Project Ideas

Want to make a difference but don’t know where to start?  Community Mapping is a great way to observe your community and determine areas of need for people, other animals, and the environment.  Explore projects created by other Roots & Shoots members here.  You can also check of the list of ideas below!

Projects that Benefit Animals

Create an education & awareness campaign about an animal issue in your community. Examples:

• How to be a responsible pet parent
• Promote TNVR programs for feral cats (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Release)
• Reduce the stigma around “bully” breeds

Create toys, blankets, treats, or snuffle mats for animals living in shelters

Conduct a supply drive for animals living in shelters (ex. food, toys & other items) – check with your local shelter to see what is needed. Even used towels can be useful!

Raise awareness about the exotic animal trade in the local community and educate others about the issues surrounding keeping exotic pets. Examples:

• How the exotic pet trade impacts wild animals (often taken from their native habitats in foreign countries to be sold in the US, sometimes illegally).
• Many wild caught animals are injured in the process, and some do not survive to be sold as pets.
• Exotic animals have different needs than domesticated pets and it is often very costly to properly care for them (specialized habitat requirements including specific heat and humidity needs, expensive and often unappealing dietary needs, and expensive visits by a veterinarian trained to work with exotic animals).
• Many exotic animals can be dangerous when kept as pets (monitor lizards, large or venomous snakes, and parrots such as macaws or other large birds).
• What would happen if exotic pets were let loose in the local community/environment?

Projects that Benefit People

Conduct a food or supply drive for people in need, such as those suffering from food insecurity or homelessness.

Create art therapy boxes for students in foster care or those experiencing homelessness.

Organize a cultural event in your community (art display, poetry reading, etc.) to celebrate your community’s diversity and history.

Set up a community swap box or swap meet to share books, clothes, or other items in your community.

The American Red Cross offers suggestions for youth projects such as blood drives and initiatives to support disaster preparedness/recovery and fire safety.

Projects that Benefit the Environment

Organize a clean-up (beach, park, neighborhood, waterway, forest, shoreline)

Create or restore animal habitats or natural spaces:

• Remove invasive plants
• Build and install homes for birds, bats, or bees
• Plant wildflowers or other native plants
• Plant a pollinator garden
• Start a Monarch Hub (grow & distribute milkweed)
• Plant trees
• Plant seagrasses or mangroves (coastal areas)
• Create oyster reefs (coastal areas)

Encourage waste reduction:

• Conduct a school-wide energy audit and identify ways to save energy
• Conduct a “repair fair” to fix household items/clothing for reuse
• Develop an onsite recycling program for as many waste materials as possible
• Conduct a school-wide waste audit including cafeteria waste
• Use old or discarded paper for notepads or class projects
• Compost excess food and landscape trimmings
• Organize a clothing swap
• Reduce the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) and plastic food service containers at home, school, or restaurants.

Create an education & awareness campaign for your school or neighborhood:

• Reduce single-use plastic
• Reduce pollution
• Reduce pesticide/fertilizer use
• Reduce palm oil use
• Reduce fashion waste

Plant a vegetable garden or hydroponic garden and distribute the harvest to people in need

Organize a celebration around Earth Day, Arbor Day, International Day of Peace

Contact elected officials regarding a specific environmental policy issue, such as support for the Global Plastics Treaty