The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

5159.0: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 2:48 PM

Abstract #39467

Girl Scouts of the USA and EPA: Working Together to Protect Children From Environmental Threats

Melissa Algranati, Girl Scouts of the USA, 420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018, 212-852-5720, malgranati@girlscouts.org

The Girl Scouts of the USA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have a long history of working together on environmental issues and projects to promote environmental stewardship and awareness. For example: The Water Drop Patch Program; teaches Girl Scouts about water and wetlands management. The Linking Girls to the Land Program; is a national initiative that covers all aspects of the environment. Other activities include the development of the ECO-Action Badge, Earth Connections Badge, Oil Up Badge, and the Lead Badge.

More recently, the Girl Scouts and EPA partnered to focus not just on the environment, but on making the connection between the environment and human health. In 2001, the initiated an effort to protect children's health by incorporating environmental health protection measures into their programs. Through assistance from EPA, the Girl Scouts developed a new environmental health badge that girls can earn by accomplishing requirements that focus on protecting children's health, developed a new chapter on environmental health in their Junior Girl Scouts Handbook and has expanded their website to educate girls on water, sun and air quality. These measures taken by the Girl Scouts will give millions of girls the opportunity to learn about environmental health threats that directly affect them, their families and their community and what they can do to prevent and protect themselves and others from these threats.

Learning Objectives:

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Working Together to Protect Children from Environmental Threats

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA