Partners: Girl Scouts

Linking Girls to the Land Through National Public Lands Day
September 25, 2010

HOW GIRL SCOUTS CAN GET INVOLVED

What can Girl Scouts do on NPLD?
Install bird boxes. Plant trees and flowers. Restore wildlife habitat. Clean up trash. Collect native seeds. Repair stream banks. Clean or build trails. Remove invasive plants. Paint picnic tables. Weed plant nurseries. Take photographs. And much more!

Whether the girls work for two hours or all day long, they-
- Learn to be good stewards of the environment
- Experience the pleasure of serving the community
- Have fun outdoors
- May earn the Get with the Land patch for projects done in collaboration with a federal or state natural resource agency

What materials do girl scouts receive by participating?

Girl Scout troops that register for NPLD by September 9, 2010 will receive FREE NPLD brochures and promotional posters, as well as certificates for each participating Girl Scout. Each registered troop will have their event listed on the NPLD website. Note that it is required to register in order to receive the materials.

How to Plan an NPLD Event

Decide whether you want to --

1. Plan your own event with your troop or

2. Join an NPLD scheduled activity that is already planned by
- Land managers of the federal land agency partners or
- Another Girl Scout troop.

Plan your own event:

Search out a local public land site such as a state, county or city park; a forest preserve, public beach; playground; schoolyard; walking trail; or bike path. You may want to choose a local park or public space where you have noticed that work needs to be done.
Contact the public land manager or other person in charge of that space (i.e. the principal of a school, or a city superintendent for parks) to determine what age-appropriate work activities your troop might perform on NPLD to help improve or enhance that site.
As soon as you have planned a work activity, register your troop for NPLD. Register by September 9, 2010 and you will receive FREE NPLD promotional materials, certificates for your Girl Scouts, and your event will be listed on our website.
Decide what kinds of tools, materials personal protection (i.e. gloves), and clean up items (i.e. plastic trash bags) that you will need.
Determine how to provide water, snacks, lunch, and access to a toilet at the site.
Consider asking a hardware store to donate the materials that you will need, and a restaurant to donate your food and drinks.
On the day of the event, make sure that you follow the safety guidelines in Safety Wise, which you can find on the Girl Scout website or in Girl Scout Shops at councils everywhere.
Consider organizing an environmental education component for your event to teach the Girl Scouts about some natural resource or environmental issue. Download
A Manual for Site Managers for information about environmental education resources. Or check out our Educational Resources Page.
Participate in NPLD 2010 and have fun!
Take photos and/or have the Girl Scouts take photos to enter into the annual NPLD photo contest. Make sure that each participant fills out the
Photo Release Form.
When you have finished your NPLD event, complete and submit an evaluation form. Help us to share how Girl Scouts were "Linked to the Land" through NPLD!

OR--

--Join an NPLD Scheduled Activity:

Click on the Interactive Site Map to find NPLD events organized by land managers. Click on your state and find a list of the events that are already organized and registered in your area.
Or Click on the Girl Scout Work Sites to find NPLD events with other Girl Scout troops. (This site currently lists 2009 Girl Scout events.)
Call the contact person. Be sure to find out if you need to provide your own tools, materials, food and drinks, and if the planned activities are age-appropriate for your Girl Scouts.
When you have decided to join one of the scheduled events, register for NPLD. Register by September 9, 2010 and you will receive FREE NPLD promotional materials, certificates for your Girl Scouts, and your event will be listed on our website.
On the day of the event, make sure that you follow the safety guidelines in Safety Wise, which you can find on the Girl Scout website or in Girl Scout Shops at councils everywhere.
Consider organizing an environmental education component for your event to teach the Girl Scouts about some natural resource or environmental issue. Download
A Manual for Site Managers for information about environmental education resources. Or check out our Educational Resources Page for information about activities and initiatives related to water, tree planting, and invasive species removal.
Participate in NPLD 2010 and have fun!
Take photos and have the Girl Scouts take photos to enter into the annual NPLD photo contest. Make sure that each participant fills out the
Photo Release Form.
When you have finished your NPLD event, complete and submit an evaluation form. Help us to share how Girl Scouts were "Linked to the Land" through NPLD!