Back in January of 2015, I created my first Friday Freebie post. After 9.5 years of posting all things free for Girl Scout leaders, the list has grown to over

I've had a request for suggestions regarding mixed level troops (Daisy/Brownie), and how to meet the needs of each level's badge work with combined activities. Sp, below is a list of Daisy Petals and which Brownie badge might correspond with it, or have similar activities. Also, don't forget about Brownies earning their Bridging to Juniors badge. Many of the typical activities for Daisy petals can be an opportunity for Brownies to help out, too. Look at doing some Try-Its as well, if you don't have a large troop and have access to the badges. The suggestions for Brownie badges here are in no particular order. There are also fun patches that can correspond to petals. Some of the suggested badges may not seem to work at first glance, but basically there is an opportunity for Daisies to earn their petals while participating in some of the same activities Brownies can do while earning those badges. For instance, yellow petal can go with the art-focused badges, if the works of art are for gifts, to be donated, etc. Red petal can go with Senses if you have them taste new things or reach into something squishy. And so on. I would sit down and go through my calendar, see how many times your troop will meet this year, and how long you have with each level (is this first year Daisies? Then you can spread the petals out over two years, etc.). Have goals for the year and the levels (second year Brownies to complete X steps towards Bridge badge, etc.), and then start matching up what looks like it will work. Also, Daisies might do 3 steps of something while Brownies do 5, with 3 of the 5 steps being tailored towards Daisies, and so on. Center Blue (Promise) – Girl Scout Way Making Friends Light Blue (honest & fair) – Making Games Making Friends Fair Play Yellow (friendly & helpful) – My Great Day Making Friends Pets Potter/Painter Fair Play Light Green (considerate & caring) – Household Elf Pets, Making Friends GSW Red (courageous & strong) – My Best Self Dancer/Hiker Snacks Senses First Aid Bugs Safety Award Orange (responsible for what I say & do) – Safety Award Home Scientist Household Elf Hiker (general Kapers too) Purple (respect myself & others) – Making Friends My Best Self My Great Day First Aid Family Story Fair Play Letterboxer Pets Making Games Celebrating Community Snacks Magenta (respect authority) – First Aid Celebrating Community My Best Self My Family Story Making Games Fair Play (cookie badges too) Green (use resources wisely) – Household Elf Home Scientist Inventor Computer Expert Hiker Letterboxer Making Games Painting GS Way Rose (make the world a better place) – Household Elf Inventor My Great Day Potter/Painting Hiker Pets GS Way Violet (be a sister to every GS) – Making Friends My Family Story Making Games Fair Play Celebrating Community GS Way All the money/business badges can go easily with the Daisy leaves, I think. Safety Awards as well. I would recommend having separate Journey-in-a-Day events, if your girls want to tackle Journeys.

This Girl Scout Bridging ceremony guide 2024 will help leaders plan this important scouting milestone.

Getting Started with Girl Scouts Daisies and Brownies

This year, leaders who have troops that are bridging from Daisies to Brownies can have one that is like the ones that took place pre-pandemic. Here is a guide to help you plan your ceremony. During the past two years, the pandemic has changed the way we have been scouting with our troops. While we were able to meet, it came with all kinds of different rules, and those also varied by Council. Some could meet only outdoors and socially distant, while others could meet indoors without a mask. There were times when we all went virtual, and it was a stressful time to keep our girls engaged. Now that the worst appears to be over (fingers crossed), leaders will once again be able to have a regular Girl Scout bridging ceremony and celebration. When Do Girl Scout Bridge to the Next Level? Many leaders wonder when their troop needs to bridge. There is not right or wrong answer; the right time is what works best for your troop. For example, if you take the summers off from meeting, then bridging as your last meeting of the year makes sense. You start the new scouting year as your next level. That being said, even if you do not meet in the summer, having your first meeting of the scouting year as your bridging ceremony also makes a lot of sense. Leaders who meet during the summer months may do level specific badges during this time, so bridging in the fall works for them. No matter what time of you decide to bridge, give the families enough notice so they can attend. It is best if you can do it during your regular meeting time, as this 60-90 minute time slot is already carved into the family's schedule. The KISS Strategy for Daisy to Brownie Girl Scout Bridging Let me start by sharing what the KISS strategy is. Keep It Simple Sister The girls in your troop are easy to please. They are six and seven years old. This is not a wedding, Bat Mitzvah, 50th anniversary party, or college graduation party. You are not going to drive yourself crazy on Pinterest and spend hours planning the perfect event. Your Daisy to Brownie bridging ceremony will be about 10 minutes long, no more than 15 minutes tops. Your audience (aka, parents and siblings) will appreciate the shorter ceremony and the girls will be so happy about the celebration that they will want to party on as well. Does My Troop Need to Earn All the Petals in Order to Bridge to Brownies? The short answer is no, they do not. There are no requirements for girls to move up to any level, as where they are placed is solely dependent upon what grade in school they are in. Resources for Your Daisy to Brownie Bridging Ceremony Keeping with the KISS strategy, your co-leader and you do not need to write your own ceremony. I am going to provide you with several resources that are already done for you. Might you want to say a few words? Absolutely! That is what my co-leader and I did. Here are some useful links to help guide plan your Daisy to Brownie Bridging ceremony. Bridging to Brownie Girl Scout Requirements First of all, you do not have to do ANYTHING to bridge your troop. Girls automatically bridge because they are moving up a grade. If you want to earn the Brownie wings, here is what needs to be done. Both steps are fairly easy to complete. Start reaching out to sister troops now so you can fulfill these requirements. Girl Scout Bridging Guide from North-Central Alabama Here is a guide for leaders no matter where you reside. Daisy to Brownie Girl Scout Bridging Script This one is a bit long, but you can condense it to make it work for your troop. Guide to Bridging Ceremonies Scroll to page 15 to find the Daisy to Brownie guide. Daisy Bridging Poems Check out the images to find a poem that you want to read. Free Girl Scout Printable Bridging Certificates This post has been updated and all links are viable as of April 2021. Make sure to print one copy and then take it to Staples or Office Max to run off. Save your receipt to get reimbursed. There is no sense using up all of your own ink! Bridge to Brownies Brownie Mix Label It is nice to give a little gift to your girls. I gave mine a box of Brownie Mix. This label did not exist then, but if it did, I would have used it! Girl Scout Daisy to Brownie Bridging Ceremonies from Actual Troops Here is a sampling of some of the Daisy to Brownie Bridging ceremonies that you can find on YouTube. In my next post, I will share easy decorating and gift ideas that will make your Daisy to Brownie bridging ceremony most memorable.

