Badge Requirements (page 2)

It's Important to Me
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

1. The Girl Scout Law in Action
   The Girl Scout Law contains important values for girls to live by. Let the words of the Girl Scout Law inspire you daily. Make a Girl Scout Law plaque or wall hanging that highlights the parts that mean the most to you. Use paint, fabric, contact paper, poster board, or other materials to make your plaque or wall hanging sturdy and attractive.
2. Values-Based Approaches
   Values help you find ways to solve problems. Write a story about how you solved a problem using your values. Or write a short story that shows how a girl your age uses on of f her values to solve a problem. If you like, you may draw an illustration for your story. Note: Did you know that you can submit this or another one of your original stories to GSUSA's "Just for Girls" web site? Go to www.girlscouts.org/girls and click on "Girl Space" and the "Stories" to learn how.
3. Discover Your Values
   Check out the section about values in the "It's Great to Be a Girl" chapter of your Junior Girl Scout Handbook. Do one of the activities in that section with your family or friends.
4. Values Vote
   With your troop, group, or family brainstorm a list of five values. Have everyone copy the list and play "20 Votes". Everyone has 20 votes to cast for the values she thinks are most important. You can use your votes all on one value or spread them out any way you like. Without talking, everyone records her votes. Then each girl puts a star by the value she thinks will get the most votes for the group as a whole. Now tally the votes. What was the most popular value? How many people guessed it would be? Discuss with your group why you think people feel it is the most important.
5. Values in the News
   Find a news report in the newspaper, or on the internet, radio, or TV that tells about problems people have because they made poor decisions. Decide what value or values could have helped them avoid their problems and why.
6. Debate It
   When you make decisions, you often have to weigh two competing values. Fro example, you may wonder: Do I stay loyal to my friend or tell the teacher that she has been cheating on a test? Choose two competing values and have a values debate. With a group, divide into two sides. One group should take one side of the issue and the other group should take the other side. Meet with your group for  a few minutes to discuss the major points you want to make and then let the debate begin. Have your troop leader or adult family member serve as moderator.
7. Other People's Values
   Holidays often reinforce the values of a country or culture. With your troop, group, or family, learn about an important holiday in another country. Learn about some of the traditions of that holiday and the value or values that are a part of that holiday.
8. Secret Sister
   A Girl Scout is a sister to every other Girl Scout. Show how you value the sister Girl Scouts in your troop or group. Have a "Secret sister" party. Have each person draw a name, and then make something special at home for your secret sister. Bring the gift to your next meeting and give it to her. Remember, don't tell who your secret sister is until it is time to reveal her name at the party. OR you could choose a secret sister at school or in your neighborhood and do something special for her.
9. Women of Courage
   With your troop, group, or family name eight courageous women. Discuss what they did and why they were or are courageous. Write the names of the women on slips of paper and put them in a cup. Divide into two teams. Each team takes a turn pulling a slip of paper. The other team may ask 5 yes/no questions and then guess who they think the courageous woman is.
10. Valuing Service
    Put the Girl Scout Promise into practice by giving service individually or with your family, troop, or group. Join in a community service project such as a clean-up activity, healthy fair, or other event. Or volunteer to give service to a community organization such as your school, religious organization, or other non-profit group. Remember: When giving service, Girl Scouts are not permitted to raise money for other organizations.

Jeweler
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

1. Jewelry from Everyday Objects
   Make a piece of jewelry using materials that are not precious metals or gems. You might make a pin, a necklace, a bracelet, or a hair ornament. Some ideas for materials are:
   - Handmade beads
   - Hardware (such as screws, nuts, washers, wire and chains)
   - Paper (paint or draw designs on pieces of paper. Several pieces can be joined with cord or thread or glued together)
2. Macram�
   Knot string and other cords into decorative patterns. Interweave beads, sanded pieces of wood, and shells to create unique macram� jewelry. See the "Create and Invent" chapter in your Junior Girl Scout Handbook.
3. Jewelry from Other Lands
   Learn about the jewelry of 4 different cultures (fro example, from an American Indian culture or a culture from Europe, South America, or Africa). Or look at an ancient culture, such as early Egypt or Asia. Describe the materials and styles used, and their customs and traditions for wearing jewelry. If possible, find pictures of the type of jewelry worn in each culture.
4. Jewelers' Skills
   Learn about the different jewelry-making techniques of soldering, casting, hammering, and molding. Can you describe a situation when each might be used, or find a picture showing an example? If possible, visit an artist who uses one or more of those techniques to make jewelry.
5. Take a Tour
   Visit a museum or gallery exhibit of jewelry. Take an organized tour of the exhibit or ask someone knowledgeable to explain the work. Be sure to bring a notebook and sketch any designs you'd like to remember!
6. Something Natural
   Make a piece of jewelry out of organize material (something found in nature). You can combine a variety of colors, shapes, and textures by using shells, stones, seeds, and other materials you could find on an outdoor scavenger hunt. Look at the section about swaps in the "Adventures in Girl Scouting" chapter in your Junior Girl Scout Handbook for ideas about jewelry made from rocks and from flowers.
7. Triple Up
   Make an item of jewelry that combines at least 3 different elements. For example, you can combine leather laces with wire and stones. Come up with other interesting combinations.
8. Store Your Gems
   Make a box for your jewelry. You can decorate a small cardboard, metal, or wooden box with decoupage, or decorate a small basket. Add decorative touches with pieces of discarded jewelry, pearls, beads, or shells. See the" Create and Invent" chapter in your Junior Girl Scout Handbook for information about decoupage.
9. True Gemstones
   Learn about one type of stone or mineral used in jewelry. For example, you might choose to learn more about your birthstone. Does the stone or mineral have any special meaning Are there any legends or myths about its special power?
10. Get the Message?
    Find out about ht symbolism of different kinds of jewelry, such as wedding bands or friendship bracelets. Make a piece of jewelry to give to someone else as a symbol of your friendship.

Lead On
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

1. Talk Show Star
   Create an imaginary TV show in which you are the host. Interview a pretend leader - a mayor, for example. Ask at least five questions about her leadership role. Provide time for your "studio audience" to ask questions as well.
2. Let's Welcome . . .
   Choose a female leader whom you have read or heard about. Write or tape record what you would say about her if you  were introducing her to an audience of Junior Girl Scouts and their families.
3. Choose Your Leaders
   List at least 5 leaders, including leaders from your school, community, state, nation, and the world. Choose your favorite leader from the list. With your troop, group, or family, discuss what personal qualities make that person a good leader. Which qualities do you have that are similar to hers?
4. Play a Leading Role
   A leader should be a role model - someone who practices habits that provide a good example for others to follow. Do an activity with your troop, group, or family in which you practice being a role model in one of the following areas: safety, sports, or friendship.
5. Leading Qualities
   One quality that all good leaders have is a sense or responsibility. Make a list of the tasks that you are responsible for on a typical weekday. Ask yourself if you do each of these things without being prompted (without having someone remind you to do them). If you don't, make tomorrow a "Responsibility Day." Keep your list close by and check items off as you do them. Try to finish the entire list without your family reminding you. For more advice on getting things done, check out the time management skills section of the "Be Healthy, Be Fit" chapter Junior Girl Scout Handbook.
6. Follow the Leader
   Many games build leadership skills in a fun way. "Follow the Leader" "Simon Says and  "Red Rover" are some examples. Hold an event in which games emphasizing leadership skills are played. Invite younger Girl Scouts, friends, and neighbors to attend. Include games that make players follow directions, such as scavenger hunts and relay races.
7. More on Leadership
   In a group, identify a community problem and brainstorm actions you could take to deal with it. To guide your planning, use the action plan in the "Adventures in Girl Scouting" chapter of your Junior Girl Scout Handbook.
8. Team Leadership
   Playing sports often provides a good chance to test and improve your leadership skills. Pick a skill you are really good at - such as throwing, batting, volleying, or somersaulting - and volunteer t o spend some time teaching it to another girl.
9. What Did You Say?
   Good communication is important to leadership. Read about communication in the "Family and Friends" chapter of your Junior Girl Scout Handbook. Test your communication skills with friends, family, and other Girl Scouts.
10. Set a Goal
    Decide on one leadership quality you are going to improve over the next month. Write out your commitment, and take at least 3 actions a week to meet your goal.

