The Badge Archive

To help older scouts step into leadership while fostering personal growth and confidence, leaders can employ creative strategies that elevate their responsibilities and highlight the value of their contributions.

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1. Emphasize Leadership as a Valuable Skill

Frame leadership as an opportunity for older scouts to grow personally, develop real-world skills, and take on meaningful responsibilities. Highlight how leadership roles can benefit them in various areas, from earning awards and college applications to career readiness.

• Focus on Future Benefits: Discuss how leadership experience gained in the troop can translate into valuable life skills like communication, organization, and teamwork.
• Encourage Goal Setting: Allow older scouts to set their own leadership goals, such as earning a leadership pin, mentoring a certain number of younger scouts, or spearheading a unique project.

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2. Offer Leadership Options Beyond “Helping”

While helping younger scouts is an essential role, older scouts will feel more engaged if they have options for leadership that are aligned with their interests and skills.

• Plan Their Own Activities: Empower them to organize troop-wide events, outings, or workshops. For example, older scouts could plan a camping trip or lead a service project that aligns with their passions.
• Specialized Roles: Assign them roles that require advanced skills, such as managing troop finances, organizing cookie sales, or serving as troop historian by documenting events and creating newsletters.
• Leadership Outside the Troop: Encourage them to take on roles within the broader Service Unit or council, such as leading badge workshops or hosting events for other troops.

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3. Engage Them in Mentorship Opportunities

Older scouts can mentor younger scouts in ways that feel rewarding and empowering rather than elementary.

• Skill-Building Activities: Have them teach hands-on skills such as outdoor cooking, knot-tying, or crafting—emphasizing areas where they can showcase their expertise.
• Badge and Patch Leadership: Assign older scouts to guide younger levels through badges or fun patches, giving them creative freedom to design engaging activities and lead with confidence.
• Personalized Mentorship: Pair them with younger scouts to mentor one-on-one in a long-term capacity, fostering meaningful relationships and building a strong sense of responsibility.

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4. Incorporate Leadership Awards and Recognition

Recognizing leadership achievements motivates older scouts and gives them a sense of accomplishment.

• Awards and Pins: Encourage them to earn leadership awards, which require them to design and complete impactful leadership projects.
• Service Hours: Track their leadership contributions as service hours, which can be used for academic or extracurricular recognitions or the GSUSA Service to Girl Scouting pin.
• Troop Recognition: Celebrate their leadership efforts at meetings or ceremonies to make them feel valued and appreciated.

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5. Ensure Age-Appropriate Activities

Older scouts may lose interest if they feel their leadership tasks are too simplistic. To keep them engaged:

• Separate Meetings When Needed: Occasionally hold separate meetings or breakout sessions for older scouts to work on age-appropriate activities, badges, or awards.
• Plan Leadership Challenges: Incorporate activities that push them to develop higher-level skills, such as creating budgets for trips, planning community service events, or learning public speaking techniques to present to large groups.
• Leadership with Fun: Balance leadership responsibilities with fun, older-scout activities, like advanced hiking trips, STEM workshops, or high-adventure opportunities.

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6. Co-Leadership with Adults

One way to build leadership skills without making it feel like “younger” activities is by pairing older scouts with adults in co-leadership roles.

• Project Collaboration: Allow older scouts to take the lead on specific aspects of troop projects while working alongside an adult mentor for guidance.
• Leadership Committees: Create committees for planning and decision-making, with older scouts taking on roles like chairperson or secretary to practice governance skills.

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Conclusion

Helping older scouts step into leadership requires creativity, flexibility, and an understanding of their developmental needs. By offering meaningful leadership opportunities, recognizing their achievements, and encouraging them to take ownership of their growth, leaders can empower older scouts to confidently step into their roles. Leadership doesn’t have to feel like “younger” activities—it can become a fulfilling experience that prepares them for success in every stage of life.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts

This is a supportive Facebook community for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout leaders. Whether you’re seeking advice, fresh ideas, or meeting plans, you’re in the right place! Let’s inspire each other, share our experiences, and make every troop meeting a memorable adventure.

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 Daisy Badge List.
• Return to the Brownie Badge List.
• Return to the Junior Badge List.
• Return to the Cadette Badge List.
• Return to the Senior Badge List.
• Return to the Ambassador Badge List.

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See Multi-Level Themes for more resources

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