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 Mountains. Learn 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 Capital. Focuses on preventing and preparing for emergencies at a community level.

Emergency Preparedness GSLE

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

Financial Literacy GSAK

Financial Literacy, Girl Scouts of Alaska. Complete 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 Ohio. Learn 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 Coast. Learn 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 Texas. Learn 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 Sage. Learn 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 Alabama. Teaches 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 Future, Investing in Others, Investing in Business, Investing in Home, Investing in College, and Investing in Retirement. 

Let's Do It Again GSLE

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

Living Healthy GSK

Living Healthy, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana. Practice 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 Pines. Participate in activities that encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.

Money Matters GSDH

Money Matters, Girl Scouts of Dakota Horizons. Learn 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 Citrus. Make 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 Pines. Complete 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 Kentuckiana. Learn how to keep yourself safe from UV radiation. 

Peace Begins at Home GSSN

Peace Begins at Home, Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada. Learn 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 Illinois. Learn about the recycling industry and recyclables, then try some activities to reuse/repurpose trash.

Quilting GSCM

Quilting, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. Learn 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 Jersey. Learn how to be more thoughtful about screen time.

I'm a Solar Champion GSGST

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

Stay @ Home GSGST

Stay @ Home, Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas. Complete 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 Florida. Learn 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 California. Keep 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 Citrus. Learn 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 Washington. Learn 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 Indiana. Complete activities independently and as a troop to build healthy living skills.

Summer BINGO Challenge GSAK

Summer BINGO Challenge, Girl Scouts of Alaska. Stay 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 Hudson. Practice national disaster preparedness. 

Walk This Way GSMIDTN

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

Wells Fargo Financial Literacy

Wells Fargo Financial Literacy. Try 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 Ohio. Try 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 Ohio. Incorporate 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 Washington. Be 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!

April Favorites: Cows are More Emotionally Available Than King Charles, and Mary Poppins is an Accurate Portrayal of London

Here's how I've been disassociating from the real world this month!

The Locked Tomb Series

My college student (and, okay, Tiktok...) is my best source of books. She reads like she won't live through the day if she hasn't mown through two fantasy novels, the latest issue of three comic book series, and at least one chapter of a boring non-fiction book about Mongolia. I always act on her book recommendations, even if they don't gel for me right away... as Gideon the Ninth did not. 

I started reading Gideon the Ninth, then immediately complained to my kid, "I don't know what's happening."

She was all, "I know. Keep going."

A chapter later, I noted, "I still don't know what's going on, and everything is gross."

She was all, "Yup. don't stop tho."

Sixty-five pages in, I looked up with frantic eyes and exclaimed "I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS BOOK WHY AM I SO OBSESSED OMG GIDEON IS MY FAVORITE PERSON EVER!!!!!!!"

Three books later, I am literally on Tumblr scrolling fan posts and fanart to get my Gideon fix because the next book is not going to be out until at least January, sob!

The Locked Tomb series is something that you just have to go with. It's a particularly great reading experience if you've always considered yourself such a clever girl, because there is no way you're going to understand what is going on half the time... and yet it's still so compelling! 

Fortunately, perseverance is rewarded. When I read the second book, Harrow the Ninth, I did not understand what was happening in that book AT ALL, but I finally understood (some) of what had been going on in Gideon the Ninth. And when I read Nona the Ninth, I did not understand that one at all, BUT I figured out most of Gideon and a little more of Harrow.

I cannot WAIT for Alecto the Ninth!

Read this if you want to see an awesome sci-fi/fantasy mash-up, if you've secretly got a quiet little internal Goth/emo vibe going on in your heart, and if you love excellent character development and want to absolutely fall in love with/become obsessed with your favorite characters.

Bonus points if you can get a buddy to read it, too, because all my college student and I do these days is gossip about Ortus and tell each other facts about the social-emotional capacity of cows.

The British Royals

I've loosely followed the British royal family since I was a kid--I woke up SUPER early to watch Princess Diana's wedding from the carpeted floor of my grandparents' house, woke up super early to watch her funeral from the gross old gold velvet couch of my first real apartment, bought my little kids heart-shaped doughnuts in honor of William and Kate's wedding, and casually followed along with the gossip in subsequent years.

