Lots going on around our council this week! From a doggy fashion show to a visit with CHAMP therapy animals to horseback riding at Cedarledge, our troop roundup has lots to do with animals this week. Very cool! To get your troop featured in our next blog, please email a little description of what outstanding thing your troop did, a photo, and your troop number/level to sconnors@girlscoutsem.org. We will feature three troops in each blog. 

We hope to hear from all of you!

Junior/Cadette Troop 271: Troop 271 from Florissant welcomed visitors from CHAMP, a local organization that trains and places service dogs to help those with disabilities. CHAMP also trains therapy dogs for work in hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and rehab facilities. Dianne Peters (with her therapy dog Elliott) and Dana Ruff (with service dog-in-training Twister) talked to the troop about the organization, how the animals are trained and how they can be of service. They helped the troop complete their Animal Helpers Cadette badge.

Dianne Peters (and Elliott) speak to the troop.

The girls were shown some of the skills Twister is working on, including retrieving items, helping to remove a person's socks and jacket, and how to bring the phone to call 911. The girls were also shown the appropriate way to approach a service animal (ask first, since the dogs have a job to do!) The girls greatly enjoyed learning from the service dogs - thanks, CHAMP!

Brownie Troop 223: Troop 223 paired up with a troop of Daisies and headed to the Pony Tails program at Cedarledge! According to one of their troop leaders, "the girls had a great time and cannot wait to do the Hoofprints program this spring!" It's great that girls can still get out to camps and participate in programs like this, even when Summer is long gone and girls are back in school. Nice job on this program, Troop 223!

Troop 223 learning about horse care

Junior Troop 2423: As a bronze award project, Troop 2423 has decided to help out Stray Rescue of St. Louis by holding a dog fashion show and Dogs Galore event at Laurel Park this Sunday, October 28! Troop 2423 will be selling baked goods and drinks, and there will be special guests at the park to do presentations about their jobs working with animals. Take a look at their flyer, and contact mfong@charter.net for more information!

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Here are two of the pups that will be participating in the fashion show!