Monday, May 1, 2023

Every Council's Own Girl Scout Fun Patch Program That Your Girl Scouts Can Earn from Anywhere: Practical Life Skills


Welcome back to my very weird series in which I am listing, week by week, topic by topic, every single Council's Own Girl Scout fun patch program that your Girl Scouts can earn from everywhere!

My Girl Scout troop enjoys earning Council's Own fun patches, as well as official badges and retired badges. I usually look for a fun patch that they can earn in addition to a badge whenever we're planning a big project or a trip, etc. This list is essentially just my own research written down for easy reference.

This week's category: Practical Life Skills! This includes life skills like financial literacy; skills that are useful to know, like sewing; emergency preparedness and healthy living practices; and awareness of dangers like toxins, domestic violence, and UV radiation.

For this list, I only included fun patch programs that fit the following criteria:

  1. Girl Scouts can earn this fun patch wherever they are. I did not include any fun patch programs that have site-specific criteria, unless I felt that those criteria would be easy to substitute and still maintain the point of the fun patch program. I also didn't include fun patch programs that require time-specific criteria that have already passed, such as patches programs designed for the 2020 COVID lockdowns. I noted in the description of each patch when substitutions would be required.
  2. Girl Scouts can obtain the council's requirements to earn this fun patch. I found several instances in which the council still sells a specific fun patch, but has deleted all the requirements from its website. If I couldn't find an easy link to those requirements from another site, I did not include the patch.
  3. Girl Scouts can obtain the physical fun patch. There were also several instances in which councils still host the requirements for a fun patch program, but no longer sell the patch (or, as in the case of a few GSAK patches, they have fewer than ten remaining). If it is unlikely for a Girl Scout to be able to obtain the fun patch, I did not include it. The link to purchase each fun patch is in the caption for its graphic.

PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS


Apple Quest GSGWM

Apple Quest, Girl Scouts of the Green and White MountainsLearn about apples and visit an apple orchard or cider mill. 

Asthma Awareness GSOFSI

Asthma Awareness, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. Learn about asthma and what to do in an asthma emergency. This fun patch program pairs well with any of the First Aid badges. 

GSCNC Be Prepared

Be Prepared, Girl Scouts of the Nation's CapitalFocuses on preventing and preparing for emergencies at a community level.

Emergency Preparedness GSLE

Emergency Preparedness, Girl Scouts of Louisiana EastPractice being prepared for a weather emergency or natural disaster.



Financial Literacy GSAK

Financial Literacy, Girl Scouts of AlaskaComplete a variety of activities to become more financially literate. This fun patch program pairs well with any of the Cookie, Entrepreneurship, and Finance badges, particularly at the younger levels.


Future Voter GSWO

Future Voter, Girl Scouts of Western OhioLearn about the process of voting and prepare to be a responsible, informed voter. This fun patch program pairs well with the Democracy badges and the Junior Inside Government badge.

Healthy Living GSOFSI

Healthy Living, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. Practice living a healthy, active lifestyle by completing these activities. This would make a good fun patch program for a Girl Scout troop to earn together over the course of the year, trying a new activity together every few meetings.

Heart Health Awareness GSCCC

Heart Health Awareness, Girl Scout Council of the Colonial CoastLearn about heart health and the importance of good nutrition. This fun patch program pairs well with the Cadette Eating for You badge and Senior Women's Health badge.

Hidden Dangers Uncovered GSSWTX

Hidden Dangers Uncovered, Girl Scouts of Southwest TexasLearn about toxins, where to find them, and how they can be safely disposed of.


Investing in My Future GSSS

Investing in My Future, Girl Scouts of Silver SageLearn about budgeting, saving, and investing. This fun patch program pairs well with any of the Finance badges.

Juliette Sews GSNCA

Juliette Sews, Girl Scouts of North Central AlabamaTeaches Girl Scouts to sew! It is SO annoying that there isn't a current official Girl Scout Sewing badge. If your troop wants a badge they can wear on the front of their uniforms, look for a relevant retired badge--otherwise, this fun patch program will give them the appropriate skills.

Let It Grow GSGWM

Let It Grow multi-patch program, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. Develop personal finance skills while earning fun patches on the topics of Thinking About My FutureInvesting in OthersInvesting in BusinessInvesting in HomeInvesting in College, and Investing in Retirement

Let's Do It Again GSLE

Let's Do It Again, Girl Scouts of Louisiana EastTry upcycling activities and learn about recycling. 

Living Healthy GSK

Living Healthy, Girl Scouts of KentuckianaPractice living a healthy, active lifestyle with this selection of activities.

Make Every Step Count GSNCCP

Make Every Step Count, Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal PinesParticipate in activities that encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.

Money Matters GSDH

Money Matters, Girl Scouts of Dakota HorizonsLearn the basics of personal finance and financial responsibility. This fun patch program pairs well with the Finance badges.


