Making Badge Requirements More Meaningful

Written by Paula Riggins

So I had a real “Ah HA” moment last winter as I was going through the Junior badge book. I’m sure there are many different ways that people brainstorm. Personally, I go through our book with a post-it on every badge listing ideas and resources I have access to. I do a major brain dump session at the beginning of the year. Sometimes my scouts add notes or I note general thoughts and ideas on a page just inside the front cover. I use the notes later when cookie season hits and I need a quick idea to plan my meetings.

Brainstorming Ideas

On one particular snowy day, I was curled up with my favorite badge book just flying through when the front note fell out. I picked it up and among other things it read “Be more Patriotic”. I made a note our church collected goodies and send to an over-seas soldier they adopted. Then I shoved the note back in the front cover and moved on.

A few pages later, I came across the Junior Scribe Badge with a note in my daughter’s handwriting that read “TOO MUCH LIKE SCHOOL. YUCK!” I scanned the requirements nodding as I read. Write a poem, write about your favorite GS memory, animal, a place you want to visit, your favorite book. There has got to be a way to make this stuff sound fun?

Applying A New Approach To Boring Badge Work

This whole idea of using the normal badge work to bring joy to others has continued though many of our projects. We actually ended up sending pictures we created from our Junior Drawing badge to the soldiers as well. When we needed an arrival activity for a meeting in October we made tray cards for the local nursing home during a Reverse Trick or Treating event. I keep thinking the next time we need to make yet another poster to get our message out, we can create book marks instead. Then donate to the local library, book store or the coffee nook down the street for distribution.

The ideas are practically limitless. And the change in mindset from we are doing this to earn a badge to we are doing something wonderful for someone else has really helped when it comes to some of the lesser loved requirements.

Paula Riggins was a Girl Scout herself, way back when every Brownie still wore beanies!

She graduated from Sullivan University with a bachelor’s degree in Business and is a Programmer Analyst for a Fortune 500 company. If you ask she will tell you working with kids is her passion.

Paula is a working mom of two kids. Over the last two decades she has taught Sunday school and directed VBS at her church, as well as several Bring a Child to Work Day programs for her employer.

She started as a Cub Scout leader when her son was in 1st grade and is very proud to say he has earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout. When Paula’s daughter was born she couldn’t wait to get involved with Girl Scouting again! Paula, who is also known as Godzilla at camp, is a Lifetime Girl Scout. She hopes to have the opportunity to lead girls for many more years to come.