The Badge Archive

Basic Meeting Plans are designed to have minimal supplies and still hit the GSUSA Requirements. Most meetings can be done in a 90 minute time frame.

Items Needed:

• Pen/Pencil for each scout
• Troop coloring supplies (markers, crayons, or colored pencils)

(Note, troops with a larger budget might want to follow…. instead of this basic plan.)

Meeting Outline

Full instructions for each activity are found on the connected links. This outline shows the recommended order of activities for a nice flow from one activity to the next.

Meeting Start

Always plan for 5-10 minutes to allow scouts to arrive and your troop’s opening routines.

Time Expected*: 5 minutes

Activity 1 – Terms To Know

(Requirements 1-3 Earned)

Info Needed: 10 Principle Cards

Time Expected*: 15 minutes

Activity 2 – Rube Goldberg Machine

(Requirement 5 Earned)

Fun Activity: Rube Goldberg – Paper Only

Time Expected*: 45 minutes

Activity 3 – Castle Defense

(Requirement 4 Earned)

Action Needed: Castle Layers of Security

Time Expected*: 20 minutes

• Note to Leaders – Make it a short timed challenge if they took longer on their Rube Goldberg machine and the meeting will soon be over.

Meeting End

Always plan for 5-10 minutes for clean up and Closing Routines

Scouts can challenge them to add to their Castle Layers of Security until it’s time to go home.

Time Expected*: 5 minutes

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Total Time Expected*: 90 minutes

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General Notes

• The Basic Plans from The Badge Archive are designed to earn one official GSUSA badge per level per meeting to remain budget-friendly.
• Some badges require two meetings to complete. This allows scouts to fully enjoy the activities while keeping costs low by only needing one GSUSA badge for every two meetings.
• For troops that wish to give scouts a badge or patch for every meeting, a fun patch can be awarded during one of the two sessions. Scouts attending only one meeting can earn the fun patch, while those attending both will receive both the fun patch and the GSUSA badge.

*Time Expected*

• The time estimates provided by The Badge Archive are based on the writer’s personal experience and are meant as a guideline.
• Troops may take more or less time depending on their scouts’ abilities and interests. Plan your meetings accordingly to suit your troop’s unique needs.

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For pre-planned meeting plans by others – see the Senior Cybersecurity Basics page.
To choose your own activities – see the Senior Cybersecurity Basics Activity List.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Scouts

This is a supportive community for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scout leaders. This group offers solutions to keep older scouts engaged in scouting amidst their busy lives. Share strategies, tackle challenges, and exchange ideas for fun, meaningful activities that resonate with teens and build lasting connections.

Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!

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• Return to the Senior Badge List.

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