Girl Scouts and Virginia State Parks go together like chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers! Celebrating, exploring, and discovering nature has been part of Girl Scouting since its beginning.

Ranger Lauri Schular took this photo at Lake Anna State Park while hosting Girl Scout Troop 603 for camping, stewardship, and fun.

For me, Girl Scouts helped build a foundation of how to have fun in nature, build relationships, and understand outdoor ethics.

Christen Miller, Visitor Experience Director for Virginia State Parks, at a bridging ceremony in 1978 in Central Texas.

Now I have the privilege to be able to support girls in the outdoors by leading my parks in participating in the biggest national Girl Scout event of the year during Girl Scouts Love State Parks in collaboration with the National Association of State Park Directors.

All 50 state park systems are hosting Girl Scouts on September 13–15, 2024, and Virginia welcomes scouts and families with a variety of opportunities. Whether you choose to come for an hour, a day, or the whole weekend, enjoy a ranger-led program or strike out on your own using our self-guided activities. There will be a lot of opportunities for you to discover our parks, explore why they matter and find ways that you can be involved.

Ranger Marty Leibschner with local Girl Scouts at James River State Park.

Girl Scout Events: September 13-15, 2024

Check out what’s happening for Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend at Virginia State Parks here.

Self-Guided Activities

As part of this year’s national Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend, our activity pages will be available through your council website. We invite you to use these to explore a park near you, find your nature connection and earn a Girl Scouts Love Virginia State Parks patch.

HOW TO: get into parks for free, log your activities and earn a patch:

1. Print or download the booklet (available through your council website).
2. Show the cover page for free parking in any Virginia State Park from Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 15, 2024.
   • If no one is available to show, please put the cover page in your vehicle window. The free parking is valid at Virginia State Parks only.
3. Complete all the activities in your age category, choose and complete a “Take Action” option, and discuss the Leave No Trace principles with your adult.
   • Or you can simply participate in any Girl Scouts Love Virginia State Parks event offered that weekend.
4. In order to receive the VSP patch, you MUST complete this online form by September 30, 2024.  
   • Trouble with the link? Send an email to this address: girlscoutslovevsp2024@gmail.com
5. While you are at it, sign up for our VSP Adventure Programs including Trail Quest–log park visits for rewards and Wandering Waters Paddle Quest–if you paddle at a park. 

Patches will be ordered after all entries are in, please be patient as this will take time to receive and mail out to you.

Be a SOCIAL butterfly

Share your Girl Scout adventures at Virginia State Parks by using #GSLoveStateParks and #VaStateParks. 

We look forward to seeing your troop at Virginia State Parks! Find a park near you.