COLUMBUS, Ohio — Girl Scouts from across Ohio are invited to spend a weekend exploring the outdoors as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) hosts the eighth annual Girl Scouts Love State Parks event from Friday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Sept. 13.
Held in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA, the statewide event will feature special programs at 14 Ohio state parks, offering Girl Scouts, their troops, families, and friends opportunities to connect with nature through hands-on outdoor activities led by ODNR naturalists.
Participants can enjoy a variety of educational and recreational experiences, including lakeside birding at Tar Hollow State Park, fishing and a fish fry at Jesse Owens State Park, a “Passport to the Past” history program at Great Council State Park, and fossil hunting at Caesar Creek and Hueston Woods state parks.
ODNR Director Mary Mertz said the event encourages young people to build lasting connections with Ohio’s natural resources.
“It’s inspiring to watch young people connect with nature in meaningful ways,” Mertz said. “Whether they’re paddling a kayak, exploring a trail, or discovering wildlife for the first time, these experiences spark curiosity and create lifelong appreciation for Ohio’s natural spaces.”
For those who prefer to explore on their own, self-guided activities will also be available at all 76 Ohio State Parks throughout the weekend.
ODNR said the annual event supports the Girl Scouts’ mission of building courage, confidence, and character while encouraging participants to discover Ohio’s parks, wildlife, and conservation efforts.
All Ohio State Parks are free and open to the public, and Girl Scouts, along with their families and friends, are encouraged to participate. Registration information for individual activities and details about purchasing the Girl Scouts Love State Parks commemorative patch are available through local Girl Scout councils.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources noted that Ohio’s state park system was recently recognized as the No. 1 state park system in the nation, earning the 2025 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management.