*This post contains affiliate links. Updated March 2022 At the end of first grade, Daisy Girl Scouts who choose to continue their scouting experience will become Brownie Girl Scouts in second grade. A bridging ceremony to celebrate this Scouting milestone is typically held during the last meeting, although it can take place over the summer or even at your first meeting in the fall. While I highly recommend having the ceremony at the end of the year so it feels like an accomplishment after a year (or two) of earning petals and doing service, you, as the leader, need to figure out what is best for your troop. This is an important event in the life of a Girl Scout, parents are invited to witness their daughter's transition from Daisy to Brownie. Here is my updated guide for planning your Daisy to Brownie bridging ceremony. Photo from Pixabay Important Decisions to Make Before Your Daisy to Brownie Girl Scout Bridging Ceremony Time and Date There are several things your co-leader and you need to discuss and decide before your bridging ceremony. The first is the place and the time. Since meeting dates are known in advance, this would be the best time, in my opinion, to have your ceremony. After all, this time slot is already carved out in the child's weekly schedule. If your meeting time is after school, then parents should be notified of the bridging ceremony about two months beforehand. This is necessary because parents who work full-time will need to be able to arrange their work schedules to attend. It is also necessary to give ample notice so parents with other children can arrange for childcare for them if they are young and may disrupt the bridging ceremony. New Uniforms Once you have established the time and date of the bridging ceremony, then you need to decide who is going to buy the vest or sash, pins and patches...will it be the parents or the troop? I am firmly against troop funds being used to buy these items, as time and again, I have read in Girl Scout forums and Facebook groups how leaders buy them, as well as the tabs, pins, and patches, only to have a girl not return in the fall. Your troop has now lost this money, which could have been used for earning Brownie Badges or taking a field trip. Parents need to have some skin in the game. It needs to cost them money, the same way a sport or dance class costs them money. Dance studios do not buy each child's costume for the year end recital, parents do. Teams do not buy cleats for the team, parents do. While I understand that some leaders want their girls to be self-sufficient and pay for all troop related costs, it is not wise to spend money on an unknown. I did have one girl bridge from Daisies to Brownies, only to have her not return in the fall. Her parents bought her vest for the bridging ceremony, so they were out the money, not my troop bank account. Even if a girl loves your troop and being a Girl Scout, schedules change. What was a free time in first grade many not be free time in second grade, and therefore she will not be able to continue with your troop or with scouting at all. If you want to give the girls something when they bridge that does not cost a fortune from your troop account, here is a site where you can download a free printable Daisy to Brownie Bridging certificate. But if you feel strongly about buying the girls their new Brownie uniform, email the parents asking for the size their daughter needs (I suggest going up one size as girls will grow in two years). Then you can make your life easier and buy most of the uniform online. You can find all your Girl Scout supplies, except for your local Council ID badge sets, (they do have a few of those on the site), here at Boscovs. Brownie Girl Scout Uniform from Boscov's Brownie Girl Scout Tab from Boscov's Bridge to Brownie Arc from Boscov's What to Serve Since this is a celebration, of course you will be serving food! Create a Sign Up Genius event (my PTA and synagogue use this for organizing their events and it rocks!) and then put enough items on the list so that everyone is able to sign up to bring something. On your sign up list, make sure there is a place for parents to RSVP how many guests they will be bringing so people know how much to buy or make. Keep it simple; finger foods work best with younger children. Here are some ideas: Plates Napkins Plastic Table Covering Juice Boxes Pony sized water bottles Donut holes Cookies Hershey Kisses Mini cupcakes Veggies and dip Fruit (grapes, strawberries, bags of pre-sliced apples) Hummus and pita chips Brownies (of course!) Before you make your list public via a troop email, be sure that your co-leader and you sign up for what you want to bring. Make it easy on yourself! Personally, I always brought the paper plates. The theme for bridging is a rainbow. Here are some fun party goods for your celebration. The Daisy to Brownie Girl Scout Bridge One of my mottos in life is to keep it simple. Complicated is too...complicated! When my troop bridged, I took two large pieces of oaktag, cut them in half, and taped them together to look like a bridge. Then I made "steps" on green construction paper and wrote one word on each...."Now I am a Brownie Girl Scout." The girls walked along it and crossed over to my co-leader, their parents, and myself. The Ceremony Remember that your girls are only in first grade. Keep the ceremony short and simple! You will want to spend your meeting before the bridging ceremony practicing what will happen so girls will not be surprised. Young children like to know what to expect. We had the girls do the Pledge of Allegiance, the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law. Then I said a few words about what we had done with the girls over the past two years. The girls sang "I've Got Something in My Pocket" and used the word "Daisy" for "Brownie". Then we called each girl one at a time. Her parent helped her put on the Brownie vest, and I pinned on her pins while my co-leader took a picture. We handed each girl a bridging certificate and a baggie with her bridging patch in it. After each girl crossed the bridge, we sang "I've Got Something in My Pocket" and said "Brownie smile" extra loud. Then we took hands with the parents, did our friendship squeeze, and sang "Make New Friends". Then we had our refreshments. Here are some other Daisy to Brownie bridging ceremonies to inspire your own. This easy Daisy to Brownie bridging ceremony is one your co-leader and you can easily put together. It is a great way to end this chapter of your Girl Scout leadership!

