Agreement will provide scouts with free and reduced-price activities at state parks in exchange for service projects.

A message for John xxxxxx - [email protected]
View this email in your browser ([link removed])
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Gov. Justice signs MOU between WVDNR and Girl Scouts to promote education, conservation
Agreement will provide scouts with free and reduced-price activities at state parks in exchange for service projects.
CHARLESTON, WV — Gov. Jim Justice today announced a partnership between The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the Black Diamond Council of the Girls Scouts of America to allow scouts to utilize state parks for activities while contributing to conservation service projects.

Gov. Justice signed the MOU ([link removed]) at his regularly scheduled Administration Update Briefing today.

Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding, scouts from the Black Diamond Council will be able to camp for free at various parks as long as the requested facility is available for use on the requested date and its use will not interfere with other groups or scheduled activities at the park. Recreational activities may also be provided at a reduced or negotiated rate, depending on volume, availability, operational hours and the time of year.

“I’m thrilled to continue to create partnerships with incredible organizations like the Girls Scouts of America and encourage the youth of our state to enjoy and conserve West Virginia’s natural resources,” Gov. Justice said. “This agreement will not only provide scouts with access to our beautiful state parks, but help foster a sense of responsibility towards our natural environment while offering enriching experiences.”

Before starting a service project, scouting units will be required to complete volunteer agreements and obtain project approval from the WVDNR’s West Virginia State Parks section. State Parks personnel may also provide educational programming, such as merit badge classes and counseling, to visiting scouts subject to the availability of parks personnel, scheduled events, operations and availability of facilities or activities.

“We are excited to partner with the Black Diamond Council and help develop the outdoor skills and leadership potential of these truly incredible kids,” WVDNR Director Brett McMillion said. “We hope the time they spend in our incredible state parks will translate into a lifelong love for West Virginia and an ongoing positive impact on the scouts, our state parks and the community as a whole.”

The Girl Scouts of America’s Black Diamond Council is headquartered in Charleston and serves more than 5,000 girls, helping them develop their academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills and citizenship skills through outdoor activities.

This new agreement is one of several public-private partnerships forged during the Justice Administration to promote environmental stewardship, outdoor education and community engagement. In July, the WVDNR signed a similar agreement with the Buckskin Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Other partnerships include hunting trips, trout stocking and stream improvement projects with the Mountaineer Challenge Academy.

To learn more about the Black Diamond Council and scouting opportunities in West Virginia, visit bdgsc.org. For more information about West Virginia’s State Parks, visit WVstateparks.com.
###

============================================================

CONTACT THE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE

Jordan Damron
Director of Communications, Assistant Legal Counsel
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])


CJ Harvey
Press Secretary
** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

FOLLOW GOVERNOR JUSTICE

** Gov. Justice on Twitter ([link removed])
** Gov. Justice on Facebook ([link removed])
** Gov. Justice on Instagram ([link removed])
** Gov. Justice on YouTube ([link removed])
** Gov. Justice on Flickr ([link removed])
** Governor's Website ([link removed])
You are receiving this email from Governor Jim Justice's Communications Office. Any reference to the word "campaign" in any link associated with this email has been generated by Mailchimp, an online web-based marketing program, and not by the Office of the Governor. Any document linked in this email is a document of the Governor's Communications Office and not of any campaign.

We routinely add email addresses from people we meet who contact Governor Justice's office. If you do not wish to receive messages from our office, please click the Unsubscribe link below for instant removal.
You are receiving this email because you asked to receive updates from the Governor's Office.

Our mailing address is:
Governor's Communications Office
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East
State Capitol
Charleston, WV 25305
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]