How Two Tweens Sitting Poolside In Los Angeles On Sunday Set Out To Save A Farm By Thursday

I know it sounds slightly sketchy, but I assure you it's true. I slid over to a friend's place Sunday afternoon and hit the condo complex pool, it was a nice sunny warm day in Los Angeles one where if you aren't at the pool or beach you kind of feel like you should be shipped off to a landlocked location for not taking advantage of the perks of LA. So there I was doing my duty.

And while you generally (and rightfully so) expect a few very impressive sets of well-done breast augmentations, and a lot of kids screaming "Marco Polo" poolside, what I saw, well, isn't something I expected, especially from two tween girls.

There they were two BFF's poolside in bikinis with about eleven sheets of huge poster board spread out on the concrete armed with big red and black magic markers and a whole lotta "PR plans"

They had already knocked out a few posters with large garage sale like scribbles -- and me being me, who doesn't like to miss out on a good garage sale or any potential deals and steals in the hood ... I tried reading the signs. I saw the words "protest" and "farm" and "animals". I didn't really get it, so I kind of ignored them and went down for a lil nap.

Well, I'm an eavesdropper, and probably the worst kind, because I can keep track of three separate conversations at once while also talking and making a meal. Sad, I agree, but that's what working in broadcast news will do to you! As I listen in, I hear things like "yeah and we can have mister so and so read out an announcement in class" and "we should put two posters by the cafeteria" ... and "do you think everyone will be able to see them? I hope people come."

Soon enough I got my two friends Ian and Jimmy engaged, and I urged them to ask the girls what was up with the posters and what they were working on -- so they went in for the scoop. And remembering the days of being 12 and boy crazy poolside, I thought I'd at the least give them something to talk about at school Monday with the other girls!

For two super motivated protester future PR mavens of America they were a bit shy. It took some dragging to get it out of them.

Finally we got the 411. It appears some concerned citizen wrote one letter to their school, accusing them of abusing the animals on this very cute petite sounding farm in a small area on campus and these girls are spearheading a full protest at school on Thursday doing all of this on their very own time, with their very limited materials. We still didn't get why the drastic move to shut down the farm.

There we were, a marketing guy, a publicist and a super killer street marketing guru named Jimmy, so of course we pushed further for more information on our newest "client"

Us: So why do they want to close down the farm?

Girls: Because they say were abusing the animals.

Us: Well how are you abusing them?

Girls: NO

Us: Well, who wrote this letter?

Girls (In unison) "we don't know"

Us: Well have you asked your teacher who wrote the letter?

Girls: No

Moving into alternative reasons for closure ...

Us: Well, who takes care of the animals and farm?

Girls: We do, all the students and one teacher

Okay maybe it's cost issues ...

Us: Who feeds the animals?

Girls: We do, and one teacher is in charge of overseeing all of it.

Us: Who pays for it?

Girls: I think the teacher

Hmm ... Sounds like you guys are getting the short end of the stick.

Us: So why do you even care so much about this farm?

Girls: It's a place we gather and we can be with nature and take care of the animals that need us and it's a nice place to go to at school.

Well what school do you go to anyway?

Girls; Paul Revere Middle School (Pacific Palisades)

Okay just for the record, kind of a sexy middle school with a high demographic, aka they got cash.

Us: When is your protest?

Girls: Thursday

Suddenly the marketing guy, the publicist and the street marketing guy dive in with our super experienced, amazing suggestions as to how they could kick their campaign up a notch and make all of our brilliant ideas happen before their Thursday deadline.

From "Hey you should Xerox those small posters and hand them out to parents who drop off their kids at school. I bet you will get some support." To "Blast that to local businesses and call the newspaper!" and "You should see what famous alumni graduated and get them involved" Yep get those celebrity grads involved, a little coverage on Extra or Access, and BAM! The farm is now not only saved but suddenly it's an acre with horses too!

They could really care less about our million dollar campaign ideas or our thirty years combined marketing and pr experience. These girls were going old school, and for that I am not only impressed, but also deeply inspired and grateful. In this generation of new media and email and online everything they have chosen to go grass roots and have faith in their cause. The fact alone that they took the time at this young age to connect deeply with something and are so motivated to create a plan and execute it. Great job, mom and dad.

Watching them also reminded me of myself, when I decided to start my own summer camp because I was bored one summer.

I truthfully don't know enough about their cause and all of the details, regardless; I'm just really pleased. I have new instilled hope in the Y or Z generation or whatever we are labeling them these days. If these two young girls are any indication of what's to come, good for us. We have some future activists, compassionate souls and eco conscious youth paving their way.

They even had a "hotline" to call for info listed on the posters, which I didn't grab, but I sure wish I did.

They have my full support. Save the animal farm at Paul Revere School!

Follow Stacie Krajchir on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thebungalowpr