Let's Get Cooking
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

1. Keeping It Clean
   When preparing and eating food, keep your hands squeaky-clean! Believe it or not, bacteria can cling to the natural oil on your hands. Want to see? Take two apple pieces. Wash one apple piece and then wipe it with dirty hands and place it in a sealed jar. Label the jar "dirty hands. " Now wash your hands. Take a second apple piece and wash it, then wipe eat with your clean hands. Label this jar "Squeaky-clean." after one week, look at both apple pieces. Are there any Difference? How does this experiment demonstrate the importance of washing your hands?
2. When in Doubt, Throw It Out
   Talk with a dietician, a health educator, or a restaurant owner and find out: How long can you keep different kinds of leftovers before they become dangerous to eat? How long can you keep a picnic lunch out of refrigeration's? What actions can you take to keep your food safe?
3. Have It Your Way
   With a group of friends, create your own healthy fast-food restaurant. Develop a menu, set the prices, and design the look of the restaurant. Don't forget to give it a great name. Assign jobs like hostess, waitress, or chef. Decide where people will be able to find this restaurant. Then stage your "Grand opening." Invite people to come to your "restaurant" and try some of your creative dishes.
4. Something for Everyone
   Not everyone has the same access to healthy food. Tragically, more than one billion people worldwide are underfed. Collect food that can be donated to shelters or to another organization the could benefit from additional food. Make sure you include nutritious food that won't go bad, such as canned goods, juice boxes, dried fruit or fruit rolls, packaged cereals, and pastas.
5. The Perfect Egg
   Eggs are a great source of protein and can be prepared in many different ways. Create a recipe in which eggs are used. Need inspiration? You might look at cookbooks with recipes from other countries. Note: Although eggs taste good and are good for you, they can be dangerous if you don't cook them properly. you can limit the threat of these harmful bacteria by masking sure that eggs are fully cooked. Uncooked eggs are one reason not to taste cookie dough or cake batter before it's been baked!
6. New Wave Chef
   Microwaves, electric grills, rotisseries, and other appliances help make cooking fast and fun. Select an appliance and, with an adult's help, try out a recipe that lets you use it.
7. Tasty Treats: Fruit Surprise
   Here is great way to make tasty treat fro you and your friends that doesn't involve cooking.
   What You Need:
   - 1 cup container of fruit-flavored yogurt
   - 1 cup of whipped cream or whipped cream substitute
   - 4 mini pie crusts (pre-cooked)
   - Fresh berries or other fruit
   
   What You Do:
   - in a bowl, mix the fruit-flavored yogurt and the whipped cream.
   - Scoop  the mixture equally into each of the four pie crusts.
   - Decorate the pies with the fresh berries or other fruit.
   - Refrigerate for 15 minutes. then, devour!
   
   Now it's your turn: Create your own no-cook recipe!
    
8. Mix It Up
   Blender drinks are fun, quick, and easy to make. When you use healthy ingredients, the drinks can also boot your energy. Invite each guest at your "blender party" to bring a recipe for a vegetable or fruit drink and all the ingredients it requires. Be sure to plan ahead, so you'll have everything you need. Experiment with combinations of fruit, milk, yogurt, juice, hone, and natural flavorings to create a variety of drinks. Select fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, melon slices, peaches, pineapple, or bananas. such try tropical fruits such as kiwi, mango, and papaya. For vegetable juices, try combining carrots, celery and tomatoes.
9. Food Around the World
   With your Girl Scout troop or group, eat your way around the world. Start in the US and trace a path around the globe - in any direction. Each girl chooses a country on the "trip". Then she finds a healthy recipe from that country to share with the troop. What can you learn about a culture from a recipe and its ingredients?
10. The Big Change
    With the help of an adult, take a recipe that you find in a cookbook and make it healthier. For example, you can change the ground beef in a meat sauce to ground turkey or chicken. If you are baking, try substituting a half cup of applesauce for a stick of butter. Try tofu in your cooking as a healthy source of protein. be creative and have fun!

Looking Your Best
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

1. Collect Tips
   Create a �looking Your Best� booklet, poster, video, or collage that includes the most important tips girls your age need to know to look their best. Get ideas from current fashion and health magazines, from the internet, and by interviewing people who have information to share. Include health, fashion, hygiene, and nutrition tips.
2. A Personal Hygiene Routine
   Create a personal hygiene routine that you can follow daily or weekly. Your routine should include caring for your skin, teeth, and hair. Consider how other each action, such as washing your hair, should be done. Learn about products that can help you, such as sunscreen, dental floss, and hair conditioner. Your plans should also include a schedule for washing and mending your clothes. Put your routines on paper and stick to them.
3. Aerobic Activities
   select a couple of aerobic activities that you enjoy. Walking, running, jumping rope, biking, skating, and dancing are examples of aerobic activities. For 2 weeks or more, with a fiend, do an aerobic activity of your choice at least 3 times a week for 20 or 30 minutes. DO different types of activities so you won�t become bored. You can substitute a favorite sport, as long as you are moving for at least 20 minutes.
4. Skin Care Secrets
   Talk to women of different ages and find out about their skin care routines. Do they use just soap and water? Lotions and potions? Have their routines changed as they got older? What secrets can they share for keeping your skin healthy?
5. Color Party
   Experiment with color. With fiends, collect sizable pieces of fabric or pieces of paper in different colors. Take turns holding different colors up to your face. Decide which colors look best on each of you: lavenders and plums, corals, pinks, reds, blues and greens, or beiges and peaches.
6. Organize
   Rearrange the clothes in your dresser and closet so you�ll have an easier time finding just the right outfits or combinations, no matter how rushed you are. For example, you might pair tops and bottoms or organize by season or color.
7. Experiment with Hairstyles
   Get together with a group of friends and try different hairstyles on each other. Get ideas from magazines, form the �It�s Great to Be a Girl� chapter of your Junior Girl Scout Handbook, from older girls or adults � or dream up new hair creations yourselves. Each girl should bring her own hair accessories like clips, headbands, and decorative combs. Experiment with intertwining g ribbons, beads, and other decorative items in your hair. Remember not to share brushes, combs, and other hair appliances, so there will be no problems with hygiene. If you can, take instant pictures or shoot video of your new styles!
8. Create Healthy Snacks
   Host a troop meeting by preparing a healthy snack to share. Here�s a recipe you can try for making Pita Chips. Have an adult around to supervise.

Pita Chips

�        Separate pit bread rounds into their tow halves.

�        Cut each half into six to eight pieces.

�        Spray a cookie sheet with cooking oil for your pita bread.

�        Bake the pita piece at 350* for 20 to 30 minute, until crispy.

�        Sprinkle with garlic powder, cinnamon sugar, chili powder, or grated cheese.

�        Use them as dippers for a low-fat dip!

9.      Circle of Friends
With a group of friends, possibly girls in your troop, sit in a circle with one girl in the center. Each person will take a turn and give an honest compliment to the person in the center. The person in the center listens without saying anything. After everyone has given a compliment to her, she returns to the circle and the person on her left goes into the center. The activity continues until everyone has had a chance to be in the center.

10.  Accessory Party
Experiment to see how accessories highlight your features and your outfit. Try different earrings and necklaces � long or short, big or delicate, unusual shapes or colors. How do different belts or the addition of a scarf change your look?   

"Making" Hobbies
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

Making It Matter
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

Making Music
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

Math Whiz
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

Milky Whey Badge
Great Blue Heron Council Own Try-It Only (Badge and IPP have been discontinued)
Only available to girls from the Great Blue Heron Council.
http://www.girlscoutsgbh.org/patches.html
http://www.girlscoutsgbh.org/pdfs/2005/Milky%20Whey%20Try-It.pdf  (requirements)

