News Release

Latino Conservation Week 2020

Local Girl Scouts brainstorming ideas on how to preserve the park. (Photo taken before social distancing guidelines were in place.)

NPS Photo

News Release Date: July 17, 2020

Contact: Karen Weaver, 9565412785 ext. 332

Local Girl Scouts Celebrate Latino Conservation Week

Local Girl Scouts are joining Palo Alto Battlefield NHP to celebrate Latino Conservation Week! This weeklong celebration encourages Latino youth and families to join conservation efforts in their community and local national park.
This year, Girl Scouts can earn a patch for learning about Palo Alto and submitting ideas on how to conserve the park’s history and nature.

To participate, explore the Palo Alto Battlefield website to learn about the battle and U.S.-Mexican War. You can also learn about park wildlife and how Rangers use research to preserve the site. Afterwards, email us your submissions. It can be a drawing or write an idea of ways that you can conserve the park and tell others about this special place.
We’ll post the best ideas on Facebook.

Girl Scouts & Conservation - A Longstanding Tradition

Over the years, over 4,000 Girl Scouts dedicated over 15,000 hours conserving the park’s history and nature.

Brownsville Girl Scouts were involved in preserving Palo Alto even before the park opened its doors to visitors. In 1997, a local newscast featured their work in creating an educational game about the National Park Service. The park gave the games to every elementary school in the Brownsville Independent School District.

In 1998, local Girl Scouts planted seedlings during Rio Reforestation. The project was a joint effort between the park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Over the years, these girls have helped local children learn about the park’s history and nature. One received her Gold Award, the Girl Scout equivalent of an Eagle Scout, for work at the park. Her project involved developing and leading a Junior Birder program. Others received their Silver Award for creating an interactive floor map about the Mexican Cession.

Local Girl Scouts have spent countless hours assembling luminarias for the park's Memorial Illumination event. (Photo taken before social distancing guidelines were in place.)

NPS photo

Community Service

Girl Scouts have volunteered for many park special events. During the 2002 Living History Encampment, they served as park guides for middle school students. In 2004, they greeted visitors at the park’s Grand Opening. In addition, Scouts have volunteered for every Junior Ranger Day.

Their greatest support is for the Memorial Illumination, the park’s marquee event. Since the first Memorial Illumination in 2004, Girl Scouts have made luminarias, filled them with sand and a candle, set them out on the field, helped with lighting, and even dedicated their Sundays for cleanup.