Patch Programs | Girl Scouts of Western Ohio

Patch Programs

What is a Girl Scout patch?

GSWO Bat's so awesome patch

Look up to the sky: it’s a bird, a plane… no, it’s a BAT! Bats are one of the most misunderstood creatures in the world. Find out more about these interesting and unique animals by completing the steps for your age level with your troop. 

Download the activity booklet »

GSWO Future Voter Patch

Girl Scouts will be prepared to lead the change in their town, state, and the country as part of our ongoing mission to make the world a better place! How? Start by earning the Democracy badge for your age level. Through these badges, you will understand how local, state, and federal government works. Then continue to build the knowledge and skills you’ll need to be a good citizen by earning your Future Voter patch.

Through this patch program, girls will explore our nation’s political systems, learn about voting rights, and be inspired to be active citizens who promote the vote in their communities.  

To earn your Future Voter patch, complete the required steps for your age level and purchase your patch in one of our shops. 

Ready to get started? Download the activity sheet »

Activity Requirements
Activity requirements per grade level include: 

  • Daisies: 3 steps, including 1 starred item
  • Brownies: 4 steps, including 1 starred item
  • Juniors: 5 steps, including 2 starred items
  • Cadettes: 6 steps, including 2 starred items
  • Seniors & Ambassadors: 6 steps, including 3 starred items
Girl Scout Tree Pronise Patch

In partnership with the Elliott Wildlife Values Project, American Forests, and Johnson & Johnson Foundation, GSUSA has launched a bold tree planting and conservation initiative. Girl Scouts across the country are setting out to plant five million trees in five years and to protect and honor new and existing trees. Not only is this great for wildlife, but it will also help ease the effects of climate change.

Girl Scouts have planted thousands of trees in all 50 states and globally. Let’s keep going!

Ready to take the Girl Scout Tree Promise? Download the activity guide »

Find more resources, an online tree tracker, and instructions for unlocking your patch!

Summer is the perfect time to get outside and have some fun under the sun! There are so many ways to put yourself out there, whether it's from your window, at the playground, near a campsite, or on an open trail. 

From June 1 to September 10, head outside and take the outdoor challenge. Enjoy fun activities that will help you feel happier, relaxed, and in touch with nature. Be sure to check how many you should do based on your grade level. Share your adventures and encourage others to get outside by using #gsoutdoors. Happy trails! 

Download the activity sheet here!

If you choose to accept the Hiker Challenge, you'll have the opportunity to explore and enjoy GSWO camp properties! If you're new to hiking, starting on our camp trails will help you feel more confident when you're ready for bigger trail adventures.

Each time you hike a trail at one of our camps, you're one step closer to earning that camp's unique hiking medallion. What's a medallion? You can attach a small, metal "patch" to a hiking stick. Work toward medallions for Camp Butterworth, Camp Rolling Hills, Camp Libbey, Camp Whip Poor Will, Camp Stonybrook, and Camp Woodhaven!

 

Ready for an even bigger challenge? Complete the trails at all six camps to earn the ultimate reward—the GSWO Hiker Challenge Medallion!

Download the Hiker Challenge Guide to get started.

Note: you must make a camp reservation to hike the trails at GSWO camp properties. Reserve a spot at camp »

five girl scout heritage patches surrouding a central trefoil patch

The “I Am a Girl Scout!” fun patch is designed to provide Girl Scouts and volunteers of all backgrounds with an opportunity to learn more about different communities' cultures, histories, and traditions. This is a multi-component patch with the Girl Scout Trefoil in the center and five rocker patches to sew around it to represent participation in Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Native American Heritage Month, LGBTQ+ Pride Month, and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month activities. Discover how to earn your rocker patches below!

Black History Month | February 1 - 28, 2023
 

In February and beyond, we invite you to explore the cultures of the Black and African American communities in your state and across the country as we honor Black History Month.

