Girl Scouts Love Maryland State Parks!

 

​​Every year, Girl Scouts explore the natural wonders found across our country during the Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend. During the ​weekend of September 9 & 10, 2023, Girl Scouts across Maryland will join their sister scouts to celebrate our shared love for the outdoors in our state parks, along with their troops, friends, and family.

​The Maryland Park Service will be providing camping and program opportunities to work on badges at select parks below. Contact your Girl Scout Council for more information and to register.

 

Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital


Girl Scouts of Central Maryland


Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay



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Girl Scouts Park Events Schedule​

GS Nation's Capital


Astronomy for Scouts

Rocky Gap State Park
Date: September 8, 2023
Time: TBD

Details:
Celebrate the magic of the stars above us with park staff! We'll chat about the stars and the cultural stories behind the constellations that fill our night sky. Nighttime isn't all about the stars though! We'll talk about the creatures that go bump in the night, and animals that make their homes in the darkness. Please note this program will take place at the Amphitheater located off of Pleasant Valley Road- a few minutes drive from Rocky Gap's Campground.

Please contact Ranger Mollie for more details on any available campsites as it is different than the sites offered in previous years. Naturalist staff will be available to help scouts complete badge activities on Saturday, but advance notice is required to set up those programs.​

Contact:
Ranger Mollie Kemp
mollie.kemp@maryland.gov​



Native Plant Volunteer Planting Event

Rosaryville State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: TBD

Details:
Join park staff for a native plant volunteer planting event at Rosaryville State Park. Participants will be installing native trees, shrubs, and flowers. Participants will have the opportunity to make seed bombs that will be dispersed at the park, and some that you can take home with you.

In addition, Ranger Cierra will be available on Saturday to assist scouts with completing activities of their choice from the "Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge". Please coordinate with Ranger Cierra in advanced.

Four Youth Group camping sites have been reserved at Cedarville State Forest (sites DEFG).​

Contact:
Cierra Maszkiewicz
cierra.maszkiewicz@maryland.gov



Pollinator Trivia

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 11 am to 2 pm

Details:
Test your knowledge! Roll the dice to answer a question about pollinators and earn a fun prize to take home for answering correctly. This activity will be located in front of the Sweden Point Discovery Center.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Leave No Trace: Disposing of Waste Properly

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 11 am to 2 pm

Details:
Learn the simple seven principles of Leave No Trace that will help you make responsible decisions to better minimize your impact on the places you love, such as Smallwood State Park, all while maximizing your outdoor experience. The activity provided here will focus on the third principle: Trash Your Trash. Learn how long it takes for different types of trash to decompose in the environment, why it is important to dispose of trash properly, and ways you can reduce trash during your park experience at Smallwood and elsewhere. This activity will be located in front of the Sweden Point Discovery Center.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Coloring Station and Self-Guided Activity Pick-Up

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 11 am to 2 pm

Details:
Do you like to get artsy? Do you like to take your own adventures? We have just the things for you! Stop by the Coloring Station and Self-Guided Activity Pick-Up Table to color in a fun-nature based picture of your choosing. While you’re at it, pick up some fun self-guided activities that you can complete on your own or with another Girl Scout around Smallwood State Park! This activity will be located in front of the Sweden Point Discovery Center.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Smallwood SWAP Station

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
11 am to 2 pm

Details:
Take part in a beloved Girl Scout tradition and create a token of friendship- commemorate your visit to Smallwood State Park by making a SWAP! There will be three exciting Smallwood-themed SWAP options for you to choose from. This activity will be located in front of the Sweden Point Discovery Center.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Campfire Story Time

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 4:30 pm to 6 pm

Details:
Meet at the amphitheater across the footbridge at 4:30p.m. to join a park ranger for campfire s’mores and stories! Three children’s books will be read during the duration of this event.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Reptile Feeding in the Discovery Center

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 1 pm

Details:
Join our Ambassador Animals for lunch in the Sweden Point Discovery Center at 1p.m. to observe their different eating behaviors and learn about the reptiles of southern Maryland.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Explore the Mattawoman Creek in the Discovery Center