Model Citizen

1. A Good Neighbor
   Citizenship begins at home and in your community. What is a good neighbor? Make a list of ten things that you think make being a good neighbor. Pick one and take action on it.
2. Rights and Responsibilities
   Rights, as well as responsibilities, are associated with being a citizen of a country. What do you think are some of the rights and responsibilities that come with being a citizen of the United States? Ask different members of the community what they think and compare and discuss the answers that you get.
3. Global Citizen
   Talk with someone who has been a citizen of another country or who has lived or worked in another country. Ask the person what it was like to live in that country as compared to living in the United States.
4. Lawmaker
   Design rules, regulations, or laws that might be needed for two of these situations:

v     You are the mayor of the first town on the moon

v     An amusement park is being built next to your school

v     A toxic waste dump is being built next to a farm

v     There is a town where everyone owns boats and no one has a car

v     There is a five-story building with no elevators. It has only one inside staircase and one outside staircase

v     A busy highway is built near an elementary school 

5. Create a Government
   Many board and computer games involve creating a country or city from scratch. They often ask you to make rules for governing the city or country. Try one of these games.
6. In Person
   Visit a branch of the city, town, or county government that makes policies or laws for your community, or visit a branch of government that enforces the laws of your community. While you are there, find out the names of your state representatives and how they voted on an issue that is of concern to you.
7. News Flash
   News Flash: The town board approved building a mega=shopping center instead of a park on the last bit of open green space in town. News Flash: The city is cutting your favorite after-school program to save money. News Flash: Your County has approved a new chemical treatment plant. As a model citizen, how do you voice your support or your disapproval of such types of mews? Ask adults to tell you three ways that people can legally and peacefully protest in the united Sates.
8. Red, White, and Blue
   The American flag is one of the symbols that represents our nation. Read about ceremonies in the �Girl Scout Basics� chapter of your Junior Girl Scout Handbook and participate in a flag ceremony.
9. Help Out
   Design and carry out a small project to show that you are a model citizen in your community. You can do the project on your own or with others.
10. Paperwork
    Help your family keep their identification documents organized and up-to-date. These documents could be residency records. Social Security cards, passports, copies of driver�s licenses, birth and marriage certificates, school records, or others. Offer to file or photocopy these important documents. Store them in a color-coded or alphabetized set of folders. You may want to transfer some information to a computer file. Make sure the documents are stored securely � in a fire-proof safe, perhaps � and are ready when needed.

On My Way 

Ready for Tomorrow
http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/insignia/online/junior/ready_for_tomorrow.asp (click here for requirements)

1. Chemical Appearing Act
   Discover how you can use a chemical reaction to make an artistic design. Sometimes, when chemicals react with each other, colors change.
   What You Need:
   - White Paper
   - Newspaper
   - A wide paintbrush
   - An artist's thin paintbrush
   - Starch solution (see the directions)
   - Iodine/alcohol solution (see the directions)
   What You Do:
   1. Dip the thin brush in the starch solution and do a simple drawing of an animal or flower.
   2. Tape the corners of your paper to newspaper to keep it from curling. Starch solution is colorless, so when it is dry, nothing will show up on the paper. (The sun or a hair dryer can make it dry more quickly.)
   3. Dip the wide brush into the iodine/alcohol solution and, taking care not to  rub, gently stroke over the original painting. Observe what happens. Why do you suppose there is a change?
   Try some other activities using this chemical reaction: send a secret message, make a treasure map, put on a magic show for younger children or your family.
   As with all science experiments, use caution with chemicals and the heating process.

   Starch Solution: Mix 4 tablespoons of cornstarch into 1 cup of lukewarm water. Or save the cooking water from boiled potatoes or pasta and let it cool.

   Iodine / Alcohol Solution: Mix 1 tablespoon of tincture of iodine in 1 cup of rubbing alcohol. This solution will have a yellowish-brown color.

    

2. Light and Reflection
   Make a simple kaleidoscope.
   What You Need:
   - A shiny picture postcard
   - Tape
   - Colored cellophane
   - White Tissue Paper
   - Scissors
   What You Do:
   1. Fold the postcard, with shiny side in, lengthwise into three equal sections.
   2. Tape the postcard (now a triangular tube) so the seam doesn't leak light.
   3. Cut small pieces of colored cellophane. Cut two pieces of the tissues paper 2 inches larger that the end of the tube.
   4. Place the cut cellophane between the two pieces of tissue paper and tape the layers around the tube.
   A kaleidoscope relies on reflected light to create its special effects. Hold it up to the light and shake. What do you see?

3. Water Tricks
   Try these water tricks:
   - Make a needle float on water. You will need a source of clean water, a bowl, and a needle. You might need a few tries. Why do you think the needle floats?
   - How many drops of water can you get to stay on the top of a penny? You will need a penny and an eyedropper. Try this activity a second time and put a dab of soap on your finger. Then touch the water. What happens when the soap meets the skin of water molecules on your penny? Any idea why?

4. Can't Live Without It
   Using newspapers, magazines, telephone books, or the Web, search for people, things, places, and issues that are science-related. Make a collage of what you find. Turn your collage into a poster, a book cover, or an illustration for a special event having to do with science.

5. Act Like A Scientist:
   Do two of the following things that an archaeologist, botanist, or geologist might do in her work:
   - Make a drawing of something you find outdoors - either natural or people made - and record your observations about it, as well as where and when you found it.
   - Identify at least five different kinds of trees, flowers, or animals.
   - Classify five rocks as to whether they are igneous, metamorphic, or sedimentary.

6. Become a Scientist
   More men enter the fields of science and technology than women do. Interview or visit with a woman who is a scientist and find out how she got interested in her field, who encouraged her to pursue science, where she gets information, and which people are most supportive to her in her job.

7. It's a Hands-On and Happening Place
   Visit a hands-on-science or natural history museum, participate in a museum sleep-in, or participate in a science fair or event sponsored by your school, Girl Scout council, or community.

8. Environmental Observer
   The Stream Health Checklist tells you what to look for, smell, and touch to determine how healthy a stream is. Use the checklist to make an environmental report card for a stream or to develop your own checkpoints for an area you want to explore.
    

   Stream Health Checklist G = Good          F = Fair          P = Poor           _______  Variety of stream animals                            (fish, snails, insects, worms,                            and other living creatures).                            The greater the number of                            types, or species, the healthier                            the stream.          _______   Available Shade                           Shade is good for water                           temperature.          _______  Stability (lack of erosion)                          of stream bank          _______  Turbidity of water                          (amount of stuff suspended                          in the water) Does water appear                          cloudy or clear? Clear is good.          _______  Smell of water (smell can indicate                          pollution).          _______  Signs of runoff from surrounding                          land - runoff can pollute and take                          away oxygen.          _______  Amount of garbage along the                          stream.

   
    

9. See What?
   How is your brain challenged by optical illusions? Look in your library or on the Web for some optical illusions that you can share with your troop or your family.

10. Here's the Rub
    Discover how speed is affected by friction by trying this experiment.
    What You Need:
    - A cookie sheet, plastic tray, or piece of wood that is at least 18 inches long.
    - A small toy car with wheels
    - Different substances that can be put on the surface of the sloping track you will create, such as water, oil, sand, or carpeting. (This could get messy, so do it outdoors or somewhere else that can be easily cleaned up).
    - A stopwatch
    What You Do:
    - Tilt your ramp (example: cookie sheet) with your hands.
    - Time your car's descent, without anything on the slope, and record the results.
    - Now put something on the ramp such as the water or oil. Predict whether you think the car will move more slowly or more quickly down the ramp. Run the time trial again and record the results.
    - Continue testing with each of your substances. Share your findings with other people. How could you use this information when riding in a car or riding your bike?

1. What�s Vibration Got to Do With It?
   Make a simple musical instrument that you can tune. Here are some ideas: bottle pipes (blowing across the top of water bottles), glass chimes (using a spoon against water glasses), comb kazoo (using tissue paper), drum (using plastic stretched across a cup), shaker (a container with dried beans), maraca (using a shaker with a handle), or idiophone (using your fingers to rub around the rim of crystal wine glasses). Listen to the pitches of the sounds and experiment with ways to change the pitches and add more notes. Then, try to explain how the sound is created using vibration, or play a simple melody.
2. The Science of Papermaking
   How many kinds of paper can you find around your house? Compare the differences in color, texture, absorption, and composition. Create a paper-testing lab and choose different types of paper that are best for wiping up spills, painting, writing in ink, and writing in pencil.
3. Crystal Quest
   What do ice, diamonds, rock candy, quartz, and snowflakes have in common? Crystals, of course! Grow your own crystals by following the recipe below:
               What You Need:
   • Epsom salts
   • Water
   • Small saucepan
   • Large spoon
   • Pipe cleaner
   • Food coloring
   • Pencil

�        Clear Plastic Cup
What You Do:

• With the help of an adult, boil the water in the saucepan, take the pan off the burner, and place it on a hot pad.
• Using the spoon, slowly add the Epsom salts a little bit at a time, stirring constantly. Keep adding the salts until no more will dissolve or mix in.
• Pour the solution into the plastic cup, almost up to the top.
• Wrap the pipe cleaner around the pencil so that it hangs over and into the cup. Curl the end so that the crystals will have a good place to grow and suspend it in the solution
3. When Is Silver Green?
   Fin out what happens to different kinds of metals when they are exposed it air (oxidation) and weathering. Compare iron, silver, copper, and brass. Find at least five examples of metals, indoors or outdoors, that have undergone some kind of surface changes.
4. You Can�t Escape Your Identity
   With the help of a police officer, private investigator, or other professional, dust for and lift a fingerprint. Try comparing your fingerprints to someone else�s and note the differences and similarities. Find out what other evidence, such as DNA from hair or skin samples, can be used to identify a person or a vehicle. The FBI uses seven main characteristics in fingerprint identification: the loop, arch, whorl, tented arch, double loop, central pocket loop, and accidental.
   
