Scout Troop Projects
If your scout group is looking for ideas on how to support the shelter, please visit our How Kids Can Help page or print the PDF version here.
Humane Hero Award
Be sure to pick up a Humane Hero Award to commemorate any achievement you or your community group has accomplished to support the Fairfax County Animal Shelter. Just ask the front desk staff at either campus.
Visiting the Shelter
If your Scout Group would like to visit the shelter when dropping off donations and picking up a Humane Hero Award, we welcome you to walk through the adoption areas at either campus and see all of our adoptable pets. If you are heading over, be sure to print out an FCAS Activity Book full of activities that can be done while visiting the shelter or at home.
Before visiting our shelters, please review the following guidelines and suggestions to ensure your visit to the animal shelter is safe and enjoyable for both visitors and the animals:
- Consider Visiting the Lorton Campus: It is newer, bigger, brighter and better equipped to handle larger groups. Plus, it has catios! Not sure what a catio is? Go there to find out!
- Plan Your Visit: Schedule visits during less busy times to reduce stress on the animals and staff. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are particularly busy, with many adopters visiting.
- Supervision: Ensure a sufficient number of adult supervisors to maintain a safe ratio of children to adults.
- Animal Safety: Supervise interactions closely; absolutely no fingers in small animals’ or dogs’ cages to prevent bites and scratches.
- Group Size: Due to the smaller size of some rooms, break down large groups into smaller ones. Rotate groups through different areas to ensure everyone gets a chance to see everything without overwhelming the animals.
- Respectful Interaction: Teach children to be gentle and calm around animals. Encourage quiet voices and slow movements to avoid startling the animals.
Reading Tails
Our scout troops love our Reading Tails program and are usually able to incorporate it into one of their animal-themed badges! You can find more information about Reading Tails on our website.
Eagle Scout Projects
If your scout would like to complete an at-home service project to benefit the shelter, please email us at dascommunications@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Donated items can be brought to the customer service counter at any Fairfax County Animal Shelter location during business hours. No appointment is necessary! Be sure to stop by the front desk to get a Humane Hero award (and pencil and tattoo, if available).
Interview Request for Scout Groups
Scout groups often contact us to interview someone about our services and animal welfare topics for their community service or Take Action projects. With at least two weeks' notice, we can arrange a 30-minute session with a member of our outreach program staff! These sessions can be conducted via phone, Zoom or email, and are designed to provide scouts with the information they need for their projects.
Please note, we are unable to accommodate requests for:
- In-person interviews
- Last-minute needs (less than two weeks notice)
- Job shadowing
- Volunteering
- Community service hours
- Serving as advisors on Silver Projects or projects that require regular consult
- Requests from students outside of Fairfax County
If your request falls within the parameters of what we are able to accommodate, complete our request form. Please allow a minimum of 72 business hours for a staff member to respond once the request has been submitted.