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What is the Girl Scout Ranger Program?
The National Park Service and Girl Scouts of the United States of America have partnered to create the Girl Scout Ranger Program. Girl Scouts are invited to participate in a variety of existing, organized educational or service projects at national park sites, or design their own experience or project to align with Journey work, badge activities, or a Take Action or Highest Award project.
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The Girl Scout Ranger Program is a partnership connecting Girl Scouts with National Park Service sites across the United States.
How Can You Earn a Certificate and/or Patch?
Girls can participate in the Girl Scout Ranger Program through a troop, event, travel, or camp experience. Upon completion of the program, Girl Scouts will be awarded a certificate and/or patch.
To earn a Girl Scout Ranger certificate, Girl Scouts should participate in organized education activities and/or volunteer service projects for a minimum of five (5) hours at one or more national parks. Once these hours are completed, download the Girl Scout Ranger Certificate of Completion, which is based on the honor system.
To earn a Girl Scout Ranger patch, Girl Scouts should participate in organized educational activities or volunteer service projects for a minimum of ten (10) hours at one or more national parks. Examples of qualifying organized educational programs include the following:
- Ranger-guided interpretive tours
- Junior Ranger programs
- Environmental education programs
- Any other official NPS education program (campfire program, ranger-led hike, etc.)
To request that a certificate and/or patch be mailed, please complete the Girl Scout Ranger Ranger activity tracking sheet and e-mail it to the last park where you completed your hours and include your mailing address. If you are having trouble receiving your certificate and/or patch, you can email the document with your mailing address to us at npsyouth@nps.gov, and we will do what we can to help you.
If you are a Gold Award Girl Scout, you may be eligible for a Girl Scout Gold Award certificate, which needs to be requested via email to goldaward@girlscout.org. A special patch commemorating the 19th Amendment centennial was offered through March 31, 2021, and there are still some patches left. Learn more about the Girl Scout Ranger 19th Amendment Program.
Visit https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm. Choose a national park, monument, or any of the 423 sites protected by the National Park Service. Explore nature, learn the history, and read the stories to discover why it is important to preserve your park.
Brainstorm activities that you might want to experience at a national park. Consider working outside with a geologist or inside identifying fossils. Maybe wildfire restoration, building a bridge, or a night sky project interests you.
Call the park (the phone number is on the park's website under Contact Us). Identify yourself as a Girl Scout. Ask if there is someone who works with the Girl Scout Ranger program or a volunteer coordinator. Express your ideas to the coordinator. Together, plan a project to help the park and fulfill your goals.
If your park does not have a volunteer program or is too far away to visit, create a Take Action Project. Once all the logistics are set up, go and have fun with the Girl Scout Ranger Program! Feel free to keep track of your participation in the program by using the downloadable Girl Scout Ranger Activity Log! Once completed, print your certificate.
Share your best shots on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter using #GSOutdoors and #NPSYouth (don't forget to tag us @NPSYouth and @GirlScouts). You can be part of the largest Girl Scout photo collage in the world!
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Are you a Girl Scout Adult leader?
Find out what you need to get started in our nation's public lands! Check out the Girl Scout Adult Leader Corner.
Learn More
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Girl Scout Ranger Opportunities
Find a park offering Girl Scout Ranger for your opportunity to participate in a variety of organized educational or service projects.
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Girl Scouts Certificate
Girl Scouts join in or design projects that align with Journey work, badge activities, or a Take Action or Highest Award projects.
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Girl Scouts Activity Log Tracker
Keep track of your participation in the program by using the downloadable Girl Scout Ranger Activity Log!
Last updated: November 10, 2022