*This post contains affiliate links. In the spring of 2023, the GUSUA introduced several new badges and retired some old ones. One of the new badges is the Girl Scout Brownie Craft and Tinker badge. While earning this badge, your troop will craft different items to solve problems. If you lead a multi-level troop that includes Daisy Scouts, then the activities included will help them earn or relearn three different petals. Green Use Resources Wisely Light Green Considerate and Caring Rose Make the World a Better Place Available on TpT Because earning the Brownie Craft and Tinker badge uses the creative process, you may want to spread this over two meetings. Included in this resource: Inventor Game for Step 1 Three activities for Step 2 Three activities for Step 3 Two activities for Step 4 Easy final discussion for Step 5

🎶 Calling all Taylor Swift fans in Girl Scouts! 🎤 Introducing our brand-new Taylor Swift Activity Sheet designed exclusively for Girl Scouts of all levels - Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors! 🌟 📌 What's included: Scouts will learn the value of following their passion and standing up for themselves. It has 9 Pages, 10 Themed Activities, and a certificate for girls!    Disclaimer: Please note that this Taylor Swift Activity Sheet is not a physical item that will be shipped to your address. It is a digital PDF file, and a downloadable link will be provided to you. You can easily access and print it from the comfort of your home. Thank you for understanding! 📩💻🖨️ Please be aware that this purchase is intended for your personal troop's use only and should not be shared or resold.

Getting Started with Girl Scouts Daisies and Brownies

The Democracy for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors Badge Bundle is a resource that will help you teach your troop about our government in a hands on and non-political way. For a multi-level troop, these three meetings are laid out for you and you can see the activities that overlap and can be done as a larger group. Included in Democracy for Daisies Introduction Book list Four ways to help girls learn the difference in the three kinds of government All printables in color and in black and white Coloring page Two activities for Step 1 Two Activities for Step 2 Two activities for Step 3 Included in Democracy for Brownies: Two activities for Step 1 Game for Step 2 Craft for Step 3 Three options for Step 4 Craft for Step 5, with additional ideas for other crafts All printables Included in Democracy for Juniors: All five steps Introduction ideas Two activities for Step 1 Two activities for Step 2 Three activities for Step 3 (one can also be used for Step 5) Two options for Step 4's activity One activity for Step 5 (different than the one from Step 3) Mock election ideas on the topic of your choice and ballots All printables Be sure to click on the star button and follow me on TpT. You will receive updates on when new products are added to my store. Terms of Use A complete Terms of Use is included in this product. Short version-this is for your personal individual use only. It is not intended as a handout for Service Units, Council websites or other public media. Please purchase multiple licenses and remember to be honest and fair-Scouts Honor! Leadership Made Simple is not affiliated with Girl Scouts of the USA. This product is not connected in any way, nor is it sponsored, endorsed, or approved by Girl Scouts of the USA

Whether you fell into being a Leader, or have been dreaming about it for years, check out these tips from someone who just finished her first year.

Bridging Ceremony Invitations Celebrate your girl scouts in style with this Bridging Ceremony Invite, featuring 4 different background choices! Whether your troop is transitioning from Daisy to Brownie, Brownie to Junior, Junior to Cadette, Cadette to Senior, these invites are perfect for the occasion. *This includes Editable PDF's - Use Adobe Reader or higher to edit* *This includes Canva Template Links, Canva Pro is NOT required for these downloads* 1. Add to Cart + Download (Instructions Below)! 2. Use Adobe Reader *OR* Canva (Free!, Canva Pro not required!) to edit your information 3. Print at home or at a local print shop (cardstock paper is recommended) This item is an instant digital download, NO physical item(s) will be shipped to you. Access to these PDFs will be available instantly after purchase. Your download will include: • (1) ZIP including (4) 5x7 Editable Invitations • (1) ZIP including (4) US Letter Cut Out Pages for 5x7 Editable Invitations • (1) PDF including (8) Canva Template Links to the Editable Invitations Download Instructions: After purchasing the file, please wait a few moments for your payment to clear The files can ONLY be accessed through Etsy on a web browser (not the app) Go to “Purchases” and then click on the “Download” button Downloads will also be available in your purchase history on the Etsy website. You will receive an email from Etsy with a link to your downloads as well. If you have any questions, please send me a message! EDIT. PRINT. ENJOY! Unlimited Personal Use. Commercial Use is prohibited. You may not resell, lend, share or otherwise distribute the digital file(s), with or without alterations. You may use this within your girl scout troop. **Due to the nature of the product, no refunds, cancelations or exchanges will be given** *Colors may vary due to different monitors & screens* ★★★★★ Thank you for shopping and supporting my shop! If you have any questions, please message me on Etsy - I will respond within 24 hours!

year? If you are, then these Girl Scout Memory Books for Daisies, Brownies and Juniors is just what you need to create a year long keepsake.

Getting Started with Girl Scouts Daisies and Brownies

You don't need to be a seasoned camper to take your brownie girl scout camping. From choosing a campsite to preparing your parents, we've got you covered.

