Girl Scouts Explore the Outdoors During Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend at Jockey’s Ridge and Machicomoco State Parks
Every year, Girl Scouts explore the natural wonders found across the country during the annual Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend. During this time, Girl Scouts nationwide, along with their troops, friends, and family, come together to celebrate a shared love of the outdoors! This year marks the fourth celebration of Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend and Girl Scouts of Colonial Coast gathered at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, North Carolina on Saturday, September 10 and Machicomoco State Park in Hayes, Virginia on Saturday, September 17 (rain date from Sunday, September 11) to celebrate.
During daylight hours at Jockey’s Ridge, guests spent time on the sand dunes of the park to see kites fly overhead and to learn about North Carolina’s coastal wildlife and geography with park rangers. Girl Scouts also enjoyed a canoe adventure on the Roanoke Sound. Throughout the event, girls had the chance to complete activities towards earning their Jockey’s Ridge Jr. Ranger patch. In the evening, guests gathered to watch the sunset from the tallest dune in the Outer Banks. Following, they enjoyed s’mores, ghost stories, and a special program by the fire with Jockey’s Ridge park ranger Austin Paul. A very limited number of Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors stayed for an overnight camp out, which was a special treat as Jockey’s Ridge does not offer overnight camping to the general public!
At Machicomoco State Park, Girl Scouts and their families were invited to participate in activity stations with park rangers which included learning soil identification techniques, learning about and helping to construct a Native American dugout canoe, observing wildlife from the boardwalk, bird watching, touring the historic house on the property and creating a mural.
The legacy of Girl Scouts and the outdoors is profound. Studies show that 71 percent of girl members ages 8–14 tried their first outdoor activity through the organization, and half would not have had access to outdoor activities and programming if not for Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts’ environmental conservation, camping, and STEM programming is rooted in a passion for adventure and healthy risk-taking. By taking action to protect the environment, Girl Scouts make change for present and future generations!
