National Park and Recreation Month
July is National Park and Recreation Month! Did you know? According to a 2023 engagement report released by the National Recreation and Park Association, more than 280 million people in the United States visited a local park or recreation facility at least once during the past year — and we suspect a lot of those were Girl Scouts!
National, state, and local parks and recreation services are important for us to support as they provide equitable and accessible recreational opportunities and a place for kids to get outdoors. Girl Scouts have a long history of serving the places where they live including litter clean-ups at public parks, wildlife conservation, and the development of pollinator gardens in community spaces. This month, let’s celebrate our shared love of the outdoors while advocating for a greener future for all.
Girl Scout volunteers help introduce girls to new experiences that show them they’re capable of leading positive change. Girl Scouts has a mission to provide outdoor access and education, whether at one of our camp properties or another community space. In fact, eight in ten girls say Girl Scouting has taught them to care for the environment and has allowed them to do outdoor activities they have never done before. These opportunities open doors to new outdoor experiences and help girls move out of their comfort zone!
GSCCC offers several Explore patch programs that include suggested activities for girls to engage with state and national park monuments. Check out the Explore the Outer Banks patch that recommends visits to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills or the Fort Raleigh Monument in Manteo. You can also work on the Explore Hampton patch which includes learning about Fort Monroe, a national monument. All are operated by the National Parks Services and all include Junior Park Ranger programs!
Did you know that fourth grade students can get a free annual pass to visit more than 2,000 federal recreation areas with their families, classmates, and friends? That’s right! The Every Kid Outdoors Program is an interagency collaboration between the Department of the Interior, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Forest Service that provides fourth graders with free access to explore, learn, and recreate in spectacular settings, including national parks, wildlife refuges, marine sanctuaries, and forests.
Girl Scouts may work on and receive the Girl Scout Junior Ranger Patch. Learn more at nps.gov.
Every national park has its own local Junior Ranger patch, too! How many can you earn?
