Bringing Nature Indoors for the Elderly

Through her Gold Project, Allison desired to improve the quality of life for the elderly. She chose to help the residents of the Oaks Assisted Living Facility stay in touch with nature by placing bird feeders outside the windows of their rooms. Allison recruited a Brownie Girl Scout troop to decorate and set up the feeders, educating them on what types of seeds attract different birds in the area. By leading the younger girls through the project, she taught them not only about birds, but also the importance of involving the elderly in activities with others. “It was rewarding to lead a project and see how much the residents enjoyed interacting with the Brownies,” said Allison. “Some of the elderly ladies even shared stories about being Girl Scouts when they were young.” Allison is a senior at John Carroll Catholic High School.