    

      WebPages to see samples:
       http://www.cornwallis.kent.sch.uk/intranet/elearn/science/crime/1crime.html
       http://www.ridgesandfurrows.homestead.com/fingerprint_patterns.html

6. Water Questions
   Have you ever seen a bug walking on water and wondered how it does it? Sometimes things look impossible to do, but if you know your science, there might be an answer. Here are some challenges to try with your friends, family, or troop members. Do at least two of the following:
   • Move water from one container to another without pouring it.
   • Use water to show how that air exists, exerts pressure, and takes up space.
   • Make something heavier than water float.
   • Cause a plant to drink water indoors without watering it, as shown in the �Incredible Slurping Plant� activity in the Explore and Discover� chapter of your Junior Girl Scout Handbook.
7. Read the Directions � But How Does It Work?
   Find out how to hook up a computer to the Internet, a VCR to your television, or a music system to speakers. Demonstrate to another person how all the parts and pieces link to each other and what each piece of equipment does.
8. Seeing the Light
   Your eyes can only see a portion of the light that is there � the white light. With technology you can see other kinds of light on the spectrum, such as infrared or X-ray. Each type of light has its own signature pattern that can be seen when it is separated with a prism. Try separating light. Use a crystal or prism to separate natural light. Then separate light that is created by technology. Can you record the signature of a regular light bulb? The sun? A fluorescent bulb? Are there any differences?
9. It�s in the Genes
   Genes �tell� each cell in your body how to develop. In the future, scientists may be able to anticipate and cure illnesses by mapping individuals� genes. Find out about a disease or condition that is believed to be linked to genes. Discuss the following with your troop, family, or another adult:
   • In what situations would you want to know about your genes? In what situations would you not want to know? Why or why not?
   • Do you think others should have access to information about your genes? Why or why not?
10. What Is a Simple Machine?
    A machine is a device that helps use a force to move something and do work. See the six simple machines below. Do one of the following:
    • Participate in a scavenger hunt where you find two examples of each of the machines, one indoors and one outdoors.
    • Use at least three simple machines to put together a piece of equipment that will perform a job.
    • Create a complex machine that combines two or more simple machines.
      
      

      Website with pictures: http://snebulos.mit.edu/egoeke/GS/SciSleuth.pdf

      

      Sew Simple

      1  Hands Down
         Try your hand at sewing: running stitch, hemming stitch, slip stitch, catch stitch.

      2  A Stitch in Time
          Explore machine stitching on a sewing machine. Try basting, zigzag stitching or seam stitching.

      3  Foot Fun
         Decorate your socks by stitching lace/fabric to the upper cuff or embroidering on them!

      4  Program It
         Many sewing machines contain mini-computers. Learn how to program a design on a machine, then sew it!

      5  Pick a Pattern
         Look at different patterns and decide on an item you'd like to make. Look at the number of pieces, what notions (zipper, thread, buttons, etc.) are needed, the type of fabric recommended and the amount of fabric.

      6   A Perfect Fit
          Use the diagram on a pattern envelope to figure your size. You can use this handout to determine your bust, waist and hips measurement. Then look at a pattern envelope to determine your size.

      7   Sew for Service
         Choose some items to make for people in need, such as baby quilts, "ditty" bags, warm scarves or lap robes.

      8   Hospital Helpers
           Make "cancer caps" for kids going through radiation and donate them to a hospital in your area.

      9  Find the Fabric
          Explore fabrics - they can have different widths, textures, colors and designs. Decide which fabric would be appropriate for an item you wish to make.

      10  Sew a Puppet
           Make a puppet according to the directions in the book, or make your own item!

      

      Sky Search

      1. Mapping the Skies
         Learn how to use a star map. Obtain or make such a map for your stargazing location that adjusts to the time and season when you are observing stars.
          
      2. Constellations
         Constellations are stars that appear to be groups when looked at from Earth. If you were to travel in a spaceship, you would find that most stars that look close together are actually millions of miles apart. Learn to identify at least five of the constellations seen from Earth.
          
      3. Direction, Please
         Learn about the North Star and why it has been used for navigation throughout history. Help others locate the North Star. Use the North Star to find two constellations or asterisms (part of a constellation).
          
      4. Planets
         Learn which of the nine planets are visible to the naked eye. Try to locate at least one of these during a stargazing adventure. If possible, use a telescope to help you see better detail. Write down what you discover.
          
      5. Connect the Dots
         Learn stories from two or more ancient cultures - such as Greek, Norse, American Indian, Pacific Islander, or Chinese - that were used to explain what was seen in the sky.
          
      6. Tools of the Trade
         Learn the parts of a telescope and how to use one. If possible, use a tracking telescope or look through telescopes with different magnifications.
         OR
         Visit a large observatory and learn what kinds of telescopes are used there. What do astronomers learn by using telescopes?
          
      7. Time for the Moon
         Learn more about the moon - its phases, age, names of features - and then take a closer look. The best time to observe the moon is when it is full, or almost full. Use binoculars or a small telescope to help you see the valleys, ridges, mountain ranges, and craters on the moon.
          
      8. The Sky is Falling!
         Learn about meteors, meteorites, meteor showers, and comets. Find out when meteor showers may be visible in your area. With an adult, arrange a meteorite-watching party and count the number you see in an hour.
          
      9. Star Stamps
         Address an envelope to yourself or a friend; include your solar system and galaxy address. Draw a stamp on your envelope that celebrates an event in space exploration. Write a letter and include a map to your favorite planet.
          
      10. Mission: Space
          Learn about a current mission in space. What is the purpose of the mission, and how is information recorded and sent back to Earth? If possible, follow the mission over a period of time and visit a Web site that describes the mission and shares pictures or data.

      

      Small Craft

      1. Staying Afloat
         Show that you can select, use, and care for a PFD (personal flotation device). Be able to:
         • Adjust a life jacket or life vest to fit
         • Know if a PFD is in good condition
         • Throw a buoyant cushion or life ring
         • Float, swim, and do HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Position) and huddle in a PFD
         • If you are a swimmer, put on a PFD while in water that is over your head
      2. All Hands On Deck
         Be ready for boating emergencies. With a knowledgeable adult, talk about what to do if three of the following things happen:
         • You fall overboard
         • Someone else falls overboard
         • The wind rises (or, if sailing, dies)
         • You see a storm approaching
         • The boat swamps or capsizes
         • It gets dark or foggy
         • There is a fire on board
      3. From Bow to Stern
         Learn nautical terms for the major parts of a boat and use them correctly. Identify three kinds of water craft.
      4. Permission to Board
         Be able to trim your craft (maintain a balanced position of a boat in the water by moving around passengers and gear). Show that you can:
         • Board properly
         • Stow things and move weight around safely
         • Change places safely
      5. Shove Off
         Show that you can handle a small craft safely. Demonstrate in a rowboat, rowing shell, kayak, or canoe that you can:
         • Stow the paddle(s) or oar(s)
         • Get underway
         • Make turns and go straight
         • Speed up, slow down, and stop
         • Dock or land
         • Secure the craft
      6. Hoist the Sails!
         Show that you can handle a sailboat. Demonstrate that you can:
         • Get underway
         • Raise and lower the sail(s)
         • Sail straight ahead
         • Tack and come about
         • Speed up, slow down, and stop
         • Dock or land
         • Secure the craft
      7. Full Speed Ahead!
         In a boat with a motor, show that you know how to:
         • Get underway
         • Start the engine, change speed, and stop
         • Use the oars, if the boat has them
         • Make turns and go forward and backward
         • Dock or land
         • Secure the engine and the craft
      8. Thar She Blows!
         Learn to keep a sharp lookout. Show that you practice rules of the water by knowing how to:
         • Keep away from swimmers, divers, and people fishing
         • Look out for other craft, floating objects, or hazards under the surface
         • Spot landmarks or navigational aids such as buoys or lights or read a navigational map
         • Help someone in distress, and signal for help yourself
         • Cross wakes correctly
      9. Red Sky in the Morning, Sailors Take Warning
         Be a water and weather watcher. Check to see if it is safe to be out on the water by keeping track of the following:
         • Wind direction and speed
         • Waves, tides, and currents, or water releases from dams
         • Cloud formations
         • Weather signals and reports
      10.  Swab the Deck!
          Do your share to keep a boat shipshape. Do at least 3 of the following:
          • Unload or stow gear or rigging
          • Wash down, bail out, or sponge off
          • Sand, scrape, or chip
          • Paint, patch, or fix up
          • Tie knots, splice, or whip lines

