Results tagged “Badges” from GSSA Leader Blog: The Virtual Volunteer

Earn the Make a Difference patch or Go Green patch before March 1^st and have your troop's photo on display at the Girl Scouts Rock Mobile celebration! More information can be found in our 100^th Anniversary Patch Book. Patches can be earned through the end of 2012, but paperwork and photos must received by March 1, 2012 to be included in the display at Girl Scouts Rock Mobile.

Here's a photo of girls from Brownie Troop 8100 in Gulf Shores earning the Make a Difference patch by making 100 cards to send to our troops overseas.

Perhaps you have heard about the upcoming Girl's Guide 2 Girl Scouting (GG2GS), which will be available in September.  If you have, we know you have plenty of questions, so we have a document that answers most of them.  Every level will have their ownGG2GS which will encompass the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, including badges and journeys.  Read all about it in this document, and get ready for a great new year!

Coming this Fall! The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting

Where can a girl find exciting new badges, the 100th Anniversary handbook, information on bridging and Bronze/Silver/Gold Awards, and much more all in one place? In The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting, of course! There is a Girl's Guide for each level of Girl Scouts from Daisies to Ambassadors.

The Girl's Guide features robust skill-building badge activities, updated and new awards, information on Girl Scout history and traditions, and -- most of all -- lots of fun!

With this fall release, girls can grow as leaders and build new skills with a complete National Program Portfolio: Journeys + The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting!

Take a peek. Let Brownie Elf tell you more...

See the Anatomy of a Badge, if you'd like something to print and share this exciting news with your troop!

Girl Scouts of the USA is on track to deliver new program resources in time for the 2011 membership year.  The new books will be available for purchase  in our council shops in September.  At this time, we do not know exactly when we will receive them, but will let you know as soon as we have the books in hand.
 
Below are some FAQs regarding these new resources:

• What will happen to the current resources, such as the Junior Badge book or the Cadette Handbook? GSUSA is currently working on a new "Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting" for each program level.  It will provide updated badge activities and handbook information for girls and will be available in September 2011, when girls can begin enjoying the new badges in the guide.
• What do we do between now and September 2011?  Leaders/advisors can help girls choose a Journey and continue enjoying the current badge activities.  Check out the online "Journey Maps" for examples of using journeys and badges together for a great Girl Scout experience.  Click here <http://www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/maps/>  for the maps.  Here's a graphic that shows the connection between the Journeys and the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting.
• Will we still be able to purchase older resources and insignia? As part of the roll-out of the Journeys and the new guide, the GS Shop will begin to streamline existing inventory by retiring certain merchandise this summer.  This will affect the availability of certain patches, books, and other merchandise.  To check on item availability, please contact the shop at 1-800-239-6636.  
  

We encourage you to share this information with other Girl Scout members.  Additional information will be announced as it is released.  

The IP's, Junior Badges, and Brownie Try-Its listed in this document have been retired to make way for updated badge activities and other awards that girls will earn when they begin using The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting (available September 2011). If you plan to work on the badges and patches listed below, please call ahead (800-239-6636) to be sure we either have them in stock or can order them for you. We still have many of these badges and patches in stock, and can likely order them from other councils as well.

Badges are here to stay. GSUSA is currently working to produce new badges for Girl Scout Brownies through Ambassadors.  Girl Scout Daisies will continue to earn the Promise Center and Petals.  New badges will be released in the forthcoming The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting, which will include badge offerings, handbook sections covering traditions and history, an awards log, and much more!  The new badges are designed to be complementary to the Girl Scout Leadership Program.  They have been planned to help all Girl Scouts develop the three Keys to Leadership:  Discover, Connect, and Take Action.  They will also help girls build skills on specific topics.   
 
Among the badge offerings will be seven "Legacy Badges" for Girl Scout Brownies through Ambassadors, based on traditions and activities that have been in existence since Girl Scouts beginning:  Artist, Athlete, Citizen, Cook, First Aid, Naturalist, and Girl Scout Way.  Badge activities will be progressive, so girls can build on skills they've learned at each level.  For instance, when they earn the Cook Badge as Girl Scout Brownies, they'll add to their experience when they earn the Cook Badge as Girl Scout Juniors, and all the way up to Ambassadors.  We are very excited about all the new program resources that GSUSA has developed.  We will let you know as soon as they become available to us.  In the meantime, please plan your spring awards carefully.  Supplies of current Try-Its, Badges, and Interest Project Awards in our shops will begin to sell down.  Remember that we will help you find any of these items if our supplies run low. Please call the shops if you have questions or concerns.

