SPECIAL TO THE COURIER

When Cadette Girl Scouts Amy Kalinski, Carolyn Ryan, and Taylor Hale got into the nitty-gritty of planning their Girl Scout Silver Award project, they knew they wanted to do something big to help animals and get a chance to flex their creative muscles.

The three scouts, members of Troop 71919 in Niwot, set a giant goal:  create enough “Adopt Me” bandannas to encircle the Longmont Humane Society compound.

Out came the 100-foot tape measure and a calculator, and the 14-year-olds determined that they would need to produce a rope of bandannas at least 822 feet long. The bandannas will be used by the LHS to help encourage pet adoption.

After working on Silver Award prerequisites for more than a year, and after months of planning and prep work, the three girls hosted a bandanna-making event at the Niwot Grange on July 24 where volunteers decorated the brightly-colored bandannas made from donated fabric, with sayings such as “I’ve just met you and I love you!” and “I’ll be your buddy!”

The event also included an online adoption fair, highlighting pets that were available for adoption. Event participants donated cash as well as items from the LHS Wish List, which allowed the girls to present the LHS with pet supplies and a check for $100.

Following the all-day event, the girls and their families and friends encircled the LHS with the 461 creative bandannas - 922 feet in all - and snapped a few photos. 

For information about the Longmont Humane Society, see www.longmonthumane.org.