UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) extension coordinators shared their expertise with local scouts in the inaugural Girl Scouts Jamboree held on Feb. 28 at UF Fisheries and Aquatics Sciences in Gainesville.

“We highlighted aspects of each department in the school, with hands-on, outdoor activities,” said SFFGS Assistant Director for Geomatics Extension Katie Britt, who organized the event.

“The Girl Scouts’ mission includes empowering girls through fun and friendship through field trips and outdoor activities, and our GPS and Geocaching, Forestry, and Fishing activities were a great way to let girls work together while exploring technology, environmental stewardship, and careers.”

Britt, along with student assistant Katie Howard, conducted a workshop on how GPS works with a hands-on demonstration about trilateration of location using satellite signals.

The scouts also learned how to operate navigational grade GPS units and about how accurate they are. And they hid their own caches for each other to locate.

The scouts also had an opportunity to go fishing at several ponds on site and were able to catch Bluegill and Redear Sunfish, Channel Catfish, and Largemouth Bass.

“They learned how to use a cane pole, what type of bait to use, and how to safely hold, unhook, and release a fish,” said Katie Hagan, program director of Fishing for Success.

Emily Blum, Florida Project Learning Tree (PLT) coordinator, conducted a workshop for scouts to earn their forestry badge. The scouts participated in the PLT activities: We All Need Trees, Every Tree for Itself, Trees as Habitats, and Looking at Leaves.

“They explored the benefits of trees, how trees grow and compete, how forests support wildlife, and created leaf prints to observe and compare different leaf shapes and patterns,” Blum said.

Parents observed the workshops and snapped photos of their scouts showing off their catches before they were released back into the ponds.

The scouts added to their skill sets and made new friends.

“My daughter LOVED this experience,” said parent Heather McMahan.

The scouts earned an “Outdoor Explorer” patch by attending the event.

SFFGS Extensions is offering a chance for Boy Scouts to earn their choice of a Fishing, Forestry, or Surveying Merit Badge during a similar upcoming workshop on May 2 in Gainesville, also at the UF/IFAS Fisheries and Aquatics Sciences facility off Millhopper Road. Click here for more information on that event.

For more information about scout activities or any of the programs, reach out to

SFFGS Assistant Director for Geomatics Extension Katie Britt k.britt@ufl.edu

SFFGS Fishing for Success Program Director Katie Hagan khagan1@ufl.edu

SFFGS Florida Project Learning Tree Coordinator Emily Blum: e.blum@ufl.edu