      

      Sports Sampler

      1. Stretch It Out
         A proper warm-up before you take part in sports and fitness activities will help reduce your chances of getting hurt by increasing the blood flow to your muscles and preparing them for exercise. Create a five minute warm-up and a five-minute cool-down. Learn three stretches for your upper body and three for your lower body. Do them before and after you play � every time!
      2. Practice Makes Perfect
         Choose a sport that you want to learn or improve on. Pick three skills that you want to practice, either with a friend or on your own. With a coach, teacher, or parent, set some improvement goals. Then spend at least an hour a week practicing the m for the next three weeks.
      3. Play Time
         Participate in a sport by taking part in a tournament or play day, or become a member of a club, team, or intramural program. Discover two ways you can improve your play.
      4. Try Something New
         Playing the same sport over and over again can stress your body out. So try a new sport in addition to your regular favorite. In-line skating, volleyball, tennis, snowboarding, cycling�. You make the choice. Spend at least six sessions at the sport. Decide if you like it or not.
      5. Safety First
         Safety awareness is vital when you play a sport. Still, accidents can happen. Learn how to treat tow of these basic injuries that might happen when you are learning or practicing a new sport: skinned knees, nosebleeds, blisters, ankle sprains, and muscle strains. Can you think of ways to avoid these injuries in the future?
      6. See and Tell
         For one week, look through the sports sections of your local newspaper. Compare articles about sports with male players and sports with female players. The sports can be played by professional, high school, or college teams. Write a letter to the sports editor of your newspaper complaining if sports weren�t covered equally or congratulating them it they were.
      7. You Go Girl!
         You can almost feel like you are participating in a sport by cheering for someone else. Write a cheer � with at least two verses � for your troop or favorite team. If you want, you and a friend can make up a movement routine to go along with it. Show your cheer to your troop and encourage them to perform it with you at a local girls� or women�s sports event.
      8. �Her Story� of Sport
         Pick a sport you would like to know more about. Trace the role of women in the sport�s history. When did women start playing it? Were the rules changed for women? How did it become popular among girls and women? Do many girls and women play this sport? Do famous women athletes compete in this sport?
      9. Spread the Word
         Some people can�t play certain sports because they don�t have the proper equipment. With some friends, find a group in your community that needs help with its sports program. Ask what the group needs and what you can do to help. For example, you could start a sports equipment drive for the group. You might need to work with someone from a sporting goods store, or another adult, to collect equipment. Make sure the equipment is safe and in good working order.
      10. Sport Search

      Find out about two sports that are new to you. Are they played or taught in your community? Check out the local Parks and Recreation Department, community centers, or the yellow pages. Collect the following information about these sports. Where can you play them? How do you start learning? What are the fees? What equipment do you need? How many people do you need to play? Share your findings with your troop and see if anyone wants to learn a sport with you!

      

       Stress Less

      1. Create a Personal Stress Kit
         Let your personal �stress less� kit rescue you from stressful events! Make an attractive container. Carefully stock it with things that will help you relax, laugh, dream, or put you at ease. Be sure there are at least six items in your kit. You might include books, cartons, photographs, music, a card or letter from a friend or relative, or a picture from a magazine of a place that looks peaceful. Think about how each item helps you relieve stress. Remember to pull out your kit when you need to de-stress.
      2. Stess Less Writing
         One way to let go of feeling s that are stressful is to write in a journal or notebook about what�s on your mind. Start a �stress less� journal for those times when you need to release some tension.
      3. What Are You Feeling?
         Learning how to identify and describe your different moods and feelings is an important part of dealing with stress. Keep a feeling s diary for a day. How many different moods did you experience?
      4. Do For Others
         One of the best ways to lessen your stress is to focus on someone else. For one afternoon or evening help someone with a project or problem.
      5. Move That Stress Away
         Physical motion can release the tension in your body. (Make sure your motions aren�t harmful to you or anyone or anything else.) Make a list of ten actions you can take to reduce stress. Some examples are running up and down stairs a few times, dancing around to your favorite song, or jumping rope. Look at your list when tension starts to rise. Do one of your motions!
      6. Listen to Music
         Listen to five of your favorite songs. Decide which one is most relaxing to you and why. Play your song for two other people and see if they think it is relaxing. Find out what music they would choose to relax to!
      7. Pass It On
         Ask three of your friends or classmates how they deal with stress. Collect the five best techniques. Remember to try one of them yourself the next time you�re feeling stressed!
      8. Read and Relax
         Read a book. Following a character�s adventures can help you forget about your stress. With other girls, come up with a list of especially relaxing books.
      9. One At A Time
         Are you stressed because you are trying to do too much in too little time? Maybe you need to practice some time management. Read about time management in the �Be Healthy, Be Fit� chapter of your Junior Girl Scout Handbook.
      10. Practice Elevator Breathing
          Deep, focused breathing can refresh your mind. Imagine that breathing in and exhaling out is like an elevator moving up and down the floors of a building. Practice these exercises:
          • Inhale slowly through your nose. Feel your breath travel all the way to the basement (the bottom of your spine).
          • Exhale slowly through your mouth.
          • Put your hands on your belly and inhale, taking your breath up one floor to your navel. Exhale.
          • Put your hands on your ribs and inhale, taking your breath up a second floor, to your chest. Exhale.
          • Put your hands on your face and inhale up to the attic � your throat, cheeks, and forehead. Feel your head fill with breath. Exhale and feel all your tension and worries leave your body and go out the elevator door.

      

      Swimming

      1. Know Water Safety
         Show that you know when and how to:
         • Select and wear a PFD (personal floating device)
         • Keep afloat using clothing and other flotation devices
         • Cooperate with someone who is trying to rescue you
         • Use good sense in cold water, in deep water, in a current, and in rough water
         • Thread water
      2. My Buddy and Me
         Swimming with a buddy is more fun than swimming alone, and it helps keep you safe. Create and practice a �buddy check call� so that you and your buddy know if either of you need help. Use it every time you swim.
      3. Like a Fish
         Learn to snorkel. Show that you can choose a mask that fits your face, put it on so it won�t fog, breathe through it, and clear the mask. Practice your snorkeling skills by swimming 25 yards along the surface parallel to the shore. Show that you can surface � dive, swim 15 feet underwater, resurface and clear your snorkel and mask.
      4. Go Swim!
         Show that you can swim by doing each of the following:
         • Glide six feet
         • Kick 25 yards
         • Swim the crawl 25 yards
         • Do two of these strokes for 50 yards: crawl, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, or breaststroke
      5. Helpful Swimmer
         Show that you can help another swimmer who:
         • Has a cramp
         • Is shivering with hypothermia
         • Has a sunburn or heat exhaustion
         • Is tired

                  Read the first aid section in the �How to stay safe� Chapter of your Junior Girl Scout Handbook for more information.

      6. Check it Off
         Make a water safety checklist that includes ways to avoid:
         • Underwater hazards
         • Falling through ice
         • Falling in water accidentally
         • Overestimating your swimming ability
         • Polluting the water that you swim in
         • Swift currents
      7. Underwater Swimmer
         Swim under the surface of the water. Show that you can do a surface dive, a deep dive, or a jump, and then swim underwater and bring up something from the bottom.
      8. Diver
         Perform two different dives from a low board, platform, or deck. First, be sure an adult who is present has checked the water depth and hazards, and they have said it is safe to dive.
      9. Going for the Gold!
         Get involved in a swimming competition.
         • Join a swim team to build your speed and endurance.
         • Learn about swimming stars and their records
         • Be able to follow the rules in competitive swimming for starting, turning, timing, and scoring.
      10. Water Moves
          Look at ways other living things move through the water. Watch for creatures that have tails that act as rudders, feet that paddle, or finds that flutter. Imitate animal actions in a water game you make up.