*This post contains affiliate links. Updated April 2023 The Brownie Snack Try it is one of the most fun badges for the girls to earn, and it is also one of the messiest and hands on for you to lead. This badge is very similar to the old Brownie program’s Make It, Eat It, Try It that my troop earned back when they were Brownies. Many children today are well aware of what constitutes healthy foods and non-healthy foods. This is not only taught in school, but is also preached to them on various Public Service Announcements on popular children’s television channels. As their Girl Scout leader, you can help them learn about making their own snacks and healthy choices. The best part is that they get to make it themselves, an opportunity that not every child gets to have. Photo by Sicha Pongjivanich. freegigitalphotos.net Before you decide to tackle this badge, you need to consider a few things: Does anyone in your troop have food allergies? Does your meeting place permit food to be used? If you can bring in food, are you able to actually prepare things in the space? Will you be able to get volunteers? (An absolute necessity to earn this badge) You need to give them notice to find childcare for other siblings and/or get out of work early. Do you want to hold this meeting in your home or that of your co-leader? When my troop earned the Make It, Eat It, Try It badge, we were able to do the activities in our meeting space and I had several extra volunteer moms helping-including one who was a trained chef! It was very successful because the girls got to make everything and then have a tasting party! I did this through time managed stations. Since this badge has five steps like all the others, it is easy to complete in one meeting time doing the station method. Just make sure that everything is no bake and kid friendly. Materials Food labels-one healthy, one unhealthy-for girls to look at for the same product (for Step 1) Plastic tablecloths Paper or plastic plates, forks, spoons and cups Bin for bringing home dirty dishes and utensils that you will be using Equipment needed for cooking each recipe Hand wipes in case a sink is not nearby Paper towels for spills Containers to bring extra food home Plastic bags for other leftover food Winco Disposable Chef's hat 9 inches pack of 10 The girls will enjoy wearing these as they earn their badge! Anyone who finishes early can decorate the brim with markers. Step 1 Jump Into the World of Snacks Ask the girls if they can tell you some healthy snack choices, and then ask them to name some unhealthy ones. Hand out the food labels you have run off. Ask the girls what seems to be a healthy food and what is not. If you cannot pronounce it, you should not eat it! This would also be a good time to go over safety and sanitary rules for cooking. It is also a good idea to make sure they use their manners-no saying “Ew!” or “That’s disgusting!”. As I tell my students, "Don't yuck my yjm!". Then divide the girls into groups for stations. Designate a volunteer to be a timer or set the timer on your phone to make sure that you have enough time for the girls to make each treat and taste it, as well as time to clean up at the end. Yes, you will be making foods several times over, but all girls need to have the same experience. That is why you have containers and plastic bags to take things home. Step 2 Savory Station Explain to the girls that savory snack is not a sweet snack, it is either salty or spicy. You can have the girls make an easy hummus dip (like this one) or an easy homemade ranch dressing (like this one here). Then have the girls peel carrots, slice up cucumbers, and cut celery for dipping fun. Use fun mini cookie cutters to make fun shapes out of cheese and place them on crackers. Cookie Cutter Set from Amazon Step 3 Make a Sweet Snack This station is sure to be a home run with everyone! There are plenty of no bake treats for kids to make. Some that are several steps would be Dirt in a Cup, mini parfaits, and mini trifles. If you are saving everything for a tasting party at the end, write the girls names on the plastic dessert cups near the top before they fill them. You can also use those Keebler mini cracker pie shells to make mini pudding pies (I made banana pies with my troop). Step 4 Snacks for Energy Sometimes we need a quick pick me up snack that is high in protein and healthy as well. If you are free to use peanuts and other nuts with your group, there are plenty of easy no bake recipes for you to try. Here are some resources: 11 No Bake Energy Bites No Bake Energy Bites No Bake Easy Energy Bars Easy No Bake Energy Bars for Kids Is there a girl in your troop with peanut allergies? Then this blog post has no bake energy snacks that have nut free options. Be sure to clear it with the parents before purchasing any of the ingredients. Image created by the author in Canva Step 5 Slurp a Snack You will need a blender for this station. Here are some smoothie recipes for kids: Super Healthy Kids Remember to have the girls thank the volunteers who helped make this delicious badge possible!

This year's new badges include a series of Art and Design badges at the Daisy, Brownie and Junior levels. I have reviewed the Daisy badge and the Brownie badge already. This post will look at the Junior badge. Requirements According to Badge Explorer, the requirements for the Junior badge are: Examine and explore different styles and elements of art and design. Discover art and design around you Make art about a subject Experiment with the elements Explore composition Design an art display When you've earned this badge, you'll know how to turn ideas into art and design projects Opening Activity, Meeting One VTK recommends having the girls choose an animal and create a piece of art about it, and then sketch something they could build to help the animal. These are to be quick projects. During the opening discussion you cover some of the vocabulary words. Discover Art and Design Around You The first VTK suggestion is to "Examine Makers in Art and Design". The talking points for the leader include the vocabulary words and then the girls either do research on a maker (artist) or talk to one (guest speaker). As an alternative, girls can "Get Insired by a Medium or Style" After a discussion of various mediums and artists, girls are given some medium to work with and they are supposed to pick a person, place or thing and either create art about it or design something for it. The third choice is to "Search for Art and Design". After using pretty much the same talking points as in the first two choices, girls search their surrounding s in person or virtually for examples of art and design. Experiment with the Elements To Experiment with the Elements, girls can "Explore Line and Texture". After a discussion covering such words as elements, line, and texture, the troop plays "I spy" with the leader spying things with different design elements "I spy something green, rough, fluffy etc. Girls review a provided handout and talk about the elements seen. Then the girls use the materials provided to create a piece of art focusing on lines and textures. Suggested project ideas are string art, contour drawings, sculpting clay or creating a collage with different textures. The second option is to "Explore Color and Saturation". The initial discussion is the same as above, with the addition of talking about primary and secondary colors and adding white and black to change the saturation. Then the girls do an art project focusing on color choices. Suggested projects are painting a sunset, knitting or crocheting an item using three colors of yarn or taking photos and editing them to adjust the colors. The third choice is "Explore Shape and Form" and this time the discussion and art project focuses on the use of shape and form. Suggested projects are sculptures made from found materials, doing a design consisting of overlapping circles painted various colors, designing and building a model home using boxes or blocks (wonder if legos would qualify) and making a mosaic. Opening Activity: Meeting Two The opening activity for meeting two is to trace some objects and then create a drawing or design made from shapes. In the opening discussion they share their drawing and talk about how they incorporated texture, color, line and other elements. Explore Composition The first suggested activity is "Get Some Perspective". Leaders discuss some more new words, with a particular emphasis on perspective. Then the girls create a piece of art showing a landscape. Suggested activities are creating a collage of things cut from magazines, photographing things from different perspectives and sketching buildings from different perspectives. "Experiment with Light and Shading" begins with a similar discussion, of course this time focusing on light and shading. Before the meeting the leader is supposed to set up several different still life arrangements in the room and have the ability to light each from different directions. The girls then sketch on of the arrangements, and then, after five minutes or so, the light is moved and the girls sketch it again. After they have three sketches, the girls talk about how lighting made a difference and then turn one into a piece of art. The third choice is "Size It Up with Scale" The opening discussion is much the same, but focuses on scale and how artists use it. Then the girls thing of a subject such as an animal, object or place. They use provided materials to create either a miniature or large version of their object. A suggested project is drawing an outline of your miniature or enlarged object and using it as a pattern to cut fabric for a pillow, which you then embellish. Another suggestion is creating a diorama. Finally you can draw, paint or photograph an object as if it was huge and you were small, looking up or down at it. Design an Art Display For the final requirement, Juniors come up with a way to share their artwork. They either host and event, create a portfolio or make some merch. For the event, the girls can design invitations, make frames, arrange the artwork, create a guide and more. To create the portfolio, they make something in which to keep their artwork and talk about sharing it. For creating merch, they sketch what they want and talk about design elements. VTK Resources VTK includes these resources for leaders:' Make it with Style: A sheet showing four different types of art which gives the girls the words for the style and describes it. Words to Know: A vocabulary list of nineteen words plus definitions Project Idea: Make String Art. Directions for string art project Making for Families: Handout on this year's new badges Get Making with Girl Scouts: Seven page handout on Makers, Making and Makerspaces Badge Overview (four printed pages) Meeting plan for each meeting (8 pages each) My Comments: We meet for an hour so it would probably take me four or five meetings to get through these projects, but in general I like this badge. There are a variety of projects offered and yet you aren't limited to them. I like the way it is designed in a similar manner to the Daisy and Brownie badges so that multi-level troops can all do the same projects. You could do this series of badges every other year, using different mediums each time. I like the way the VTK scripts lead the leader into teaching about art and design--they don't just give a list of projects. My main criticism of GSUSA's badge program overall is that its outcomes and goals are so vague and there are no clear indicators that a goal has been reached, so the usual procedure is to do five activities and call it good. While I realize leader Facebook groups may not be a random sample of Girl Scout leaders, VTK still does not seem to be popular planning option so I wonder how many of the troops that do this badge will actually have any exposure to the vocabulary, and how many will just do four art projects and go on a field trip/have a guest speaker. I just wish the series extended to the older girls. Well, maybe next year.

