2026 Month of the Military: USAGSO Challenge
March 12, 2026
April is Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize and celebrate the strength, resilience and sacrifices of military-connected kids around the world. Military children often experience unique challenges such as frequent moves, changing schools and time apart from loved ones serving our country- but they also gain incredible strength, adaptability and global perspectives.
To celebrate these amazing young people, Girl Scouts are invited to complete the Month of the Military Child Challenge. Choose activities from the list below to learn more about military life, show appreciation for military families and practice kindness, resilience and community spirit.
Complete three activities in April to earn your Month of the Military Child patch! Submit this form to request your patch.* If you have any questions, please reach out to us at overseascustomercare@girlscouts.org.
* Patches are available on a first come, first served basis. While our Girl Scout sisters in the United States are welcome to participate in our Month of the Military Child Challenge, the free patch is only availiable to USAGSO members. Patches are availiable for purchase from our Overseas Shop for non-USAGSO members while supplies last.
Kindness
Activities that enourage appreciation, empathy
and helping others.
- Write a Thank You Note: Write a short thank you note to a military member or veteran expressing your gratitude for their service.
- Compliment Challenge: Give three genuine compliments to people in your community today.
- Friendship Check-In: Reach out to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while.
- Helping Hands: Do one helpful chore or task at home without being asked.
- Create a Thank You Poster: Make a poster thanking service members or military families and hang it in a place they may see it. (Be sure to ask permission to hang your poster!)
- Kindness Bingo: Complete five small acts of kindness today.
- Encouragement Note: Write a note of encouragement for someone who might need a boost (a friend, teacher, sibling or neighbor). Leave it somewhere the person will find it to brighten their day.
- Social Shoutouts: If you are on social media, change your profile picture to this one (in English) or this one (in Spanish) to show the world you’re celebrating Month of the Military Child.
Resilience
Activities that focus on strength,
adaptability and overcoming challenges.
- Draw Your Superpower: Draw yourself as a superhero and label your strengths.
- Resilience List: Write down three ways you stay strong during challenges.
- Goal Setting: Write one goal for the next month and one step to get started.
- Navigate the Maze: Download and print this circuit board maze. Can you navigate your way through all the twist and turns?
- Family Interview: Ask a family member about a challenge they faced and how they overcame it.
- Military Kid Story: Write or draw a story about a military kid going on an adventure.
- Moving Map: Mark places you’ve lived (or places you'd like to visit) on a map.
- Challenge Reflection: Think about a time when something was difficult for you. Write or draw what happened, how you handled it and one thing you learned from the experience.
Community Spirit
Activities that build understanding,
connection and pride in supporting military families.
- Back to the Moon: Sign-up and attend (either live or via recording) our special Month of the Military Child virtual event hosted in partnership with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University on Saturday, April 18.
- Stall Catchers Catch-A-Thon: Did you know that April is also Citizen Science Month? Become a citizen scientist and contribute to Alzheimer’s research by playing Stall Catchers during our 5th Annual Catch-A-Thon! Celebrate military children and be a part of 2.5 million acts of science? Now, that’s what we call a win, win!
- Purple Up!: Wear purple and investigate why purple represents military children.
- Military Around the World: Find three countries where U.S. military bases are located and learn a fact about each.
- Military Branch Match-Up: Learn about the branches of the U.S. military and what they do.
- Welcome Activity: Think of three ways to welcome a new student who has moved due to military orders. Do at least one of them!
- Purple Craft or Snack: Make a purple bracelet, drawing, decoration or even a yummy purple snack to celebrate military children.
- Share Your Story: If you’re a military kid, share one thing you love about being part of a military family with us using this form.