 

The Kappa Delta's have announced the badge offerings for this year's event. Since we are late offering these choices, we are extending the registration deadline (with no late fee) until September 30. KD Badge Day is a very popular program where Brownies and Juniors earn two badges and older girls earn one IP. The Junior choices for this year will be: Global Awareness, Healthy Relationships, Car Sense, A Healthier You, Weather Watch, Earth Connections, Finding Your Way, Drawing and Painting, Dance, and Outdoor Cooking. Older girl choices will be: Women's Health, From Stress to Success, Just Jewelry, and Your Own Business. Brownie offerings will be available next week; contact Mary Anne Brutkiewicz, ext. 1202, to find out which badges will be offered.

Looking to learn something new for the summer? Want to earn some badges while practicing a useful skill? Well, these programs are for you! It's Sew Diana is offering sewing classes in Mobile and Daphne for troops and individual girls starting in May. These programs use the "Kids Can Sew" materials.  All of the details are on our Events and Programs Calendar.

 

Brownie classes

Girls will earn the Brownie Sewing Try-It in a morning or afternoon session.   

May 15, June 7 or June 23 at the Mobile Service Center

June 15 at Hancock Fabrics in Daphne

 

Junior Classes

Girls will earn the GSUSA Junior Sewing Badge over 5 one-hour sessions.   

Daphne: Tuesdays, June 1-June 30 from 10-11 a.m. at Hancock Fabrics

Mobile: Wednesdays, June 2-June 30 from 10-11 a.m. Location TBA

 

Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Classes

Girls will earn the GSUSA Sew Glam IP in 5 one-hour sessions.

Daphne: Tuesdays, June 1-June 30 11:30-12:30 at Hancock Fabrics

Mobile: Wednesdays, June 2-June 30 11:30-12:30 Location TBA 

 

Any leader who would like to set up a class for her individual troop should contact Diana Canady: diana@its-sew-diana.com.

The Conde Charlotte Museum in Mobile offers "American I Spy" programs for Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors. Girls take an "I Spy" journey through the Conde Charlotte Museum, learn about the history of the American flag and proper respect for it, and make a badge related craft project. Girls will earn the "America the Beautiful" patch while participating in the program. Fee of $10 per girl includes patch, activities and snack. Troops can schedule programs after school or on Saturdays. For more information or to schedule a visit with your troop, contact Laura Clark at Hbc1tay@aol.com.

Drama Camp Productions at Sunny Side Theater in Mobile presents: Let's Pretend Brownies Badge Day and Juniors Theater Badge Day. Girls will participate in a fun filled half day intense theater workshop. Brownies and Juniors will participate in theater games (including speaking, acting, character creation and miming games), improvisation, costume fun, and nursery rhyme acting.

Girls will earn a badge, present a skit and receive tickets to a drama camp production show. Cost is $13 per participant, which includes the badge and a snack. For more information, contact Chris at 251.510.1808.

Exciting new Girl Scout programs added with Space 301 in Mobile!

The Centre for the Living Arts/ Space 301 is hosting art badge days for Girl Scouts in the Fall and the Spring. A special feature of each badge will be the opportunity to tour a visiting exhibition. Local artists and art experts will work with the girls on badge requirements. An overnighter will be offered for older girls March 20-21 with an opportunity to attend Cirque de la Symphonie at the Saenger March 21.

 

Space 301 Art Days:

Brownie Try -It Day: Colors and Shapes and Art to Wear (Sat. 11/14)

Junior Badge Day: Folk Arts (Sat. 12/5)

Older Girls IP Day: Folk Arts (Sat. 12/5)

Older Girls IP Overniter: Architecture and Environmental Design (Sat. 3/20-Sun. 3/21)

Brownie Try-It Day: Numbers and Shapes and Me and My Shadow (Sat. 4/24)

Junior Badge Day: Art in 3D (Sat. 4/24)

Stressed out? Take a step back in time and enjoy life when things were a lot simpler on October 3. Mosey around the Alabama Nature Center (ANC) during Good 'Ole Days, all while meeting requirements for Girl Scout Try-Its, Badges and IP's. Activities will include blacksmith demonstrations, Native American reenactors, quilters, historic tours, bluegrass music, dulcimers, hayrides, herding dog demonstrations, wood carving, black powder demonstrations, and period arts and crafts--just to name a few.

