The Badge Archive

50 State Challenge

Scout K challenges everyone to join the 50-State Pen Pal Program, collecting letters from every U.S. state to send to a Girlguiding UK company.


As of April 2025, both Troops and Individual Scouts can participate. Let’s connect, share, and build global friendships! 💌✨

Join the Project and Get a Fun Patch!

Order your patches from Making Friends

How Does This Work?

There are three options:

What is this about a book?

We’ve made a book of State Facts. We’re planning to put one page and one letter for each state in a book and print through Amazon.

Everyone who participates will get a free PDF copy, and we’ll put the option out there for purchase of a printed book for those who want it. We plan to buy one of them ourselves to send a hard copy to the Girlguiding UK company for them to look through and read all the stories we’ve collected and learn about the United States of America.

This project aims to ensure that every troop or scout can complete the challenge and enjoy the experience. Everyone will get their own scout page in PDF form. Only the first troop or scout in each area that sends in their response will be included in the official printed book line up. We may include one from each council in each state if we get enough responses. It all depends on how many participate!

Below is a list of States so you can track the progress of the project!

Council List – By State

Note: Many councils cross state lines. We did our best using the Find your own council tool on GSUSA’s official page. If we missed a council, please let us know your zip code and the missing council so we can verify and add it to the list.

Alabama

Open

Alaska

Open

  • Girl Scouts of Alaska (GSAlaska or GSAK)
  • Farthest North Girl Scout Council (GSFairbanks or FNGSC)

Arizona

Open

Arkansas

Open

California

Open

Colorado

Open

Connecticut

Open

Delaware

Open

Florida

Open

Georgia

Open

Hawaii

Open

Idaho

Open

Illinois

Open

Indiana

Open

Iowa

Open

Kansas

Open

Kentucky

Open

Louisiana

Open

Maine

Open

Maryland

Troop 37167 – Troops from the other council can be accepted.

Massachusetts

Open

Michigan

Troop 50507 – Troops from the other two councils can be accepted.

Minnesota

Open

Mississippi

Open

Missouri

Open

Montana

Open

Nebraska

Open

Nevada

Open

New Hampshire

Open

New Jersey

Open

New Mexico

Open

New York

Open

North Carolina

Open

North Dakota

Open

  • Girl Scouts – Dakota Horizons
    (Headquarters of council is in South Dakota.)

Ohio

Open

Oklahoma

Open

Oregon

Open

Pennsylvania

Open

Rhode Island

Open

South Carolina

Troop 3457 – A Troop from the Easter South Carolina council can be accepted.

South Dakota

Open

Tennessee

Open

Texas

Troop 157141 – Troops from the other six councils can be accepted.

Utah

Open

  • Girl Scouts of Utah

Vermont

Open

Virginia

Open

Washington

Open

Washington D.C.

Open

West Virginia

Open

Wisconsin

Troop 7456 – Troops from the other three councils can be accepted.

Wyoming

Open

–

For More Fun Ideas and Plans

for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts

Join the Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

This is a supportive Facebook community for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout leaders. Whether you’re seeking advice, fresh ideas, or meeting plans, you’re in the right place! Let’s inspire each other, share our experiences, and make every troop meeting a memorable adventure.

for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Scouts

Join the Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Leader Help Facebook Group
(Not an official GSUSA Group)

This is a supportive community for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scout leaders. This group offers solutions to keep older scouts engaged in scouting amidst their busy lives. Share strategies, tackle challenges, and exchange ideas for fun, meaningful activities that resonate with teens and build lasting connections.

Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!

–

–

Tia Kennard