Embark on an interstellar adventure with our "Passport to Space" Printable specially designed for Girl Scouts pursuing Space Science badges! This downloadable passport is a stellar companion for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts as they explore the wonders of space through exciting activities. Features: 1. Two Cover Options A color version is available or a more printer friendly black and white option. 2. Space-Themed Visas As Girl Scouts take their first steps into the cosmos, each visa corresponds to a step in the Space Science badge. Simply print, cut out the images, and glue into the passport when each step is complete! - Daisy - Space Science Explorer - Brownie - Space Science Adventurer - Junior - Space Science Investigator 3. Customizable Each girl can customize their passports with their name, troop information, and a a spot to draw a picture of themselves or insert a photo. 4. Educational and Engaging Enhance the learning experience with a visually appealing passport that brings the excitement of space science to life. The space-themed visas serve as a visual checklist, keeping the Scouts motivated as they complete each step of their space science journey. *Note: This product is a digital download. No physical product will be shipped.*

This 2021 Girl Scout bridging guide for all levels will help leaders plan , with ease, this important scouting milestone.

Join us on our Brownie journey as we explore different badges. We are sharing our tips for the Brownie Race Car Design Challenge, mechanical engineering set.

The goal of the "A World of Girls" Journey is to have fun exploring how stories and games can link them to the wide world of girls – and how they belong to this wide world of girls, too! In this journey, Brownies have fun learning that stories contain clues that can be used to make the world a better place. In fun, flip-book format, one side is devoted to fictional stories that take Brownie girl characters to diverse places in the world. The other side has stories of real-life Brownies exploring

Preface: I paid for all the end-of-year gifts out of my own pocket. You don't have to give ANY gifts to your girls (or volunteers) at the end of the year (the time and effort you've put in all year is a gift in and of itself!), but if you decide you'd like to give them a small gift, keep in mind that troop funds you have at the end of year will be what you start with at the beginning of next year. I did use troop funds for the membership stars and any official badges included. But the rest? I just wanted to do a little something fun for my girls. Plus, I have two girls in my troop whose families are moving away, and I wanted to do something special for them. But wanted to include all the other girls, too! So I went through all the pictures I had from the last two years, and put together DVD slideshows for the girls (I did it in iPhoto and iDVD; I believe Windows has a DVD Maker program. Google it if you need help. Be sure to get DVDR discs, not CDR discs). I bought recycled paper disc envelopes (like these, but I found some cheaper at Walmart), and some small round Avery labels. After burning the DVDs, I created labels with our school name and troop number (it's fuzzed out in the pictures below for anonymity, but you can find the templates on Avery's website for which label you choose, if you like) and stuck them on the outside of the envelope (just used a Sharpie to write on the DVDs). They turned out really cute! Then I took 9x12" green felt pieces (I used a blue one for my one Daisy girl, but I had lots of green, which is why I used it instead of brown for Brownies; I had brown ribbon though. See below), and wooden dowels, and created scroll/wallhangers for the girls' camp SWAPS (or whatever they want to hang on there -- earrings, etc.). To make these, you can pick up felt from any craft store, or order in bulk here. If you're wanting the exact same color for all the wallhangers, don't order bulk mixed colors, because the colors/shades vary so much per pack. But if you're wanting to do a variety of colors, a mixed pack is a great way to go. I purchased the dowels at Walmart in the craft section: You will need TWO dowels for each wallhanging. Make sure you get the kind that are flat on the ends, not pointed (don't get skewers). First step is to put it portrait-style (vertical), and fold over one end about 2/3rds of an inch. Then pin it. (Or you can fold it, use clear tape to hold it in place temporarily, and slide a dowel through to see how wide you need to make the hem. You want the dowel to slide through tightly. You don't want it loose, or else the dowels will fall out too easily.) Next, line it up on your machine (you can hand sew but it takes ages; using a sewing machine is much easier if you can), and sew it so you're leaving roughly 1/2 to 2/3 of an inch or so open in the hem (depending on how fat your dowels are), to slide the dowel through. Then do the other end, and run a dowel through both hems. Then take a ribbon and tie on the top dowel ends (unless you're adding a card, in which case, wait before tying it off), so it forms a triangle that you can use to hang it on the wall. You can pin membership stars, patches, awards, etc., to it if you like. I added a card stock piece with out troop # (the sample here has "Brownies" where I had our troop number, and I typed in my name after "Love"), punched a hole in it, and strung the ribbon through it before tying it off: I'm not posting a full sheet template of this, but if you like, I can. Just leave a comment below, and include your troop level for font color/name. I bought green paper bags (you could also buy white or brown, in the garbage bags/plastic wrap/paper plates aisle at Walmart or Target -- or go to your local Dollar type store, for cheap), some tissue, and then pinned membership stars and patches on the wallhanger. Then rolled it up in tissue, added the DVD to the bag, wrote each girl's name on the bag in Sharpie, and used a glue dot to adhere the "End-of-Year Party" fun patch on the outside the bag. Check your local council shop for End-of-Year fun patches. Or Google it, and you can find several patch companies online that may be cheaper than your council shop. (If you use a glue dot on a patch outside the bag, make sure NOT to stick it to the price tag, as the glue dot will stay stuck, but the price tag can fall off the patch, which makes the patch fall off the bag!) Here's what it looked like with everything laid out (sticker and tag have both been altered to remove identifying info): And here's what it looked like loaded up with SWAPS: That's my daughter's -- she loved it! We hung it on her bulletin board in her bedroom. Now those SWAPS are out of the Ziploc that was shoved in a drawer, and hanging where she can see them, and remember how much fun she had this year! :) I bought a personalized green GS tumbler with straw for my co-leader (Etsy and eBay are both good sources for these), and printed these out on card stock, then rolled up and tied with ribbon, for each of my volunteer moms. Another leader came up with this adorable idea; I altered the wording to better suit my troop. I left the troop number blank so you can print it and fill in the blank with your own number. Next up: Summer Break! See you in a bit! :)

