side menu icon
Brownie Program Ideas

Program Ideas and Adaptations for Brownies

This year, your Brownies will explore their world and discover just how far they’ll go with their Girl Scout sisters by their side! Inspire them to dream big with these fun and easy badges, Journeys, and activities, adapted for both virtual and safe in-person meetings. We’ll be adding content throughout the year, so bookmark this page and check back often!

How to use these resources:
Girl Scout Way Badge

Brownies learn all about the Girl Scout traditions and how to share the Girl Scout way. 

PURPOSE:

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know how to practice and share the Girl Scout way.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore​ Tips and Resources

Girl Scout Promise - COVID19 Style: No matter what the future holds, you can always make the best of it living by the Girl Scout Law! Service Unit 490 Director Edie Budnik created some great tips on how we can all continue acting in the Girl Scout spirit during this time. What are some ways you have been following the Girl Scout Law?

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Sing everywhere
2. Celebrate Juliette Low's birthday
3. Share sisterhood
4. Leave a place better than you found it
5. Enjoy Girl Scout traditions

PLAN YOUR MEETING:

  • Video demonstration: Watch a volunteer lead Step 3 of this badge.
 
  • Leading an engaging Brownie meeting: Recommendations for facilitating group conversations, handling supplies, and organizing your meeting  
  • Digital ice breakers and games
  • Virtual meeting agenda (PDF): Use this resource to help you adapt the meeting plans found in the Volunteer Toolkit
  • Step-by-step planner: Sign in to the Volunteer Toolkit to find instructions for meeting 1 and meeting 2 of this badge, including materials lists, scripts, meeting aids, and more. 
Coding Basics Badge

Brownies find out how computer scientists write programs for computers to solve problems.

PURPOSE:

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know how programmers write programs that make computers work and how people can use computers to help others.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Create algorithms for a computer that follow a sequence
2. Use loops to improve your algorithm
3. Use events to make things happen
4. Learn about women in computer science
5. Create your own set of commands that use events

PLAN YOUR MEETING:

  • Video demonstration: Watch a volunteer lead Step 1 of this badge.
 
Democracy for Brownies Badge


Brownies find out how people in the government decide what rules are made and how they are followed. 

PURPOSE:

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know the three branches of government—and some of the things they are responsible for.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Tips and Resources

Michigan 2020 Women's Right to Vote Centennial Patch Program: In 2020, Girl Scouts across Michigan will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment – the constitutional amendment that gave women the right to vote. GSMISTS honors this milestone with the Michigan 2020 Women’s Right to Vote Centennial Patch. Girls can earn this patch by learning about the suffragists who fought for years for the right to vote.

Democracy for Girl Scouts with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation: Learn about the different ways you can learn about our government and the opportunities provided to Girl Scouts. Not in the Grand Rapids area? No problem! We'll discuss virtual civic education programs for your troop!

A Message from Mayor Bliss: Hey there Girl Scouts! Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss has a message for you about civic engagement.

On-Demand Program with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation: Offers "Write Your Rep!" program for troops to schedule at a time that works best. Program is FREE.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Find out about local government
2. Find out about state government
3. Find out about our country’s legislative branch
4. Find out about our country’s executive branch
5. Find out about our country’s judicial branch

PLAN YOUR MEETING:

  • Video demonstration: Watch a volunteer lead the Sunny petal.
 
  • Leading an engaging Brownie meeting: Recommendations for facilitating group conversations, handling supplies, and organizing your meeting  
  • Digital ice breakers and games
  • Virtual meeting agenda (PDF): Use this resource to help you adapt the meeting plans found in the Volunteer Toolkit
  • Step-by-step planner: Sign in to the Volunteer Toolkit to find instructions for meeting 1 and meeting 2 of this badge, including materials lists, scripts, meeting aids, and more.
Meet My Customers Badge

Brownies find out how to manage their money by pretending to be a customer. Then they use what they learned to make sure cookie customers enjoy buying from them.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Resources

VicTreeFi Program on Demand - VicTreeFi is a female-founded education tech company, dedicated to promoting financial literacy. Girl Scouts can complete financial literacy badges online with VicTreeFi courses. Meet My Customers is a dual session, self-paced module. The module takes appx. 30 minutes and contains written, video and game-based content.

