The Badge Archive

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Challenges Highlighted by Leaders:

1. Middle School is Tough: Scouts often prioritize social connection over structured activities, struggle with long-term planning, and view badges and other projects as too similar to schoolwork. Many are also navigating mental health challenges, heightened by the impact of global events like COVID-19.
2. Lack of Engagement: Scouts frequently provide little input when asked what they want to do, requiring leaders to guide decisions or offer specific options.
3. Varied Interests and Schedules: Scouts have diverse motivations and commitments, with some balancing busy extracurricular activities, making consistent troop attendance a challenge.
4. Badge Aversion: Scouts often dislike traditional badge work, especially when it’s perceived as “too much like school” or overly structured, leading to a general disinterest in completing them.
5. Hormonal Changes and Self-Discovery: Cadette years bring heightened emotional and social changes. Scouts are navigating identity, self-esteem, and social dynamics, which can influence their interest levels and how they engage.
6. Shifting Priorities: With increased interest in other activities like sports, theater, and academics, Girl Scouts may no longer be their primary focus. Some drop out because they cannot balance it with their other commitments.
7. Maintaining Fun and Excitement: For leaders, balancing engaging activities like games, food-related projects, and creative crafts while incorporating meaningful Girl Scout traditions or goals (e.g., service, awards) can be challenging.

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Activities Middle School Scouts Are Interested In:

1. Creative Projects: Rock painting, cookie decorating, edible arrangements, or crafts. Escape rooms inspired by popular themes, such as “Squid Game.” Custom badges tailored to unique topics or leader-led themes.
2. Leadership-Inspired Activities: Planning meetings with structured options and voting on ideas. Writing mission statements during badges like “My Cookie Venture,” promoting teamwork and goal-setting.
3. Life Skills: Mock interviews, financial planning, car-buying tips, and career exploration.
4. Service-Focused Activities: Volunteering at local shelters, retirement homes, or council events. Brainstorming creative service projects, such as hosting a bake-off or making cards for the community.
5. Social and Casual Fun: Movie nights, casual hangouts, or meme-sharing sessions. One-off fun activities like a glow stick party or skin care program.
6. Council-Specific Badges: Working on council-owned badges that align with older scouts’ interests and can be applied to multiple levels (e.g., Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador).
7. Making Seasonal Drinks and Crafts: Group cooking lessons or trying new cultural foods. Activities like a pumpkin spice latte-making session and Starbucks-themed crafts tap into scouts’ current interests and provide a cozy, social experience.
8. Mentoring Younger Troops: Encouraging older scouts to mentor a lower-level troop or become “big sisters” to younger scouts fosters leadership and connection. Activities like a “Dress to Impress Brownie Lock-In” give older scouts the opportunity to lead and inspire younger Girl Scouts while planning something creative and exciting.
9. Planning Cosplay or Mythology-Themed Events: Combining popular interests like mythology or costumes with leadership and event planning can excite scouts to take charge.
10. Charcuterie Board Crafting: Making cheese and assembling decorative boards combines creativity and food preparation.
11. Crocheting Amigurumi Keychains: Creating cute and trendy items like bee keychains offers a chance to learn a new skill while crafting something scouts will love.
12. “Adulting 101” Topics: Customizing life prep skills like budgeting, basic home repair, or time management keeps older scouts engaged as they prepare for adulthood.
13. Food Preservation: Growing dill and making pickles teaches gardening and culinary skills, adding a fresh, hands-on experience.

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Trips and Experiences:

• Annual YMCA Camp: These camps may offer a broader range of activities at competitive pricing, making them an excellent alternative for troop trips.
• Behind-the-Scenes Business Tours: Exploring pet shops, stores, or other workplaces ties into real-world skills and cookie sales themes.
• Sea World Sleepover or Amusement Park Experiences: These unique experiences can give scouts access to fun group-only activities they wouldn’t get elsewhere.
• Cultural Visits: Planning trips to local art museums, Japanese tea houses, or parks allows scouts to immerse themselves in cultural and creative environments. These outings not only expose them to new ideas and traditions but also encourage appreciation for art, nature, and diverse cultural practices.

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Takeaway:

Middle school scouting is a time of transition, and keeping scouts engaged requires flexibility, creativity, and a willingness to adapt. By tailoring activities to their interests, creating a safe and supportive environment, and exposing them to new possibilities, leaders can help scouts stay motivated to continue their Girl Scout journey.