The Badge Archive

Mini Guidebook

Activity Description: Scouts create a mini guidebook about local places using photos and drawings.

Info Needed: Scouts should understand that art can be realistic, abstract, or expressive.
They will choose a subject and create a visual piece based on it.

Items Needed:

  • Paper, enough for a group guidebook or individual guidebooks for each scout to take home
  • Photos of local places they want to highlight (enough for each guidebook being made)
  • Scissors
  • Glue and/or Tape
  • Pen/pencils, and coloring supplies (markers or colored pencils)
  • Hole punch and string (yarn, twine, or cord)

Instructions (Estimated Total Time: 30–45 minutes):

  1. Learn About the Places (10–15 min)
    • Scouts look at the photos and learn more about each location.
    • They can ask questions or read short facts about the places.
  2. Create Guidebook Pages (15–20 min)
    • Scouts make a page for each location using writing, drawing, and photos.
    • Each page can include:
      • Maps to the location or of the location
      • What to do there
      • People, animals, and plants there
      • History of the place
      • Why it is important to visit
  3. Make the Guidebook (5–10 min)
    • Scouts hole punch the pages and tie string through each hole to bind the book.

Another option – use a printable template for a travel brochure or a printable Travel Book

Step-by-Step Tutorials:

PBS Nature Journal instructions

Tia Kennard