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EPA ADMINISTRATOR HELPS GIRL SCOUT TROOP EARNING NEW ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BADGE; KICKS OFF EPA’S CHILDREN’S HEALTH MONTH IN WASHINGTON

Release Date: 10/01/2001
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Also available in Spanish: "LA ADMINISTRADORA DE LA AGENCIA DE PROTECCION AMBIENTAL AYUDA A TROPAS DE LAS GIRL SCOUTS ADQUIRIR EL NUEVO EMBLEMA DE SALUD AMBIENTAL; ANUNCIO EL COMIENZO DEL MES DE SALUD NIÑOS DE LA EPA EN WASHINGTON, D.C."

On a day recognized as Children’s Health Day, EPA Administrator Christie Whitman today kicked off a month in which she will lend focus to issues such as asthma, lead poisoning, sun exposure, safe fishing, smoke-free environments and clean water. All of these are issues that affect children’s health.

Whitman used the opportunity to announce a new Girl Scout badge dedicated to Environmental Health. Washington area Girl Scouts joined the Administrator at Hains Point where Whitman helped the girls complete one of the requirements for the badge.

“Partnerships are key to my mission at EPA,” said Whitman. “Our work with the Girl Scout organization to create this new badge is one example of the success of these partnerships. During October I will travel around the country to talk about children’s environmental health and the many programs EPA has geared towards the issues that affect our children. The events I will participate in will highlight the many partnerships we have made to promote the protection of children from environmental harm. I can think of no better way to begin this month than by teaching Girl Scouts some of the lessons they need to become educated partners in teaching about the environment.”

"The EPA and Girl Scouts of the USA are natural partners to educate all children on environmental health issues. The new Girl Scout Environmental Health Badge was created with the EPA's guidance to help thousands of girls grow strong in their knowledge of sun safety, air and water quality and asthma," said Marty Evans, National Executive Director, Girl Scouts of the USA.

This is the first year that girls will be earning the Environmental Health Badge. More than 3 million girls and 1 million adults are part of the Girl Scouts organization. Whitman was joined by Girl Scouts from the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital, Troops 2479,4234 and 3302.

EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection is working with the Girl Scouts of the USA, as well as with other national youth-based organizations, to incorporate children’s environmental health into their ongoing programs. EPA has supported the Girl Scouts with a grant of $20,000 and technical support which enabled them to develop a new Environmental Health Badge, a new chapter on environmental health in their Junior Girl Scout Handbook and an expanded website to educate girls on water, sun and air quality. Over 1.5 million Junior Girl Scouts will have an opportunity to earn the badge. The web site reaches 4 million Girl Scouts and receives more than 3.6 million hits per month.

EPA and the Girl Scouts have a long history of working together on environmental issues and projects to promote environmental stewardship and awareness. For example, the Water Drop Patch Program teaches Girl Scouts about water and wetlands management. The Linking Girls to the Land Program is a national initiative that covers all aspects of the environment (EPA provides support both technically and financially). Other activities include the development of the ECO-Action Badge, Earth Connections Badge,Oil Up Badge and the Lead Badge.

Throughout EPA’s Children’s Health Month, Whitman will speak at various events and conferences about the importance of recognizing the environment’s impact on children and equipping children with the knowledge they need to teach each other about the environment.


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