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 11 am to 2 pm

Details:
Are you a Girl Scout curious about the world around you? The Sweden Point Discovery Center at Smallwood State Park will be open from 11a.m. to 2p.m. Explore the Mattawoman Creek in the air, the forest, the past, and the water; step inside and enjoy exhibits that teach you about local birds, mammals, fossils, and fish. Say hello to our 6 Animal Ambassadors and learn more about local reptiles. Ignite your imagination in the Book Nook/Play Area and learn about the cultural history of the Mattawoman Creek.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Over the Creek and Through the Woods: Ranger-Guided Hike

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 2:30 pm

Details:
Join an enthusiastic park ranger for a scenic and historical guided hike along the Generals Walk Trail! Smallwood State Park rests right along Mattawoman Creek. Known for its beauty and high biodiversity, the creek’s name derives from the Algonquian compound word Mataughquamend, “where one goes pleasantly.” Highlights include walking over Mattawoman Creek on our footbridge, exploring the hardwood forests and wetlands of the park, encountering General William Smallwood’s retreat home, and venturing through the colonial tobacco barn!

The meeting location will be the Discovery Center. The hike will begin at 2:30pm. Difficulty is moderate; there are a few steep hills and the distance is 2.35 miles. Please dress appropriately for the weather with sturdy shoes and bring your own water. The hike will occur in rain or shine. Bathrooms are available at the beginning, middle, and end of the hike. Leashed pets are welcome.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Additional Smallwood Activities

Smallwood State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: Sunrise to Sunset

Details:
Smallwood State Park is located along the Mattawoman Creek, which leads into the Potomac River. The creek is beautiful and teeming with wildlife, including over 55 species of fish and several species of birds including ospreys, geese, ducks, and bald eagles. If you have kayaks and fishing poles, we recommend bringing them to Smallwood State Park! We have a kayak launch available for use, and plenty of prime fishing spots to choose from along our piers. Need fishing supplies throughout the day? Don’t worry! We have a concessions store that sells fishing supplies, such as bait and lures, to help you continue your fishing adventure.

Contact:
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov



Invasive Weed Pull

Cunningham Falls State Park
Date: September 10, 2023
Time: 9 am to 11 am

Details:
Meet at Park Nature Center in South Beach Area of William Houck: 14274 William Houck Dr. Thurmont, MD 21788. RSVP required to justin.calhoun@maryland.gov. Become a weed warrior and pull invasive plants to allow natives to take their place. Dress for the weather — wear long pants, sleeves, work gloves, and work boots. Bring any snack/drink you may need. We will bring extra tools and work gloves you can borrow, but if you have your own, bring them. Shine only.

Contact:
Justin Calhoun
justin.calhoun@maryland.gov
RSVP required so we know how many tools to bring and if it is cancelled due to weather.



Leave No Trace

Seneca Creek State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 1 pm to 3 pm

Details:
Join us and learn how to Leave No Trace while enjoying the outdoors. Leave No Trace principles help us make conscious decisions about our actions and foster respect for our natural world. Engage with our Trash Timeline activity to see just how long it takes for common pieces of litter found in the park to decompose, then have the opportunity to complete a service project by collecting litter from around the playground, picnic areas, and trails. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Meet at the Nature Shack by the Recycled Tire Playground.

Contact:
Dylan Wagner
dylan.wagner@maryland.gov



Monarch Migration Survival Game

Seneca Creek State Park
Date: September 10, 2023
Time: 2 pm

Details:
Migration is a risky journey! Monarch butterflies are beginning their migration to Mexico for the winter. Play our game and see if you have what it takes to complete a successful migration all the way to Mexico, or if you succumb to one of the many hazards along the way. Meet at the Recycled Tire Playground

Contact:
Dylan Wagner
dylan.wagner@maryland.gov


Girl Scouts Park Events Schedule

GS Central Maryland

Nature Hike

North Point State Park
Date: September 10, 2023
Time: 10 am and 3 pm

Details:
Come to North Point State Park! Learn about it's origins as a popular amusement park, explore the forest with a short hike to the powerhouse (which fueled the Baltimore Trolley) and practice mindfulness in nature.

Sign up here:https://forms.gle/jPP6MugK27tfNg1E9.


Nature Hike

North Point State Park
Date: September 10, 2023
Time: 10 am and 3 pm

Details:
Come to North Point State Park! Learn about it's origins as a popular amusement park, explore the forest with a short hike to the powerhouse (which fueled the Baltimore Trolley) and practice mindfulness in nature.