      

      Theater

      1  Make a Mask
          Create a mask to be used in a skit. We made masks for the Aesop fable skits the girls will perform. Have construction paper, glue sticks, glue, scissors, yarn, buttons, paint stir sticks, white paper, poster board, tape, etc. on hand.

      2  Character Traits
          Choose a character from a play you've read and show you understand that character by his or her personality, behavior or what others think of that character.

      3  Character Charades
          Act out different characters that are written on papers selected from a bowl, like skier, clock, elephant, detective, etc.

      4  Mirror Mimic
           Try to "mirror mimic" with someone else: one does the action, the other copies it in mirror image. Try making large circles, combing your hair, opening a door, dancing, etc.

      5  How You Say It
          Say "I did it" five times, using different emotions each time: pride, guilt, fear, happiness, surprise and horror.

      6  Mix It Up, Make It Up
           Design your own costumes and scenery for a performance.

      7  Changing Faces in Theater
          Visit a make-up counter in a store or at a theater and watch make-up being applied.  Use this fun sheet to teach the girls about stage directions!

      8   Belt It Out
           Practice being the right volume. While inhaling, your waist should expand; while exhaling your waist should deflate. Say "Ahhhh" while breathing correctly and incorrectly.

      9  Theater Around the World
           Learn about a style of theater from another part of the world. Draw or make a copy.

      10  See It Live!
           Attend a play or theatrical performance.

      

      Toymaker

      1. It�s Your Design
         Create a toy of your own design in one of the following categories: rolling toy, spinning toy, balancing toy, stuffed toy, mechanical toy, musical toy.
      2. Toys Around the World
         Find out about toys in other countries or in several cultures in the United States. Check out library books and Internet sites for information. Create a simple toy that you discovered.
      3. Toys Through History
         Investigate the history of toys. What were some of the earliest kinds of toys? What kinds of toys did your grandparents and great grandparents play with? If possible, visit a museum or historical society to see a collection of toys. What kinds of materials were they made from? Learn how to make one of these toys and make it.
      4. Make a Doll House
         Make a doll house for yourself or a younger child. Use wood, foam board, or heavy cardboard. You can make furniture from wood, clay, cardboard, plastic or papier-m�ch�. Decorate the walls and floor of your house with wallpaper, paint, or other materials.
      5. Make a Board Game
         Find out what makes a good board game by playing several different kinds. Then decide upon a theme for a game of your own. Decide how players will move, make up rules and create the board. Try your game out with friends and family.
      6. Challenge the Imagination
         Create a brainteaser game, toy, or puzzle. It could be a mechanical puzzle, a mathematical game, a string game, a computer-created puzzle, or a trivia game. Play it with family or friends.
      7. Design an Educational Game
         Many games help you learn while you are having fun. Create a game that helps someone learn something new.
      8. Toy Safety
         Talk to an adult about toy hazards. Do toy hazards check at home, at a nursery school, or at a day care center. Share your findings with adults and children and help develop a plan to eliminate toy hazards.
      9. Toy Recycling
         help collect toys and fix them up for kids who would benefit from them. You could help out with an existing toy drive in your community or start one in a group.
      10. Trash It!
          A �trash toy� is made from anything that might be thrown away. Ask your family to save some things they would usually toss out. Boxes, milk cartons, cans, egg trays, string, buttons, shells, and newspapers are just a few of the things you might use. Let your imagination run wild and see what kind of trash toy you can create. Will it be a set of musical instruments? A wheeled toy? Stilts? Share your toy with your group, troop, or others.
           

      10 Toy Hazards to Avoid Toys left on stairs. Toys with small parts for children under three. Toys for an older child in the hands of a younger child. Toys with sharp points or rough edges. Inflated or broken balloons for children under eight. Toys with heating elements for children under eight. Sports equipment without protective gear. Broken toys. Toys not played with properly (hitting, throwing, etc) Any toy used without sensible supervision.

      

      Traveler

      1. Stay Safe on the Road
         Staying safe is an important part of traveling. With your Girl Scout troop or your family, brainstorm a list of at least eight things you can do to be safe while you are in a new place. Your list might include things like always carrying change for a phone call or remembering not to pull out large sums of money in public.
      2. Promote a Place
         Send away for travel brochures and information on places you want to visit. You can often get information for free by going online or phoning a visitor�s bureau or chamber of commerce. Share your brochures with your troop or family. Do they want to go?
      3. Culturally Curious?
         Pick a country or culture, then make or learn about two of the following:
         • A traditional article of clothing
         • A puppet or toy related to a folk tale
         • A traditional craft or folk art
         • A musical instrument
         • A typical song or dance

      Share what you�ve made or learned with a group of younger children. Tell them about the county or culture, and show them how to make or do something similar.

      Document the Days
      Plan and take a trip that lasts a weekend or more. On your trip, keep a diary or log, collect postcards, take photographs, make a video or slide show, or make drawings of your travels. Share them with others when you return.

      4. Dream Vacation
         Create an itinerary for a week-long trip to a country you would like to visit. What is the country most well-known for? How will you get there? What famous sights will you want to see? How will you travel from place to place? What type of money is used in the country? Did finding out about the country make you want to visit it more? Share your dream vacation with a friend. Does she want to come, too?
      5. Who? What? Where? When? How?
         Pretend you are a travel agent or a tour director. Help one of the groups listed below plan a trip to your town or state. Include the transportation they�ll need to use, the places they will stay and visit, activities they can do once they get there, and how much you think the trip will cost.
         • A sixth-grade class, with four accompanying adults, who want to visit two historical sites in a weekend.
         • Two people who enjoy the out of doors and do not want to damage the environment or wasted fuel.
         • A Junior Girl Scout troop, including two girls in wheelchairs, who want to visit an amusement park in a nearby state.
      6. Careers in Travel
         Find out about two of the following careers: conference planner, hotel manager, pilot, flight attendant, train conductor, cruise director, or cruise ship captain. What education or training would you need for the career? What are the average salaries? What other requirements or skills are needed? Invite someone who has worked in one of these careers to talk with your troop. Share your information with others who might be interested in these career areas.
      7. Girl Scouts Far and Wide
         Talk with an older Girl Scout who has participated in a national or international wider opportunity. Find out how she applied and prepared for it, and what her experiences were.
      8. Entertaining and Alien
         Say a representative from a friendly distant planet is visiting the Earth for the first time and you have been chosen to be her host, and you will decide what she will see during the two-week visit. If you could take her anywhere on Earth, what would you take her to see? What are your reasons for h the sights and activities on your itinerary?
      9. Girl Scout Travel Spots
         Take a trip to a Girl Scout site: the Juliette Gordon Low National Center in Savannah, Georgia; the Girl Scout national headquarters in New York City; Camp Andr�e Clark in Briarcliff Manors, New York, or visit a Girl Scout sister in another city.

      

      United We Stand

      http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/insignia/online/junior/united_we_stand.asp  (click here for requirements)

      1. Show the colors

      2. Write on

      3. Express yourself

      4. Roots

      5. Pledge of Allegiance

      6. Sing out

      7. For which it stands

      8. Check it out

      9. Days gone by

      10. Lend a Hand

      

      Visual Arts

      1. Color Wise
         Find out about primary and secondary colors. Make a color wheel and explain it to others. What are complementary colors? Practice mixing colors to make new ones. Create a picture using all the colors on a color wheel and some of the new colors that you created.
      2. Color Your Mood
         Using color; create a picture that shows a feeling or emotion. You can try:
         • Happiness
         • Sadness
           Surprise
         • Joy
         • Calm
      3. Black and White
         Make a design or picture using only black and white. Look for examples of drawings, advertisements and photographs that are in black and white instead of color. Share some of these with others. See if you can figure out why the artist or photographer chose to use black and white instead of color.
      4. One Color, Many Shades
         You can make many shades of the same color. Look at something that is mostly one color. Notice that light and shadow can change the basic color into different shades. Make a picture of something that is mostly one color. Some examples are a hill full of trees that are many shades of green, buildings in a city that are many shades of brick red or gray, or snow on fields that are many shades of gray and white.
      5. Still Life
         Collect a variety of objects with unusual an interesting shapes, such as shells, rocks, or jewelry. Place them on a blank piece of paper and trace around them using a pencil or black ink pen. Remove the objects and complete your design, adding more black, white, or color
      6. Art Bridges
         Have you ever thought about art as a way to build bridges across cultures? Each country or culture has its own history and style of art. Find examples of artwork you like from other cultures and try to make an example of your own.
      7. Design It
         Look for design in everyday objects. Find different designs in nature (such as a spider web) and different designs that are made by people (such as a skyscraper). Make a drawing of one of the designs you see.
      8. On the Move
         Draw or paint a person, an animal, or an object in motion, perhaps a boat sailing or a dog running. What did you do to show movement?
      9. Tour It
         Visit one or more places where you can see many types of visual arts. You could visit a museum, an art exhibit, an art gallery, a gift shop, a department store, a card shop, an art collector�s home, an artist�s studio, or an advertising agency, or a graphic design studio. If possible, visit a place where you can see the artist at work.
      10. Put It In Perspective
          See how perspective works by looking at a few works of art that show things looking smaller in the distance. Then draw your own picture using the first rule of perspective: As two parallel lines move away from you � as in railway tracks or highways � the lines get closer and closer together. Eventually, the lines may touch at a point in the distance. After that point, you can�t see the lines any further.