Meet My Customers Virtual Meeting PowerPoint Deck - This PowerPoint deck can be used to facilitate earning the Meet My Customers badge through a virtual troop meeting.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Find out where your customers are 
2. Talk to some customers
3. Practice handling money and making change
4. Role-play good customer relations 
5. Thank your customers!  

PLAN YOUR MEETING​:

  • Video demonstration: Watch a volunteer lead Step 1 of this badge.
 
Money Manager Badge

Brownies will learn the difference between needs, like food and clothing, and wants, like video games and movie tickets.

PURPOSE:

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know how to manage money wisely. 

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Tips and Resources

VicTreeFi Program on Demand - VicTreeFi is a female-founded education tech company, dedicated to promoting financial literacy. Girl Scouts can complete financial literacy badges online with VicTreeFi courses. Money Manager is a dual session, self-paced module. The module takes appx. 60 minutes and contains written, video and game-based content.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Shop for elf items with your elf doll
2. Go grocery shopping
3. Go clothes shopping
4. Get ready for school
5. Have some fun

PLAN YOUR MEETING​:

Think Like An Engineer Journey

Brownies find out how engineers solve problems and do a hands-on design challenge.

PURPOSE:

When girls have earned this award, they’ll know how engineers use the Design Thinking Process to solve problems and have completed a hands-on design challenge activity. Brownies will also have connected the steps of the Design Thinking Process to the steps of a Take Action project.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Resources

Think Like and Engineer with Katy - Think Like an Engineer! Join Toyota engineer Katy as she discusses different types of engineering, how to use design thinking to solve problems, and what a career as an engineer looks like.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Find out how engineers use the Design Thinking Process to solve problems.
2. Do 3 Design Thinking activities: design and build an assistive device, a     water collection device, and a device that can launch a ball across a room.
3.  Plan a Take Action project that helps others. If you're a Girl Scout volunteer,     go to Volunteer Toolkit for complete meeting plans and activity     instructions.

PLAN YOUR MEETING​:

Pets Badge

Brownies learn how to choose the pet that’s right for them—or find out how to take the best care of a pet they already have.

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know how to take care of a pet.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Tips and Resources

Virtual Brownie Pet Badge Day - Join the Humane Society of West Michigan and earn your Pets Badge. Check out our Event Calendar for an upcoming opportunity. 

Dog Bite Safety - Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors can learn all about dog bite safety in this online program by our program partner, The Humane Society of West Michigan. Learn all about dog behavior with Ashley and her four legged friend Spinelli! Part of step 4 of the Brownie Pets badge is learning how pets communicate their feelings - learn how dogs express fear or anger through this informative video. 

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Find out what care different pets need
  2. Keep a pet comfy
  3. Help a pet stay healthy and safe
  4. Make a pet feel loved 
  5. Feed a pet

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

Watch a volunteer lead Step 1 of this badge.

 

World Thinking Day Award

Every year, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world celebrate February 22 as a day of international friendship called World Thinking Day. The 2021 theme for World Thinking Day is "Peacebuilding." To earn this award, Brownies will explore the theme’s meaning and make a peace pledge to make a difference. 

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this award, they’ll understand what peacebuilding means and will have made a peace pledge for World Thinking Day. 

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Explore World Thinking Day
  2. Find out what peacebuilding means
  3. Explore peacebuilding in Girl Scouts
  4. Get inspired by peacebuilding
  5. Create a peace pledge

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

STEM Career Exploration Badge

Brownies find out how all the things they love—like camping, baking, or walking a dog—can become jobs that change the world. Then, they’ll create a plan to turn their dreams into reality!

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know how to use STEM to help others.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Tips and Resources

Ask a Scientist! Q&A With Dr. Denice Robertson - Hear from Dr. Denice Robertson, the co-director of Northern Kentucky University's new Center for Teaching and Learning, as she speaks about her recent work in developing the Greater Cincinnati Pollinator Habitat Initiative to study and increase pollinator habitats in the community, how her career path has changed over the years, and what advice she has for Girl Scouts interested in biology.