Help your girls in the 2nd & 3rd grade learn about the world and earn badges doing it. Plan your troop meetings with ease with these ideas.

Celebrating Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday in October was a great way for our Brownie troop to earn their Girl Scout Way badge and help Daisies meet their bridging requirements.

*This post contains affiliate links. Updated April 2023 There are many fun activities that your troop can do to earn the Brownie Girl Scout Making Friends badge. When all of the girls get along with each other, meetings run more smoothly and everyone, including the leaders, enjoy their time together more. Image from Pixabay and used by the author in Canva You may want to open the meeting by talking about what makes a good friend. Brainstorm ideas and list them on the board or a piece of poster board. There are many books about friendship that you can read to the girls as a springboard for earning the Making Friends badge. A Available on Amazon This is one if the best children's book series ever written. These short, sweet stories that teach valuable lessons. The illustrations are hilarious. Frog and Toad Are Friends is another classic from children's literature that has withstood the test of time. One short story from this anthology is enough to have girls get the idea of how important friends are. Available on Amazon. Another thing your co-leader and you can do is bring in a few photos of yourself and a friend that you still keep in touch with. The younger you are, the better your girls will enjoy it! Tell them a story about your friendship through the years and why this person is so important to you. Step 1 Make a Friendly Introduction (game) The first thing your co-leader and you need to do is help the girls learn how to make a proper introduction. As adults, we have all experienced being introduced to a new person and then quickly forget that person's name! Here is how to properly introduce yourself. 1. Teach girls to do a proper handshake (firm, not floppy) With COVID-19, how about elbow touch or just a wave 2. Look a person in the eye and say "Hello. I'm (your name). 3. The other person will respond, "I'm _______." 4. The first girl repeats the other person's name and says, "Nice to meet you, ______." Have the girls do this with you, your co-leader, or a few of the other girls. Then it is time for the game. There are many online "Getting to Know You" bingo games available. A search of this in images will lead you to several different ones or use Pinterest to find one. Download the one that will work best for your troop and make a copy for each girl. Then have them play until someone gets a Bingo. Step 2 Show Friends You Care (craft) This gift that the girls are be making will be shared with someone who is NOT in your troop. Feelings will get hurt if girls start making this for others and someone does not have a person making a gift for her. \ Materials Hinged wooden box Foam brushes Modge Podge Scrapbook or tissue paper Construction paper Markers Mints Lifesavers Sweet Tarts candy Paper plates A sheet of paper you have prepared that says the following: "We were "mint" to be friends" "You are a "Lifesaver'" "I think you are a 'Sweet tart'" The girls then choose a color scheme and Modge Podge the crafting paper onto the box. When they are done, have the girls cut out the sayings and tape them to the piece of candy. Then have them put them in the box. Place on a paper plate to carry out after the meeting. Image created by the author in Canva Step 3 Share a Favorite Activity In small groups, give the girls a chance to share one thing they enjoy doing. If possible, see if they can give a short demonstration. Step 4 Learn How to Disagree Photo from imagerymajestic at freedigitalphotos.net There is an art to learning how to disagree with another person without hurting their feelings. Even though we all know adults who have yet to master this, as Girl Scout leaders, it is important for us to teach this to our girls. As they get older and meetings become more girl led, they need to learn how to speak to each other without putting the other person's idea down. With your co-leader, demonstrate the right way to disagree and the wrong way to disagree. (you can be humorous but not insulting). Divide the girls into pairs. Then hand each set of girls a chocolate bar. They have to disagree over who gets it and why. Then they have to figure out a compromise. Have the girls share their results and them let them eat the chocolate! Step 5 Practice Friendship (game) Honestly, most girls practice this each and every day. Unless there is some underlying issue and the girl really has no friends, each child interacts with others every single day. You can find a game to play in one of my favorite Girl Scout resources, Games for Girl Scouts. Here are some other resources for games to play for the final activity to earn the Making Friends badge. Friendship Games Youth Group Games Friendship Activities Pinterest Board What has your troop done to earn the Brownie Making Friends badge?

Last year, my 3rd grade Girl Scout troop did a variety of art projects. One of the badges we earned was the Outdoor Art Creator Badge. Here are some of the activities we did to earn the badge. I thought I would share with you, because these are some fun projects you could do with a group of kids, maybe in an after school, day camp or scout program. Here is a link to the PDF guide for the badge, … Read more... →

Here is an easy plan for Your First Girl Scout Brownie meeting of the year.

Checklists below include badges released as of July 2024! If you'd like checklists for the retired 2001 set of badges, please scroll...

