PROJECT IDEAS & INSTRUCTIONS
Whether you’re a teacher, scout leader, parent, student, or animal lover, you’ll find project ideas that make a real difference for animals. Browse by project time, planning level, grade level, who is doing it?, or project type to find the perfect fit.
Every project includes step-by-step instructions, planning information, and helpful resources to make getting started easy.
Interactive Pet Quiz Board
- One Day
- 3–12
- Easy
- Partners / Small Groups, Whole Class / Large Group, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Turn a classroom, school hallway, meeting space, or other shared area into an interactive learning experience! Research animal-related topics, create fun quiz questions with flip-up answers, and build a display that lets others test their knowledge while learning about pets and responsible pet care.
Digital Adoption Business Cards
- 45-60 min
- 3–12
- Easy
- Good for Individuals & Groups
Use your digital skills to put a “Spotlight” on a shelter pet and help them find their forever family. By creating a custom “Business Card” for an animal, you are giving them a dedicated stage. A great photo paired with a fun “job title” (like Professional Napper) can be the exact thing that catches an adopter’s eye and leads to a perfect match!
Pizza For Pets Fundraiser
- Multi-day
- 6–12
- Advanced
- Whole Class / Large Group, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Everyone loves pizza and pets! Host a pizza fundraiser to raise money and awareness for your local animal shelter or rescue.
Pet Adoption Bulletin Board
- 1 hr - 2 hrs
- 3–12
- Moderate
- Partners / Small Groups, Whole Class / Large Group, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Promote adoptable pets at your local Animal Shelter/Rescue. It’s a great way for your entire school to see animals available for adoption. It’s fun to see animals get adopted and easy to manage.
Host a Walk-A Thon
- Multi-day
- 3–12
- Advanced
- Whole Class / Large Group, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Walk for a great cause! Plan a Walk-A-Thon to raise funds and awareness for a local animal shelter or rescue. Includes a complete planning guide and ready-to-use resources.
Hold a Bake Sale (“Pastries for Pets”)
- Multi-day
- 6–12
- Moderate, Advanced
- Partners / Small Groups, Whole Class / Large Group, Families & Homeschool, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Everyone loves baked treats—and they’re a fun way to raise money and awareness for your local animal shelter or rescue. Organize a bake sale with your class, club, Scout troop, or family and show how a simple community event can help shelter animals.
Rope Toys for Dogs
- 30-60 min
- 3–12
- Easy
- Solo / Independent, Partners / Small Groups, Families & Homeschool, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Animal shelters and rescues appreciate rope toys – especially for larger dogs. A friendly game of tug of war is fun and stimulating for dogs and provides an easy way to socialize and play. And, they are fun to make!
No-Sew Blankets
- 45-60 min
- 3–12
- Moderate
- Good for Individuals & Groups
Animal shelters and rescues love fleece blankets for the pets in their care. Blankets are used for kittens to keep them warm and are a comfort to dogs and rabbits too.
Design Adoption Posters
- 45 min - 2 hrs
- 3–12
- Easy
- Good for Individuals & Groups
Make Adoption Posters to promote and give visibility to adoptable pets at your local Animal shelter/rescue. Perfect for sharing on social media and displaying on school bulletin boards and at your local library too!
Sew TNR Trap Covers
- Multi-day
- 6–12
- Advanced
- Partners / Small Groups, Families & Homeschool, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Make reusable fabric covers for humane traps used in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. The covers help provide a calmer, more protected environment for community cats during the TNR process.
This special project was created by Eliana and Soleil of Girl Scout Troop 31241 for their Silver Award.
Crinkle Dog Sock Toys
- 15-30 min
- All Grades
- Easy
- Solo / Independent, Partners / Small Groups, Families & Homeschool
A simple sock and an empty plastic bottle can become a fun enrichment toy for a shelter dog. Students can make these easy crinkle toys in minutes while learning how small acts of kindness can make a real difference.
Make a Snuffle Mat
- 1 hr - 2 hrs
- 3–12
- Easy
- Partners / Small Groups, Whole Class / Large Group, Families & Homeschool, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Dogs naturally use their noses to explore the world around them. Snuffle mats turn treat-finding into an enriching activity that provides mental stimulation and helps reduce boredom and stress. Make one to help keep shelter dogs active, engaged, and happier while they wait for adoption.
Hold a Towel & Blanket Drive
- Multi-day
- 3–12
- Easy
- Partners / Small Groups, Whole Class / Large Group, Families & Homeschool, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
A simple towel or blanket can help a shelter pet feel warm, safe, and comforted while waiting for a new home. These everyday items are also used daily for bedding, grooming, cleaning, and medical care. Organize a donation drive and help provide one of your local shelter’s most-needed supplies.
Adopt Me Bandanas
- 30-60 min
- 3–12
- Easy
- Good for Individuals & Groups
Help shelter pets get noticed! Decorate colorful “Adopt Me” bandanas with creative messages and designs, then donate them to a local animal shelter or rescue.
Cardboard Cat Scratching Pad
- 1 hr - 2 hrs
- 6–12
- Moderate
- Partners / Small Groups, Whole Class / Large Group, Families & Homeschool, Scout Troops & Youth Clubs
Cats need to scratch to stay healthy and relieve stress. Use recycled cardboard to create durable scratching pads that help shelter cats stay active, relieve boredom, encourage natural behaviors, and feel more comfortable while they wait for adoption.
Need more inspiration?
Students, scouts and everyday people have done a lot of inspiring projects, go see what they have done.