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Junior Program Ideas

Program Ideas and Adaptations for Juniors

This year, your Juniors will discover new passions, level up their skills, and maybe even make their mark in their community by starting their Girl Scout Bronze Award! Encourage them to go the distance 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:
Democracy for Juniors Badge

Juniors will learn more about how their government works—from their own town or city to the whole country.

PURPOSE:

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know more about local and state government, as well as the three branches of the federal government.

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!" and “Get to Know the 3 Branches of Government” programs for troops to schedule at a time that works best. Programs are 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 Step 4 of this badge. 
 
  • Leading an engaging Junior 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. 
Animal Habitats Badge

Juniors will find out more about where animals live, how they play, and how humans can help them.  

PURPOSE:

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know more about wild animals and how to protect their homes. 

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Find out about wild animals
2. Investigate an animal habitat
3. Create an animal house
4. Explore endangered habitats
5. Help protect animal habitats

PLAN YOUR MEETING:
Automotive Design Badge

Juniors will discover how to create vehicles by sketching and sculpting a model.

PURPOSE:

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know about innovation and market research. They’ll also know how to create criteria and sketch and sculpt a vehicle. 

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore​ Tips and Resources

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.

Ask an Engineer! New Automotive Engineering Badge Rollout: Hear from Katy Carnes, an automotive engineer with Toyota. She shares her story of becoming an engineer, solving problems, and changing the future of cars.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Explore mobility across time
2. Conduct automotive market research
3. Create your vehicle’s design criteria
4. Sketch a vehicle to meet your criteria
5. Sculpt and share your vehicle

PLAN YOUR MEETING:

  • Video demonstration: Watch a volunteer lead Steps 2–5 of this badge.
 
Business Jumpstart Badge

Juniors learn that everyone has the ability to come up with an idea—it’s what you do to bring it to life that makes you an entrepreneur!

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll have come up with an idea, gotten feedback on it, and pitched it to others—just like an entrepreneur!

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. Business Jumpstart is a  dual session, self-paced module. The module takes appx. 60 minutes and contains written, video and quiz-based content.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Create a prototype that solves a problem  
2. Get feedback  
3. Revise your prototype  
4. Come up with a pitch  
5. Pitch your idea to an audience 

PLAN YOUR MEETING​:

  • Video demonstration: Watch a volunteer lead Step 1 of this badge

 
Cookie CEO Badge

Juniors find out that when they sell Girl Scout Cookies, they’re already running their own business!

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. Cookie CEO is a single session, self-paced module. The module takes appx. 30 minutes and contains written, video and quiz-based content.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Create a prototype that solves a problem  
2. Get feedback  
3. Revise your prototype  
4. Come up with a pitch  
5. Pitch your idea to an audience 

PLAN YOUR MEETING​:

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

 
Savvy Shopper Badge

Juniors explore the difference between needs and wants and learn how to save for both.

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know the difference between what they need and what they want—and they’ll be able to wisely save money for both.

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. Savvy Shopper is a  single session, self-paced module. The module takes appx. 45 minutes and contains written, video and quiz-based content.

REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Explore your needs and wants
  2. Look into why you want what you want
  3. Find out what makes people happy (or not!) with what they buy
  4. Learn how to decide what to buy 
  5. Make a plan to buy something you need or want 

PLAN YOUR MEETING​:

  • Video demonstration: Watch a volunteer lead Step 2 of this badge

 

The Road to Global Travel

Girls will learn about the global Girl Scouting and Girl Guiding Movement and build cross-cultural and travel planning skills.  

PURPOSE: 

When girls have completed this series, they’ll set a goal to travel to a World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) World Center when they are Senior Girl Scouts. Girls will know what they need to do to build the necessary travel skills for an international experience – and they’ll start planning a trip or two.  

REQUIREMENTS: 

This series includes five 60-minute meetings: 

  1. Go Global! Learn about our global movement and WAGGGS.  
  2. Travel Tools! Explore the Girl Scout travel progression and a cross-cultural skill. 
  3. Planning & Prep! What it takes to travel internationally & how to get there. 
  4. Activate Your Adventure! Decide where to travel and start planning. 
  5. Travel Like a Girl Scout! How to be a responsible traveler & next steps for you! 

PLAN YOUR MEETING: 

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, Juniors 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​

Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey

Juniors 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. Juniors 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.


Watch this video to understand the difference between taking action and community service.

 
  • Patch Opportunity: The Girl Scout Tree Promise
  • Awesome Girls: Protect the Planet Event: Check out this exciting, hands-on event with three environmental scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)! You’ll do fun activities that will help you earn the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey, and every girl who registers to view this event (either live or recorded) will be able to receive a free EPA patch!
  • Junior Take Action Guide
  • Leading an engaging meeting: Recommendations for facilitating group conversations, handling supplies, and organizing your meeting   
  • Digital games and ice breakers 
  • Virtual Events Calendar: Search for other events that support this Journey and tune in as a troop!
  • Virtual meeting agenda (PDF): Use this resource to help you adapt the meeting plans found in the Volunteer Toolkit
  • Girl Scout Camp: Find in-person and virtual camp opportunities.
  • Step-by-step planner: Sign in to the Volunteer Toolkit to find materials lists, scripts, meeting aids, and more for Meetings 1–6 of the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey.  
Camper Badge

Juniors find out how to plan a camping adventure.

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll know how to have a great overnight camping trip at a campsite or cabin.  

Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore Tips and Resources

Gain a New Camping Skill: Build a Fire - Learn how to make simple firestarters and practice building a fire! Always have help from an adult when practicing campfire building.

Camp Cooking  - **With all campfire or camp stove cooking, ALWAYS have help from an adult!** Today's program will introduce campfire cooking - Step 3 for the Junior Camper badge. 

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Start planning your adventure  
  2. Gain a new camping skill  
  3. Find your inner camp chef 
  4. Try a new activity 
  5. Head out on your trip—and have some nighttime fun! 

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

Watch a volunteer lead Step 2 of this badge.

Watch a volunteer leader another version of Step 2 of this badge!

 
Eco Camper Badge

Juniors find out how to protect the environment when they go on a camping trip.

PURPOSE: 

When girls have earned this badge, they’ll have learned skills for minimal-impact camping and know how to protect the environment when they go outdoors. 

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. Learn the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace 
  2. Plan meals with the environment in mind 
  3. Prepare a minimal-impact campsite 
  4. Have fun with Leave No Trace 
  5. Take a conservation hike 

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

Watch a volunteer lead Step 2 of this badge.

 
Outdoor Journey: Take Action Award

Juniors who have earned their Animal Habitat, Camper, and Eco Camper badges will now deepen their outdoor skills with a Take Action project.

REQUIREMENTS

  1. Deepen your outdoor skills when you earn your Animal Habitat, Camper, and Eco Camper badges
  2. Plan a Take Action project that helps make your favorite park, beach, or forest a better place for everyone
  3. Earn a Take Action Award 

Understanding Take Action Activity: Watch this video to understand the difference between taking action and community service.

PLAN YOUR MEETING​

National Service Project

Juniors 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.

Junior 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 Juniors!

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.