Girl Scouts of the USA has released 30 new badges with emphasis on environmental advocacy and STEM. The new badges round out last year’s issuance of educational programs for girls ages 5-18. In a statement, Girl Scouts said the new programs “address some of society’s most pressing needs, such as cybersecurity, environmental advocacy, mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science and space exploration.”
Along with new opportunities to earn badges in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering and Cybersecurity, Girl Scouts members can earn badges for Environmental Stewardship. These badges prepare girls to actively protect the environment. The organization said, “Although Girl Scouts have been advocating for the environment since [its] founding 106 years ago, these badges are the first to specifically prepare girls to be environmental advocates who address problems, find solutions, and protect the natural world.”
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Girls in grades six through 12 will be immersed in outdoor experiences and learn how to actively serve as environmental advocates. Girls in kindergarten through grade five “learn how to respect the outdoors and take action to protect the natural world.” The new environmentally-focused badges are funded by the Elliott Wildlife Values Project, a Girl Scouts partner.
In addition to hands-on training, the young women are equipped with “soft skills” that include “confidence and perseverance” as well as “hard skills” that instill successful decision-making practices for leadership positions. With STEM education for women emerging as a priority for many organizations as well as being included in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Girl Scouts’ 2.6 million members have joined a powerhouse network committed to both shaping the future female workforce and protecting our world.
The environmental and STEM programming will help develop thinking-patterns that are valuable in these technical fields of study. Moreover, the Environmental Stewardship programming will help girls of all ages gain leadership skills, engage with nature and make a positive impact on the environment. To learn more, join or volunteer, visit the Girl Scouts website.
Images via Girl Scouts
