Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, we recommend that parents be included. We suggest informing parents before the meeting, inviting them to attend, or providing them with the downloadable worksheets and the video links so they can actively participate.

Suggestions for Younger Girl Scouts to Earn The Stranger Safety Patch Program®

1. Recognizing True “Safety Adults” vs. Strangers

This video explains how people you don’t know well can seem very friendly but still be strangers you need to watch out for.

2. Complete the Stranger Safety Worksheet

Print the body safety worksheet from your order confirmation or download it from your account.

Read through each scenario with your girls and discuss the options provided. There may be more than one correct answer. Encourage your girls to come up with their own responses.

The Concept: A stranger is simply anyone your family doesn’t know well. They aren’t always mean-looking or scary; they can look friendly, have nice pets, or ask for help.

Discussion: Talk about the difference between a stranger and a Safety Adult (like a police officer, a store clerk with a nametag, or a teacher) you can approach if you ever get lost.

3. Body Signals

Discuss how your body reacts when something feels wrong. Do you get butterflies in your tummy? Does your heart beat fast? That is your body’s built-in alarm system.

Have the girls practice saying out loud: “I need to check with my adult first!” Make it a rule to always ask a parent or guardian before going anywhere, taking anything, or getting into a car with anyone.

4. Smart Online Safety

Keep Secrets Safe: Never tell an online game character or avatar your real name, your school, what town you live in, or your age.

The Screen Stop: If someone online asks you to send a picture, or says something that gives you the “Uh-Oh” feeling, immediately close the screen or turn the device over and tell an adult.

5. Practice Your “Power Actions”

No, Go, Yell, Tell: Roleplay four simple steps if a stranger approaches them at a park or on the street:

1. NO: Say “No!” in a loud, firm voice.
2. GO: Run away quickly toward a safe area or a Safety Adult.
3. YELL: Yell loudly so others can hear: “This is not my parent!” or “Help!”
4. TELL: Tell a trusted adult exactly what happened right away.

Suggestions for Older Girl Scouts to Earn The Stranger Safety Patch Program®

As you grow more independent, how you manage your personal safety changes. “Strangers” aren’t just people on the street—they are also individuals who try to bypass your digital boundaries, spam your social media, or interact with you in public places when you are out with friends.

1. Watch Being Safe Online

This video breaks down the fact that people online aren’t always who they say they are, details the red flags of digital manipulation, and explains how to handle online interactions that cross lines into uncomfortable territory.

3. Complete the Stranger Safety Worksheet

Print the body safety worksheet from your order confirmation or download it from your account.

Read through each scenario with your girls and discuss the options provided. There may be more than one correct answer. Encourage your girls to come up with their own responses.

4. Deconstructing “Tricky Situations” & The Politeness Trap

The Trap: Older girls are often socially conditioned to be helpful, polite, and avoid making a scene. Disreputable people count on this.

The Rule: Your safety matters more than anyone else’s manners. If an adult you don’t know asks you for directions, asks you to come look at something, or makes persistent small talk that makes you uncomfortable, you have full permission to walk away, ignore them, or say “I can’t help you” and keep moving.

Situational Awareness (In Person)

• The Heads-Up Rule: When walking in public, navigating a mall, or waiting for a ride, keep your head up and eyes off your phone. Looking aware and confident makes you a much harder target.
• The Buddy System: Never walk away from a group or event alone. Agree with your friends ahead of time that you arrive together and leave together.

5. Digital Stranger Danger: Protecting Your Digital Footprint

• The Illusion of Anonymity: People online are not always who they say they are. A “14-year-old girl” in a gaming lobby or a comment section could easily be an adult stranger.
• Action Steps:
  • Lock Down Privacy: Check your privacy settings on your gaming accounts and social platforms. Ensure strangers cannot see your location, school gear, or daily routines.
  • The “Receipt” Test: Never send photos or information to anyone online that you wouldn’t want posted on a billboard in front of your school.
  • The Stranger Filter: Treat friend requests or direct messages (DMs) from people you do not know in real life as a boundary cross. Block and report persistent or inappropriate accounts immediately.

5. Build Your Active “Safety Squad” & Emergency Codes

The Network: Identify 3 trusted adults who agree to be part of your safety network.