Ways for Brownies to earn their Bugs badge

Recently I started teaching the girls how to sew. First up? Making Sit-Upons! My girls are second-year Brownies, and were able to do this project in one troop meeting, though we did run over about 15 minutes. Count on it taking roughly an hour from start to finish, not including any coloring/decorating. This can be done at any level, but the younger the girls, the more adult assistance required. It was a perfect craft for my third graders. If you have a smaller troop, and are able to find some of these retired Try-Its on eBay, you can work on the "Stitch It Together" badge! (Remember, they need to complete four steps to earn this badge.) Our troop is fairly large though, and it's tough to find affordable Try-Its in bulk, so I've opted for a cheaper generic fun patch instead. More to come on that! What Are Sit-Upons, and How Can They Be Used to Learn to Sew? Sit-Upons are a proper Girl Scout tradition. They're inexpensive, fairly easy to make, and a great way to introduce the concept of sewing (without a machine). There are lots of different approaches, and not a lot of wrong ways to go about making a Sit-Upon, but the basic gist is: - Waterproof material exterior - Padded interior - Some form of water/weatherproofing for exposed seams/edges . . . and that's pretty much it! Anything else is just gettin' fancy. ;) Some leaders prefer to make these out of bucket lids, so the girls don't have to sit on the ground (plus, they can carry things in their buckets!). But keep in mind it can be tiring for little ones to carry big 5-gallon buckets everywhere when at camp. The smaller square versions can also be used at camp, sporting events, wherever, and are more easily portable than the bucket versions. But they can't be used to carry other items in them, like you can with a bucket. Because I wanted this to be the introduction to sewing for my Brownies, we went with the square versions instead of buckets. As with all my posts, go with whatever works best for your girls. :) To make a traditional Sit-Upon, you will need: 1. Waterproof Reusable Shopping Bags (it's okay if the handles and sides are a mesh material (this material is called "non-woven" even though it looks woven. The key is the front and back of the bag need to be laminated. You can use vinyl-type tablecloths cut into squares instead, if you prefer. Some people use the "non-woven" bags and cover completely in duct tape for weatherproofing. But it can get expensive). One for each girl, plus one for you (not a bad idea to get a spare to experiment with, if you're new to sewing) 2. Hole Puncher (regular size -- don't get the 1/8" confetti size. Those holes aren't big enough) 3. Yarn (pre-cut strands, prepped with masking tape on both ends; bring your skein to the meeting, along with the roll of tape, as well; see below for details) 4. Masking Tape 5. Adult-Sized Scissors (don't use your expensive sewing scissors. The ones you use will end up with lots of duct tape residue on them) 6. Duct Tape (bring more rolls than you think you'll need) 7. Padding (I used an old, old mattress pad, cut into 10" squares. These are some super comfy Sit-Upons! You can use newspapers, but keep in mind you'll need to ensure ALL the edges/seams are sealed well, because wet newspaper gets kind of gross. Packing foam works well too. Bubblewrap? Not so much, unless you have Girl Scouts who never bounce. Because otherwise bubblewrap will pop and flatten pretty quickly. Magazines can work, but may not be big enough. Be sure to remove staples if you use magazines). As with everything else, get creative, and use your resources wisely! 8. Sharpies (optional) 9. Adult Volunteers, especially if you have a large troop Dollar Store Score! These polypropylene bags cost $1 each, and are laminated on front and back, to make them durable and waterproof. The sides are non-laminated polypro and not waterproof, but we're going to cover that bit up, so that's okay. How to Make a Sit-Upon: Step One: Flatten your bags and measure the padding to go inside. Be sure to leave room for the edges to be sewn together easily. My padding was ~2" smaller than my bags, so roughly 10" square. Keep your bags flat throughout this process. Once you open them up, it's a lot harder to keep the padding in place, and to stitch/seal. Step Two: With the padding tucked securely inside the bag and centered, flatten the edges of the bag with one hand, and use the hole puncher to go through ALL edges in one punch, all the way around the bag. Do not punch through the padding. I punched my holes about 1-1/2" apart, roughly. Don't punch too close to the edge, as it won't be as reinforced when stitching and will tear easier. You'll be punching through many layers at once, in some parts of the bag. You can sharpen a dull hole puncher by snipping through layers of sandpaper, if need be. If you have a ton of bags to do, wear a glove to protect your hand from the pressure of repetitive hole-punching. Step Three (for You): Measure and prep the yarn. When you're making your sample one, don't tie off the yarn when you begin. Run it through with masking tape on one tip only, leaving the yarn connected to your skein at the end. Once you've stitched all the edges, and have enough left to tie off (~4-5" inches on each end), then snip the end connected to the skein. Carefully pull the yarn out of your Sit-Upon, and measure the length of your yarn. Cut strands that length, one for each girl (I actually made them a couple inches longer than mine, just to be safe). Then immediately apply the masking tape to both ends of the strands (otherwise it will fray and you'll have to trim the yarn before taping the ends). Your masking tape tip should be at least 1-1/2" long. Easy-peasy! Step Three (for the Girls): Hand-stitch ("sew") using classic overcast stitch (continuous loops around the edge). Start up at one corner near the top, so when you're finished, you can tuck the ends of the yarn down into the bag easily. Don't aim for perfection. This is all about function, not form. Reassure your girls that it's okay if they make a mistake. It'll be covered with duct tape anyway. Leave 5" or so as a tail for your yarn (you shouldn't need to anchor your yarn or knot it. It should stay put as is, but you can do a small overhand knot if you like, at the beginning) so you have something to tie it to once you're done. Pull it taut (carefully) all the way around, so the edges are snugly together as you go. If you pull too tightly though, it may rip the fabric slightly. Which is no big deal, because you're covering it up with duct tape! Don't be intimidated by the handles. You can stitch in between if necessary. The point is to try to keep the edges as flat as possible, and the holes lined up fairly well. But don't fret if it gets a little off-kilter; you're going to cover it all up. Be sure to have adult volunteers on hand for this project, as the girls are not only learning how to hand stitch, but also how to do it effectively. And the bags can be unwieldy when you begin. Your adults don't need to know how to sew in order to help. They just need to be on hand to assist the girls as needed, especially when it comes to cutting the duct tape! Bring extra yarn and the roll of masking tape, and plenty of scissors (child-sized ones are too small to cut duct tape effectively, so I asked my adult helpers to bring along a pair of regular scissors with them). It is possible the yarn might break, especially for very enthusiastic seamstresses! :) If that happens, tie off the broken part, then prep a new strand on the spot with masking tape, tie it through a hole onto the broken part, trim the broken part, or tuck it inside the bag, and continue. When finished, tie the yarn ends together (remove any slack in your stitches), and tuck the ends down into the bag. Step Four: Once the edges are nice and snug (so you've hidden ALL of the "non-woven"/non-weatherproof bits, except for the handles and trim), cut a piece of duct tape that is slightly longer than the length of the bag, and place along one side, covering the holes and stitched. Fold the tape over carefully, so that both sides of the bag have all holes covered, for weatherproofing. Don't worry if there's some hanging at the ends. You can fold it over and cover with duct tape when doing the top/bottom edges. Cover up everything you just did. The duct tape will be folded over to cover both sides of holes/stitching, and will effectively prevent moisture from seeping in through the holes. Do the same on the other side, and then along the bottom of the bag. Taping the top can be tricky, because you want to seal the holes, but still leave the handles accessible. First, cut two small lengths of duct tape to go on the outside of the handles. Apply as you've done with the side edges. Then take a third strip of duct tape and place in between the handles. Adhere to one side, then fold over, between the handles, to cover those holes. Top edge, with three separate pieces of duct tape. Once you've done all this, and all holes/seams are taped, you are going to use four additional strips of duct tape, cut slightly shorter than the length of each side (cut as you go, otherwise the duct tape will stick to itself and become a wadded up mess). Use two per side, at the top and bottom. One goes on the front/top, covering the exposed edges of your three pieces, but is not folded over the edge. The other goes over the bottom folded tape, but flat on the front side only. Using additional strips of duct tape reinforces the folded/seam tape, and helps keep it in place. You may need to do the same to the sides as well, or just certain areas (corners, etc.) and that's okay. It's better to have a little too much tape than not enough. And some of the girls may need extra tape -- let them do as much of this as possible. Now, flip the bag over and do the same on the back side. Reinforce corners as needed. Fold any overlapping bits and tape over them. Anything left hanging will eventually start to come unstuck, so tape it well. You do not need to duct tape the whole bag, unless you're using the "non-woven" bags, which are too breathable to be waterproof, and are also pretty hard to clean. Non-woven bags are made of polypropylene, and are very lightweight, but not terribly durable, or weatherproof. It can be costly to completely cover a bag in duct tape -- more so than buying the laminated bag, or using laminated tablecloths, etc. Step Five (Optional): Use Sharpie to write names on the bags, and/or color the bags, if desired. Please note, regardless of the material used, if the surface is laminated/waterproof, Sharpie will rub off onto skin, especially if you've applied lotion or bug spray, etc. To prevent this, apply a sealant over the Sharpie. Test your sealant first, as it may cause the Sharpie to run or fade. Generic permanent markers seemed to fade more than Sharpie brand, but your mileage may vary. My Sit-Upon! I love it. :) I decorated one side only, with a mix of Sharpie and generic, let it dry completely, then coated with waterproofing Mod Podge. It took several days for the surface to dry completely, and the generic markers did fade slightly, but it turned out great! Next up? A Fun and Easy Way to Learn Basic Sewing Stitches!

