Patriotism Delegate Program from Youth Squad®

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This pin and all program supplies are available from our partner site MakingFriends®.com.

Suggested Group Activity

Make patriotic bookmarks for veterans or active service members. Mail them or deliver them them personally. FreeKidsCrafts.com has free printables for the bookmarks shown here.

Suggested Prerequisite

Youth Squad® Patriotism Advocate Patch — **Patriotism Advocate Patch**

Completing the Patriotism Advocate Patch Program® is a suggested prerequisite for earning your Patriotism Delegate Pin. Your advocate experience will help provide you with the knowledge needed to become a delegate for patriotism in your community. You can also opt to complete the Patriotism Advocate requirements during the time you earn this Delegate pin.

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Requirement 1: Choose It!

Points to Consider When Choosing a Patriotism Service Project:

What is the difference between patriotism and nationalism? Helpful Link: What Is Patriotism? Definition, Examples, Pros and Cons
How do people feel about Patriotism? Helpful Link: Is patriotism a good thing?
Does the United States need a military? Helpful Link: 10 reasons US military strength remains essential
What do our soldiers need? Helpful Link: Today’s Soldier
What do military families need? Helpful Link: Help Military Families
What health problems to veterans face? Helpful Link: After the Battle: 7 Health Problems Facing Veterans
What is PTSD? Helpful Link: Soldiers returning home…
What financial problems do veterans face: Helpful Link:
Why veterans have more money problems

How much of the U.S. budget is spent on the military? Helpful Link:
Federal Spending: Where Does the Money Go
How is the military budget spent? Helpful Link: US Military Budget, Its Components, Challenges, and Growth
How much of the budget goes to soldiers? Helpful Link: Here’s How the US Military Spends It’s Billions

Some Ideas:

Organize neighborhood crafters to make no-sew blankets to donate to veterans and troops.
Host a fundraiser for adaptive technology for wounded veterans.
Choose a patriotic holiday and host a special event for veterans/military families.
Organize a babysitting brigade for military families.
Set up a welcoming committee for new military families including organizing home repair and maintenance, errands, and help with the kids.
Set up patriotic after-care activities in your community.

Host a dinner for veterans to mingle with community members.
Organize a fundraiser to purchase an all-terrain track chair for a wounded veteran.
Host a flag retirement event for your community.
Organize a community effort to revitalize a patriotic monument or update an American Legion post or a VFW hall.

Project considerations:

What are your skills and talents?
Do you need a mentor or adviser? Who will it be?
Will there be legal or permit issues to resolve?
How many others can you recruit to help?
Will your volunteers need special skills or training?
How many hours can you devote to the project?
Will there be a project deadline?
How much money will you be able to raise for the project?
Can you get a sponsor to help with the costs?

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Requirement 2: Plan it!

Goal Setting

Setting goals will help give you a long-term vision and short-term motivation. It helps you to organize your thoughts and determine exactly what needs to be done.

Decide exactly what you want to accomplish and give your project a name.
Break it down into smaller steps.
Set up a timeline.

Recruit Volunteers

Although smaller projects can be done alone, many projects will require a team. As the project delegate, one of your most important roles will be building a successful team. Helpful Link: 7 Super Steps to Recruit Volunteers.

Find a mentor with experience in your project area.
Enlist an Advocate to help you recruit volunteers. Consider using a volunteer release form especially if you are working with children. Helpful Link: Volunteer Release Form
Decide which jobs you can do alone.
Will you have teams?
How many people will you need for each team?

Take a look at the table below to get you started. You can copy and paste the table to use as a template for your project. You can set up an account for free or use your own method for organization.

Budgeting

Budgeting allows you to create a spending plan for your project. Sticking to your budget ensures that you will have enough money for the things you need to complete it. If you copied the table above you will see there is a section for budgeting.

Raise Money

There are many ways to raise money. If you are working with an organization such as Girl Scouts* check first to see what is allowed. Helpful Link: A Beginner’s Guide to Fundraising

Consider GoFundMe, CrowdRise, DonorsChoose, or Kickstarter.
Organize an event like a car wash, bake sale, or benefit dinner to raise awareness around your fundraiser.
Host an event such as a walkathon, run, or bike rides.
Ask local businesses and community members to donate items for a silent auction or a live auction.
Sales of customized products like tee shirts, pens, and buttons will not only raise funds but generate awareness about your project.
Invite the local media to your fundraiser or at least supply them with a photo and caption after the event.

Specific ideas for Patriotism Fundraising

Get clever with your ideas. Think of things related to your cause. It will help bring awareness and set up a “fun” atmosphere, while raising the money you need to complete your cause.

Sell Red, White and Blue silicone bracelets.
Make and sell “Freedom Bark”.
Host a red, white and blue craft night drop-off for kids.
Give recognition gifts for sponsorships. Set donation levels such as $20 for a patriotic pin or $40 for a tee shirt.
Host a car wash for donations. Include a flag car magnet for donations over a set amount.

Host a dance competition where contestants must dance to a patriotic song.
Organize a wagon/bike/car decorating event before a patriotic parade for participants.

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Requirement 3: Do It!

You should now be ready to put your plan into action. Join in during your project to supervise and provide assistance at all levels.

After completing the plan, remember to thank the community.

Ways to say Thank You:

Personally thank individuals and businesses who helped. A handwritten letter is always nice. Helpful link: How to write a thank you letter.
Thank the community as a whole with posters.
Create a follow up press release and include the names of individuals and businesses who participated. Helpful link: How to write a press release.

Youth Squad® Volunteer Thank You Certificate

Give certificates of appreciation.
Thank the community as a whole on social media.

Congratulations on completing your patriotism action project! The Patriotism Delegate pin makes a great reward for completing your project. It also makes a great gift to program sponsors and mentors.

Patriotism Delegate Pin for Community Service from Youth Squad®

See all our current Delegate level pin programs:

Related Fun Patch Ideas:

Note: Many of the links provided to assist with completing our Patch Program®s are external and do not imply an endorsement or recommendation. At the time of publication, external content was vetted to the best of our ability. Your views and ideas may vary and we do not intend for you to substitute our opinions for yours. Research the topic thoroughly before beginning a project. As always, make sure children access the internet only under safe-surfing conditions.

*youthsquad.makingfriends.com and MakingFriends®.com are not affiliated with, endorsed by or a licensee of Girl Scouts of the USA.