What is a Girl Scout patch?
A Girl Scout patch is a supplementary insignia that girls receive for participating in a special event or activity. They are worn on the back of their uniform.
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio has several patch programs that girls can participate in by completing the requirements below!
National and Council Patch Programs
Bat's So Awesome 
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.
Camp Champ
Family Adventure Patch
Future Voter
Girl Scouts will be prepared to lead the change in their town, state, and 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. You will understand how local, state, and federal government works through these badges. 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 Climate Challenge
Girl Scout Tree Promise
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 nationwide are setting out to plant five million trees in five years and 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!
Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors!
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.
Head outside from June 1 to September 10 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!
Hiker Challenge Medallion Program
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 »
I Am a Girl Scout!
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, 2024
February is Black History Month, where we honor the incredible contributions, the Black and African American communities have made throughout U.S. history — from civil rights leaders to artists, politicians to inventors. Take this opportunity to learn more about the community’s central role in U.S. history and the world. We’ve got plenty of activities to choose from, so you can make new discoveries and have tons of fun while earning your patch.
Get the Black History Month Patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF)
Actividades en Español (PDF)
Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month | May 1 - 31, 2024
The Girl Scout Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Fun Patch is designed for Girl Scouts of all levels and their leaders to celebrate the cultural richness of all people in the U.S. whose ancestors came from the Pacific Islands or the Asian diaspora and to acknowledge the many contributions of the AANHPI community to our nation. Girls and leaders have plenty of activities to choose from to earn this fun patch, and we encourage girls from all ethnic backgrounds to participate.
Get the AANHPI Heritage Month Patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF)
Actividades en Español (PDF)
LGBTQ+ Pride Month | June 1 - 30, 2024
The Girl Scout LGBTQ+ Pride Month Celebration Fun Patch is designed for Girl Scouts of all levels and their leaders to honor LGBTQ+ history, celebrate the diverse cultures and identities of LGBTQ+ people, and acknowledge the many contributions the LGBTQ+ community has made and continues to make across our nation. Girls and leaders have plenty of activities to choose from to earn this fun patch, and we encourage girls of all identities to participate.
Get the LGBTQ+ Pride Month Patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF)
Actividades en Español (PDF)
Hispanic Heritage Month | September 15 - October 15, 2024
The United States is home to about 60 million Latino and Hispanic people. That's a lot of culture (and people) to celebrate! You can celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with your family and friends by recognizing all the histories, cultures, and contributions that Hispanic and Latino people have made. Take this opportunity to learn more about the 21 Spanish-speaking countries and territories’ cultures honored during these four weeks. And with plenty of activities to choose from, the discovery and fun are endless.
Get the Hispanic Heritage Month Patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF)
Actividades en Español (PDF)
Native American Heritage Month | November 1 - 30, 2024
The United States has 574 federally recognized Indian Nations (variously called tribes, nations, bands, pueblos, communities, and native villages).
You can celebrate Native American Heritage Month by recognizing with your family and friends the histories, cultures, and contributions of the Native American communities that were the first inhabitants of the United States. Take this opportunity to learn more about the cultures of the Indian Nations in your state and across the country. We’ve got plenty of activities to choose from, so you can make new discoveries and have tons of fun while earning your patch.
Get the Native American Heritage Month Patch!
Fun Patch Activities (PDF)
Actividades en Español (PDF)
International Day of the Girl
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!
Invite a Friend
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.
Media Influencer
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 who did an activity outside of a troop, only the girls involved receive 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 (2023, 2024, 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.
Mental Wellness
National Aviation Heritage Area
Dayton, Ohio is the Birthplace of Aviation, and you can see that slogan on the State of Ohio license plate and all around the region. The National Aviation Heritage Area (NAHA) is a collection of museums and places in 8 Western Ohio counties that tell the story of aviation, starting with the Wright brothers, Orville & Wilbur Wright.
Explore the National Aviation Heritage Area in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio’s Council Patch Program.
When your troop completes the patch requirements, get your patch by submitting the National Aviation Heritage Area Patch request form.
Ready to get started? Download the activity sheet »
Resilient. Ready. Strong.
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. 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
World Thinking Day
Community Sponsored Patch Programs
American Heart Association - Go RED
Buckeye Trail Service
Delta Dental Foundation
Explore the wonders of the human mouth and earn your Smile Squad patch! Use your creativity to learn how your mouth links to your overall health and well-being. Review good dental habits, try an oral health experiment, discover how hidden sugars can damage your teeth, and learn about the importance of brushing twice a day and reading every day for a healthy body and mind!
If you have questions about the patch program, please get in touch with the Delta Dental Foundation by email.
Ready to get started? Download the activity sheet »
Donate Life
The Dragonfly Foundation
Fighting Chance Rescue
Kroger Zero Hunger | Zero Waste
Get food smart with the new Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Patch from Kroger and Girl Scouts of Western Ohio! You’ll learn about the cycle of hunger and how it effects our communities, take powerful actions to reduce food waste, and make a difference to help end hunger in your community. Get ready to become an advocate for sustainability and make the world a better place!
Download the activity booklet »
Once you've completed the activities, share your feedback to unlock your Zero Hunger | Zero Waste patch! After taking this brief survey, check your email for instructions to get your patch from your nearest Girl Scout Service Center.
Did you make a great memory or do something extraordinary with your troop while earning your patch? Share it using the hashtag #GetGrocerySmart on social media!
Magnified Giving
Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts can Discover, Connect, and Take Action to earn the Magnified Giving Patch! You'll learn what it means for an organization to be non-profit, and how to be generous and wise philanthropists!
Ready to get started? Download the activity sheet »
Activity Requirements
Activity requirements per grade level include:
- Discover what it means for an organization to be considered a non-profit and the different social causes non-profit organizations (NPOs) by researching local non-profits using the Magnified Giving Qualified NPOs Page.
- Go further by filling out the Magnified Giving Research Guide to learn more about what the NPO stands for and how they impact their local community.
- Connect by visiting a non-profit organization to learn about their mission and take part in a service project to further the NPO’s impact on the community. Do this step as a troop or take part in a Community Impact Meetup event through GSWO!
- After completing step 3, Take Action by developing a presentation on why that NPO should receive a $1,000 grant and present your pitch at the Magnified Giving Presents: Community Impact Meetup Summit event on April 17, 2025!
Meals on Wheels
Experience the “Keys to Leadership” at Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY! Discover Meals on Wheels, who they serve, and the impact the agency has on local seniors. Speak directly to a social worker or home health aide to learn how seniors are cared for, or visit a facility where seniors live. You'll gain an understanding of seniors' needs and take action by volunteering at Meal on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY!
Download the activity booklet »
Activity Requirements
Activity requirements per grade level include the following. Visit the Meals on Wheels
website in order to complete the first activity for each grade level
- Daisies & Brownies: 3 steps
- Juniors & Cadettes: 3 steps
- Seniors & Ambassadors: 3 steps
Nature Cat Explorer Patch
With PBS' Nature Cat and his pals, there's more outdoor adventuring in
store than ever before! That's right—Nature Cat is teaming up with Girl
Scouts of Western Ohio to help you search, explore, and discover all
that's around you through the Nature Cat Explorer patch program. You can
fill out this form
to get access to the patch program guide and follow the steps on the
page to get the secret code to unlock your free patch!
Signed to Be Kind
Stand Beside Her
