Girl Scouts Heart of The South
Nobody Trashes Tennessee Patch
Shared Values
Girl Scouts of Heart of The South covers 59 counties that include more than 6,255 Girl Scouts and 1,951 volunteers. The organization’s mission is: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts are dedicated to their community as reflected in one of their core values: We are committed to helping girls leverage their own unique gifts and talents to make a difference in their communities. By our own example, we inspire girls to put service above self.
The Nobody Trashes Tennessee Patch Program aims to get Tennessee’s youth involved in cleaning up our state while educating them about the harmful impacts of litter and also teaching them to take pride in their beautiful state.
Patches are FREE to all Scouts
Paid for by TDOT
Once the Report Form is submitted, your patches will be delivered to you.
Litter Cleanups
By participating in a litter cleanup service project, participants are living the Girl Scouts Promise and Law and making the world a better place.
To earn the Nobody Trashes Tennessee patch, troops participate in a community cleanup initiated by the troop or as part of an organized cleanup near them. Please note that roadside cleanups are only for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador levels. Following are several ways to get involved:
No Trash November
November
Each year, TDOT holds a month-long statewide initiative called “No Trash November” encouraging Tennesseans to participate in cleanup events in their communities. This year youth groups have the opportunity to participate and win a trophy! Each group who participates also receives 10 free T-shirts.
Keep Tennessee Beautiful Month
March
March is Keep Tennessee Beautiful month and all month, the Keep Tennessee Beautiful organization encourages people to get out and clean up. Affiliates and communities across the state organize cleanups during this time.
Great American Cleanup
Mid-March – Mid-June
The Keep America Beautiful® Great American Cleanup® is the nation’s largest community improvement program taking place annually in an estimated 20,000 communities nationwide.
I am a Clean Cookie!
January – March
I am a Clean Cookie is for girls to clean up trash while also selling cookies. As you go door to door selling cookies you can also earn a patch by cleaning up trash. Make sure you do this as a troop or with your family, never do it alone. Watch the NTT safety video before you head out to be a Clean Cookie!
Earth Day Cleanup
April 22
Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Celebrate this day and see if there is an Earth Day cleanup taking place in your area.
Girl Scout Camp Cleanup
Tie-in with existing camp beautification/cleanup
Camp cleanups can be done anytime your troop or service unit is out at Camp Fisherville for troop camping or a camporee.
Community/School Grounds/Neighborhood Cleanup
Open to all levels
Looking to do a smaller cleanup at a school, park, or other area that is not a roadside litter cleanup? See below toolkit and resources for guidance on how you can organize your own.
Educational Activities
Open to all levels
These educational worksheets include engaging activities and lessons to understand the importance of litter prevention. This allows the younger age groups to be part of the solution to end littering and earn a patch as well as an opportunity to add an educational element to your Troop’s cleanup. Upload completed worksheets to the report form to receive your patch. It is encouraged to complete at least three worksheets.
Resources
Cleanup Toolkit
Before
- To request cleanup supplies contact your county grantee. If your county grantee does not provide supplies, your Troop will be responsible for supplies and disposing of the trash bags. If your Troop decides to Adopt-A-Highway, supplies will be provided and trash bags will be picked up by TDOT.
- We recommend wearing long sleeves, pants and closed toe shoes.
- Watch the safety video
- Bring sunscreen, gloves, bug spray, water, snacks, emergency contact numbers, emergency medications, first aid kit and extra clothing.
During
- Take pictures during your cleanup: scouts in action picking up litter and a group photo.
- Note the number of bags collected to report after the cleanup.
- Leave all trash bags in the designated drop-off location.
- Be aware of your surroundings: watch out for snakes, wasps and other pests, poison ivy/oak, unstable rocks, thorns, broken glass and oncoming vehicles.
- Make sure all scouts sign a safety waiver.
After
- Fill out the report form including: Troop #, City, County, number of bags collected and number of volunteers.
- Upload Troop photos and photo IDs listed left to right and confirm if you would like TDOT to submit to media outlets or if your Troop will submit to media.
- Post photos to social channels: tag @NobodyTrashesTN and use #NobodyTrashesTennessee so we can share your photo on our socials!