This summer, I joined Pima County’s Jr. Lifeguard program. The program lasts four weeks. We’re in week three, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot.

 During the summer, I had the opportunity to interview educator and storyteller Mike Lindsey, or “Writingbear,” his name used for storytelling, prayer and ceremony. He will be sharing a story at the Tucson Humanities Festival this year. He has lived in many places and shares stories to various audiences.

 There are many ways you can help an animal, but did you know it could be as easy as shopping? I interviewed Steve Farley, CEO of the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, about the grand opening of the HSSA Thrift Store.

 Jane Camp is a retired teacher and the founder of Reading2paws. She goes to schools and gives kids free books and stuffed animals. Students read aloud to their stuffed animal every day.

Camp says, “Books were special to me and I loved to read. When I retired, I wanted to do something for kids. I volunteered and found out that many kids had no books at home. I started my charity. Some people gave me books to give out, others purchased books for me and some donated money to help.”

 Tucson Business Owners, Inc. is collecting school supplies until Aug.15 along with Treasures 4 Teachers of Tucson. The mission of Treasures 4 Teachers is to provide educators with free or low-cost learning materials.

 I love LEGO! LEGO is an art form to me. With your imagination, you can build whatever you want. It helps me grow and use my brain to think. I also like to draw out my ideas and then build them.

I have a lot of LEGO bricks and sets and my most recent build was the LEGO® Nintendo Entertainment Center. My mom and I went to the LEGO store at the mall and bought it. The set cost over $200. It came in a huge box with lots of different bags inside that were numbered and two big booklets.

 My brother Max and I interviewed Donna DeConcini, who co-founded and currently directs the Southern Arizona Animal Food Bank. It all started when her daughter, Margaux, worked in a feed store and a lot of people came in to see her and find out if they had any food to give away because they couldn’t afford food to feed their pets. The mother and daughter team decided that they should make an organization to help people get free food for their pets.

 Every year in April is Global Youth Services Day. This is a weekend where kids all over the world are encouraged to do something good for their communities. It doesn’t matter where you live, it is important to be kind and make the world a better place.

 Recently Young Reporters had the chance to meet Arizona artist Joe Pagac. One of Pagac’s notable artworks is the Whale Mural in central Tucson. Pagac has also painted libraries, building walls, and even Instagram worthy backgrounds that you can pose with! At Kirk-Bear Canyon Library, Pagac painted a mural around the building, and changed styles. Part of it is realistic, and part is painted like how a child would.

 Imagine taking your dog to the Desert Botanical Garden. I got to take mine because of a special event at the Desert Botanical Garden.

Susan Rubin is the special event coordinator for Desert Botanical Garden. The Desert Botanical was founded by Gustov Stark and a woman named Gertrude. According to Rubin, there are many botanical gardens all over the world. Some states include: Hawaii, Georgia, New York and there are even ones in Tucson and Globe, here in Arizona.