Programs

How do we elect our political leaders in the United States? What factors determine which candidates we are able to vote for? Why are so many people unaware, confused, or downright frustrated about voting?

We invite your Girl Scouts to earn a Draw The Lines Fun Patch from a project called Draw the Lines PA, a nonpartisan civic initiative designed to help Pennsylvania’s youth understand and have their voices heard in our democracy. This set of activities invites Girl Scouts to understand how voting works in the United States, and for older Girl Scouts, why one particular part of our system, gerrymandering, is so frustrating that many Pennsylvanians want to change it. (Gerrymandering is a result of politicians getting to choose their voters, instead of voters choosing their politicians.)

This project is nonpartisan, and offers a fun and interactive way to be an informed voter and an engaged citizen.

So how can Girl Scouts earn a Draw the Lines Fun Patch? For younger Girl Scouts, we’ve designed activities that get them thinking about how decisions get made by groups, where they live, issues they care about, solutions to public policy challenges, and communicating in writing to appropriate public officials. Older Girl Scouts will be given activities to help them understand voting and legislative redistricting, and also how to raise their voices and constructively express their opinions.

DOWNLOAD ALL THE INFO HERE

Once your Girl Scout has completed her age appropriate activities, please submit the form using this link: https://gsheartpa.wufoo.com/forms/q17hdmde0bvdyz5/. Patches will be fulfilled in the order they are received. 

BONUS: Girl Scouts age 13 and older can enter the Draw the Lines PA map drawing contest using a free online platform, they can draw their own districts.