Showing posts with label social justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social justice. Show all posts

Friday, June 23, 2023

I'm Not That Kind of Homeschooler

A few weeks ago, I participated in a workshop on youth mental health

I'll probably write more about that another time, but the short and snappy is that it's designed to help adults who work with young people recognize when those young people are facing a mental health challenge so they can provide support, offer resources, have those difficult conversations, etc. It's an important skill set to have, and I'll be able to utilize it in my professional and volunteer work, as well as with friends and family.

The training was a tough six-hour day, though, learning emotionally hard skills, talking through challenging scenarios, and having our own difficult conversations, and in the middle of it, I was pretty excited to eat the catered lunch of pizza and salad and small-talk with my table mates. One of my table mates was from my same town, so we chewed over the perennial topic of road construction and how to avoid it, and why our town doesn't have certain restaurant chains when it definitely should (Donato's is DELICIOUS!). Another table mate also homeschooled, it turned out, and also teenagers, which is a scenario VERY rare on the ground around here, so I was super stoked to chat about homeschooling with this person, until they said said that one of the reasons they were homeschooling was... and then they said something transphobic.

It wasn't even important that what they said was factually wrong on a lot of fronts. Drag queens aren't the same thing as trans people, drag queen story time isn't a drag show, and I bet my life that there aren't drag queen story times happening in Indiana public schools. Wrong people are just gonna wrong.

The important part is that in reply to this transphobic statement, I. Said. Nothing. I can pretty much guarantee that I looked horrified, because I FELT horrified and my family regularly chides me for not having a poker face. But I didn't SAY anything. I blinked a couple of times, sneaked a look at my other table mate (who was studiously ignoring us because this conversation was entirely Not Her Circus), took an awkwardly large bite of pizza, and then practically shouted "Thank you, Jesus!" out loud when the moderator said it was time to get started with the afternoon session.

It ruined the entire afternoon, which was already sucky on an emotional level. I felt awkward and uncomfortable, couldn't concentrate on the material as well as I had in the morning, took a couple of extra bathroom breaks, and bolted at the end of the day.

Later that night, I confessed to my family what had happened, and they tried to help me workshop some things I could have said, or could say the next time. Because this is the other thing: people say shit like this to me surprisingly often. I know why, too.

It's because I homeschool.

And it doesn't even come from people who don't know anything about homeschooling--those people ask me about socialization, and how will my kids get into college, and they're super easy for me to blow off. The people who casually say homophobic shit to me are ALWAYS other homeschoolers, and it's always because they've simply assumed that as a homeschooler, I'm also homophobic, transphobic, of a certain specific set of religious sects, with a certain specific political leaning.

Essentially, they think that because I, too, homeschool, that I, too, share their extremist beliefs, and that I am a safe person to discuss them with.

I've already gone through this shit with white supremacists, but the difference is that white supremacist beliefs are at least taboo enough that the white supremacist in my homeschool friend group did NOT see me as a safe person to share her extremist beliefs with, and I didn't know anything about anything until the gossip got around to me.

I am so over homeschooling being a dog whistle for bigotry, and I've got to figure out what I'm supposed to say the next time someone thinks I'm a safe person to share their bigotry with. Matt says I should just say, "I don't agree with that," but with what? The incorrect fact, or the transphobia/homophobia that prompted it, or the person's idea that I was a safe person to say this to? Do I just say, "You're factually incorrect, statements like that are prompted by transphobia, and as I'm not transphobic, I don't want to hear those things?" Or, "Your homophobic statement is personally offensive as well as morally wrong; also, both gender and our current understanding of biological sex are contemporary cultural constructs and therefore essentially false?" Or, "I homeschool so that my children have more time to build working trebuchets from scratch while they listen to Lord of the Rings on audiobook, not to keep them away from drag shows, which we sometimes attend in our free time?" 

That doesn't seem like something that any human would say, much less me, much less during the lunch break of a youth mental health workshop.

I definitely should have said something, though, even though I still have no idea what. If I keep quiet, then I actually am being a safe person to say bigoted things to, and the bigots probably walk away feeling great, while I'm the one feeling uncomfortable and stewing over it for weeks. So PLEASE feel free to spam me with potential social scripts!

Until then, I assuaged my guilt by making a small donation to the Fuck Bans: Leave Queer Kids Alone fund. If I'm not going to open my own mouth to support trans people, then the least I can do is hand someone twenty bucks to do it for me.