The X-Plan: Establish a secret code word or a specific emoji (like or ) with your parents or Safety Squad. If you text them this code, it means: “Call me right now with a fake emergency so I have an excuse to leave,” or “Come pick me up immediately, no questions asked.”

Leader Note on Safety & Sensitivity

When hosting a Stranger Safety meeting, avoid using scare tactics that make girls afraid of the outside world. Instead, focus on empowerment, boundary-setting, and building a toolkit of actionable responses. Always emphasize that if an uncomfortable situation occurs, it is never the girl’s fault.

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Suggestions for Younger Girl Scouts to Earn The Water Safety Patch Program®

1. Water Safety Starts with Knowing the Rules

Watch a kid-friendly video to understand the foundational rules of being around water—like never swimming alone and always asking an adult for permission before going near a pool, lake, or beach.

2. Complete the Water Safety Worksheet

Print the water safety worksheet from your order confirmation or download it from your account. Read through each scenario with your girls and discuss the options provided.

Encourage your girls to think about what they would do if a toy fell into the deep end or if a friend jumped in without a life jacket.

3. The “Look Before You Leap” Rule

Discuss the importance of checking your surroundings. How do you know if water is deep or shallow? What hidden dangers might be under the surface of a lake or river (rocks, branches, currents)? Practice saying out loud: “I always check with a grown-up and look at the water before I get in.”

4. The Personal Life Jacket (PFD)

Use a life jacket or PFD (Personal Flotation Device) to demonstrate proper fitting. Discuss when you are required to wear one (boating, docks, or if you aren’t a strong swimmer yet). Practice bucking it up and checking that it fits snugly by pulling up on the shoulders.

5. Learn and Practice How to Handle Unwanted or Unsafe Situations

• The Power Voice (No Dunking): Practice using a firm, clear “Power Voice” if someone is playing too rough in the pool. Roleplay making direct eye contact, holding up a stop-hand gesture, and saying loudly and clearly: “Stop,” “Don’t push me,” or “I need my space.”
• “Reach or Throw, Don’t Go”: Practice what to do if a friend is struggling in the water. Never jump in to save them, as they might accidentally pull you under. Practice the rule of reaching out with a pool noodle, a broom handle, or throwing a floaty/towel while yelling for an adult.
• Roleplay Scenarios: In pairs or a troop setting, safely roleplay real-world scenarios. Examples: A friend dares you to run on a slippery pool deck; someone asks you to swim in an area marked “No Lifeguard on Duty”; a pet jumps into a pond and looks like it’s struggling. 

Suggestions for Older Girl Scouts to Earn The Water Safety Patch Program®

As you get older, water activities become more complex and independent. Hazards aren’t just about slipping on a pool deck—they involve managing peer pressure at beach parties, understanding open-water currents, recognizing the signs of active drowning, and knowing your personal swimming limits.

1. Watch Water Safety for Teens

Watch an educational video covering the differences between swimming in a pool versus open water, focusing on how to spot rip currents, handling sudden temperature drops, and resisting dangerous peer pressure around water heights (like bridge or cliff jumping).

2. the Science of Aquatic Danger (The Silent Threat)

Drowning isn’t mystical or loud—it is actually a rapid, silent physiological response. Media often portrays drowning as splashing and screaming, but the nervous system takes over to prioritize breathing, making it impossible for a struggling swimmer to call for help.

When you are around water, pay close attention if you notice someone showing these physical signals:

• The Silence: Hyperventilating or gasping, with the mouth sinking below and reappearing above the water line without time to speak.
• The Ladder Climb: Arms extended laterally, pressing down on the water to lift the mouth up, appearing as though they are trying to climb an invisible rope or ladder.
• The Vertical Freeze: Floating vertically in the water without supportive kicking or moving, often with eyes glassy, closed, or unfocused.

Overriding the “Politeness Trap”
Teenagers are often socially conditioned to stay quiet to avoid “ruining the fun” or making a scene if a friend jumps into a fast-moving river or deep quarry. Your safety and your friends’ lives will always be more important than someone else’s feelings. If a situation feels dangerous or beyond your skill level, speak up immediately or get a professional.