      

      Walking for Fitness

      1. Warm Up
         Learn three stretching exercise to do before and after waling. Practice warming up before you walk, and cooling down after.
      2. Make A Plan
         Develop a personal walking program and follow it for three weeks. Each week, try to increase your speed and distance. Need help developing a realistic plan? Talk with a coach or a fitness instructor.
      3. Best Foot Forward
         Visit a store that sells walking shoes. Ask a sales person what to look for in a walking shoe. Compare several brands of shoes. Be able to explain which brand you would buy and why.
      4. Keep Track
         Make a list of interesting sites within walking distance of your troop meeting place, school, or home. With a family member, friend or Girl Scout troop, walk to at least two of these sites.
      5. Be Prepared!
         Create a simple first aid kit to take on walks. Learn how to care for sunburn, insect bites, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and blisters.
      6. Fast Food
         Plan and pack a well-balanced, easy-to-carry snack for an extra-long walk. Don�t forget to take along a filled water bottle.
      7. Weather It Well
         Put on a walker�s fashion show with your friends. Show that you would know the right ways to dress for the weather when you walk in cold or hot weather. Be sure to explain the importance of dressing in layers.
      8. Lend a Hand
         Take part in a weekend project to clean up a walkway or trail in or near your community.
         OR
         Help at a charity walk by cheerleading, passing out water or snacks, or giving directions.
      9. Add It Up
         Keep track of your car or bus trips for one week. Write down the mileage and the time it took to travel that distance. Could you have walked any of your trips instead of riding?
      10. Find the Way
          On a walk, use a street or road map to arrive at a new destination. Know which side of the road to walk on and how to safely walk in groups.

      

      Water Fun
      TO EARN THIS BADGE, YOU MUST COMPLETE ACTIVITY 1.

      1.        Safety First
       Show how to use a PFD (personal flotation device). Refer to the American Red Cross Web site www.redcross.org.

              �         Put it on, adjust it to fit, and fasten it securely.

              �         Jump into the water with a PFD on.

              �         Float and swim with a PFD on.

              �         Practice the HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Position) and the huddle position to keep warm.

      2.        Picture It
       Increase your awareness of different water habitats by doing three or more of these activities:

              �         Listen to the sounds of moving water by the ocean, along the shores of a lake, or by a swiftly funning stream.

              �         Watch waves in salt or fresh water.

              �         Watch a leaf float in running water.

              �         Smell the air near salt water, running water, or a swamp or bog.

              �         Look for signs of life on a beach walk.

              �         Feel a breeze while on the water or fly a kite along the shoreline.

              �         Watch a sunset or sunrise reflected in a large body of water.

              Find a way to express your feelings about your experience through the arts or participate in a Girl Scout�s Own ceremony that celebrates water as your theme.

      3.        A Balancing Act
       Show how to get in and out of a small craft safely. Keep the boat in trim (balance) as you:

              �         Load gear

              �         Stow things

              �         Sit down and stand up

              �         Move around and change places

               NOTE:  This can be done in a small boat, sailboat, canoe, or two-person kayak.

      4.        Get in the Swim of Things
       On a swimming trip to a pool, pond, or lake, show an adult how you can:

              �         Float on your back for one minute.

              �         Tread water for two minutes.

              �         Do two different swim strokes.

              �         Use your best stroke and swim 50 Yards.

              REMEMBER:  Use the buddy system at all times.

      5.        Water Games
        Make up and play a game in the water to show you understand and can use the buddy system.

      6.        A Sailor�s Life
       Do at least two of the following:

              �         Tie a fancy knot.

              �         Sail a model boat.

              �         Learn a song about the sea and sing it.

              �         Learn something about life on the water or under it.

      7.        Precious Water
       Brainstorm ways that you can conserve water. Also think of how not to add to water pollution in your community, or in an area that you are visiting with your family or group. Then, start the habit of being a clean water saver.

      8.        Look Closely
       Plan a discovery trip to a lake, stream, or salt-water environment. See how many exciting discoveries you can make about this aquatic habitat. Find out:

              �         What plants and animals live in the water and on the land nearby.

              �         Whether the water is warm or cold, clear or murky.

              �         What the bottom surface is like under the water.

      9.        Let the Games Begin
       With a friend or family member, attend a water event, such as a canoe or kayak race, swim meet, surfing competition, fishing derby, parade of sail, synchronized swimming event, or water polo game. Learn the rules of the event.

      10.     Jobs on the Water
       Tour a place where people go to have fun on the water, such as a marina, pool, cruise ship, party boat dock, or boat landing. Talk to someone who works there and find out what they do that helps others enjoy and be safe on the water.

      

      Water Wonders

      1.        It�s in a Cycle
       Water is the ultimate in recycling. Show your understanding of the water cycle. What happens to each step of  the cycle � evaporation, transpiration, condensation, and precipitation? Hint:  Don�t forget the role of the sun in providing energy.

      2.        The Water you Drink
       Find out where your drinking water comes from. Is it from an aquifer, spring, river, reservoir, or another source? What is done to the water to make it safe to drink?

      3.        Not Enough?
       Find out about an area of the country or world that has too little water. Learn why the area is so dry, how the people who live there are affected, and what is being done about the problem?

      4.        Life Underwater
       Visit a place like an aquarium, fish hatchery, zoo, or pet store and look closely at the aquatic animals. Find three different animals that live all or part of their lives underwater � like fish, frogs, turtles, snails, sea lions, or beavers � and learn how their adaptations allow them to live in water.

             �         How do they move?

             �         How do they breathe?

             �         How do they protect themselves?

      5.        Water Food Chain
       Find out about a water ecosystem�s food chain by doing one of the following in a body of fresh water or salt water.

             �         Drag a plankton net in the water and observe what you capture, using a magnifying glass or a microscope.

             �         Take a bottom sample from a marsh. Place it in a white dish or pan. Look for signs of life.

             �         Look under rocks, in a pool, in a stream, or in a tide pool. What do you see?

              In each case, find out what would make a food chain that would include the animals you observed. Would you have a place in such a food chain?

      6. A Balanced Life
          Set up a fresh- or salt-water aquarium. Balance the numbers and kinds of living things with a healthy food and water supply.
      
      7.        Water Work
              Visit a place where water has been put to work, such as a sewage- or water-treatment plant, an irrigation control center, a mining operation, a power plant, a fish hatchery, or a physical therapy center. Find out where the water comes from, how it is used, and what happens to it afterwards. What kinds of jobs can you observe at the facility? What things do the people do? How did they lean how to do them?

      8.        Fixing It Up
       Help with a project to improve a water-related habitat. You might participate in a shoreline clean-up, do plantings to filter water, fill gabions (a wire basket that holds rocks) along banks to prevent stream erosion, or construct and put up birdhouses or nesting platforms. The water�s the limit!

      9.        Just Add Salt
       Find out how salt water and fresh water are different. Do at least two experiments to find out which:

              �         Boils first

              �         Freezes first

             �         Yields crystal

             �         Makes better soapsuds

             �         Makes floating easier

              **Recipe for Salt Water � Mix 1 cup of water with 1 tablespoon of salt until the salt is completely dissolved, or dip a  bucket in the ocean!

      10.     Water Comparisons
        Conduct a water taste test with others. Taste several different kinds of water (tap water and different brands of bottled spring and mineral water) and rate each on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 is the best tasting). What did you find?