Anyway, Happy Pride Month, Y'all.

Monday, May 29, 2023

Every Council's Own Girl Scout Fun Patch Program That Your Girl Scouts Can Earn from Anywhere: Social-Emotional 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: Social-Emotional Skills! This includes fun patch programs that teach character-building and growth mindset, as well as qualities like leadership, independence, gratitude, and positive self-esteem. Many of the fun patch programs are specifically keyed to Girl Scout traits like sisterhood, the Girl Scout Law, and making the world a better place, so most could pair well with the Girl Scout Way badges.

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.

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS

Attitude of Gratitude GSTF

Attitude of Gratitude, Girl Scouts of Tropical FloridaLearn about gratitude and show appreciation for Girl Scout volunteers. 

Be a Better Sister GSHNJ

Be a Better Sister, Girl Scouts Heart of New JerseyExplore topics of diversity and discrimination. 
BOW GSGI

BOW, Girl Scouts of Greater IowaCelebrate and demonstrate inner and outer strength. 
Character GSAK

Character, Girl Scouts of AlaskaComplete these activities that help you become more comfortable trying new things. 

Character Patch Set GSAK

Character patch set, Girl Scouts of AlaskaTo work on building character throughout the entire Girl Scout year, earn this complete patch set. 
Civic Leadership Challenge GSOSW

Civic Leadership Challenge, Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest WashingtonIdentify the ways that you already show leadership in your community, and learn more about civic leadership opportunities. This fun patch program pairs well with many Journeys.

Climb Your Mountain GSAK

Climb Your Mountain, Girl Scouts of AlaskaSpend the summer completing activities that lead to social/emotional growth. This fun patch program is a good one for Girl Scouts to complete independently over the summer, especially if the troop doesn't meet.
Girl Scout Pillars GSAK

Girl Scout Pillars, Girl Scouts of AlaskaGrow your independence and leadership skills through girl-led Girl Scout activities. This is a good fun patch program to encourage a Girl Scout troop to become more girl-led and proactive in thinking up and planning activities.
H-E-B Health and Wellness GSCTX

H-E-B Health and Wellness, Girl Scouts of Central TexasComplete activities that support physical and emotional health. Most of the activities are simple and low-prep enough that you could use them as time fillers if a troop meeting runs short, then you could just set aside some time to prep and complete the last couple of activities. This fun patch pairs well with the Senior Women's Health badge.

#hitpause USAGO

#hitpause, USA Girl Scouts OverseasTake time away from screens to practice mindfulness and explore more non-screen activities.
KARMA GSSA

K.A.R.M.A., Girl Scouts of Southern AlabamaPractice bullying prevention and build positive self-esteem. 

Leadership GSAK

Leadership, Girl Scouts of AlaskaComplete activities that build leadership skills. This is a good fun patch for younger Girl Scouts to earn while prepping for their first Journey or other large-scale girl-led project.

Life Skills Leader GSC

Life Skills Leader, Girl Scouts of CitrusComplete activities from a checklist to practice different life skills. This is a great fun patch program for Girl Scouts to complete independently.

Live the Girl Scout Law GSNorCal

Live the Girl Scout Law, Girl Scouts of Northern CaliforniaCheck off the activities that you complete as you live the Girl Scout Law. This fun patch program pairs well with the Girl Scout Way badges. Since the program is a checklist of numerous activities, it would work well incorporated as a time-filler into meetings, or for Girl Scouts to complete independently.

Mental Health Awareness GSNMT

Mental Health Awareness, Girl Scouts of New Mexico TrailsLearn about mental health, and how to support good mental health for yourself and others.

A Mindful Girl GSGWM

A Mindful Girl, Girl Scouts of the Green and White MountainsPractice mindfulness and protect yourself from harmful media representations.
Overcoming Challenges GSAK

Overcoming Challenges, Girl Scouts of AlaskaComplete activities to build a growth mindset. This would be a good fun patch program to work on throughout the Girl Scout year to continue to build growth mindset in a troop.

Paris Peace Patch USAGSO

Paris Peace Patch, USA Girl Scouts OverseasLearn about peace and hold a Peace Ceremony. 
Pillar Power GSOFSI

Pillar Power, Girl Scouts of Southern IllinoisIncorporate the four pillars of Girl Scouts into your daily life by completing activities from the checklist. This is a good fun patch program for Girl Scouts to earn independently throughout the Girl Scout year.

