Hands Across the Border Patch Program

at Peace Arch Park, Blaine, Washington

Event Status: Open
Who: All Girl Scouts!

Note: The 2008 event has been CANCELLED.

On the border between the United States and Canada stands the International Peace Arch. Each year, the International Peace Arch Association sponsors a celebration that includes a flag exchange, speeches, a parade and a peace ceremony.

All Girl Scout troops are invited to participate in the Peace Arch celebration. Many youth and adult organizations, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, participate each year.

Purpose: To make international friends! One of the ways this can is happen is through the exchanging of patches or handmade SWAPS (“Something with a Pin” or “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere”) with their Canadian neighbors. Girls and adults who plan to participate should be prepared to swap 50-100 items (the Trefoil or GSUSA membership pin is not allowed).

Schedule: The celebration includes the parade of participants, 1.5 hours of ceremonies and the "swapping" with the general excitement of talking to, and making friends with the Canadians. Recommended arrival time is 11:30 am.

Who participates: Many groups besides Girl Scout groups participate. All youth organizations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, military, veterans’ organizations and other adult organizations are invited. In excess of 10,000 people have attended the ceremony in the past.

Preparation in advance:

• Prepare troops for participating in large gatherings, especially if this is their first experience. Review Safety-Wise for activity checkpoints. Consider having all members wear something easily identifiable, i.e. hat, scarf or ribbon so that you can spot each other in a crowd. Ask
• your regional office what forms will be required. Collect permission slips and health histories of the girls going on the trip. Troops traveling into Canada will need personal identification.
• Review proper flag etiquette. Everyone should give the same respect to both the American and Canadian flags.
• Practice singing the national anthem.
• Make every effort to have all participants in uniform, including adults.
• Discuss with your girls questions that they would like to ask and what they would like to tell those they meet from across the border.

Day of the event:

• Take a banner and one U.S. flag, if possible.
• Troops/groups must register at the American Kitchen, just east of the Peace Arch.
• Be lined up by 1:00 p.m. (ceremony lasts approximately one hour). However most of the swapping happens before the ceremony so you may want to come early.
• Come prepared to trade patches or SWAPS and buy souvenir pins.
• Take snapshots with the Washington State Patrol and Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
• If you want to park in the lot, get there early, otherwise you will be looking for street parking.
• It is a long day; come prepared with some quiet activities that could be done while traveling, resting, or whenever you need them.
• Daisy and Brownie Girl Scout troops should consider extra adult supervision because of the nature and size of the event. Designate a troop meeting place once you arrive at the park. If a girl gets lost, you will all know where to meet.
• Be prepared to park some distance from the park (even if you ride a bus). All must be prepared to carry their own gear & lunch and to walk up to ½ mile.
• Remember to pick up all litter, garbage and to look around for lost items before leaving the park.

Facilities: Picnic tables and restrooms are available in the park, but no food service is available. Bring lunches, beverages and snacks. The following state park overnight camping facilities are nearby:

Birch Bay, Blaine: 360/371-2800
Larrabee, Bellingham: 360/676-2093
Bay View, Mt. Vernon: 360/757-0227
State Parks Campsite Reservation line: 888/CAMPOUT (226-7688) or online at www.camis.com/wa.

Mileage to Blaine, Washington:
From Kelso – 234 miles
From Olympia – 168 miles
From Aberdeen – 218 miles
From Tacoma – 140 miles

Patches and stickers: Peace Arch patches and segments may be purchased from the GSWW Store.

How to Register

No pre-registration necessary. On the day of the event, plan to register your troop or group at the kitchen registration area. You will be given instructions on where to line up and also receive one trading flag per child.