Girl Scouts Launch Online Safety Patch Program in Central Texas

A group of Girl Scouts sells cookies at a booth.
Courtesy/Girl Scouts of the USA

Girl Scouts pride themselves on learning about health, science, the environment, entrepreneurship and personal life skills — and collecting all associated patches along the way.

The Central Texas branch of the organization on Monday unveiled a new patch program titled “Not on Our Watch,” which teaches young troop members about online safety and best practices to protect against predators.

The first-of-its-kind program is sponsored by Not on Our Watch TX, an initiative of Texas Women in Business, and is supported by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The program is designed for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors, whose age groups typically range from kindergarten through fifth grade.

The flyer for the program calls it “age-appropriate and engaging” and says its activities aim to “teach Girl Scouts how to recognize unsafe situations online and how to respond with confidence.”

“This partnership is about empowerment, not fear,” said LisaBeth Thomas, co‑founder of Not on Our Watch Texas, in an interview with KXAN. “Girls are navigating online spaces earlier than ever, and they deserve clear, practical information to help them stay safe.”

What is taught in the new patch program?

According to the information sheet about the program, the curriculum includes the following themes:

• Online understanding – Exploring the fun and safe ways to use the internet.
• Internet safety pledge – Learning to speak up when something online feels wrong.
• Protecting personal information – Understanding what’s safe to share and what’s not.
• Safe gaming and pop-ups – Knowing how to stay safe while playing online games.
• Meeting new people online – Learning why it’s important to be cautious with online strangers.
• Netiquette – Practicing kindness and respect in digital spaces.
• Cyberbullying and being a bystander – Recognizing bullying and learning how to stand up for others.
• Digital citizenship – Becoming responsible and respectful members of the online community

How can Girl Scouts earn the new patch?

To earn the patch, Girl Scouts must complete a wide range of activities teaching members how to identify warning signs, set boundaries in online spaces and seek help from a trusted adult when necessary.

The curriculum integrates the above themes into three categories: Discover, Connect and Take Action.

The "Discover" category asks Girl Scouts to take an online safety pledge and teaches them about personal safety online. The "Connect" category includes more interactive activities and games to help solidify the themes. The "Take Action" category brings Girl Scouts into their communities by asking them to share what they've learned with others.

All troop members must complete the “Discover” category of activities, while the amount of “Connect” and “Take Action” activities depends on grade level. Daisies, for example, must complete one activity in each of the “Connect” and “Take Action” categories, while Juniors must complete three activities in each.

Girl Scouts who complete the curriculum will receive a patch symbolizing awareness and resilience.