Scouts Take Action for Trash the Trash Day

Scouts Take Action for “Trash the Trash Day” Across the Transatlantic Council

On May 2, Scouts and families from across the Transatlantic Council came together to make a visible difference in their communities as part of the annual Trash the Trash Day. This global Scouting initiative, held each year on the first Saturday in May, encourages Scouts to collect litter and involve others in caring for the environment. Throughout the council, our Scouting community got to work over several weeks, bridging the time between Earth Day – an annual worldwide event focused on environmental protection – and Trash the Trash Day.

From April 22 through May 2, Scouts of all ages embraced the spirit of conservation by organizing cleanups in parks, neighborhoods, and along local trails. These efforts highlighted a shared commitment to protecting the environment while living out the core values of Scouting: service, responsibility, and leadership.

Pack 113 Explores and Cleans in Heidelberg

In Heidelberg, Cub Scout Pack 113 combined outdoor adventure with service during their Heidelberg Historic Trail hike. Along the way, Scouts collected litter throughout the park, leaving the area better than they found it. The activity gave younger Scouts a hands-on way to understand environmental stewardship while enjoying one of the region’s most scenic historic routes.

Stuttgart Scouts Team Up for Impact

In Stuttgart, Scouts from Troop 324 partnered with Cub Scout Pack 44 to clean up a local area while also building outdoor skills. Guided by the Troop’s Outdoor Ethics Guide, Cub Scouts were introduced to the principles of Leave No Trace, learning how simple choices outdoors can reduce their impact on the environment.

This past weekend, Pack 324 followed suit and took part in Trash the Trash Day during their “Moving Up” camping weekend. Scouts discussed the Outdoor Code and explored the seven principles of Leave No Trace. With guidance from Scouts in Troop 44, they then put those lessons into action by conducting a cleanup around the Garden of Eden area on the Panzer Range Complex.

Troop 46 Supports Local Scouting in Berlin

In Berlin, Troop 46 went beyond litter cleanup to provide extensive service to the local German Pfadfinder at their camping facility in Steglitz. Over the course of their project, Scouts and Scouters contributed a total of 32 service hours improving and maintaining the site.

Their work included cleaning out gutters, organizing and sorting equipment in a storage shed, and restoring the covered fire pit area, right down to cleaning soot-covered light bulbs after a long winter of use. They also cleared and leveled a section of land previously used for dumping, preparing it for a new shed and activity space, planted trees and bushes, and even constructed a fence from reclaimed wood to provide privacy and reduce noise.

This effort was a powerful example of community building, as Troop 46 supported fellow Scouts in their host city while leaving a lasting improvement to a shared outdoor space.

Scouts and Families Take Action in Abu Dhabi

In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Scouts, Scouters, and families from Pack 36, Troop 36, and Ship 36 joined the global effort, organizing their own local cleanups. Their participation highlighted the truly international reach of Trash the Trash Day, as they worked together to reduce litter and protect their environment in the Middle East.

Pack 36 and Troop 36 made a significant impact, collecting more than 45 kilograms of trash, demonstrating the power of teamwork and dedication to environmental stewardship.

Families Pitch In Across Communities

Supporting the international spirit of Trash the Trash Day, several scouting families took initiative in their own communities. Armed with gloves and trash bags, they cleaned streets and trails, collecting more than four pounds of litter. These efforts demonstrated that meaningful impact doesn’t require large groups, just commitment and a willingness to act.

Partnering up with the VFW

In Vicenza, Scouts from Troop 295 partnered with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to complete conservation projects as part of the broader VFW Day of Service. The VFW Day of Service, launched as part of the VFW’s “Still Serving” campaign, takes place throughout May and mobilizes veterans and their communities to give back through projects like cleanups and local improvements.

As a longtime chartered partner of Scouting units, the VFW plays an important role in supporting youth programs, making collaborations like this especially meaningful. Working side by side, Scouts and veterans strengthened community ties while improving local spaces.

In Paris, members of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 605 joined with Auxiliary members, The American Legion Paris Post #1, Girl Scouts, Scouts from the Transatlantic Council and local French community members to clean up the American Legion Mausoleum, the final resting place of more than 280 expatriate U.S. veterans and two of their spouses. By doing so, they contributed to the VFW Day of Service, a global movement of community service projects that offers an opportunity to give back, connect with fellow veterans, and make a meaningful difference while honoring those who served.

Living the Scout Promise

Trash the Trash Day 2026 showcased what’s possible when Scouts, families, and community partners come together with a shared purpose. Whether hiking historic trails, cleaning neighborhood streets, or collaborating with veteran organizations, each act of service contributed to a cleaner environment and a stronger community.

Share Your Story

If you, your family, or your unit participated in Earth Day or Trash the Trash activities, we’d love to hear from you. Visit the Sustainability & Conservation page to complete the online form. Your effort will be recognized with a pin on the Transatlantic Council Sustainability and Conservation map in honor of your service.

Have another Scouting story to share? Email us.

As these Scouts demonstrated, small actions multiplied across many hands can create lasting impact.