Earn the Buddy Camper Daisy Badge: Step-by-Step

The Buddy Camper Badge is an exciting introduction to the world of outdoor adventure, specifically designed to help Daisy Girl Scouts build confidence under the stars. Whether the troop is pitching a tent in a local park or setting up a “campsite” in a living room, this badge focuses on the fundamentals of teamwork, preparation, and safety. By learning to pack the “Six Essentials,” practicing the buddy system, and even mastering a first square knot, Daisies discover that being a great camper means being a prepared and helpful friend to both their troop and nature.

Daisy Buddy Camper PDF Badge Requirements

Help plan a camping trip
Help pack for your trip
Go camping

➡️ Complete download provided by GirlScouts.org.

Camping Mad Lib

Get ready for some serious campfire giggles! This interactive fill-in-the-blank game is the perfect way to pass the time in the tent or pass the miles on the drive to the campsite. Have the girls call out silly words to create a wild camping adventure story they’ll want to read out loud over and over again.

➡️ Get the Mad-Lib Download

First Overnighter Coloring Page and Fun Patch

The coloring page is free with patch purchase. Get your girl excited about earning their first patch!

➡️Get the patch and the coloring page.

Make DIY Tents for your Indoor Camping Trip

Not quite ready for the great outdoors? Bring the wilderness inside! Follow these simple, step-by-step instructions to build cozy, indoor PVC or blanket tents right in your living room or meeting space. It’s a fantastic, low-stakes way for Daisies to practice sleeping in a ‘tent’ and using the buddy system before heading to a real campground.

➡️ Get the Instructions for DIY Sleepover Tents

Step 1: Make Your Own Camping Recipe Book

Introduce your Daisies to the joy of outdoor cooking—even if it’s just assembling ingredients!

Recipes Include:

Coffee Can Stew
Banana Boat S’morres
Chicken Quesadillas
Shepard’s Pie
Cheesy Corn Dogs
Pizza in Pocket
Armpit Fudge
Roasted Potatoes

➡️ Get the Recipe Download

Step 2: Help pack for your trip

Pair these Downloads with a video teaching your girls about rolling.

➡️Get the Packing Checklist Downloads

Step 3: Go Camping

Learn about the 7 principles of LNT with games and printables. Always leave a place better than you found it!

Plan ahead and prepare
Travel and camp on durable surfaces
Dispose of waste properly
Leave what you find
Minimize campfire impacts
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of others

➡️Get Bigfoots Playbook

Make a Camp Picture Frame

Capture the memories of their very first camping milestone! This craft is completely mess-free—no scissors or glue required—making it the perfect cabin or picnic table activity. The girls can assemble their frames at camp, ready to hold a troop photo once you get back home.

➡️Find out more about the craft.

Earning the Buddy Camper badge is a significant milestone for Daisy Girl Scouts. It marks their first transition from day activities to the excitement of an overnight experience, whether that happens in a backyard or a living room. By focusing on the “Six Essentials,” mastering basic knots, and practicing the buddy system, these young scouts are doing more than just learning to camp—they are building independence, teamwork, and a lifelong respect for the outdoors.

With the activities outlined in this guide—from crafting edible campfires to assembling their first camping recipe book—your troop will have the confidence and skills needed for a successful first outing. Remember, the goal isn’t just to sleep under the stars, but to ensure every Daisy feels prepared, courageous, and ready for a lifetime of adventure.