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 14 & 15, 2024, 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.
Download Your Free Passport Activity Sheet
and start working on creating a clean environment for all!
Girl Scouts Park Events Schedule
GS Nation's Capital
| Park Name | Date/Time | Event | Contact |
|---|
| Cedarville State Forest | September 14
| 1: We are offering our brand new Cedarville State Forest Activity Booklet, which can be completed at your own pace. Once completed, guests will recieve a CSF sticker. 2: Creature Corner takes place at the Campground Amphitheater every Saturday from 5-6 pm. 3: Rangers will be able to lead a service project, advanced registration is required. Please email
cierra.maszkiewicz@maryland.gov. |
Cierra Maszkiewicz
cierra.maszkiewicz@maryland.gov |
| Seneca Creek State Park | Sept. 14 & 15
11 am - 4 pm |
Girl Scouts Love State Parks
Join Park Rangers at Seneca Creek State Park for an unforgettable Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend! Dive into an adventure-packed day at the Nature Shack by the Tire Playground, where thrilling games and exciting activities await you. Test your skills with the Monarch Migration Game, uncover hidden wildlife wonders, create unique SWAPs, embark on self-guided hikes and scavenger hunts, and so much more! Want to make a difference? Grab a trash bag and gloves to volunteer for a rewarding self-guided cleanup of our beautiful park trails and picnic areas. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to celebrate nature, have fun, and give back to our community! Meet at the Nature Shack by the Tire Playground. This event is free, but park entrance fees apply. |
Dylan Wagner
dylan.wagner@maryland.gov |
| Smallwood State Park | September 15
10 am - 2pm |
Girl Scouts Love State Parks 2024
Join us at Smallwood State Park for Girl Scouts Love State Parks from 10am to 2pm! We will be hosting numerous activities for you to enjoy where you can learn new things, earn badges, and make long-lasting memories. Please meet at the Pavilion 3 parking lot to join us for these activities in our historic area of the park. There will be directional signage to guide you to the area. Participate in the Think Like a Citizen Science Journey to earn the following badges: Brownies Bug Badge, Juniors Flower Badge, or Cadettes Tree Badge. We are also offering highly interactive activites that will teach you about the environment and pollution and what you can do to keep our planet clean. We are even including fun geology lessons all about rocks in our itinerary. Experience traditional Girl Scout activities in the great outdoors. Discover Girl Scouts of America uniforms through time, explore Girl Scouts of America flags and traditions, and create a Smallwood-themed SWAP. But wait, there's more! Enjoy a nature scavenger hunt while you trek on a mile-long hike at 11:30am. Enjoy parachute games, and consider joining the Friends of Smallwoof State Park for a tour of General William Smallwood's Retreat Home that will be offered for the duration of the event. For your Service Activity, help out Smallwood State Park by painting a mural with your fellow Girl Scouts for our Sweden Point Discovery Center. |
Kristina Soetje
kristina.soetje@maryland.gov |
| Point Lookout State Park | Sept. 14 & 15
9am - 4pm |
Artillery of Point Lookout Living History Program/ Scales & Tales Program
SEPTEMBER 14/15 – Artillery of Point Lookout. (Living History program). This event will represent the artillery and infantry of Point Lookout. Demonstrations and exhibits will be presented by living history interpreters and will include living history, scheduled small arms and artillery demonstrations and tours of historic Fort No. 3. Time: Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Scales & Tales: The park naturalist will be hosting a Scales & Tales program from 9am-3pm Saturday & Sunday. Come visit our table to learn about some of the turtles and reptiles that call Point Lookout their home. There will be an opportunity to meet & greet with our resident Diamback Terrapin (Seamus), activity booklet to complete at your own pace for your very own Point Lookout Sticker. |
Sam Behrens
samuela.behrens@maryland.gov |
Girl Scouts Park Events Schedule
GS Central Maryland
| Park Name | Date/Time | Event | Contact |
|---|
| Patapsco Valley State Park - McKeldin Area | Sept 14, 2024
10 a.m. - Noon |
Tree Badge
Grab your Naturalist hat and get ready to explore the wonderful world of Trees! Meet a Naturalist at the Tall Poplar Trailhead and allow them to lead you through the Trees badge. All ages are welcome,
Sign up required., Shine Only. |
Lee Fryberger
Lee.Fryberger@maryland.gov |
| Patapsco Valley State Park - Avalon Area | Sept 14, 2024
11 am - 3 pm |
Self Led Picture Hunt
Stop by our Mobile Visitor Center at Lost Lake and get sent on a quest to take photos at some landmarks along our paved walking trail. Once you’ve gotten all the photos be sure to head back and show proof! |
Soldiers Delight NEA staff
SoldiersDelight.StatePark@maryland.gov |
| Patapsco Valley State Park - Avalon Area | Sept 14, 2024
12 - 2 pm |
Maryland Heritage Patch
Interested in working toward the Maryland Heritage Patch? Join our park historian as they share insight on Maryland history while you visit three different historic sites within Patapsco Valley State Park in one trip. Learn about the Patapsco and its place in the larger Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and what is being done locally to help save the bay. This program aims to cover at least three of the 7 steps recommended by the Girl Scouts for this patch.
