Monday, May 22, 2023

Every Council's Own Girl Scout Fun Patch Program That Your Girl Scouts Can Earn from Anywhere: Service Learning

 

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: Service Learning! This includes fun patches that walk Girl Scouts through specific service projects, as well as those that encourage them to think more globally about issues and create their own service projects. These fun patches can be a great way to help Girl Scouts get started with community service projects, figure out what types of projects that appeal to them, and stretch themselves by focusing on new-to-them projects and issues. 

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.

SERVICE LEARNING


Adopt a Grandparent GSNCA

Adopt a Grandparent, Girl Scouts of North Central AlabamaEarn this by befriending and connecting with a senior adult. This would make a wonderful service project!

Advocacy GSGWM

Advocacy, Girl Scouts of the Green and White MountainsLearn to advocate for yourself and others.

Animal Shelter Awareness GSME

Animal Shelter Awareness, Girl Scouts of MaineLearn about animal shelters, how to stay safe around domestic animals, and how to support shelters and the animals they serve. This fun patch pairs well with the Brownie Pets badge and the Senior Voice for Animals badge. 

Be a Pal GSHS

Be a Pal, Girl Scouts Hearts of the South. Learn about food allergies and how to make sure everyone is safe and included. 


Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout GSGWM

Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout, Girl Scouts of the Green and White MountainsLearn about allyship and advocate for the gay community.

Be Your Best GSGWM

Be Your Best, Girl Scouts of the Green and White MountainsPlan and carry out a service project.


Brady's Badge GSSWT

Brady's Badge, Girl Scouts of Southwest TexasLearn about pets and complete a service project for an agency servicing animals.

Commitment to Caring

Commitment to Caring, Girl Scouts of North Caroline Coastal PinesEncourages Girl Scouts to make a longer-term commitment to volunteering in a nursing or care home. This is a good patch program to support a troop that's looking for a regular volunteer commitment, or for an individual Girl Scout who needs the encouragement to earn more community service hours.

The Earth Matters to Girl Scouts GSMWLP

The Earth Matters to Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and PinesComplete activities that demonstrate environmentalism. This is a good fun patch program for Girl Scouts to earn independently.


Food For All, GSGWM

Food For All, Girl Scouts of the Green and White MountainsLearn about hunger and food insecurity. 

Food from the Hearth GSME

Food from the Heart, Girl Scouts of MainePlan and complete a Take Action Project themed on food insecurity.

Girl Scout Tree Promise GSGWM

Girl Scout Tree Promise, Girl Scouts of the Green and White MountainsPlant trees and learn why they're essential to the environment.

Gives Back GSCP2P

Gives Back, Girl Scouts of Peaks to PiedmontComplete service activities in different categories to earn the entire life buoy. This would be a good fun patch program to complete throughout one Girl Scout year to give Girl Scouts a better idea of the types of community service projects that exist. 


Good Vibes GSGCNWI

Good Vibes, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest IndianaPlan and carry out a project that brings awareness to mental health issues. 

GSCM Hand in Hand Intergenerational Experience


Hand in Hand Intergenerational Experience, Girl Scouts of Central MarylandEncourages Girl Scouts to connect with a care facility for a 4-week service learning experience.


I Tapped Out GSMIDTN

I Tapped Out, Girl Scouts of Middle TennesseeConserve water while brushing your teeth. This fun patch program pairs well with the Brownie WOW Journey and Ambassador Water badge.

Marine Debris GSH

Marine Debris, Girl Scouts of HawaiiTeaches Girl Scouts how to create a healthier marine environment by reducing trash contamination. I'm including this as a fun patch that Girl Scouts can earn anywhere, because I think you could substitute any aquatic environment for the on-site ocean activities. All rivers lead to the ocean!

Make the Earth a Better Place GSSD

Make the Earth a Better Place, Girl Scouts of San DiegoComplete a variety of activities related to environmental stewardship. Because there's a checklist with a lot of options, this is a great fun patch program for Girl Scouts to complete independently, or over the summer if your troop doesn't meet then.

No One Goes Hungry GSNCCP

No One Goes Hungry, Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal PinesLearn about food banks and how to support them. The guide book references North Carolina food banks, but you can work with the food banks in your area, instead.

Patchwork Promise GSSJ

Patchwork Promise, Girl Scouts of San JacintoCombine learning about breast health and breast cancer with sewing and donating a patchwork quilt to a care facility. This fun patch would pair well with the Senior Women's Health badge.

Save Our Energy GSGCNWI

Save Our Energy, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest IndianaComplete this independent activities to practice energy conservation. This is a fun patch program for Girl Scouts to complete independently. 


Service is the Heart of Girl Scouts GSGWM 

Service is the Heart of Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of the Green and White MountainsLearn the meaning of service and complete a service project.

Snuggles and Cuddles GSSEF

Snuggles and Cuddles, Girl Scouts of Southeast FloridaLearn about animal shelters, then create and fulfill a community service project for a local animal shelter. This fun patch program pairs well with the Brownie Pets badge and Senior Voice for Animals badge.

Super Gold GSGCNWI

Super Gold, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest IndianaGet excited about the Highest Award in Girl Scouting, and get inspired to get started! This fun patch program would be a good one to earn before a troop starts planning its first Highest Award TAP.

Take Action GSAK

Take Action, Girl Scouts of AlaskaComplete this fun patch program while trying out community service projects and Take Action Projects. This is a good fun patch for younger Girl Scouts to earn while completing their first Take Action Project. 


Weekend of Service GSNWGL

Weekend of Service, Girl Scouts of Northwest Great LakesPlan a weekend service project in your community. This fun patch program suggests a specific weekend, but you could substitute any weekend of your choosing.


World Environment Day GSK

World Environment Day, Girl Scouts of KentuckianaCelebrate World Environment Day with a selection of eco-friendly activities.

Year of Service GSNEO

Year of Service, Girl Scouts of Northeast OhioThis is a great option for a troop in a council that doesn't have its own community service-based programming, or for a troop too young to earn the Community Service bars. I really like that it includes a wide variety of service projects--kids can find something they know they'll enjoy, and have encouragement to stretch themselves to try something new!

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

Follow my Craft Knife Facebook page for more Girl Scout resources as I exhaustively compile them!

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