Ready to get started? Download the activity sheet »

 

The International Day of the Girl Patch

On International Day of the Girl (IDG), the global community comes together to celebrate the power of girls and highlight, discuss, and take action to advance the rights and opportunities of girls everywhere.

This year marks the 10th annual International Day of the Girl celebration. While earning your patch, you'll learn about the history of IDG and how it came about, talk with girls about what IDG means for them, and raise your voice to create change in your community.

Ready to get started?  Check out the activity guide »

Find more resources, activity ideas, and instructions for unlocking your patch!

The invite a friend patch

Are you having a blast as a Girl Scout? Do you have a friend who would love to join in on the fun? Now she can join, and you can earn an awesome patch!

After you and your friend have completed your membership for the year, fill out the Invite a Friend form, and we will send both of you an Invite a Friend patch!

Please note that both girls must be registered members to receive the patch.

The media infulencer 2022 patch

The Marketing and Communications Department at GSWO has created a patch. Girl Scouts across western Ohio can now earn the Media Influencer Patch!

Girls receive the patch when their story is featured in the media or by GSWO. This includes social media channels, the GSWO Blog, the GSWO website, or local media. Stories can be about one independent Girl Scout, or they can be about an entire troop.

Simply submitting a story does not automatically qualify someone for the Media Influencer Patch; it must be featured.

How do I submit my story?
To submit your story, visit gswo.org/share!

What increases my odds of having my story featured?
There are a lot of things that can increase your chances! Here are some tips:

  • Include photos or videos with your submission (but make sure you have the media releases for any girls in the photos or videos—that responsibility is with the person who submits, not the MarComm department). Photos or videos with girls in uniform are especially encouraged!
  • Showcase what they were doing, where and when they were doing it, and why the girls chose to do this.
  • Please include your troop number, community, and age level.
  • Explain how your girl or girls were a G.I.R.L.s (Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader)™.
  • Take Action projects, and other events in the community do especially well.

If you’re still not quite sure, we suggest looking at other stories that have been featured in the past!

Who receives the patch?
The Media Influencer Patch is only for girls; none are given to adults.

If an entire troop participated in the activity, each girl in the troop gets a patch (even if she isn’t in the photo that is featured!). If it is a story about one or a few Girl Scouts that did an activity outside of a troop, only the girls involved receiving a patch.

If we feature the story of something a Girl Scout did, but she is now an adult member, she does not receive a patch.

I submitted my photo for the Program Events Guide. Do I get a patch?
To receive the Media Influencer Patch, you must have your story featured, not simply your photo. You’re welcome to submit the same photo(s) in the Share Your Story form, but make sure to include a captivating story!

Can I receive the patch more than once?
Yes! There is a new patch each year. Only one patch will be given out per calendar year (2021, 2022, 2023, etc.; not per membership year), but continue submitting stories each year, and you may get more!

My story was featured in the news. Why didn’t I get a patch?
The Marketing and Communications Department is always looking for stories of our girls featured in the news, but we don’t always catch every story! If you were contacted by the media and don’t think the Marketing and Communications department was aware of it, email us the news story! 

I was featured in a press release. Do I get a patch?
The press release with your story would need to be picked up by the media and featured to receive the patch.

Can I buy the patch?
No, the patch is only available as a thank-you gift from the Marketing and Communications department.

The Resilient ready strong patch

Life isn’t always easy, but dealing with tricky emotions doesn’t have to be hard. Try activities from the Girl Scouts: Resilient. Ready. Strong. program to unlock a patch and strengthen your mental wellness. Nobody can snap their fingers and make the world all sunshine and lollipops, but you can take steps to be ready when things get tough. Go get ‘em, Girl Scout!

Ready to get started?  Download the activity guide »

Activity requirements per grade level:

 

  • Daisies and Brownies: 3 steps
  • Juniors and Cadettes: 5 steps
  • Seniors and Ambassadors: 7 steps

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