Programs

Zink the Zebra

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital (GSCNC) is pleased that you are interested in Zink the Zebra. Zink the Zebra is able to visit your troop meeting through a patch program found in a borrowable Zink Kit. Thank you again for your interest!

The program is designed to give girls an ongoing sense of awareness and appreciation for individual differences, foster compassion and respect for others; as well as a basic understanding of acceptance of others with perceived or actual differences.

In 1990, 8 year-old Kelly Weil was diagnosed with cancer. She found that because her appearance was changing, as a result of her therapy, classmates, friends, relatives and even her teachers treated her differently. To help deal with her feelings, she wrote a story about a zebra named Zink who was also treated differently because she had spots instead of stripes like the other zebras. Zink represents all children and adults. Like Zink, we all need understanding, respect, compassion and above all, acceptance.

The Zink the Zebra patch program can be completed in one, two, or more troop meetings. This allows the troop leader flexibility in presenting the activities over a period of time that is appropriate for the individual troop. It provides Girl Scouts with activities that demonstrate positive strategies to assist girls in seeing the importance of understanding and acceptance of themselves and others. In addition, this program can raise a girl's self-esteem by helping them to accept themselves for who they are.

GSCNC is excited to offer this fun and easy program as a step toward emphasizing the Girl Scout goals of understanding and appreciating differences. By encouraging positive character development, Girl Scouts and the Zink the Zebra Foundation strives to influence a better life for our children. Zink is brought to you in part by a generous donation by Comcast Cable to the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital.

Patch program: Each girl who participates in the troop patch program has the option to purchase the program patch from the council's Program department. There are two patch programs-one for Daisy, Brownies and Juniors and the other for Cadette, Senior, and Teens. These patch programs include activities that are appropriate for the specified program levels. Zink is not a typical patch program where girls complete some activities and then move on. Thinking Zink should become a way of life. The Zink the Zebra patch program is available by checking out the program kit.

Evaluations and Patches: Before starting the program, please have girls fill out the preliminary survey to gage their ideas and to assist us in measuring the affects of the program. When the troop finishes the Zink program, please have each girl fill out the same survey evaluation, which is returned to the Council at the time the patches are ordered. When purchasing patches, turn in girl surveys and leader evaluation form. These forms are included in the kit in the Leader Activity Guide.

Zink Kits: Zink the Zebra program kits can be checked out to troops, to introduce girls to positive strategies and activities that focus on the importance of understanding and accepting themselves and others, based on the story of Zink, a spotted zebra. The program kits include a copy of the Zink the Zebra book and animated video, a Zink puppet and beanie and a leader guide. The program kits gives troops flexibility in presenting the activities over a period of time that is appropriate to meet the needs of the troop. The kit also provides suggestions for passing on the lessons learned from the program. By checking out the kit, the troop agrees to return the kit in four weeks or less and also to be financially responsible for any and all damage done or loss of supplies to or from the equipment. You can request a kit using the Program Kit Request Form C360 or contact programkits@gscnc.org for a copy of the kit request form.

Program Kit Request Form C360 (PDF)
*Program Kit Request Form C360 (Formatta)

Zink for Adults: Volunteers that are interested in learning more about the Zink the Zebra program are invited to attend a Zink the Zebra Training. For information on upcoming Zink Training Dates please contact Malinda Smith

Do you have questions about the Zink the Zebra Program? Are you interested in holding a Zink the Zebra event, in your area? Please contact Malinda Smith at 202/237-1670 or 800/523-7898, ext. 310.

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