Resilient. Ready. Strong., Girl Scouts of Central TexasComplete activities related to emotional wellbeing and mental resilience. This fun patch program pairs well with the Journeys that have a wellness theme, like MEdia, Breathe, etc. It would make a good fun patch for Girl Scouts to work on independently, perhaps over the summer, with regular check-ins or a culminating troop activity.

Superpower Squad GSGI

Superpower Squad, Girl Scouts of Greater IowaTrain to be a superhero who uses her powers to make the world a better place. 

A Susie Forest GSEWNI

A Susie Forest, Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern IdahoGrow your courage, build your literacy, and take action for the environment.
Talk it Out GSNCCP

Talk it Out, Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal PinesDesigned to get kids thinking about underaged alcohol consumption, and why they shouldn't participate. There's a website with supporting resources. I think this would combine well with one of the First Aid or Health badges, and you could support it locally with a visit from a first responder. 
Turn Beauty Inside Out GSMWLP

Turn Beauty Inside Out, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and PinesCelebrate the beauty in yourself and find the beauty in others with this fun patch program.

Unwind Your Mind GSSS

Unwind Your Mind, Girl Scouts of Silver SagePractice relaxation and stress reduction through these fun patch activities. This fun patch program pairs well with the Cadette Breathe Journey. I would be a good patch program for Girl Scouts to earn partly independently and partly as a troop.

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!

Monday, April 3, 2023

Every Council's Own Girl Scout Fun Patch Program That Your Girl Scouts Can Earn from Anywhere: Culture, Diversity, and Equity


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: Culture, Diversity, and Equity! This includes fun patch programs that allow Girl Scouts to learn about other communities or cultures, and those that encourage them to take action to support and encourage diversity and equity and become empathic global citizens.

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.

CULTURE, DIVERSITY, AND EQUITY


All About Guide Dogs GSNC

All About Guide Dogs, Girl Scouts of Naussau CountyLearn about the process of guide dog training and proper etiquette around guide dogs. This would pair well with the Girl Scout Senior Voice for Animals badge. 

GSH Aloha

Aloha, Girl Scouts of HawaiiExplore the history, culture, and geography of Hawaii. Order the printed guide book and patches directly from the GSOH council shop. My two kids earned this fun patch together as part of a larger Hawaii unit study, and it encouraged them to delve into more cultural components of their study than they might have experienced without it.

American Indian Heritage GSMWLP

American Indian Heritage, Girl Scouts Lakes and PinesCelebrate Native American cultures by exploring the history and geography of North American native peoples.

American Sign Language GSMW

American Sign Language, Girl Scouts of Montana and WyomingLearn the basics of ASL and about deaf culture. 


Black History Month GSNCCP

Black History Month, Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal PinesComplete a variety of activities themed on Black History Month. The guide book includes plenty of content to fill all of your February troop meetings!

Celebrating Black History GSKSMO

Celebrating Black History, Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest MissouriLearn about Black history and find Black role models by completing the program activities. This would be a good fun patch program for Girl Scouts to complete partly individually and partly as a group.

Chicas GSCNC

Chicas, Girl Scouts Nation's CapitalExplore Hispanic heritage and culture. 

Coat of Many Colors GSCSA

Coat of Many Colors, Girl Scouts of Southern AppalachiansExplore issues in poverty and food insecurity through a close reading of the Dolly Parton song. 

Cosplay GSWAP

Cosplay, Girl Scouts of Western PennsylvaniaExplore the world of cosplay and try your hand at making your own costumes. A trip to a Comic Con would be a fun field trip opportunity!
Discovering Hispanic Heritage GSNCCP

Discovering Hispanic Heritage, Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal PinesLearn about Hispanic heritage and culture by trying out a variety of suggested activities. My Girl Scout troop earned this fun patch as part of our preparation for our Mexico trip last year, and the kids loved it!

D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y. GSMISTS

D.I.V.E.R.S.I.T.Y., Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to ShoreComplete activities that demonstrate the importance of respecting diversity in our society. 

Festival of Trees, Girl Scouts of North Central AlabamaIncludes multicultural, service, and educational activities centered on Christmas. My Girl Scout troop loves to have a Christmas-themed meeting, and actually, this last year, they went ham and planned an entire Christmas-themed camping weekend! I modified the Outdoor Art badge to be Christmas-themed for them, but I LOVE the idea of a fun patch they can earn this year. It looks like this patch program has patches that change yearly, so the troop can make a tradition of earning it.

