- Fulfills Step 5 of GSUSA Junior Practice with Purpose badge requirements.
Info Needed for Badge Requirements: Scouts learn how to set a fitness goal, get guidance from an adult, and build a personal practice routine that includes endurance, strength, and skill drills. This activity sets them up to follow a month-long plan and return later to reflect and complete the badge.
Items Needed:
- Month-Long Practice Plan Tracker (one per scout)
- Pencils or pens
- Optional: markers or colored pencils for tracking and visual goals
- Optional: sample schedule or example workout week to display
- Open table space or writing surfaces
Instructions (Total Estimated Time: 10-20 minutes)
- Review Practice Plan Categories (3–4 minutes)
- The leader reminds scouts that their plan should include:
- Endurance movement (e.g., jogging, dancing)
- Strength exercises (e.g., squats, planks)
- Skill drill (e.g., jump rope timing, fast feet)
- Each scout looks back at their chosen activities and confirms what they want to do over the next month
- The leader reminds scouts that their plan should include:
- (If they haven’t done so during the meeting) Fill Out Monthly Tracker (8–10 minutes)
- Scouts fill in their Month-Long Practice Plan Tracker with:
- Their chosen exercises for each category
- Two practice days per week for each category
- Optional: color-code days by type (e.g., red = strength, blue = endurance)
- Optional: include check boxes or stickers to mark completed days
- Scouts fill in their Month-Long Practice Plan Tracker with:
- Plan for Motivation and Follow-Through (5–6 minutes)
- Scouts write down one or two ideas that will help them stay committed:
- Examples: “Practice with a friend,” “Ask my grown-up to check in on Tuesdays,” “Put sticker stars on finished workout days”
- Remind scouts that after one month, they’ll share how it went and choose how to reflect. Have scouts vote for an option on how to reflect at the start of a future meeting. Chose one of these options or make up your own:
- Lightning Round – Each scout shares one short sentence, like “Here’s something I learned or liked.” Takes 5–7 minutes
- Snapshot & Share – Scouts write down a word or image that sums up their experience, either anonymously or to share aloud. Takes 10–12 minutes
- Mini Circle – Scouts break into small groups, pick a reflection prompt (e.g., “What surprised you?”), and chat briefly. Takes 12–15 minutes
- Scouts write down one or two ideas that will help them stay committed:
Remember to follow through with the plan to share and reflect to fulfill Step 5 of Practice with Purpose.
Month-Long Practice Plan Tracker
Name: _____________________ Start Date: _____________________
My Practice Plan
Fill in what you will do for each area. Be specific!
- 5 Min Endurance Activity (e.g., dance, jogging, biking):
- Strength Exercises (choose 3):
- 5 Min Skill Drill (e.g., throwing accuracy, jump rope timing):
| Week | Endurance (✓) | Strength (✓) | Skill Drill (✓) | Notes or Reflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | ☐ ☐ | ☐ ☐ | ☐ ☐ | |
| Week 2 | ☐ ☐ | ☐ ☐ | ☐ ☐ | |
| Week 3 | ☐ ☐ | ☐ ☐ | ☐ ☐ | |
| Week 4 | ☐ ☐ | ☐ ☐ | ☐ ☐ |
The Badge Archive 