Cain earns Gold Award

Sarah Cain of Vestavia Hills Girl Scout Troop 35 recently earned her Gold Award with a project named "Animal Mistreatment: Increasing Education to Decrease the Problem."

In partnership with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, Cain created a curriculum for elementary school-aged children on the common types of animal mistreatment found in the U.S. today, such as hoarding and inadequate shelter. After learning about the types of animal mistreatment, children are also taught about the correct action to take if they believe an animal is being mistreated.

In addition to instructing children on animal mistreatment, Sarah's curriculum also educates them on the proper care for their pets. The curriculum consists of a presentation, two games and a coloring book. One game was played at the beginning of the presentation, to introduce concepts, and the second game was played at the end of the presentation, to reinforce concepts. The coloring book was given to the children at the end of the curriculum to also help remind the children of what they had been taught.

Cain presented this curriculum to two third grade classes at Vestavia Hills Elementary East. She also translated the entire curriculum to Spanish for ESL students who may want to learn about animal mistreatment. Additionally, Sarah created a brochure for the Greater Birmingham Humane Society to send out to elementary schools, in hopes to expand their education program.

Cain’s project will be sustained by the Greater Birmingham Humane Society's education initiative. Finally, Sarah she to donate all remaining funds from her project to benefit the Greater Birmingham Humane Society's education initiative.

She is the daughter of Jane Schaefer and Brian Cain and will attend Auburn University and plans to major in wildlife ecology and management and minor in Spanish.

Submitted by Girl Scout Troop 35