or group? Or, looking for something you can do on your own? Here
are some ideas to get you started. If you have other ideas, please
share! We'll add them to the list.
| September |
Help keep beaches clean
- contact Coastal Cleanup (coastalcleanup.org).
Make welcome kits for new kids at your school. Include a welcome
card, school and community calendar, cool places you like to
go, and information about Girl Scouting! |
| October |
Find out about seasonal projects at
council properties, or organize a group to help at Camp Closing
day in late October - call 978.689.8015.
Older girls can lead groups through the Halloween Hike trail.
Call 978.689.8015 and speak with the Director of Outdoor Program. |
| November |
Help get winter coats to people in need:
Contact warmcoat.org (877.636.9276) or call your local gas company.
Collect needed items for a local animal shelter or contact MSPCA.
Hold a food pantry drive or prepare Thanksgiving dinner for
a food shelter. |
| December |
Volunteer to read to kids at the local
library; or have a book drive for children's books.
Help put up seasonal decorations at a hospital or nursing home.
Make holiday gifts for a local nursing home.
Participate in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. |
| January |
Organize a school supply drive to bring
to local shelters.
Hold a personal care item drive to bring to local shelters or
nursing homes.
Knit scarves for the homeless.
Collect magazines for nursing home. |
| February |
Help out with envelope stuffing and
labeling for the upcoming Spar and Spindle summer camp season
- call 978.689.8015 and speak with the Director of Outdoor Program.
Bake bread for the homeless.
Make valentines and visit a local nursing home. |
| March |
Organize a spring closet cleaning week
and donate unused clothes and toys to a shelter or other charitable
organization.
During Girl Scout week, write thank you notes to all the organizations/businesses
in town that help during the year or bake goodies for your local
fire and police stations. |
| April |
Find out about seasonal projects at
council properties, or bring a group to help at Camp Opening
day in late April - call 978.689.8015.
Organize an Earth Day neighborhood cleanup, or help seniors
in your town with yard work.
Decorate grocery bags for Earth Day. |
| May |
Volunteer to weed flower beds in front
of the council office - call 978.689.8015.
Make Mother’s day gift bags for moms in shelters.
Help a younger troop with a badge or try-it. Share your skills. |
| June |
Help clean up the areas around the Lowell
canals - call Western Canal And Acre Cleanup 978.975.1740 for
more information.
Plan a school supplies drive for over the summer - identify
local schools in need. |
Challenge Unlimited is a therapeutic riding
program designed for people with disabilities. Physical, occupational,
speech and recreational therapies are provided by licensed therapists
and instructors who use the horse and farm environment as a foundation
for each session. Benefits can be seen in increased endurance,
improved balance and posture, and, most particularly, in positive
self esteem. Challenge Unlimited's goal is each to help each participant
reach their greatest potential for independence.
Volunteers play an important role in the
success of the Challenge Unlimited programs. The job of a volunteer
is to aid an instructor or a therapist during each season in a
"hands-on" situation. Specifically, volunteers handle
the horses as the client performs grooming tasks before riding,
and helps with those tasks. Then the volunteer will either lead
the horse or walk beside the rider, offering support, and guidance
during a session. Ideally, the volunteer will work with the same
group or individual each week, giving both the opportunities to
develop friendships.
Ironstone Farm is a unique venue for these
programs. Located on twenty acres, the property offers the aesthetic
beauty of a working New England farm. From wandering donkeys to
wildlife on the farm ponds to the friendly greeting everyone receives
on arrival, time spent "at the barn" has been repeatedly
referred to as therapeutic - by volunteers as well as the people
they help. Life slows down, and animals live in harmony with nature.
Minimum age for volunteering is twelve.
No experience is needed - introductory workshops are held weekly.
Although schedules change with the seasons, volunteers are needed
at all times of the day and week, year round.
INTERESTED? CONTACT IRONSTONE FARM AT 1-800-NEAT
FUN!
450 Lowell Street, Andover, MA 01810
Office: 978-4056 - Fax: 978-475-4046
ironstone@worldnet.att.net
