The YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga’s Adventure Princess Program recently partnered with McKamey Animal Shelter’s Paws to Read for an event that delivered all the warm and fuzzy feels to many adoptable animals.
The Adventure Princess Program provides events that help dads and daughters develop healthy relationships, gain a sense of belonging, and learn the importance of giving back to the community through one-on-one interactions, activities with other families, as well as community service projects like the one mentioned above which was held on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019.
“This year, we chose to give our time and resources to the McKamey Animal Shelter,” said Chelsea Schwabe, assistant camp director for YMCA Camp Ocoee and Adventure Guides & Princess program director. For the event, 35 dads and their daughters came out and read to dogs, cats, and rabbits from 2-4 p.m. The service project also raised $500 in supplies for McKamey Animal Shelter.
“During the two hours we spent there, the kids and their dads were able to go around to the different adoptable animals and read to them, giving the animals valuable interaction time,” Ms. Schwabe said.
The McKamey Paws to Read program helps improve volunteer reading skills, while also helping the shelter animals by providing socialization and positive human interaction. Cats and dogs find the rhythmic sound of voice very comforting and soothing. They also learn the important skill of sitting calmly with a person.
“This is the first time that our groups are coming together as a collective unit to support another non-profit organization,” said Ms. Schwabe.
The Adventure Princess Program gives back to the community in many different ways each year by packing snack packs with East Brainerd Church of Christ; adopting families during the Christmas season; and providing gifts for the holiday season.
The Adventure Program is comprised of Adventure Guides (boys and their dads) and Adventure Princesses (girls and their dads) to provide opportunities to deepen relationships, develop new skills and connect with the community. For more information about the program, contact Chelsea Schwabe at cschwabe@ymcachattanooga.org.