Girlguiding’s new Eco award!

To celebrate Earth Day, Girlguiding has announced a brand-new Eco award for Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers! Let’s find out more about this exciting, eco-friendly award…

What’s the Eco award all about?

Designed by girls, for girls, the new Eco award will help young people take action for the environment and make a real difference in their communities.

Why now? Well, in Girlguiding’s annual Girls’ Attitudes Survey, more than one in four girls aged 7–21 said they felt worried, anxious or overwhelmed by climate change. Some even felt hopeless – like no one was trying to help the planet, or that it was already too late to make a difference.

But that’s not true! Over 80% of Girlguiding’s young members said that doing something about climate change was important to them – and that they thought Girlguiding should do more to help, too.

So that’s exactly what they did. Enter the Eco award – a powerful new badge available to all sections for the first time ever. That means girls can start their eco efforts young and keep going as they grow up. How cool is that?!

How can YOU earn the award?

It’s all about taking action! Rainbows (aged 4-7) and Brownies (aged 7-10) will spend one month working on the award, while Guides (aged 10-14) will take part for two months, and Rangers (aged 14-18) for three months.

During that time, the girls will learn about their carbon footprint and choose three actions to help the environment.

Girlguiding has loads of ideas to get started, like:

• – Joining local environment campaigns in your community!
• – Starting a recycling system at home, school, or in your Girlguiding unit
• – Buying loose fruit and veg rather than plastic-wrapped ones
• – Walking, cycling or using public transport instead of the car
• – Choosing second-hand items instead of brand-new ones
• – Making a bug hotel to help native insects thrive

But the best thing is that the award is led by kids, so they choose how to care for their local environment in ways that matter most to them. Girl power!

Meet the eco expert helping Girlguiding go green…

The Eco award is supported by environmental scientist Laura Young, aka Less Waste Laura. She’s Girlguiding’s first-ever Environment Ambassador!

Laura has done loads of great work to help people in the UK cut down on plastic. Now, she’s helping Girlguiding members complete their Eco awards, sharing her story and being a powerful voice for girls who care about the environment.

We spoke to Laura to find out more…

NGK: Hey Laura! You’re Girlguiding’s first EVER Environment Ambassador. How does it feel?

Laura: It’s so cool! I was a Brownie and a Guide growing up – it was such a fun part of my week and a great way to make friends. I loved doing the badges, too! Being in Guides helped shape my love for the environment and inspired me to get involved in community projects. Now I’m so excited to be back, encouraging girls and sharing how Guiding has impacted me.

How did you decide to become an environmental scientist?

I loved geography – learning about the world and different communities – so I studied it at university. But being in Guides helped, too. I enjoyed getting outdoors with my friends and, through the badges, I learned how I could make a difference locally. I love Scotland, where I live, and I love keeping my community thriving. That’s what inspired my career!

What’s cool about the new Eco award?

The fantastic thing is that it’s for every section – so girls can earn it as they move up through Girlguiding. They can also do it together. When I visited Aberdeenshire recently, we did activities with Guides and Rangers together, so they could help each other and share advice.

Another cool thing is that there’s a wide range of activities, so girls can reflect on what matters most to them or to their unit.

In Aberdeen, we planted some tomato seeds together and talked about other actions they could try. Some were thinking about walking instead of taking the car, and others talked about second-hand fashion or reducing their plastic use. Everyone is doing different things to make a difference!

Why is the Eco award launching now?  

Because girls in the UK are worried about climate change. Some feel hopeless about what anyone can do about it, especially them – and the Award is a response to that. It brings them together in a group that already exists, and will hopefully get some more people interested too!

Is Girlguiding taking action, too?

Yes! Girlguiding has its own environmental goals, like reducing its carbon footprint by 50% by 2040. I think everyone is waking up to the fact that we’re using too much plastic and buying too much stuff – and that young people want change. Their views are at the heart of this award.

What can kids do to help the planet – even if they’re not a part of Girlguiding?  

Get outside! Go to your local park and enjoy nature. Then think – what could you do? Even with just 15 minutes, you could get a bag, put on some gloves and pick up litter to clean a little area nearby. If you’ve got a window ledge or some space by your front door, you could grow something as simple as a sunflower or some pollinator-friendly wildflowers. If you’re feeling anxious about the planet, the best remedy is action.

Also talk about it! Speak to your friends, your family, your school, and ask them: “What could we all do to use less plastic or recycle more?” One of the most impactful things is asking questions and having conversations, particularly if there are things you want to change but can’t do alone.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be an activist or environmental scientist like you?

Find an issue that you care about and start having conversations about it. You might not be able to vote yet, but you can still write to local councillors or members of parliament. Say things like, “I want better bus services so we don’t always have to drive everywhere,” or “I want to ride my bike to school safely – what can we do to make that happen?”

You can do this on your own or with others – like your Girlguiding unit, school, family, or another community group you’re in. Just use your voice!

Also, it’s okay if you don’t know what job you want. I had no idea! But if you’ve got a subject or hobby that you love, put all your effort and energy into that, and a career will follow. Try things like litter picks or volunteering at a nature reserve too, because you never know what will come out of that!

What can YOU do?

Feeling inspired? If you’re already part of Girlguiding, ask your unit leader when you can start your Eco award challenge!

But don’t worry – you don’t have to be involved in Girlguiding to make a positive change and help protect the planet. Here are some easy ways to get started. You could try out the tips Laura shared or pick a challenge from the Eco Award list above. Let’s go, eco heroes!

What action will YOU take to help the planet? Let us know in the comments below!

Litter picking image © Adobe Stock, all others © Julie Broadfoot. With thanks to Laura Young and Girlguiding UK.

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