Have you heard about Butte Humane Society’s Humane Heroes? In recent years Butte Humane Society (BHS) has been looking into providing kids with volunteer opportunities, but with liability issues and a lack of space, nothing seemed plausible. Fortunately, a very generous donor recently gifted BHS use of a store in the North Valley Plaza, and from that was born the Butte Humane Society’s Education Center.
With the acquisition of the Education Center, BHS has been able to implement a number of educational programs including adult education seminars and school education workshops. But what has BHS and parents in the community really excited, is the creation of Humane Heroes.
Humane Heroes is an animal advocacy youth group that meets once a month to learn about animal related issues and to take action on addressing those issues in fun and educational ways. Topics range from overpopulation to disaster planning to animal behaviors and more. You may have seen them around town proudly displaying their red superhero capes spreading knowledge about animal welfare…or just jumping around on the bounce houses at Bidwell Bark. Hey, their mission may be serious but they sure know how to have fun.
“Our Heroes are great,” says Honey Souza, BHS’s Humane Education Coordinator. “I look forward to our monthly meetings because their passion for helping the animals is so inspiring. And when they help out at events like Thursday Night Market and mobile adoptions it makes me proud. Is it ok to be proud of other people’s children? Well I am.”
Humane education is crucial during childhood and the Heroes get a healthy dose of it. Humane Heroes is designed to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. As a result, children develop desirable characteristics such as empathy, respect, philanthropy, responsibility, good citizenship, and the list goes on.
“This is a great time to join, what with schools requiring more and more community service hours,” Souza continues. “We’ve had several join for the hours and come back because they have a great time and they really feel like they are making a difference. And the truth is that they really are.”
BHS does not charge membership and is looking to take in new Heroes. If you would like your 6-12 year old to be a Humane Hero check out the Outreach tab at www.buttehumane.org or contact Honey Souza at honeysouza@buttehumane.org or 530-343-7917 x 109. If your child is 13 or older, please call to see what other opportunities are available to help the BHS and the homeless pets they care for.
