Rescue Rangers Cohort 1: Celebrating our first class of graduates and their continued impact
Congrats to Rescue Rangers Cohort #1 for completing our inaugural program!
Our very first Rescue Rangers cohort has officially graduated, and we couldn't be more grateful to have had them as our inaugural class. These Rangers and their families took a chance on a brand-new program, and together we learned the ins and outs of cat rescue, cat ownership, and community advocacy. We figured a lot of it out side by side, and we're so proud of where we landed!
To every family in our first cohort: thank you. You helped us build Rescue Rangers from the ground up. When the program wrapped, we asked every Ranger and their grown-up to fill out a completion survey, and your honest feedback on what worked, what didn't, and what you want to see next is already shaping our next cohort. Here's what they told us!
By the numbers
Our Rangers ranged from 8 to 14 years old, and the results were close to unanimous.
4.9 out of 5: the average rating parents gave the program. Ten of 11 gave it a perfect 5.
90% of families want to stay involved through a future Ambassador Program.
95% felt that this program improved their kid’s knowledge of rescue cats and how to help them!
When we asked parents what they valued most, learning about animal care and welfare topped the list, followed closely by exploring future career options.
Rangers who found their voice
The numbers are great, but the stories are what made us tear up a little.
One Ranger stood up in front of a room full of parents, teachers, and his school principal to talk about rescue cats and TNR, then pitched his own idea for a supply drive. His parent summed it up in one word: confidence. Another family noticed their daughter's "realization that she can be a helper." A third said their child now has a "spontaneous desire to get involved."
Final projects that made a real difference
Every Ranger wrapped up the program with a community advocacy project of their own design. We were blown away by how far they took them:
One Ranger presented the benefits of TNR to their neighborhood association.
Another hosted a lemonade stand and donated the proceeds to rescue organizations.
One created a presentation about responsible cat ownership.
Another compiled a set of resources for cat owners in the military.
One presented at a PTO meeting and made posters promoting rescue.
These are kids standing up in front of adults, raising money, and spreading the word about community cats. Omaha's cats are lucky to have them!
Already taking action
Our Rangers aren't waiting around. When we asked how they'll keep helping Omaha's cats, they told us:
One Ranger is running a donation drive with the Gretna library this November.
Another is planning lemonade stands for donations and wants to build a winter shelter in their neighborhood.
Others plan to set out food and water, join local supply drives, donate supplies, and spread the word.
The vet visit stole the show
If there was one clear favorite, it was our trip behind the scenes at The Completely Cat Clinic. Kids learned how to listen to a cat's heartbeat, watched a teeth cleaning, and saw what really goes into caring for rescue cats. One parent called it "very eye-opening," and it came up again and again as a highlight.
Cat facts our Rangers can't stop sharing:
We asked kids for the coolest thing they learned, and they did not disappoint:
A tipped (or "snipped") ear means a community cat has been spayed or neutered.
30 to 80 million cats live outdoors in the U.S.
Trap-Neuter-Return helps feral cats live healthier lives.
How fast a cat's heart beats!
One parent told us their daughter came home so full of new facts that she was proud to show them off to her older brother. That's exactly the ripple effect we hoped for. In their own words, our families shared that:
"We are dog people so this has been amazing for the whole fam!"
"It was great having something impactful for him to do that was affordable for us as a family."
"Everything was phenomenal."
"It was so great, we are thankful for Rescue Rangers and looking forward to (hopefully) joining as ambassadors."
What's next: Rescue Rangers Ambassadors
Our Rangers aren't ready to hang up their badges, and we don't want them to. Families told us they'd like to stay involved, so we're building a Rescue Rangers Ambassador Program for graduates!
Families are most excited about helping at community events, staffing Felius booths, and pitching in on behind-the-scenes projects like supply drives and care packages. A few also want to mentor future Rangers. One creative parent even suggested Ambassadors could make cat toys or draw cute portraits of people's pets at events to raise money. We love it.
We are so grateful to the kids and families that were part of our very first cohort! We feel like we got just as much out of this program as they did!
Want your kid to become a Rescue Ranger? Follow Felius on social media so you're the first to know when the next cohort opens or keep an eye on felius.org/rescuerangers or follow us at @FeliusOmaha for updates.