Sign up here:https://forms.gle/jPP6MugK27tfNg1E9.


Nature Hike

North Point State Park
Date: September 11, 2023
Time: 10 am and 3 pm

Details:
Come to North Point State Park! Learn about it's origins as a popular amusement park, explore the forest with a short hike to the powerhouse (which fu​eled the Baltimore Trolley) and practice mindfulness in nature.

Sign up here:https://forms.gle/jPP6MugK27tfNg1E9.


Intro to Knots

Patapsco Valley State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: Noon and 1 pm

Details:
It’s knot too late to learn something new this summer! Have you been tied up with vacations and parties? This is your chance to rope your family into a fun and educational activity! Learn about knots that are useful both for camping and at home. No experience required, Sign up encouraged. Groups larger than 5 must sign up in advance. Rain or shine.

Sign Up Here

Contact:
Sam Voso
Sam.Voso@maryland.gov


Owl Prowl

Patapsco Valley State Park
Date: September 9, 2023
Time: 8 pm to 9 pm

Details:
Follow a naturalist on a 0.3 mile hike on the Medicine Tree Trail and listen for and try to call out to owls! We will discuss the biology, habitat, diet, and conservation of Maryland owls. Suitable for families and individual adult patrons alike. Come ready to walk! Bring a flashlight and wear shoes appropriate for hiking on variable terrain. Clear skies only- program canceled in case of rain. Sign up required in advance, spots for 20 total participants.

Sign Up Here

Contact:
Lindsay Mann
Lindsay.Mann@maryland.gov


Goodbye Summer Hike

Patapsco Valley State Park
Date: September 10, 2023
Time: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

Details:
Come join us at our Mckeldin area for a fall colors hike. We will be enjoying the colors of fall as the leaves change and a colder breeze starts blowing in! Scouts will do parts of the Trees Badge as they learn how to identify trees and the science behind why they change colors. We will be taking the Tall Poplar trail and will meet by the Basketball court. Sign up encouraged. Groups larger than 5 must sign up in advance.

Sign Up Here

Contact:
Lee Fryberger
Julee.Fryberger@maryland.gov




Girl Scouts Park Events Schedule​​

GS Chesapeake Bay

Climate Change, Emergencies and Weather, Oh My!

Elk Neck State Park
Date: TBD, Nature Center hours 1-4 p.m.
Time: 1 - 4 pm

Details:
This week's Nature Center theme is weather. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about climate change, emergency preparedness, and weather. They will also have the chance to learn what they can do to actively reduce their ecological impact on the climate crisis.

Contact:
Ranger Shawna Staup
shawna.staup@maryland.gov



Stewardship, Let's Show the Love!

Tuckahoe State Park
Date: TBD
Time: TBD

Details:
Girl Scouts can book overnight camping events through the reservation system and then work with park staff to schedule service projects (litter pick up, tree planting, invasives removal). Other activities such as canoe rentals, aviary tours and free loaner educational tubs are also available.

Contact:
Ranger Erin Gale
erin.gale@maryland.gov



Night Sky Program

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park
Date: Sept. 9, 2023
Time: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm; (time may change based on when Sunset is.)​

Details:
Come explore the Night Sky at our Girl Scouts Love State Park Night Sky Event while completing some of the Girl Scout Love Outdoor Challenge.

Contact:
Ranger Joanna Trojanowski
joannam.trojanowski@maryland.gov
and
​Ranger Michael Fray
michaelg.fray@maryland.gov​



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Explore our website to find a State Park near you that may be a resource for outdoor badges and skill development and for information on our free (must apply for a Youth Group Pass and pay reservation transaction fees) youth group campsites.

Central Maryland Western Maryland Southern Maryland Eastern Maryland

To learn more about Girl Scouts Love State Parks, visit their website.


Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend Events

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If you’re not able to attend an in-person event during the Girl Scouts Love State Parks event weekend, check out these other activities:

  • ​The official Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge - complete the designated number of activities and earn a cool new patch. Use #gsoutdoors to share your story and to see how other girls are completing this fun outdoor challenge.
  • Contact your local state park and ask for service project opportunities to facilitate the Girl Scouts Love State Parks “Stewardship” theme.
  • Watch our Virtual Ranger videos to learn more about Maryland State Parks.

We’re excited to welcome Girls Scouts to State Parks and can’t wait to see you!

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