"Only by educational processes can . . . any reasonable quantities of wildlife be preserved for the satisfaction and companionship of future generations."
—Herford N. Elliott
Since 1977, the Elliott Wildlife Values Project has instilled girls with a lifelong commitment to the environment and to wildlife conservation, thanks to a trust fund established by Herford N. Elliott. Additional funding and in-kind support is provided through grants, sponsors, and alliances.
Mission
The Elliott Wildlife Values Project (EWVP) of Girl Scouts of the USA develops girls as leaders whose wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship efforts positively impact their communities and the world.
Objectives
The EWVP fosters the Girl Scout Mission: building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girls develop science, outdoor, and leadership skills through girl-led, cooperative activities, in which they learn by doing. In the process, they:
- Discover a strong sense of self, develop positive values, and gain an understanding of their important role in caring for wildlife and our earth’s natural resources.
- Connect with nature, the outdoors, and their local and global communities; network with environmental experts; and investigate career opportunities.
- Take action to identify community and environmental needs, positively impact the environment, and educate and inspire others to act as stewards of the earth and its wildlife.
Project Emphasis
The EWVP supports Girl Scout councils and global committees through program development, membership and volunteer development, learning opportunities and consultative services, and collaboration with national organizations and agencies.
The EWVP mission is infused with what’s most important to Girl Scouting. Activities are designed to make the most impact and reach as many of our 3.3 million girl and adult members as possible. Work focuses on:
- Enhancing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for everyone: Girls and adults of diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds have many flexible options for participating in Girl Scouts. Online and print resources, especially the It’s Your Planet: Love It! journey series, unite girls around a common purpose in a fun and educational way.
- Supporting the development of a nimble, state-of-the-art model of volunteerism to mobilize a variety of adults committed to the Girl Scout mission.
- Developing Girl Scouts Forever Green, an annual Take Action project in which Girl Scouts are at the forefront of environmental sustainability by leading their families, schools, and communities in protecting natural resources.
The support Girl Scouts provides to councils and volunteers ultimately helps bring environment- and wildlife-stewardship issues to the forefront of girls' lives.
