Activity ideas
Listed under each requirement
Be an animal observer
Look for animal signs either by looking for animal tracks outdoors OR looking up animal habitats.
- VTK Animal Habitats activity
- Animal Tracks Hike
- Animal Sound Guessing Game
- Learn how animals sound in different languages
Play an animal observation game
Mimic animals by either playing camouflage hide and seek OR animal charades.
- VTK Who Am I activity
- Animal Charades
- Animal Hide-and-Seek craft
- Paper Plate Animal Hide-and-Seek craft
- Animal Camouflage video
- Play Hide-and-Seek and compare the scouts ability to blend in based on what they were wearing to how animals blend in to their surrounds.
- Move Like an Animal
- Animal Moves game
- Animal Movement Dice Game
- Move Like an Animal Cards
- Animal Movement Fortune Teller origami
- Animal Yoga
- Animal Job Cards
Focus on one animal
Pick an animal and observe them in person OR online to learn more about them.
- Recommended to go on a field trip to observe an animal.
- Library Animal Hunt
- Jungle Observation video
- Backyard Observation video
- Animal Live Cam links
- San Diego Zoo Live Cam links
- VTK Animal Field Notes form
- Make an Animal Observation Journal
Field Trip Ideas
Pick one that works for your area
Make sure all requirements are met when going or have a pre-field trip meeting to hit the requirements.
- Tour an Animal/Pet Shelter
- Tour the Humane Society
- Visit a local Veterinarian Office
- Visit a Reptile Expo, Alpaca Farm, etc.
- Visit a small farm or petting zoo
- Tour a pet store
- Visit a Cat Cafe
- Tour an aquarium
Guest Speaker Ideas
Possibilities depending on where you are at
Make sure all requirements are met when there are there or have a meeting before or after the guest speaker to hit the requirements.
- Older Scout or FHA or 4-H member that raises animals
- Presentation from a Raptor Rehabilitation Center
- Presentation from an Animal Entertainer (They typically bring creatures to birthday parties)
- Veterinarian (They can speak and give a pet brought to the meeting a check up with the scouts)
- Bring in a Pet (Owner discusses care and scouts get to handle the pet and/or help with some kind of task AND/OR have a doggy day spa where the scouts groom, wash, blow dry, brush teeth, give treats, etc.)
- Professional Dog Walker/House Sitter
- Seeing Eye Dog and their Trainer or Owner
For pre-planned meeting plans by others – see the 2011 Daisy Animal Observation badge page.
- GSUSA Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) free plan for 2 Meetings – No links available. This is only accessible through MyGS log-in on Council’s website for troop leaders
- Mtg 1: Animal Tracks Outdoors OR Explore Where Animals Live AND Camouflage Hide-and-Seek OR Animal Charades
- Mtg 2: Field Notes OR Draw and Share Fun Facts
The Badge Archive 