Sign up required. |
John Mealey
john.mealey@maryland.gov |
| Patapsco Valley State Park - McKeldin Area | Sept. 15, 2024
1 - 3 pm |
Trees Badge
Grab your Naturalist hat and get ready to explore the wonderful world of Trees! Meet a Naturalist at the Tall Poplar Trailhead and allow them to lead you through the Trees badge. All ages are welcome,
Sign up required. Shine Only. |
Lee Fryberger
Lee.Fryberger@maryland.gov |
| Patapsco Valley State Park - Avalon Area | Sept. 15, 2024
10 am - Noon |
Bugs Badge
Join a bug focused ranger at the William Offutt Johnson History Center to complete the first 3 steps to achieve the Bug Badge. Interview to create a bug poster, make a butterfly craft and see bugs in action! afterwards you can complete step 5 by going on a hike and look for bugs. Step 4 will not be included, but can be done at home.
Sign up required. |
Lauren Curtis
Laurenk.Curtis@maryland.gov |
| Patapsco Valley State Park - Avalon Area | Sept. 15, 2024
3 - 5 pm |
Maryland Heritage Patch
Interested in working toward the Maryland Heritage Patch? Join our park historian as they share insight on Maryland history while you visit three different historic sites within Patapsco Valley State Park in one trip. Learn about the Patapsco and its place in the larger Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and what is being done locally to help save the bay. This program aims to cover at least three of the 7 steps recommended by the Girl Scouts for this patch.
Sign up required. |
John Mealey
john.mealey@maryland.gov |
Girl Scouts Park Events Schedule
GS Chesapeake Bay
| Park Name | Date/Time | Event | Contact |
|---|
| Elk Neck State Park | Sept 14, 2024
7:30 p.m. |
International Observe the Moon Night
Join a ranger and millions of others across the globe for NASA’s International Observe the Moon Night. Learn about the phases of the moon and other stellar phenomena in the Milky Way Galaxy. Weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to observe the moon and stargaze at the night sky. Bring your own binoculars if you have them; the park has a limited number of binoculars. Meet at the Nature Center, located in the campground. Registration is preferred, but not required. Day use fees apply ($3 per Maryland resident; $5 per out-of-state resident). Girl Scout Cadettes can complete steps 2, 4, and 5 of their Night Owl badge. |
Ranger Shawna Staup
shawna.staup@maryland.gov |
| Pocomke River State Park | Sept 13, 2024
6:00 p.m. |
Native Bird Program and Feeder Craft
"Join our Naturalist staff at the Shad Landing Nature Center for an engaging program on local native bird species. Afterwards, create your own bird feeder to take home. Program will complete some challenges on the ""Girl Scouts Love State Parks"" challenge worksheet. |
Ranger Ashley Brown
ashley.brown@maryland.gov |
| Pocomoke River State Park | Sept 14, 2024
8:00 p.m. |
Owl Prowl at Milburn Landing
Join our Naturalists at Milburn Landing for a night time hike through the Pocomoke Forest. While we walk we will be learning about our local nocturnal animals with a focus on owls. After the hike we will give a takeaway activity making your own nocturnal animal based on what the scouts learned. We will be going rain or shine (barring thunderstorms) so come prepared. Also bring approriate footwear and bugspray. We will be meeting at the Nassawango pavilion at Milburn Landing. Registration is preferred. Program counts towards Cadette Night Owl Badge steps 1, 2, and 4. |
Ranger Ashley Brown
ashley.brown@maryland.gov |
| Pocomke River State Park | Sept. 15, 2024
10: 00 a.m. |
Mindfulness Nature Hike
Join us for a nature hike that focuses on engaging all your senses. Hike will be rain or shine and will meet at the Shad Landing Nature Center. Also bring approriate footwear and bugspray.
Program counts toward Brownie Eco Freind steps 1,2, 4 & 5. Cadette Eco Trekker steps 1,2, 3, & 4.Junior Eco Camper Step 5, and Senior Eco Explorer steps 1, 2, & 4. |
Ranger Ashley Brown
ashley.brown@maryland.gov |
| Tuckahoe State Park | Sept. 15, 2024
7:30 PM |
Owl Prowl
Owl prowl -- Tuckahoe State Park (Lore of the Land/Sensory Trail?) -- Come learn about the owls that live in our woods, and take a short (less than one mile) walk to -- hopefully! -- hear some in the wild. Bring a flashlight or headlamp. Program counts towards Cadette Night Owl Badge steps 1, 2, and 4. |
Ranger Erin Gale
erin.gale@maryland.gov |
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.
To learn more about Girl Scouts Love State Parks,
visit their website.
Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend Events
Click the Flyer for Larger View
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!
