Girl Guides Ontario - Girl Guides Ontario - Service Project Ideas

Service Project Ideas

Made a Promise and now you want to get out there and provide service?  There are so many opportunities in our communities to provide service! Find a need you can fill by considering the age range, interest and skill level of those in the Unit.   Find out what really matters to your girls!  Here are just a few examples of organizations or projects that Guiding Members have supported:

PITCH IN Canada - April 23-30, 2012 Founded in 1967,  PITCH-IN CANADA involves millions of volunteers in various action programs during Operation Clean Sweep, from initiating recycling and composting programs to cleaning up and beautifying streams, wilderness and urban areas each Spring. Register your participation beginning January 15, 2012 on their website

Yellow Fish Road - Trout Unlimited Canada's Yellow Fish Road Program is a nation-wide environmental education initiative. Since 1991, thousands of Canadians have learned about water pollution and the impact it has on the health of the local waterbody. For many years GGC Members have participated in this environmental action project. Learn more at Yellow Fish Road in Ontario e-mail ontario@yellowfishroad.org or call 519-824-4120 ext.56563.

Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup - New Spring Clean Up May 1-31, 2012 with educational guide.  Click here to find a clean up near you!  Fall dates to be posted soon.   

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is a grassroots direct action conservation program that aims to promote understanding and education about shoreline litter issues by engaging Canadians to rehabilitate shoreline areas through cleanups. The program influences Canadians to act, becoming better environmental citizens. 

Ontario Streams is looking for volunteers to adopt a stream (especially in York-Simcoe where additional funding has been received). If you or your Unit is looking for a long-term commitment for an environmental service project this is the may be for you!

Living by Water and Centre for Sustainable Watersheds (Ontario) provide materials for keeping our shorelines clean and healthy.

Senior Care:

• donate bird feeders to a Senior's residence or long-term care facility
• grow plants or planters for their rooms or facility
• perform a skit or play
• lead a sing-a-long
• come out for a "game night"
• make a tray decoration

Recycle:

• help out with a recycling project
• join a community-based light-bulb exchange
• collect printer cartridges, cell phones or batteries to recycle
• help at a municipality "recycling day"
• hold your own Project Runway by repurposing old clothing items into something new! 

Teen Pregnancy Centre:

• offer child care at seminars for new moms
• create "welcome baby" kits 

Shelter:

• host a clothing drive and include "business appropriate" clothing 
• create toiletry kits
• do a "bare necessities" drive (socks, underclothes, mitts and hats)
• help with a shelter's maintenance project
• make jewellry to donate 

Community Garden:

• donate seeds to a project already in existence
• start seedlings in late winter to provide to gardens in the spring
• help out with planting a garden 
• help tend a garden
• plant a Pink Tulip garden

Support a Food Bank by:

• organizing a food drive; fill cookie boxes, or even a canoe!
• organize an event and charge admission in the form of a non-perishable food item
• sort food at a local food bank
• create "birthday" or other theme food boxes 

Child Care Facility:

• create and donate craft kits
• host a toy drive
• collect children's books 

Welcome Newcomers:

Spread Comfort:

• become a "blanketeer" and donate a homemade blanket/quilt
• join a teddy bear drive or host one
• make handmade plush toys to donate 

Build something:

• hook up with Habitat for Humanity and help with a build (note: age restrictions apply)
• help with a playground build

Share learning:

• pack a knapsack of school supplies
• spend time reading with younger children
• fill a bag of books 

Help out at a community event:

• offer babysitting services where there is an event adults will attend
• hand out water at a run
• offer coat-check services at an event