3. Complete the Water Safety Worksheet

Print the body safety worksheet from your order confirmation or download it from your account.

Read through each scenario with your girls and discuss the options provided. There may be more than one correct answer.

Leader Note on Safety & Sensitivity

When facilitating this patch program, always emphasize that water accidents can happen to anyone, regardless of how strong a swimmer they think they are. Ensure a non-judgmental space where girls can honestly share their comfort levels with swimming and water activities.

The post Water Safety Patch Program® appeared first on MakingFriends.

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Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, we recommend that parents be included. We suggest informing parents before the meeting, inviting them to attend, or providing them with the downloadable worksheets and the video links so they can actively participate.

Suggestions for Younger Girl Scouts to Earn The Body Safety Patch Program®

1. Healthy safety starts with knowing yourself and trusting your gut.

This video will help younger scouts understand physical boundaries and gives them clear, non-scary language to identify safe versus unsafe interactions.

2. Complete the Body Safety Worksheet

Print the body safety worksheet from your order confirmation or download it from your account.

Read through each scenario with your girls and discuss the options provided. There may be more than one correct answer. Encourage your girls to come up with their own responses.

3. The “Uh-Oh” Feeling

Discuss what a “gut feeling” or “intuition” is. How does your body feel when you are uncomfortable or startled? (e.g., butterflies in the stomach, racing heart, tenseness). Practice saying out loud: “My feelings are important, and I have the right to feel safe.”

4. The Personal Bubble

Use a hula hoop, a piece of yarn, or just your arms stretched out to visualize your “personal space bubble.” Discuss who is allowed inside that bubble, when they are allowed, and how it feels when someone enters it without asking.

5. Learn and practice how to handle unwanted situations.

• The Power Voice: Practice using a firm, clear “Power Voice.” Unwanted attention often thrives on compliance. Roleplay making direct eye contact, holding up a stop-hand gesture, and saying loudly and clearly: “No,” “Back up,” “I don’t want to talk to you,” or “Leave me alone.”  
• The “Broken Record” Technique: Sometimes people don’t listen the first time. Practice repeating the exact same firm boundary phrase over and over without arguing or making excuses.  
• Roleplay Scenarios: In pairs or a troop setting, safely roleplay real-world scenarios. Examples: A stranger at the park keeps asking you questions; an older kid at school won’t stop following you around; someone you met playing an online game keeps asking what town you live in. Practice stepping in to help a friend who looks uncomfortable (bystander intervention).  

6. Identify Your “Safety Squad”

With the help of a trusted adult, create a physical or digital index card listing at least three “Safety Squad” adults—trusted people you can contact immediately if you experience unwanted attention or harassment. Include their phone numbers and a secret “safety code word” you can text them if you need to be picked up immediately from a situation without explanation.  

Suggestions for Older Girl Scouts to Earn The Body Safety Patch Program®

As you get older, unsafe or uncomfortable situations become more complex. They aren’t always about a “bad stranger”—sometimes it’s a friend pushing a boundary, an older kid at school making subtle comments, or an online interaction that starts to feel off.

1. Watch Boundaries & Consent 101

This video covers physical, emotional, and digital boundaries, offering concrete tips on how to handle real-world peer pressure and unwanted attention.

2. Decoding Your “Gut Feeling” (The Science of Intuition)

A “gut feeling” or intuition isn’t mystical—it is actually a rapid, subconscious survival mechanism. Your brain is constantly processing your surroundings, body language, tone of voice, and past experiences. When it detects an anomaly or potential danger before your conscious mind even has time to analyze it, it triggers your nervous system.

When you are uncomfortable, startled, or unsafe, your body speaks to you through physical signals. Pay close attention if you experience:

• The Urge: An immediate, overwhelming desire to leave the room, hang up the phone, or block a user.  
• The Sudden Drop: A heavy, sinking feeling or “butterflies” in your stomach.
• The Spike: A suddenly racing heart, shallow breathing, or a wave of heat.
• The Freeze: Unexplained muscle tenseness, a tight jaw, or the hair standing up on the back of your neck.

Overriding the “Politeness Trap”

Teenagers—especially girls—are often socially conditioned to be polite, accommodate others, and avoid “making a scene” or appearing “rude.” Your safety and comfort will always be more important than someone else’s feelings. If someone makes you uncomfortable, you are under no obligation to be polite to them.