Ask an Engineer! STEM Career Q&A - Curious about a career in engineering? Learn from Mandy and Korbyn (a Girl Scout alum!) about their careers as Cargill engineers and how you can start your STEM journey today.

Think Like An Engineer with Katy - Think Like an Engineer! Join Toyota engineer Katy as she discusses different types of engineering, how to use design thinking to solve problems, and what a career as an engineer looks like.

Virtual STEM Career Exploration - This self-paced program explores 5 different STEM fields: health & wellness, engineering, computer science, food & agriculture, and nature & the environment. Hear from women in the field, try activities in each field, and learn something new!

REQUIREMENTS

1. Explore your interests 
2. Discover the possibilities 
3. Learn about the day-to-day 
4. Brainstorm your next steps 
5. Share your goals

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

Watch a volunteer lead Step 2 and 3 of this badge.

 
Hiker Badge

Brownies find out what they need to know to become a Brownie hiker.

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know how to hit the trail for a hike.

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Tips and Resources

Learn the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace - Interested in working on an outdoor badge this summer? An important step found in nearly all outdoor badges is learning how to minimize your impact on nature. Learn the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace through this video. 

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Decide where to go
  2. Try out a hiking skill
  3. Pick the right gear
  4. Pack a snack for energy
  5. Go on your hike!

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

Watch a volunteer lead Step 2 of this badge.



Think Like A Citizen Scientist Journey

Brownies learn how scientists use observation to understand the world as they collect and analyze data as part of a citizen science project.

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this award, they will have sharpened their observation and data collection skills through three citizen science activities. Brownies will also have put their skills into practice through a Take Action project. 

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Find out how citizen scientists make observations, collect data, and work with scientists to receive feedback on research
  2. Do three citizen science activities: sharpen observation skills through two observation games and a SciStarter project
  3. Plan a Take Action project that helps others

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

Watch a volunteer lead Part 1 of this Journey.

 
National Service Project

Brownies choose a service project to put into action. 

PURPOSE: 

When girls have completed this activity, they will have given back to their community through a service project.

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

Becoming Me Program Series

Who am I? Who do I want to become?

Welcome to the Becoming Me program series! Developed especially for Girl Scouts and inspired by former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama’s book Becoming: Adapted for Young Readers, this special program series takes 6 – 8 sessions to complete. Girls explore their own story as they participate in a National Service Project, read the interactive Becoming Me journal, earn three Girl Scout badges and receive the Becoming Me patch! Find all you need to complete this special program series, with items available individually or bundled by grade level for your convenience.

Brownie Becoming Me Digital Download Guide and Requirements

Becoming Me Journal Digital Download

Girl Scouts Give Back: Honoring our Everyday Changemakers – National Service Project

Purchase Becoming Me Patch and Badges

D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y from GSMISTS Troop 4287

Created by GSMISTS Troop 4287 as part of their Silver Award. 

The purpose of this patch is to help girls to learn about D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y.. D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y. is the main theme of our patch, and it stands for Different Individuals Valuing Each other Regardless of Skin, Intellect, Talents, or Years. With this patch, girls will have the opportunity to learn about various cultures and interact with the diversity in their communities. They will be able to expand their circle by interacting with new people while learning to appreciate their distinct customs. The participants will become more understanding of other backgrounds and become more culturally sensitive. 

Visit their Silver Award website, https://sites.google.com/view/d-i-v-e-r-s-i-t-y-patch-forms/home, for details on earning the patch. Patches can also be ordered for $0.50 each plus $3 shipping per order through the website.


 

Find even more adapted activities in the Volunteer Toolkit—just look for the “Virtual” icon! Browse Award and Badge Explorer to see all of the badges, Journeys, and awards that will excite your Brownies!

Introducing the new Daisy, Brownie & Junior Collection. Shop Now.
Introducing the new Daisy, Brownie & Junior Collection. Shop Now.
Play. Grow. Explore. Girl Scouts. Learn More.
Play. Grow. Explore. Girl Scouts. Learn More.