The Badge Archive

Auto SWAP

Fulfills Steps 3, 4 and 5 of GSUSA Brownie Automotive Manufacturing badge requirements.

This is designed with the goal of producing around 50 automotive-themed SWAPs per scout. Scale up or down per your troops needs for upcoming events that use SWAPs.

Items Needed (per assembly line):

  • Supplies to make a simple automotive-themed SWAP (see sample suggestion below)
  • A completed example SWAP
  • Paper and pencils for team planning
  • Timer
  • Pins or safety pins to attach SWAPs
  • Labeled bins or trays to organize SWAP parts
  • Extra table space for sorting and building

Prepare Before the Meeting:

  • Choose one SWAP design with multiple simple steps that can be done by hand (see below for a sample idea and images of other auto-themed SWAPs).
  • Pre-cut or prep any materials that require adult help (like cutting straws, glue-dot portions, or punching holes).
  • Create a completed example SWAP for scouts to reference.
  • Determine how many stations (assembly steps) the SWAP will require and ensure enough parts are available to produce 50 SWAPs per scout.

Instructions (Estimated Time: 45-50 minutes):

  1. Introduce the Challenge (5 minutes)
    • Show the completed SWAP and explain that each team will create an assembly line to produce as many SWAPs as possible, aiming for 50 per scout.
    • Briefly review the idea of assembly lines and why manufacturers use them: speed, organization, and teamwork.
  2. Plan the Process (8 minutes)
    • Divide scouts into 2 or more teams depending on troop size.
    • Each team studies the SWAP design and lists out the steps needed to build it.
    • Scouts assign themselves jobs so each person has a specific task (e.g., attach wheels, glue body, add pin).
    • Teams draw a quick plan for their assembly line and organize their materials by step.
  3. Round One – Build & Time (12 minutes)
    • Set a timer for 10 minutes.
    • Teams build as many SWAPs as they can using their assembly line plans.
    • Scouts should pause for quick quality checks every few SWAPs.
  4. Reflection & Revise (5 minutes)
    • Stop the timer and count completed SWAPs.
    • Each team discusses what worked, what slowed them down, and how they could improve their process.
    • Teams adjust jobs or layout as needed.
  5. Final Round – Build Again (15 minutes)
    • Start the timer again. Scouts return to their lines and build more SWAPs using their improved process.
    • Continue until time runs out or supplies run low.
  6. Wrap-Up & Share (5 minutes)
    • Each team shows off a few finished SWAPs.
    • Scouts reflect on how teamwork, job roles, and planning helped them meet their goal. What would they do differently next time?

Suggested Automotive-Themed SWAP:

Try a Paper Car SWAP. It uses paper cards (the size of a business card) with a car printed and a cute phrase. Supplies are the cards, two buttons each card, a safety pin per card, and glue to attach buttons.

Assembly line steps could be:

  1. Add buttons for wheels
  2. Attach pin
  3. Check quality

Ideas for cute phrases:

  • “Wheely glad to SWAP with you!”
  • “Button up and roll out!”
  • “Driven to make new friends!”
  • “Rolling by to say hi!”
  • “Fueled by friendship and fun!”
  • “Honk if you love Girl Scouts!”

Samples of Auto SWAPS

Tia Kennard