Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Partner for Inaugural Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend
Weekend Includes Events at Champoeg State Heritage Area and Tryon Creek State Natural Area and Kickoff of Girl Scout State Parks Passport Program
PORTLAND, Ore. – Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) will join in a national effort to get more girls and their families outside July 13-14, 2019, for the first-ever Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend. Girl Scouts in Oregon will find adventure and explore nature at events hosted by OPRD at Champoeg State Heritage Area in the Willamette Valley and Tryon Creek State Natural Area in the Portland-Metro.
“This is such a fitting and natural partnership with Oregon Parks and Recreation,” says Karen Hill, CEO of Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington. “We share OPRD’s aim to educate future generations about the outdoors. Whether backpacking, canoeing, camping, hiking or horseback-riding—outdoor adventures have always been a part of Girl Scouts, and help girls develop a lifelong appreciation for nature.”
An integral part of the organization’s all-girl leadership program, the legacy of Girl Scouts and the outdoors is profound. Studies show that 71 percent of girl members ages 8–14 tried their first outdoor activity through the organization and half would not have had access to outdoor activities and programming if not for Girl Scouts. Through Girl Scouts’ cutting-edge environmental conservation, camping, and outdoor STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programming, girls gain a passion for adventure and healthy risk-taking, and take action to protect the environment for future generations.
“We are thrilled to host Girl Scouts for this program,” said OPRD director Lisa Sumption. “This event aligns perfectly with our mission—to provide a place for meaningful outdoor experiences for all generations.”
At Champoeg State Heritage Area, Girl Scouts will participate in a “Story and Stroll”—park rangers will lead girls and their families through a program integrating nature exploration, art, literature, movement, and outdoor play. Also at Champoeg, Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to discover living history through hands-on demonstrations by costumed interpreters and see how items were made for survival on a 19th century homestead. Girls can watch working blacksmiths create tools and hardware using hammers and anvils, and traditional woodworkers will demonstrate the tools and skills needed to turn a piece of wood into household items such as chairs, tables or spoons. Girls will earn a Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend 2019 fun patch by registering for these events.
At Tryon Creek State Natural Area, Girl Scouts will participate in a Junior Ranger Scavenger Hunt. Upon arrival, girls will receive a mission from a park ranger. Their missions will help the girls learn how to protect Oregon’s natural and cultural resources, including plants and animals. Girls who complete their mission will earn a Junior Ranger patch in addition to their Girl Scouts Love State Parks 2019 fun patch.
Senator Rob Wagner will be in attendance at the Tryon Creek State Natural Area, where he has personal connection: his mother started the education programs at the park and his father still teaches bird watching there. “Tryon Creek is one of my favorite places on Earth and like our other state parks, must be preserved for future generations,” says Senator Wagner. “I’m excited to spend time with Girl Scouts to celebrate our public lands.”
Girls at both events will participate in the kickoff of the Girl Scouts State Parks Passport program developed by Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington. The program puts the spirit of Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend at girls’ fingertips all year-round, encouraging self-led outdoor adventure at state parks in Oregon, Washington and beyond. To complete her passport, a Girl Scout must visit at least five state parks, record and reflect on her experience, and complete at least two of seven exploration activities such as learning Leave No Trace principles, volunteering at a state park, going on a five senses nature walk, or becoming a Junior Ranger. Girls who have completed the passport are eligible for a special Girl Scouts state parks patch to commemorate their experience.
These events are part of Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend (July 13-14, 2019), a national effort to get girls and their families visiting state parks across the country.
Who: Girl Scouts, Volunteers, Park Rangers
What: Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend
When: July 13-14, 2019
Where:
EVENT I
Champoeg State Heritage Area (Willamette Valley)
Saturday, July 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Story and Stroll (exclusive to Girl Scouts) – 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Activity begins at the Townsite Trailhead in the Townsite Parking Lot.
Living History (open event, including Girl Scouts) – 1-4 p.m. Activity takes place at the Manson Farmstead behind the Visitor Center.
Hashtags: #GetOutdoorsOR #gsOutdoors #gsLoveStateParks
On-site interviews: GSOSW’s Director of Communications, Sarah Shipe, and a Champoeg park ranger will be available on-site at the Champoeg State Heritage Area event and available for media interviews.
EVENT II
Tryon Creek State Natural Area (Portland-Metro)
Sunday, July 14, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Junior Ranger Scavenger Hunt
Distinguished guest: Senator Rob Wagner
Hashtags: #GetOutdoorsOR #gsOutdoors #gsLoveStateParks
On-site interviews: GSOSW’s Chief Financial Officer, Harmony George and Director of Communications, Sarah Shipe will be on-site at the Tryon Creek event and available for media interviews. A park ranger will also be available.
Interested Media: Interested media please R.S.V.P. by email to communications@girlscoutsosw.org.
About Girl Scouts Love State Parks
Girl Scouts Love State Parks is a national initiative launched by Girl Scouts of the USA to help thousands of girls in hundreds of state parks across the United States find outdoor adventure and explore nature. “We are incredibly proud of our 107-year legacy of giving girls access to amazing outdoor experiences that help them build important life and leadership skills,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “We want to continue to get more girls outside to explore the world around them and learn the importance of environmental stewardship. Girl Scouts Loves State Parks is another exciting way for girls to take advantage of our unique and adventurous outdoor programming.”
To learn more about Girl Scouts Love State Parks, please visit: https://www.girlscouts.org/en/press-room/press-room/news-releases/2019/girl-scouts-love-state-parks.html.
About Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington
In partnership with more than 8,000 adult members, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington prepares 14,500 girls in grades K-12 for a lifetime of leadership, adventure and success. GSOSW’s programs in civic engagement, financial literacy, the outdoors and STEM serve girls in 37 counties in Oregon, and Clark, Klickitat and Skamania counties in Southwest Washington. The Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. For more information, please visit girlscoutsosw.org.
About the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
The mission of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is to provide and protect outstanding natural, scenic, cultural, historic and recreational sites for the enjoyment and education of present and future generations. OPRD manages one of the busiest, largest and most complex state park systems in the U.S. To learn more, please visit oregonstateparks.org.
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