Girl Scouts Forever Green
Girl Scouts of Nassau County at the 100 Trees for 100 Years event at Camp Blue Bay to celebrate the 100th. Photo GSNC
Girl Scouts Forever Green Take Action Project is the signature project of Girl Scouts USA’s 100th year anniversary, and aims to provide a positive direction for the more than 3 million girls in the organization. Recent research found that an overwhelming number of girls said protecting the environment is top priority for them.
There are three elements to the project:
- Participate in Earth Hour with the goal of encouraging sustainable behavior change, reduce a person’s CO2 footprint to save energy and money.
- Reduce waste by reducing the number of discarded single use plastic bottles and increase aluminum recycling.
- Build Rain Gardens to increase green space and wildlife habitats and improve water quality.
Earth Hour
A key element of the program is participation in Earth Hour, a worldwide movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund, during which millions of people around the world switch off non-essential lights to raise awareness of the need to take action on climate change. This event takes place annually on the last Saturday of March from 8:30 – 9:30 pm, local time.
“Earth Hour and the Girl Scouts USA have a common purpose – to create a better environment for future generations,” said Andy Ridley, Earth Hour co-founder and executive director. “Girl Scouts USA’s participation in Earth Hour illustrates without question what can be achieved when people unite with a common purpose and rally to action.”
Part of the 100th anniversary action of the Girl Scouts Forever Green Pledge developed in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star (EPA)program to encourage the adoption of resource conservation activities and to measure their impact.
“The Girl Scouts provide young women with leadership experience and opportunities to engage on critical national and international issues like environmental education,” said EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.
“Working with our young people and programs like Energy Star to preserve energy and cut pollution are the first steps in building a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
Reduce Waste
Alcoa Foundation has provided a two-year $1.5 million grant to expand the Girl Scouts Forever Green program globally to 20 countries. This grant will enable U.S. and international councils to work together and lead their families, schools and communities in improving the environment and protecting natural resources.
“Although our girls might be famous for wearing the color green, it’s clear that they are enthusiastic about “going green” and working to preserve our natural resources,” said Anna Maria Chavez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA. “As an organization committed to helping girls become leaders, who make a difference in the world, we couldn’t ignore their passion for the environment and the generous contribution from Alcoa Foundation provides an outlet for girls to funnel their ecological energies.”
Paula Davis, President, Alcoa Foundation said, “Our employees, including Girl Scouts and Girl Guides alumnae and our global Women’s Network, are excited about this partnership and eager to get involved and help bring the ideas of young women to life.”
Rain Gardens
A third aspect of the Girl Scouts Forever Green project, is building rain gardens. Rain gardens, filled with native plants capture and absorb storm water runoff and improve water quality by filtering and reducing water-born pollutants. They also create wildlife habitat and increase green space.
Even Greener
Recently, the Girl Scouts of USA (GSUSA) took another green step regarding the palm oil used in their famous cookies. Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen, Girl Scouts from Michiga petitioned to have the palm oil removed, as they had learned that palm oil production leads to deforestation and the disappearance of orangutan habitat. They embarked on a five-year effort to make Girl Scout cookies more environmentally friendly, with positive results.
According to GSUSA, although palm oil has not been removed from the cookies, the following controls have been implemented.
- Effective immediately, GSUSA will purchase GreenPalm certificates to support the sustainable production of palm oil. The certificates offer a premium price to palm oil producers who are operating within the guidelines for social and environmental responsibility set by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil.
- GSUSA has committed to working with our licensed bakers in plans to join other industry leaders in making a pledge to move to a segregated, certified sustainable palm oil source by 2015, based on market availability.
- GSUSA will work to build a coalition of respected environmental organizations that support sustainable palm oil and to carry that message to industry leaders across the globe.
- GSUSA will become an affiliate member of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), an organization of growers, buyers, manufacturers, conservationists and interested parties who are striving to develop and follow best practices to ensure sustainability.
- And GSUSA has directed its bakers to use as little palm oil as possible and only in recipes where there is no alternative. GSUSA estimates that of all the palm oil used globally, Girl Scout cookies account for less than one-one-hundredth of one percent (.001%).
Information provided by GSUSA, Alcoa and EPA.
