Patch: Get With The Land

AGE LEVEL: All ages.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Linking Girls to the Land (LGTTL) is an interagency partnership between Girl Scouts of the USA's Elliott Wildlife Values Project and federal natural resource conservation agencies, initiatives and partner organizations.

PURPOSE:

• To give natural resource agency professionals and Girl Scout girls and adults a reason to become more familiar with federal natural resource agencies, so that both groups understand the benefit of working collaboratively.
• To encourage girl-to-girl, leader-to-leader, and girl-to-leader discussion about the initiative by having a visible award recognizing the LGTTL partnership.
• To encourage leaders and girls to go to environmental experts when they have questions while earning environmental Badges, Try-Its, Interest Project Patches, or STUDIO 2B charms.
• To show girls a way to focus their earned awards when working toward the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.

ACTIVITIES: To earn this patch, girls will:

1. Learn about the Linking Girls to the Land partnership and the federal natural resource agencies that are involved by using the LGTTL Resource Guide, website, video, and other resources. At least one copy of the resource guide and video were sent to all Girl Scout councils. Girl Scouts and leaders can contact their local service center for help in borrowing or printing a resource guide. The resource guide is also available on Linking Girls to the Land.
2. Work side by side with a federal* natural resource agency professional in a joint volunteer conservation service, research, or other collaborative project. The names of agencies and contacts are listed in the resource guide and on the LGTTL website. Girl Scouts are encouraged to make contact with the agencies through their council. Some of the volunteer service opportunities available through the federal natural resource agencies are Take Pride in America, National Public Lands Day, National Public Trails Day, International Migratory Bird Day, National Wildlife Week, and World Water Monitoring Day. Note: It is not required to have council involvement to participate in these service opportunities.
3. In collaboration with one or more federal* natural resource agencies, complete one Girl Scout Earned Age-Level Award related to the environment, outdoors, or science or fulfill at least two requirements from each of three Girl Scout Earned Age-Level Awards related to the environment, outdoors, or science. For suggested awards, see the section of the resource guide called “How the Girl Scout Program ‘Links’ Girls to the Land” or the LGTTL's Girl Scout Program Links section.

   OR

   Learn about Linking Girls to the Land national programs and opportunities such as the Linking Girls to the Land Council Grant Projects, Water Drop Patch Project, Aquarius Project, or a National Conservation Event. Participate in at least one.

   OR

   Interview someone who works for a federal natural resource agency. Ask how s/he became interested in working there and how you might be able to develop a career in this field or with that agency. If possible, try to shadow this person for a few hours or even a day. Share what you have learned.

   OR

   Participate in a science, outdoors, or environmentally related STUDIO 2B destination or use STUDIO 2B materials on the website, www.studio2b.org and in print (Focus Books, Collections, etc.) that are related to the environment, outdoors, or science.

   OR

   Improve your skills in outdoor recreation and environmental protection by demonstrating Leave No Trace ethics, or teaching others the Tread Lightly Pledge.

FULL PATCH PROGRAM LOCATION: You can find more information about this patch program at Linking Girls to the Land.

PURCHASE PATCHES: Use the order form found on Linking Girls to the Land to purchase patches via GSUSA.