The Linking Girls to the Land initiative encourages Girl Scouts and federal and state natural resource agencies to become involved in conservation and natural resource issues and careers on a national and local level. Girl Scout councils and agencies develop projects that generally fall into three areas: 

• environmental education;

• outdoor skills development; and

• volunteer service.

Unfortunately, it is not possible for all Linking Girls to the Land projects to be funded through the Linking Girls to the Land Council Grant fund.  We encourage Girl Scout councils and natural resource agencies to develop partnerships and projects that meet the needs of all parties involved and seek creative ways of making the projects sustainable.

Project ideas can be simple or elaborate.  Girl Scout councils and professionals from federal and state agencies may work together to: 

• hold an event at a historic site exploring archaeological digs.

• build an accessible walking trail.

• count migratory birds or survey plant communities.

• conduct a low-impact camping workshop for girls.

• co-sponsor a National Public Lands Day event.

• offer wildlife research opportunities for girls, such as catching, identifying and tagging fish.

• involve girls as interpreters at an education center in a natural area.

• run a day camp where girls can make bird and bat boxes or create brush piles.

• co-host a career day with hands-on activities. or

• participate in a soil erosion control project, such as replanting a stream bank.

Linking Girls to the Land successful projects:

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Adopt-A-Burro:   At Camp Wildwood's equestrian center, the Heart of Florida Girl Scouts Council adopted five wild horses and two wild burros from the Bureau of Land Management's Adopt-A-Horse-or-Burro Program. Girl Scouts assisted with their care and training. The burros have become an important part of a living history project. Partners involved: Bureau of Land Management.   

Water Drop Patch Project: They sloshed through Camp Shantituck's two creeks scooping up samples of water. With help from microbiologist Tina Montgomery from the University of Louisville, they diligently tested for nitrates, coliform, dissolved oxygen and pH levels and monitored macroinvertebrate life. Within a week, the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana Council's (Louisville, KY.) environmental day camp knew exactly what type of pollutants sullied through their waterways. Then, using topographical maps, they discovered where it might be coming from: farms and water sewage treatment plants upstream. With the help of Senior Girl Scouts, Brownie, Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts earned the Blind Creek Park Sea Turtle Habitat Restoration Project involves approximately 408.6-acres of coastal barrier island, a biodiversity "hot spot" for a variety of Florida species, including the West Indian Manatee and the Atlantic green turtle. St. Lucie County, with support from the South Florida Water Management District and federal agencies, worked with citizen groups, including local Girl Scouts, to remove non-native plants and revegetate the native dunes. Through this project, the community will learn about the importance of protecting critical habitat and water quality. Click here for information on other ongoing Five-Star projects. Partners involved: Natural Resources Conservation Service , South Florida Water Management District and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Also see:

2003 Council Grant Projects (PDF, 790KB, 6 pages)

2004 Council Grant Projects (PDF, 260KB, 6 pages)

2005 Council Grant Projects (PDF, 108KB, 5 pages)

2006 Council Grant Projects (PDF, 102KB, 4 pages)

We encourage Girl Scout councils and federal natural resource agencies interested in learning more about how to start or replicate successful Linking Girls to the Land projects to contact the Girl Scout councils directly and speak with the Project Coordinator. Council contact information can be found at www.girlscouts.org/councilfinder . Feel free to also contact Jodi Stewart at Girl Scouts of the USA at linkinggirls@girlscouts.org or 1-800-223-0624 x8076. 

The "Girl Scouts" name, mark and all associated trademarks and logotypes, including the "Trefoil Design," are owned by Girl Scouts of the USA. Used under authority of GSUSA.