 

This activity can help your girls meet the requirements for:

·         Try-Its: Outdoor Adventure, Wildlife, Eco-Explorer

·         Badges:  Hiking, Rocks Rock, Across Generations, Wildlife, My Heritage, Music Fan, Science Discovery

·         Interest Project Patches: Generations in Hand, Eco- Action, Wildlife, Heritage Hunt

Gates will be open October 3 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for ANC trail use. Good 'Ole Days activities will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Get more info on the ANC website at http://www.alabamawildlife.org/alabama-nature-center/

Troop 9469 had a booth at the recent Joy to Life Walk to earn its Silver Award. They recruited many new Girl Scouts and leaders. They also gave out packets to those Girl Scouts attending to complete the following badges:  In the Pink (Cadettes); Walking for Fitness (Juniors); and Women's Health (Cadettes and Seniors). These materials are now available at the Montgomery Service Center, if anyone is interested in earning these three badges. (Ask the front desk for them.) Thank you for supporting our troop!

Troop 9469 would like to invite all Junior, Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts to visit Troop 9469's Girl Scout tent at the Joy to Life's Walk of Life in Montgomery.  The walk will be hold at the Cramton Bowl on April 18 between 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The troop is working on their Girl Scout Silver Award.  Junior Girl Scouts can earn Walking for Fitness; Cadette Girl Scouts can earn In the Pink; and Senior Girl Scouts can earn both In the Pink and Women's Health IPAs.  Troop 9469 has put together easy ways to earn at least one badge for each age group and will also be recruiting new Girl Scouts.  For more information email Jean Bradley at jsbradley@knology.net.  For information on the Walk of Life, visit http://www.joytolife.org/walkoflife.php.

The TOGA Cafe at the Volunteer Center in Mobile will be held on April 24 (6-8 p.m.).  The program will be given by Regions Bank on Financial Literacy. Some of the requirements for the Dollars and  Sense IP will be covered in this session. This is for 6^th-12^th grade girls. The fee is $3 and the registration deadline (by phone or email) is April 17. The minimum number is 10 and the maximum is 30 for this program. For more information, or to register contact Mary Anne Brutkiewicz at 251.344.3330, ext: 1202 or e-mail mbrutkiewicz@girlscoutssa.org.

GSUSA announced today a new online safety campaign with Microsoft.  The name of this initiative is LMK (text-speak for "let me know"), and the program is designed to build girls as leaders in promoting online safety.  The web site is http://lmk.girlscouts.org.

What is LMK?

LMK ("let me know") is an online safety campaign created in partnership with Girl Scouts of the USA and Microsoft. The campaign includes an interactive Web site for girls, as well as an e-newsletter and Web site for adults. Each month, an all-girl editorial board explores a different internet safety topic online and then shares what they learned in the e-newsletter, which is distributed to adults the following month.

What can girls expect to find on the girls' Web site?

Girls can anticipate learning more about internet safety through a fun and interactive Web site which includes forums, video features, articles, quizzes, polls, games and a question & answer column from internet safety expert, Parry Aftab.  There is also a "digital patch", Girl Scouts' first ever!

What about the adult components of the campaign?

The e-newsletter and adult site are designed to provide parents with timely guidance and also serve as a tool to help families have open and honest conversations about the dangers that lurk in cyberspace. 

Why is LMK important?

With the escalating popularity, increasing access to the internet and online technologies, it is important for teens and parents to be aware of the dangers that exist in cyberspace. The LMK ("let me know") campaign not only creates a space for internet safety experts and teen peer advisors, it also provides guidance about topics like cyberbullying and online sexual predators. The adult components of the campaign help teens to bridge the digital generation gap between themselves and their parents.

 

What is LMK teaching my kid that she doesn't already know?

While many young people are aware of the issues of cyberbullying and online predators, not many people know how to keep themselves safe. The LMK campaign shows teenagers how to stay safe online by:

·         Surprising girls with what they can learn about online safety;

·         Inspiring girls to pass their learning on to their friends;

·         Including their parents in a dialogue about online safety;

·         Empowering girls to become thought leaders who advocate safe and responsible use of technology.

