The Badge Archive

Meeting idea – Most troops will be able to do this in a 90 minute meeting.

Note to Leaders – Many troops use the spirit of the badge thinking on Pets. The 5 basic requirements GSUSA has on their online shop and in their Badge Explorer give a very broad range of interpretation. This activity meets those broad interpretations. It does NOT meet requirements as read in the official GSUSA Booklet.

Item’s Needed

• Adult volunteer to run each of the 5 stations.
• Whatever pet grooming tools you have on hand for Groom a Pet station.
• (Optional) A stuffed animal to use the grooming tools on for Groom a Pet station.
• Various materials needed to make a blanket/bed to donate – depends on which project you chose for the Make a Bed station.
• Various materials needed to make a DIY toy. Depends on which craft you choose for the Make a Toy station.
• Toy medical tools (can be purchased at a dollar tree or thrift store) for Vet Clinic Visit station.
• Stuffed animal(s) for Vet Clinic Visit station.
• Walking balloons (either dog or cat) for Feed a Balloon Dog/Cat station.
• Variety of materials (dog bowl and fake bone treat OR laser pointer and toy mouse) for the Feed a Balloon Dog/Cat station.

Instructions

• Set up the following five stations and rotate small groups of scouts through each station.

Groom a Pet

Fulfills Basic Requirement of Step 3 of GSUSA Brownie Pets badge requirements.

Items needed: Depends on which tools you have access to

Look at different grooming tools your families might have they can bring in for the scouts to see and then brush a fake fur, wash a Scribble Scrubbie Pet, or otherwise practice using a grooming tool.

Activity intended to cover step 3, Help a pet stay healthy and safe. GSUSA booklet requires: Learn about 3 pets possible health issues and how you would keep it healthy OR 3 pets grooming and try grooming OR take a dog on an exercise walk for one week.

Make a Bed

Fulfills Basic Requirement of Step 2 of GSUSA Brownie Pets badge requirements.

Items needed: Depends on which Blanket/Bed you choose to make

Learn about types of bedding (hay for farm animals, substrate for reptiles, etc.) and make a Blanket/Bed to donate that your troop can accomplish in the time allowed – or have them work on it in shifts (i.e. they all do a small part of a tied blanket.)

Activity intended to cover step 2, Keep a pet comfy. GSUSA booklet requires: Make a bed/sleep nook for a pet OR take care of a pet cage/tank/litter box for 2 weeks OR muck out a horse stall 3 times.

Make a Toy

Fulfills Basic Requirement of Step 4 of GSUSA Brownie Pets badge requirements.

Items needed: Depends on which Toy you choose to make

Learn about importance of Toy Safety and make a Dog or Cat Toy to donate that your troop can accomplish in the time allowed for your stations.

Activity intended to cover step 4, Make a pet feel loved. GSUSA booklet requires: Make a toy or make up a game and play with a pet OR learn how three different kinds of pets communicate their feelings.

Vet Clinic Visit

Fulfills Basic Requirement of Step 1 of GSUSA Brownie Pets badge requirements.

Items needed: toy medical tools (there are often doctor kits from dollar stores) and a stuffed animal

Use toy tools to give the stuffed animal a check up. Demonstrate how a vet checks the eyes, ears, coat, teeth, and feels their stomach and why. Each scout gets a turn while you discuss importance of things like vaccines and yearly exams.

Activity intended to cover step 1, Find out what care different pets need. GSUSA booklet requires: Learn what 3 different pets costs and how much space, food, and human interaction it needs.

Feed a Balloon Dog/Cat

Fulfills Basic Requirement of Step 5 of GSUSA Brownie Pets badge requirements.

Items needed: Walking balloons, dog bowl and fake bone treat OR laser pointer and toy mouse

Scouts walk “dog” to a bowl and get a fake bone treat before walking it back. Explain how treats are to be given only a few times. Some dog treats are good for their teeth, but evven those should not replace normal food they would get in a dog bowl.
You can also set up different obstacles they can “walk” the “dog” through to make it take a longer time or as an extra exercise after “feeding” their “dog”.

Scouts have the “cat” follow the laser pointer the leader uses to guide the cat to the toy mouse. Explain how some outdoor cats will hunt for their own food and why it’s important to still give them some pet food with added nutrition.
Scouts can go on multiple “hunts” to take up the full time for the station.

Activity intended to cover step 5, Feed a pet. GSUSA booklet requires: Feed your pet for two weeks OR feed someone’s pet for one week OR find out how much it costs to feed two different pets for one month.