Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts of America
Nobody Trashes Tennessee Patch
Shared Values
The Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts of America serves 37 counties and offers a fun, educational outdoor program to over 12,500 youth and 6,000 registered adult volunteers. The mission of the Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The vision of the Middle Tennessee Council is to foster the character development, citizenship training and physical fitness of young people through an emphasis on outdoor program experiences to prepare them to be responsible, contributing members of society over their lifetime by instilling values based upon those found in the Scout Oath and Law.
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
Patches can be picked up at the below address.
Nashville Scout Shop
3414 Hillsboro Pike
Nashville, TN 37215
(corner of Hillsboro Pike and Woodmont)
Litter Cleanups
By participating in a litter cleanup service project, participants are living the Boy Scout Promise of “helping people at all times”.
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. Following are several ways to get involved:
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.
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.
Trash the Trash Day
First Weekend of May
Scouts Trash the Trash Day is an international Messengers of Peace project for Scouts around the world, where each Scout is challenged to bring a friend or family member along and pick up at least one Kilo (2.2 pounds) of trash each on the first Saturday in May.
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 ensures our roadways are safe from the harmful effects of litter, especially as we approach the holidays and increased travel.
MTC Camp Cleanup
Tie-in with existing camp beautification/cleanup
Organize a camp cleanup during your next camp visit and tie in educational resources so Scouts can learn the importance of litter prevention.
Community/School Grounds/Neighborhood Cleanup
Scout Service to Schools
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.
Conservation Good Turn Award
For All Scouts
To encourage packs, troops and crews to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, local or private) to carry out a Conservation Good Turn in their home communities. Find out more here!
Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award
For Cub Scouts
To encourage Cub Scouts to become active in the outdoors; may be earned as a Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scout. Find out more here!
Keep America Beautiful Hometown USA Award
For Scouts BSA
A youth program between Keep America Beautiful Inc. and the BSA that recognizes outstanding efforts of Scouts BSA in their communities in regard to citizenship and environmental improvement; provides a way for Scouts to make significant contributions toward keeping America beautiful. Find out more here!
Educational Activities
For All Scouts
These educational worksheets include engaging activities and lessons to understand the importance of litter prevention. This allows the younger age groups to get involved with the movement and earn a patch. Bring the scavenger hunt worksheet to the Scout Shop to receive your patch. The scavenger hunt worksheet is required but it is encouraged to complete at least three worksheets.
Resources
Community partners seeking volunteers:
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 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 oak/ivy, unstable rocks, thorns, broken glass and oncoming vehicles.
- Make sure all scouts sign the 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!
- Share confirmation email received after submitting the report form when picking up patches.