3. Complete the Body Safety Worksheet

Print the body safety worksheet from your order confirmation or download it from your account.

Read through each scenario with your girls and discuss the options provided. There may be more than one correct answer. Encourage your girls to come up with their own responses.

Types of Attention (Older Girls): Map out different types of attention: positive (compliments, friendly greetings), awkward (staring, over-friendliness from strangers), and negative/unwanted (catcalling, following, persistent messaging). Discuss where the line is crossed.  

4. Identify Your “Safety Squad”

Your Safety Squad is an active network of trusted people who back you up as you navigate greater independence—whether you are at a high school party, driving with friends, at a mall, or hanging out online.

Who to include: A parent or guardian, an aunt/uncle, an older adult sibling, a trusted troop leader, or a friend’s parent.

The Rule: They must agree ahead of time that if you call or text for help, they will come get you or assist you first, and talk about the details later.

Establish an “X-Plan” or Secret Code Word

Sometimes you need to get out of a situation immediately, but you can’t say why because the person making you uncomfortable is standing right next to you. Set up a secret code with your Safety Squad.

• The “X” Plan: Texting just the letter “X” or a specific, completely random emoji (like or ) to anyone on your squad means: “Call me in 60 seconds with an ’emergency’ and tell me I need to come home right now,” or “Come pick me up at my current location immediately, no questions asked.”
• The Location Drop: Practice how to quickly drop your live location digitally via maps or safety apps to your squad members if you are on the move.

Leader Note on Safety & Sensitivity

When facilitating this patch program, always emphasize that unwanted attention is never the victim’s fault, regardless of what they are wearing, where they are walking, or how they respond. Create a safe, non-judgmental space where girls feel secure sharing their experiences.  

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Take your group to a rock wall climbing experience and earn our Rock wall fun patch.

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Take your group to a skydiving experience and earn our Indoor Skydiving patch.

It’s not cheap but worth it for a great end-of-the-year experience. iFLY indoor skydiving typically costs between $70 and $150+ per person for beginner packages, which usually include 2 to 4 flights. Prices vary based on location, time, and package, with popular 4-flight packages often around $134, while longer, 15-minute sessions can cost over $250.

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This patch program is designed to inspire Girl Scouts to learn about the contributions of women astronauts to space exploration in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Here are some suggestions for earning this patch.

1. Watch this video to learn about women in space.

2. Choose and complete a STEM project about space. ScienceBuddies.org has several engaging ones to choose from.

3. Participate in a “mini astronaut training” session. Include activities like teamwork challenges, problem-solving exercises, and physical fitness drills that astronauts might do. Do you think women would be at a disadvantage competing with men during training? Why or why not?

4. Create art inspired by space, using materials of your choice. This can include paintings, sculptures, or digital art that features women astronauts.

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Over 90% of female NASA astronauts were Girl Scouts, highlighting a massive, long-term connection between the organization and space exploration. Notable alumni include Eileen Collins, Kathryn Sullivan, Sally Ride, and Mae Jemison.

Here are some suggestions for earning this patch. Do at least 4 of the requirements or make up your own.

1. Watch this video to learn about the Artemis launch.

2. Build a simple straw rocket and test it. Record how high and far it goes.

3. Create a model of the Moon’s surface. Use papier-mâché or other craft materials to represent craters and maria (the dark, flat areas).

4. Create an art piece inspired by space! This could be a painting, drawing, or digital artwork representing your vision of space travel or the Moon, inspired by the Artemis program.

5. Write a letter to future explorers who will follow in the footsteps of the Artemis astronauts. Include your thoughts, hopes, and questions about space exploration and the future of humanity in space.

6. Visit a local planetarium or space museum to explore exhibits related to the Moon or invite a guest speaker.

7. At the end of the program, each girl should reflect on what she learned and how she can apply those lessons to her personal life and future aspirations. This could be done through journaling or a group discussion.

The Artemis and the Future of Space Exploration patch program is not just about understanding space. It’s about inspiring the next generation of female leaders in STEM fields. Together, let’s dream big and reach for the stars!

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