Girl Scouts will find many opportunities within the community for service projects. Girl Scouts should start early, as young as Daisy Girl Scouts, and start with small projects around the community. This will build a sense of pride and accomplishment within the girls and will build a sense of pride for their community as well. Girl Scouts will then progress to larger projects when they complete activities to earn their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.

When choosing a project, it is very important that Girl Scouts assess their skills and interests. As a group, they should discuss what they like to do, what are they good at doing, and what are their strengths as a group. Also, they may want to determine what resources are available to them. Does a family own or work at a hardware or paint store. Does a Girl Scout parent work at Walmart? Does a parent work for the city and can get approval for city-wide projects? Then the girls need to determine a need in the community that could benefit from their skills.

Here are a few examples of service projects Girl Scouts can organize.

Organize a one-day neighborhood clean-up. $50 would cover the cost of flyers, trash bags and plastic gloves.

Paint house numbers on curbs to help emergency responders find houses.

Mow lawns and weed gardens for the elderly.

Paint fire hydrants.

Plant a tree or butterfly garden in a park.

Create and map nature trails at the environmental center.

Plant flowers around the school flag pole or entrance.

Create a mural on a public wall.

Donate food to a church food bank. Help box food or deliver food to shut-ins.

Donate diapers and baby wipes to a crisis center.

Organize a coat or blanket drive.

Organize the church’s clothes closet. Host a give-away day.

Purchase lilies and donate them to a nursing home for Easter.

Purchase crayons or markers for a local day care.

Purchase pet shampoos to the local animal shelter.

Purchase new books for a daycare center or classroom.

Adopt a teacher and donate classroom supplies.