Each Girl Scout Council in the U.S. has it own special patches and specific steps to earn them.  If you are planning a trip to Washington, D.C., the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital invites you to earn their Discover the Nation’s Capital patch.  This patch encourages girls to explore a variety of different sites in an around, D.C., with a special focus on women’s history.

In order to earn the patch, girls must visit one of the sites in each of the following categories:  monuments and memorials, museums, arts, and government.  The sites that qualify are listed in the program guide. In addition, they must visit two of the sites from the “women” category.  The program guide also contains reflection questions for girls to answer after they visit the sites.  When they return home, the girls must “take action” by sharing what they have learned with their troop, family, or another group.

In addition to the center patch, girls can also earn one, or more, of the three segment patches that surround the patch  The themes for the additional segments are:  gardens, transportation, and statuary.  The program patch guide is attached to this post, or you can read more on the Girl Scouts Council of the Nation’s Capital website.

Once you have completed the patch program, you can stop by the Girl Scout store in Washington, DC to purchase it in person, or you can order it online.  The store is located at:

Nation’s Capital Main Shop
4301 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
202-274-3312 or 800-523-7898 x212
Mon – Fri:  9:00am – 5:00pm
Thurs:  9:00am – 8:00pm
Open Saturdays (Sept-Jun):  10:00am – 4:00pm

When you are in Washington, D.C., you can line-up for a tour of the U.S. Capitol, or you can contact Medford’s representative, Congresswoman Katherine Clark, who represents Massachusetts’ 5th District.  Her website also has information about how to request a tour of the White House, Library of Congress, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the Supreme Court.  Her website lets her constituents know that, “all tickets are provided to my constituents on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to the large number of visitors, please request them as early as possible in order to maximize your chances.”

While you are there, why don’t you see if you can make an appointment to meet Congresswoman Clark in person?   She is one of only 84 women who are elected representatives, out of a total of 435.  You could talk to her about aspects of life in Medford which could be improved and you could ask her if she was a Girl Scout, too.

Click here to download the Nation’s Capital patch program instructions.