Patch Spotlight: Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors

Posted On August 26, 2026

Remembering Dolly Parton

With yesterday’s passing of Dolly Parton, I realized that many Girl Scouts did not know that there is a Girl Scout patch program inspired by her song Coat of Many Colors. This was made with Dolly Parton’s approval by Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians (formerly Tanasi) in 2008.

She is remembered for more than her music, her generosity, humor, literacy work, theme park, and encouragement of people to be themselves.

Dolly Parton and Girl Scouts

Dolly Parton became a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts in 2007.
This patch program was created in 2008 with her permission, and Dolly presented the first patches to Girl Scouts at Dollywood.

The Coat of Many Colors Patch Program

The patch program is inspired by Dolly’s song/story Coat of Many Colors.
Recommended for Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes.

Focuses:
* Self-esteem
* Individuality
* Compassion
* Understanding Poverty
* Helping Others

The program itself isn’t about Dolly Parton, but her story opens the door for these lessons.

Earning the Coat of Many Colors Patch

You can find the requirements to download at the bottom of this post, or you can email Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians to get the requirements.

Activities to Add to the Patch Program

Design a Coat of Many Colors – Give each girl a blank coat outline and lots of colorful paper scraps. Each section can represent something she likes about herself, something she is good at, someone she loves, or something important to her.

Create a Kindness Quilt – Each girl decorates a paper or fabric square with an act of kindness. Combine them when finished.

Learn about the Imagination Library – https://imaginationlibrary.com/

Hold a Book Drive – Collect children’s books to donate or to add to local Little Free Libraries.

Personal Keepsake – Have girls think about the message behind Coat of Many Colors and choose a word or short phrase that represents what it means to them. Add it to a keychain, backpack tag, bookmark, postcard, bracelet, button, or another craft they can keep.

Scraps to Something Challenge – Give girls an assortment of leftover craft supplies and challenge them to make something useful or beautiful without getting new materials.

Little Free Libraries – Visit Little Free Libraries in your community. Borrow or donate a book, leave some handmade bookmarks, or straighten the books inside.

Dolly’s Legacy

Dolly Parton’s legacy reaches far beyond her music. Through programs like the Imagination Library, she helped put books into the hands of children around the world, while her generosity and kindness became as much a part of her story as her songs. The lessons behind the Coat of Many Colors Patch—confidence, compassion, resourcefulness, and helping others—feel like a fitting way for Girl Scouts to remember her.

What’s your favorite Dolly memory?

~Zigg