Why is the Girl Scouts partnering with Microsoft?

Girl Scouts of the USA is committed to helping today's girls become tomorrow's leaders. Thanks to the support of Microsoft, we are able to create a unique online learning experience for girls, which furthers our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. 

 

Discover the power of a healthy smile! The National Museum of Dentistry, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is pleased to present MouthPower. Created in partnership with the American Dental Association, www.mouthpower.org (look for the teacher/leader section) is an entertaining and educational Web experience that engages children in discovering the power of a healthy smile. Meet Mouthie, the chatterteeth mascot, run experiments about oral health, healthy eating, tobacco-use prevention, and how much a dental visit has changed. Girl Scouts will learn about making healthy choices and fulfill requirements for several Brownie Try-Its and Junior Badges. After completing the program, Girl Scouts have the option to purchase a MouthPower patch ($3 each) to place on their uniform.

Q: Can girls still earn badges, apart from journeys?
A: Girls are welcome to continue choosing and earning badges that represent their varied interests. Earning badges is an important tradition in Girl Scouting and it is here to stay! As adults and girls become more familiar with the elements of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, they will even be able to see how the Discover, Connect, and Take Action leadership keys can be integrated into earning badges.

Of course, no matter what activities girls do in Girl Scouting, the experience is always best when it incorporates the Girl Scout processes: Girl-Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning.

Q: What is the future of badges?
A: Over the next several years, Girl Scouts of the USA will be updating some badges to ensure the learning experiences tie to the national leadership outcomes intended for girls. As new or refreshed badges become available and "old" badges are phased out, girls will have time to transition. They will not "lose out" on activities they have begun or planned. 

Girl Scout members have expressed interest in the availability of badges online and GSUSA is considering and analyzing this possibility. Further information will be available in 2009.

Q: What about local badge activities?
A: Locally created badge activities remain an important way to respond to the interests and needs of girls. By using the Leadership Experience as the "engine" for all programming, Girl Scout councils will be able to begin adjusting local offerings, purposefully planning them based on the leadership outcomes intended for girls.

Awards

Q: What new awards can girls earn with the It's Your World--Change It! journeys?
A: Girl Scouts at each of the six grade levels have a chance to earn new official awards as they complete steps along the journey. The awards are designed to be worn on the Girl Scout uniform. Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes have the chance to earn several badges along the journey. Seniors and Ambassadors can mark the completion of their journey with a pin or badge.

The steps for earning the awards are clearly explained in the "how-to" books for volunteers created for each journey. Girls have information about the awards in their books, too. The journey books for girls and adults also have suggested reflection and ceremony ideas related to earning the awards. The goal is to provide opportunities for girls to fully understand the achievement and growth the awards represent.

Of course, no matter what activities girls do in Girl Scouting, the experience is always best when it incorporates the Girl Scout processes: Girl-Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning.

Q: How do the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards fit into the Girl Scout Leadership Experience?
A:  Girl Scouts of the USA is working to update the requirements for earning the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards and new guidelines will be available online in spring 2009.  During the transition years (2008-2010), girls may continue earning the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards based on existing standards.

Q: How can Girl Scout councils prepare for the future of the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards?
A: Girl Scout communities eager to begin planning for the updated approach to the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards prior to spring 2009 may note the following:

Grade Levels for Earning the Awards

Bronze Award: Earned by Juniors (4th-5th grade)
Silver Award: Earned by Cadettes (6th-8th grade)
Gold Award: Earned by Seniors or Ambassadors (9th-12th grade)

Anticipated Pre-Requisite Steps

The It's Your World--Change It! journeys have been intentionally designed to engage girls in a critical thinking process related to identifying and researching issues they care about, developing community networks, and creating and implementing plans to take action. Upon completion of the journeys, girls will be prepared to carry out substantial award projects. Based on this, Girl Scouts of the USA anticipates that when girls complete the journeys in this series, they will have completed the prerequisites, at the relevant grade levels, for Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award projects and ultimately earn the awards.

Options for the 2008-2009 Membership Year:

• Girls may earn the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, or Gold Awards following existing guidelines.

OR

• Girls may complete a journey and, upon release of the new guidelines in spring 2009, begin work toward the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award.

Want to know more?

Read about the leadership journeys here or contact Cheryl Miller at cmiller@girlscoutssa.org.