Noodle Head GSC

Noodle Head, Girl Scouts of CitrusMake a variety of Ramen dishes while learning about Ramen and Japanese culture. This fun patch program pairs well with any of the Cooking badges other than the Senior Locavore badge. Some activities in this fun patch program would make a fun troop cabin camping activity.

Not a Bummer Summer GSNCCP

Not a Bummer Summer, Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal PinesComplete a variety of activities during the summer months to earn this fun patch. This would be a good patch program to encourage Girl Scouts to earn independently if your troop doesn't meet over the summer.


Outrun the Sun GSK

Outrun the Sun, Girl Scouts of KentuckianaLearn how to keep yourself safe from UV radiation. 


Peace Begins at Home GSSN

Peace Begins at Home, Girl Scouts of the Sierra NevadaLearn about domestic violence and the importance of healthy relationships. This fun patch program would be a good foundation for a troop interested in a community service project for a women's or youth shelter or domestic violence shelter. 


Recycling GSOFSI

Recycling, Girl Scouts of Southern IllinoisLearn about the recycling industry and recyclables, then try some activities to reuse/repurpose trash.


Quilting GSCM

Quilting, Girl Scouts of Central MarylandLearn about the history of quilting and try your hand at quilt design and construction. This fun patch program meets a definite need for those troops who long to learn to sew, and is a great place for troops to get started.

Screen Smart GSHNJ

Screen Smart, Girl Scouts Heart of New JerseyLearn how to be more thoughtful about screen time.

I'm a Solar Champion GSGST

I'm a Solar Champion, Girl Scouts of Greater South TexasLearn about solar energy and take action to spread awareness.

Stay @ Home GSGST

Stay @ Home, Girl Scouts of Greater South TexasComplete fun activities during quarantine. This fun patch would be a good choice for Girl Scouts to earn independently when they're quarantining due to a positive COVID test.
Storm Ready GSSEF


Storm Ready, Girl Scouts of Southeast FloridaLearn how to prepare for and what to do during a natural disaster or storm. Some activities refer specifically to hurricane preparedness, but you could substitute tornados or blizzards or whatever storm emergency applies most to your area.

Summer Activity Challenge GSNorCal

Summer Activity Challenge, Girl Scouts of Northern CaliforniaKeep busy all summer completing 80 activities to earn this fun patch. This is a great option for Girl Scouts whose troops don't meet during the summer.


Sun Safety GSC

Sun Safety, Girl Scouts of CitrusLearn about UV radiation and how to protect your skin in the sun. This would make a good end-of-year meeting program before the Girl Scouts all head out on summer break.


Science of Sewing GSOSW

Science of Sewing, Girl Scouts of Oregon and and Southwest WashingtonLearn to sew, with an emphasis on upcycling and refashion. This fun patch program is meaty enough to substitute as that Sewing badge I wish existed! It also pairs well with the Senior Textile Artist badge. 

Strong Girls GSGCNWI

Strong Girls, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest IndianaComplete activities independently and as a troop to build healthy living skills.


Summer BINGO Challenge GSAK

Summer BINGO Challenge, Girl Scouts of AlaskaStay busy all summer by completing activities to earn this three-patch set. This is a great option for Girl Scouts to complete independently, especially if the troop doesn't meet over the summer.


Together We Prepare GSHH

Together We Prepare, Girl Scouts Heart of the HudsonPractice national disaster preparedness. 

Walk This Way GSMIDTN

Walk This Way, Girl Scouts of Middle TennesseeExplore walking as healthy exercise. 

Wells Fargo Financial Literacy

Wells Fargo Financial LiteracyTry out financial literacy activities that are different than the ones in the Girl Scout Finance badges. This fun patch would pair well with any of those Finance badges, or with any of the Cookie badges or in preparation for fundraising or budget planning.

Year of Green Living GSNEO

Year of Green Living, Girl Scouts of North East OhioTry a different eco-friendly activity every month. These year-long fun patch programs are so great at helping troop leaders come up with regular content for troop meetings. Depending on what else your troop is working on, you could incorporate each month's activity into your badgework or community service. 

Year of Healthy Living GSNEO

Year of Healthy Living, Girl Scouts of North East OhioIncorporate each month's healthy living activity into troop meetings to easily earn this fun patch within a school year. 

Zombie Survival Challenge multi-patch program GSWW

Zombie Survival Challenge multipatch program, Girl Scouts of Western WashingtonBe prepared for emergencies by completing this multi-patch program. 

Here's a look at my complete fun patch series:

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Culture, Diversity, and Equity
  • Games and Sports
  • Geography/History
  • Outdoors
  • Practical Life Skills
  • Reading and Writing
  • Science
  • Service Learning
  • Social-Emotional Skills
  • Technology, Engineering, and Math
Follow my Craft Knife Facebook page for more Girl Scout resources as I exhaustively compile them!

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