Global Girls Club GSWPA

Global Girls Club, Girl Scouts of Western PennsylvaniaFocuses on becoming a global citizen. This fun patch pairs well with World Thinking Day activities and international travel planning.

Guide Dog GSSD

Guide Dog, Girl Scouts of San DiegoLearn about guide dogs and how to behave when they're present. This fun patch program pairs well with the Brownie Pets badge and the Senior Voice for Animals badge.

Heritage Hunt GSSWT

Heritage Hunt, Girl Scouts of Southwest TexasLearn about the heritage and culture of a people.

HERstory GSHG

HERstory, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. Have important conversations about diversity, inclusion, equity, and equality. This is a comprehensive program that would fit into any Girl Scout year.

Hispanic Heritage Month GSK

Hispanic Heritage Month, Girl Scouts of KentuckianaCelebrate Hispanic culture and history.

History of Mardi Gras GSLE

History of Mardi Gras, Girl Scouts of Louisiana EastLearn about the history and culture of Mardi Gras, both in Louisiana and around the world.

Juliette Low Heritage GSMWLP

Juliette Low Heritage, Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and PinesDiscover more about Juliette Low and the early history of Girl Scouting. This fun patch program pairs well with the Girl Scout Way badges.

Lunar New Year GSK

Lunar New Year, Girl Scouts of KentuckianaCelebrate and learn about Lunar New Year.

Make Every Dance Step Count GSNCCP

Make Every Dance Step Count, Girl Scouts of North Carolina Coastal PinesLearn about various culture, time periods, and physical skills through the lens of dance. This fun patch pairs well with the Brownie Dancer badge.

Mardi Gras GSSA

Mardi Gras, Girl Scouts of Southern AlabamaLearn about the history and culture of Mardi Gras. You will have to substitute a few site-specific activities, but Mardi Gras is so generally popular that it shouldn't be difficult. This is the perfect fun patch to fill a meeting during Mardi Gras!

Multicultural Awareness GSWCF

Multicultural Awareness, Girl Scouts of West Central FloridaEncourages kids to learn more about other cultures. I think this would be a good fun patch to pair with preparing for a World Thinking Day celebration, since many Service Units (mine included!) treat the event as a Geography Fair.  

Native American Heritage Month GSK

Native American Heritage Month, Girl Scouts of KentuckianaCelebrate the culture and history of Native Americans.

Peace GSSWTX

Peace, Girl Scouts of Southwest TexasComplete activities on the subject of peace.

Peace it Together GSOH

Peace it Together, Girl Scouts of Ohio's HeartlandComplete the anti-bullying program to earn the patch set. This could pair well with a few of the older Girl Scout Journeys, or even as a program that an older Girl Scout troop hosts for their Service Unit as a Journey TAP.

Racial Justice GSCM

Racial Justice, Girl Scouts of Central MarylandComplete this program packet on racial justice and cultural diversity. 

Sisterhood GSAK

Sisterhood, Girl Scouts of AlaskaLearn about strong female role models and forge stronger connections with fellow Girl Scouts. This is a good fun patch program to complete during Women's History Month.
Stand Against Racism GSCTX

Stand Against Racism, Girl Scouts of Central TexasEarn this badge by learning more about Black history topics and exploring racism and what it means to be anti-racist. This fun patch pairs well with the Democracy badges and Senior Truth Seeker badge.

They are My Friends GSCTX

They are My Friends, Girl Scouts of Central TexasHave a conversation about diversity, equity, and bias in your community and around the world. This fun patch pairs well with the Cadette Finding Common Ground badge, the Senior Truth Seeker badge, and any of the wellness-themed Journeys like GIRLtopia, MEdia, etc.

GSNC UMOJA


Uniting Members of Joint Ancestry, Girl Scouts of Naussau CountyExplores African and African-American culture. My Girl Scout earned this independently, and especially loved learning about African-American choreographers and actors.

We Together GSCM

We Together, Girl Scouts of Central MarylandCelebrate the similarities and differences between people.

What If I Couldn't GSGATL

What If I Couldn't, Girl Scouts of Greater AtlantaBrownies learn about physical disabilities and grow their empathy. Guest speakers who could personify different abilities and allow the Brownies to interact with all different types of people would greatly add to this fun patch program.text

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!