As you may have read in the latest issue of the VINE, Girl Scout, Sarah, an Ambassador Girl Scout of troop 1632 in Annapolis along with girls from Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital joined Gina McCarthy, Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, for a lunch and discussion about the state of our environment.

Mrs. McCarthy spoke very candidly with the girls about many topics relating to our planet, including the need for more women in the sciences–especially environmental science–the future of our planet, and even the changes that young girls can make in the world today. The afternoon was filled with conversations between the high-ranking female officials at the EPA and girls from across our area about the “how’s” and “why’s” behind changing our planet.

Since the event, Gina McCarthy has posted a blog on the EPA’s website about her experience with the Girl Scouts and how impressed she was with their knowledge of and ambition to protect the environment. Read the blog post below!

One of my favorite parts of my job is having the opportunity to meet young people from across the country.

Girl Scouts from MD, VA, and DC at the EPA headquarters.

Recently, I met with 15 Girl Scouts from DC, Virginia, and Maryland at EPA headquarters to talk about environmental careers. The thing I noticed when I spoke with the Girl Scouts was how knowledgeable they were about what is going on with the environment in their communities. They were passionate about protecting the environment, as evidenced by the numerous environmental patches they wore proudly on their uniforms; they are the next generation of environmental leaders. The Girl Scouts asked great questions, from what action they can take on climate change to what types of careers EPA offers to geoengineers.It’s clear that we have amazing and dedicated troop leaders, environmental educators, teachers, and parents to thank. These role models share their love and care about the environment with these young people. Environmental education is essential to building long-term stewardship of our environment.We all need clean air and water to live, and we all have a moral responsibility to future generations who will depend on our natural resources. That’s why environmental education is vital to the mission we have at the EPA. As we strive to protect human health and the environment, it is important for us to educate and connect people to the natural world around them, protecting this place we all call home.Environmental education is a process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, create unique learning experiences and developcritical thinking skills necessary to build stronger communities where people work together to address challenges. Our agency provides dependable scientific information and resources that educators can rely on to provide quality education.This week, April 13th through the 19th is National Environmental Education Week.

Since 2005, the National Environmental Education Foundation has worked with EPA to reach hundreds of thousands of students and educators by creating educational materials and activities grounded in science that are tied to state and national learning standards.

I was inspired by the Girl Scouts and their passion for our environment. Let’s encourage young people across the nation to learn something new about local ecosystems and find out how they can take action in their communities to protect our natural resources. National Environmental Education Week is the perfect time to take that opportunity.

For more information about environmental education, visitwww.epa.gov/education. For more information on National Environmental Education Week, how to connect with environmental educators in your area, or to sign up to get involved with local activities, visit: www.eeweek.org.

Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are intended to explain EPA policy. They do not change anyone’s rights or obligations.

See the original post at http://blog.epa.gov/epaconnect/2014/04/environmental-education-week/