My teenager shares my casual interest, so she and I happily made Queen Elizabeth II's death into a WHOLE THING, in which we literally ate snacks while watching her funeral coverage and gossiping. Having teenagers is my favorite thing!

Because I'm really just here for the gossip, I avidly read Spare the second it came through from my Holds queue at the library. Just to put it right out there, I am FIRMLY on team Harry/Meghan. Like, Harry is clearly a big, dumb ginger who rarely gets a turn at the shared brain cell, but on the other hand, I don't think the royal family, other than Princess Diana, actually loved their kids? And Diana's love, let's just be real here, was also a little... problematic, if problematic is really the best word to describe a mother who showers her children with affection and adoration and then fucks off and goes no-contact for months at a time, leaving the kids with a coterie of cold, emotionless adults who see family as a public-facing business. But at least she didn't throw her kids under the bus of public scrutiny in order to make herself look marginally better, which I firmly believe that Charles regularly does. 

But seriously, look at what poor little baby Charles had to deal with:

What better way to greet your three-your-old, whom you haven't seen in weeks and whose birthday you missed, than with a warm... shoulder squeeze? 

Unfortunately, NOBODY in the family would also read Spare just to humor me and let me have someone to roast the royals with, so instead I listened to the episode on Spare from Celebrity Memoir Book Club and pretended that the hosts and I are best friends:

Nobody will watch The Crown with me, either, so I'm catching up with Season Four on DVD all by myself, and pretending that Season Five doesn't exist yet because I don't have Netflix.

Ooh, maybe my AirBnb luck will hold and our London AirBnb's Smart TV will be logged into someone else's Netflix account! Bootlegging former guests' streaming services is my favorite thing about AirBnb.

On the way home from dropping my kid back at college the other week, I was able to binge the entire run of The Second Elizabethan Age on Spotify:

I did appreciate the overall look at the politics and media of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, but overall it was only okay. If you've got any better podcast recs for coverage of the British Royals (or a Netflix password you're happy to share), please send them my way! You'll find me hanging out on my bed with my teenager and watching Coronation coverage on Youtube--the teenager has already requested homemade Victoria sponge, so we'll be well-provisioned for our vigil.

Trip Planning

I'll post another time about "proper" trip planning--you know, figuring out the itinerary and trying not to blow our budget on hard cider and how to convince teenagers to visit just one more museum without later being smothered by them in your sleep... but obviously, the most important part of planning a big trip is figuring out all the thematically-relevant books and movies and albums to consume!

Academically, since I want to use our England studies and trip as a unit study credit on my teenager's high school transcript, we're currently reading (an abridged version of, because OMG) Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur. I love place-based studies, so I'm eager to talk about the impact of the setting on the scenes of Arthur's birth and death, in particular, as we walk around Tintagel Castle and Glastonbury Tor this summer. I want to compare it to Susan Cooper's unhinged Dark is Rising series, which the older three people in our family unit still talk about after binging the entire series together on a long-ago road trip... but it turns out that that road trip? Oops, it was twelve years ago and for some reason my teenager insists that she doesn't remember a ten-hour audiobook series that she listened to over a two-week period at the age of four. SIGH! If we ever finish listening to the adventures of Lancelot, God's Greatest Idiot, then (even the abridged Le Morte is over nine hours long!), I'm hoping we'll have time to swing through at least the first couple of Dark is Rising books. Perhaps that's what we should do during the second week of our trip when we're driving around the English countryside!

My college student comes home for summer break next week, and I'm currently machinating how I can convince everyone to choose a Jane Austen book as our first family audiobook of the summer--this is actual footage of us in our family free time:

The kids LOVED Pride and Prejudice, so Sense and Sensibility would be the obvious choice, but I kind of want to go in a different direction so they don't pigeonhole Austen. Perhaps Persuasion, even though we won't actually be going to Bath?

For Family Movie Night funsies, here are my contenders so far:

Please feel free to spam me with all of the British-themed TV and movies that I've missed!