Paw Prints to Learning
Teach young people about animal welfare and how they CAN make a difference in animals' lives.
School Bridge LEAGUE
Enhance math knowledge and critical thinking skills. Visit the School Bridge LEAGUE website.
Activity
At-a-Glance
Time:
60 minutes (may take more time if the activity is done outside)
Materials:
- Scavenger Hunt Inventory for participants
- Pencils
Physical Setting:
If this activity is done inside, participants should have a quiet space for the interviewing. If they are interviewing in the organization, school, or church, you will need to obtain permission prior to the activity. If doing the activity outside, set boundaries where they should walk to interview people.
Sequence:
- 10 minutes for theme setting, explanation of activity and grouping participants in teams
40 minutes for the scavenger hunt (may take longer if the physical option is selected)
10 minutes for processing
Youth as Philanthropists
Objectives:
To provide the participants with another method of information gathering
To give the participants an open-ended tool to evaluate their organization and community
Activity Theme:
“I leaped headlong into the sea, and thereby have become
better acquainted with the soundings, the quicksands and
the rocks than if I had stayed upon the green shore, and
piped a silly pipe, and took tea and comfortable advice.”
~ John Keats, poet and philosopher, 1818
The facilitator explains that this session gives us the chance to “leap headlong into our organization/community.”
Activity:
The facilitator decides before bringing the participants together whether he/she will use the Physical Option or the Visualization Option. The Physical Option involves taking an actual tour of the organization or neighborhood. The Visualization Option involves using the group’s imagination to envision the organization or neighborhood and gathering information on the “Scavenger Hunt” handout.
With both options, the facilitator explains that the participants are going to learn and practice another form of information gathering. “You have taken scavenger hunts before and today we are going on a Scavenger hunt to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organization or neighborhood.” The facilitator divides the group into teams and gives each member an inventory sheet. One group member should be designated to fill in the answers on his/her inventory.
PHYSICAL Option
Participants should be reminded to be courteous, polite, and non-disruptive to the others in the organization or neighborhood as they go about gathering the information.
VISUALIZATION Option
Participants need to discuss the inventory quietly and appreciate the comment of each member of their group. If there are differences among the group, note the difference and move to the next set of questions. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. Participants need to find a quiet space to respond to the inventory. You might want them to answer the inventory individually first, then share their responses with the group. One member should keep notes on what is said to report out to the large group.
Processing:
After the groups have completed the activity, the facilitator asks each group to report out their findings. The facilitator should note on newsprint those responses that the majority of the groups mentioned and those that were different. Ask those with different responses to explain their answer to the group, if they wish.
This activity should lead to a discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the organization or neighborhood and begin to have the participants recognize the philanthropic actions that have been taken on behalf of the organization or neighborhood.
Application:
Ask participants to quietly reflect in their journal or on a sheet of paper the following:
“If you were honored for your philanthropic actions, what would you want your recognition plaque or certificate to say about you?”
If there is time, the participants might want to share what they would put on their commemorative plaque. The facilitator might keep these to put on a Certificate when the participants have completed the training. Copies of recognition plaque or certificate could be given at the completion of today’s activity and the original given to the facilitator for the Celebration event.
Scavenger Hunt Inventory
Each member of the team should have a copy of the inventory. One member needs to be designated the recorder of the information. The group needs to determine the location in the organization or neighborhood where they think this question is addressed. They proceed to that location.
1. Find a place in the organization or neighborhood where people tend to gather. Where is it?
2. Name three activities that take place there.
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3. Write the names of three individuals whose responsibility is it to organize the activities that go on there.
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4. List three good things about the organization/community.
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5. List three things about the organization/community that need improvement.
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6. List the greatest need of the organization/community.
7. Why is this such a need?
8. What are three things to be done to take care of the need?
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9. List three good things the organization/community does for young people.
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10. Find a plaque or tribute to someone who has contributed time, talent, or treasure to the community or neighborhood. Write down the names of three people who have contributed to the community or neighborhood.
11. Why have these people contributed to the organization or neighborhood?
12. How have their philanthropic actions helped solve a problem or filled a need in the organization or community?
13. What is your favorite place in the organization or neighborhood?