For Leaders Pressed for Time, Have a Girl Scout Tea Party and Earn Three Daisy Petals at Once *This post contains affiliate links. Upda...

Checklists below include badges released as of July 2024! If you'd like checklists for the retired 2001 set of badges, please scroll...

Updated April 2023 Pets are an integral part of many families. Owning one is like having another family member, as many people take their furry friends on errands, on vacations and some even carry them around in special dog and cat strollers! Earning the Brownie Pets badge can be done even if a child does not own a pet. This is a perfect opportunity to tie in a community service project with badge work so that all girls can fully participate in completing this badge. Image crested by the author in Canva Step 1 Find Out What Care Different Pets Need This is an opportunity for girls to talk about the pets they own. All girls can talk about the different needs that pets have as well as similar needs. While all animals need food, shelter and love, some need less attention than others (for example, cats are much more independent than dogs). You may want to make a Venn diagram on paper or on the whiteboard of similarities and differences so the girls can have a visual understanding. Step 2 Keep a Pet Comfy (craft) Just like humans need a bed, so do cats and dogs. This step is an opportunity to make pet beds for an animal shelter. Before doing this part, check with a local shelter to be certain that they will accept what the girls will be making. Here are resources on how to make a pet bed: Make a Cat Pillow No Sew Pet Bed No Sew Dog Bed DIY No Sew Pet Bed If you are a visual learner, there are a ton of DIY tutorials on how to make one of these no sew projects on YouTube. Step 3 Help a Pet Stay Healthy and Safe Photo by Hannah Gold Taken while on our Bronze Award trip to the no-kill animal shelter located in our community. While this step is easy for girls who have a pet at home, for those who do not, a trip to the animal shelter will fulfill this requirement. Girls can ask the workers how they make they keep the animals healthy and safe while they are awaiting adoption. Step 4 Make a Pet Feel Loved Again, a trip to the animal shelter will fulfill this requirement for all of the girls in your troop. In addition, you can make pet toys to bring with you so the animals have something to play with. Remember YouTube is another great resource for you to utilize! Here are resources for you to use: Happy Sock Catnip Toys 20 Dog Toys to Make Cat Toys from Empty Toilet Paper Tubes Step 5 Feed a Pet Girls who own a pet can make a feeding schedule. For those who do not own one (and for those that do), they can bring cans or bags of cat and dog food to the animal shelter. While they may not be able to feed the animals, they can be sure that their donations are used. What have you done to earn the Brownie Pets Badge?

Are you looking for a fun meeting for your Brownie troop this October? Here is how they can earn the Girl Scout Brownie Senses badge using a Halloween theme.

Two traditional bridging ceremonies for bridging to Junior Girl Scouts.

A Girl Scouts Bridging Ceremony is held when Girl Scouts move from one level of scouting up to the next (such as Brownie to Junior, or Junior to Cadet). There