When Julianne Arthur, a junior at Aubrey Rogers High School, set out to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award, she knew she wanted to tackle a problem close to her heart: the lack of mental stimulation for animals in rehabilitation.

“Without enrichment, animals may experience unnecessary stress, anxiety, and slower recovery,” she said. Her project, Enrichment Matters, aimed to give small mammals and shorebirds at her local Conservancy engaging activities that would improve their well-being and readiness for release back into the wild.

Identifying the Challenge

Julianne began by researching animal enrichment and how it could help. She explained, “I researched different types of activities and materials that are safe for the animals, and what needs have to be met for each animal.”

Through emails, calls, and meetings with staff at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, she discovered that rehabilitation centers often struggle to provide enough enrichment due to time and resource constraints.

“The root cause of my issue is that animals in rehabilitation require an adequate amount of enrichment activities to engage and stimulate them,” she noted.

Designing and Building Solutions

Informed by her research, Julianne got to work on practical solutions. She designed three firehose hammocks for small mammals. She also designed and built four floating PVC platforms for shorebirds and turtles.

“I was brainstorming what possible devices would help small mammals and shorebirds at the Conservancy,” she explained. Using materials donated by the Conservancy and local businesses, she assembled and tested each device, carefully considering safety and durability.

Julianne led a small team of volunteers, teaching them to cut, assemble, and secure the PVC platforms. Her leadership extended to planning, time management, and problem-solving throughout the project.

Engaging the Community

Julianne’s impact didn’t stop with building enrichment devices.

She brought her Gold Award to the public, setting up tables at the Paradise Sports Complex Fall Festival and the Collier County Museum Family Day. Visitors were able to see the enrichment devices in action and learn about animal welfare.

“Many people I spoke to didn’t really know what animal enrichment was, so this helped raise awareness about animal welfare and wildlife rehabilitation,” she said.

She also created an informational flyer explaining the concept of animal enrichment and how the Gold Award project supports it, ensuring the project’s sustainability beyond her involvement. “The flyer will continue to educate Conservancy visitors and volunteers,” Julianne said.

Lasting Impact

Animals at the Conservancy are now using the firehose hammocks and floating PVC platforms daily, reducing stress and improving mental stimulation. Volunteers and community members learned how to create their own enrichment activities, amplifying Julianne’s impact.

“Overall, I achieved my goal of increasing enrichment opportunities for rehabilitating animals and educating my community about the importance of animal enrichment and how to make these devices themselves,” she reflected.

Julianne’s Gold Award project demonstrates the power of research, hands-on problem solving, and community leadership. By combining creativity with compassion, she has left a tangible, lasting mark on both the local Conservancy and the broader conversation about wildlife rehabilitation.