The Badge Archive

Here are actions and ideas a scout leader can implement:

Focus on Building Self-Worth

1. Highlight Strengths and Achievements
   Regularly recognize each scout’s strengths, talents, or accomplishments—whether academic, creative, athletic, or social. Celebrate their efforts and hard work. This reinforces the idea that their value comes from what they do, not just how they look.
2. Encourage Goal-Setting
   Guide scouts to set personal goals, like learning a new skill, volunteering, or achieving something meaningful. Accomplishing goals fosters confidence and emphasizes self-growth over external validation.

Provide Role Models

1. Share Stories of Inspirational Women
   Introduce scouts to the stories of impactful women who achieved success through intelligence, resilience, and hard work, rather than focusing on appearance. For example, scientists, activists, artists, or community leaders.
2. Invite Guest Speakers
   Organize visits from mentors who exemplify confidence and leadership, and who can share their journeys about self-acceptance and embracing inner strength.

Educate on Media Literacy

1. Talk About Unrealistic Standards
   Lead discussions about how media often promotes unrealistic beauty standards and how this can affect self-esteem. Highlight the importance of critical thinking when consuming media.
2. Activity: Spot the Edits
   Teach scouts how to identify altered images or exaggerated portrayals in advertising and social media. This can help them see beauty for its diversity rather than perfection.

Cultivate Empathy and Team Spirit

1. Kindness Challenges
   Have scouts write positive notes to each other or share compliments that focus on inner qualities, like kindness, humor, and perseverance. Building bonds shifts focus away from external appearances.
2. Volunteer Projects
   Organize opportunities where scouts make a positive impact, such as helping their community. These activities show them they have the power to bring change and make them feel valuable.

Boost Confidence Through Activities

1. Skill-Building Activities
   Teach activities that build confidence, like survival skills, cooking, crafting, or public speaking. Accomplishing something new gives scouts a sense of pride in their abilities.
2. Challenge Activities
   Encourage team-building challenges, such as creating presentations, planning troop events, or solving puzzles together. Scouts see their leadership potential and what they can offer to the group.

Lead by Example

• As a scout leader, show confidence in your own abilities and personality. Model self-acceptance by focusing on qualities, actions, and achievements rather than appearances. Scouts often look up to leaders for cues on self-worth.

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GSUSA Fun Patches

• Be You by Making Friends
• Beautiful Inside and Out by Patchwork Design
• Encouragement and Confidence (Various) by ePatches and Crests (Canada)
• Glitter and Grit by Girls Love Scouting
• Love the Skin You’re In by Mad About Patches
• I was born Brilliant born Bad and a little Mad by Joy of Patches
• Personal Care by The Patch Corner
• Self Care Skills by Making Friends
• Self Esteem by Making Friends
• She Can Collection (Various) by Mad About Patches
• She Leaves a Little Glitter Wherever She Goes by GSUSA or GS News and Activities
• Take Chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy by Girls Love Scouting
• Vision Boards by Snappy Logos

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See also Celebrating Teen Individuality.

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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 Cadette Badge List.
• Return to the Senior Badge List.
• Return to the Ambassador Badge List.

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