      

      Weather Watch

      1.        Weather Maps
        Learn to read a weather map printed in a newspaper. Look for places where it�s raining, or places where it�s hot or cold. Predict the weather in your area using the maps and information given.

      2.        Visit a Weather Station
       Visit a weather station, or interview a weather reporter or meteorologist about weather forecasting. Find out what kinds of equipment are used to watch and predict weather, why weather stations are useful, how the data about weather are interpreted, and how accurate weather predictions usually are. 

      3.        Become a Cloud Watcher
       Pay special attention to clouds for a week. Find out what kinds of clouds you are watching and what kinds of weather usually go with them. Then, make a cloud chart by drawing pictures or gluing magazine photos of cloud types on a piece of paper. Label each type of cloud (such as cirrus, cumulus, nimbus, and stratus) and use your chart to help predict the weather for a week. How accurate were you?

      4.        Build a Weather Instrument
       Find directions for building an instrument that helps you predict the weather, such as an hygrometer (measures changes in humidity), a barometer (see Junior Girl Scout Badge Book), an anemometer (measures wind speed), or an alcohol thermometer (measures temperatures). Then build it. 

      5.        Weather Smarts
       Find out about weather-related emergencies that your community might face, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, or lightning storms. Create a family plan for each emergency situation that could occur in your area. Include an emergency number to call for local or state weather reports. Then do one thing that will help your family be better prepared for a weather emergency.

      6.        Weather Trends
       What�s all the talk about global warming, La Ni�a, El Ni�o, and holes in the ozone? Find out more about one of these major weather trends. How is it affecting the climate and quality of life in your part of the world? What, if anything, can you or your community do to learn to live with the changes in weather cycles?

      7.        Weather Games
       Make a game about weather. You can make a card or board game, a word game, or an active game. Share this with others.

      8.        Help Others Be Weather-Prepared
       Help to run a weather-safety booth at a community event. You can make posters or distribute safety tips for weather emergencies common to your area. At your booth, include some hands-on learning for kids.  OR  
       Help an older neighbor prepare a kit for use in a weather emergency. 

      9.        Paper Spirals and Frontal Systems
       How do you make a paper spiral spin without blowing on it? Cut a spiral out of paper using the pattern on page 219 of the  Junior Girl Scout Badge Book.  Put a small hole through the center using a large needle. Tie a knot in a 6- to 8-inch-long piece of string and thread it through the hole. *Hold the spiral very still above a lamp. Be patient and wait a few minutes. What does the spiral do? Do you know why? A front has come through. When two air masses of different temperatures meet, the boundary between them is called a front. The colder air sinks and the warmer air rises. This movement often causes rainy weather storms.

      10.     Make Your Own Weather
       With the help of an adult, try making your own rain cloud.

      What You Need:

      �         Very hot (but not boiling) water

      �         A large piece of plastic wrap

      �         Matches

      �         Ice cubes

      �         A clear liter plastic bottle cut down to be about 6 � 8 inches tall

      What You Do:

      1. Cut a piece of plastic wrap large enough to drape over the top of the bottle.

      2. Put several pieces of ice on the plastic wrap and set it aside.

      3. Fill the bottle 1/3 full with the hot water.

      4. Light a match and throw it into the bottle.

      5. Quickly place the plastic wrap with ice on top of the bottle.

      6. Wait and watch to see a rain cloud appear.

      What is the cloud that is formed? It isn�t smoke. It�s water droplets forming on the smoke particles. The water vapor rises from the hot water and when it gets to the cool air near the ice, the vapor cools and begins to sink, condensing into water droplets. This forms a cloud. Droplets that form on the underside of the plastic may become so heavy that they fall as rain.

       

      Wildlife

       1.        Wildlife Symbol Party
               Every state in the USA has a state bird, flower, and tree to represent it. Which were chosen by your state? Why? Have a wildlife symbols �party� at which each person chooses an animal or plant that best represents her. Everybody then takes turns trying to figure out why the other person chose her symbol.

       2.        It�s All in the Details
              Field scientists often sketch, draw, or photograph the plants and animals they study. Try your hand at drawing or taking pictures of a plant or an animal you can easily observe. Use your pencil or camera to capture details, such as the shape of a flower, the color of a bird�s eye, or the design on a butterfly�s wing.

       3.        Creature Feature
              All birds have a beak, but the shape and size of it depends on what the bird eats. For each of the following, choose something from your kitchen or from a toolbox that best matches how each bird uses its beak as a tool to eat its food.

       

      �         Hawk (tears meat)

      �         Flamingo (strains water for tiny creatures)

      �         Hummingbird (drinks nectar from long flowers)

      �         Woodpecker (picks larvae hiding under tree bark)

      �         Goldfinch (cracks seeds)

       4.        We Are Family
              Scientists group all organisms (living things) according to characteristics that they share. Pick two of the wildlife groups listed here and learn what characteristics all of its members share:  amphibians, birds, fish, insects, mammals, reptiles, plants.

       5.        Touch-Me-Not!
              Have you ever touched poison ivy or seen a scorpion use its stinger? If so, you know firsthand how plants and animals use poison to protect themselves or catch a meal. These poisons can hurt or even kill people. Learn to identify one or two poisonous plants or animals in your area. Where are you likely to run into them? What should you do if you touch, or a bitten by, one of them?

       6.        Staying Alive
              Find two animals or plants in your state or region that are considered endangered (in danger of dying out). Why are they endangered? What�s being done to protect them? Participate in a project that helps wildlife in your community.

      7.        Take a Closer Look
       People use different tools to help them get a closer look at plants and animals. Use two of the following items to see a plant or animal up close:  binoculars, magnifying lens, microscope, spotting scope, zoom camera.

       8.        Animal Watcher
              Scientists and nature lovers use field markings (special patterns, marks, or shapes found on the animal�s body), behaviors, and the song or call of that animal to identify animals and birds. Use these three things to identify at least three kinds of birds or other animals in your neighborhood.

      9.        Nature�s Remedies
      Many medicines, home remedies, and beauty aids are made with plants. Find out the healthful properties of three of the following:  aloe, ginger, chamomile, peppermint, ginseng, hot pepper, garlic, coriander, foxglove, and chocolate. Ask a librarian, a pharmacist, or someone at a health food store, or go online if you need help.

       10.     How Was Your Day?
              Field biologists learn a lot about animals by observing them doing everyday things, such as eating. Pick a wild animal that you can easily observe in your backyard, a neighborhood park, a zoo, an aquarium, or a wildlife preserve. Watch the animal for a while to try to discover three of the following:  what it likes to eat, where it spends most of its time, how it gets around, how it keeps clean, how it communicates, and how it cares for its young.

      

      Winter Sports

      1.        Material Girl!
      Winter fun can make you sweat! Which fabrics will keep you warm and dry? Try this experiment to find out  Take one wool sock and one cotton one. Soak them both in water and then wring out the water. Hang the socks to dry. After one hour, check on your socks. Which feels drier? Which sock would you rather wear in the cold? Got something made out of a wonder-wicking fabric? Repeat the experiment using that item, too.

       2.        Get Ready for Skiing or Snowboarding
              Prepare for skiing before you hit the trail or slopes! Learn about the difference between snowboarding and cross-country or downhill skiing. Learn how to clip into and out of bindings. Compare different types of equipment. Find out what works best for you. Learn at least two different exercises to help you get ready for using those ski and snowboarding muscles!

       3.        On the Slopes
              On the slopes, learn how to turn, stop, walk uphill on your skis, and recover from a fall. Learn how to safely and properly get on and off a ski lift. Learn how to get back into your bindings if your boots pop out. Don�t forget:  Warm up your muscles first so they are ready to ski. Remember � never ski alone.

       4.        Distance Traveling
              People have used cross-country skis, snowshoes, and sleds to travel long distances in snowy climates. Use a winter form of transportation to follow a marked trail or path. Learn how to use the equipment, including how to stop and start. Travel with a well-trained adult and winter survival gear.

       5.        In-Line Skating
              Downhill and cross-country skiers, speed skaters, figure skaters, and hockey players train all year round. You can, too. In-line skating uses and develops the same muscles used for winter sports! First, learn about in-line skating safety gear that is necessary to wear � helmets, wrist guards, kneepads, and elbow pads. Next, learn the basic skills of in-line skating (how to start, stop, turn, and most important, how to fall and get back up). Practice for at least one-half hour.

       6.        Don�t Forget Your Sled!
              Plan a sledding outing with a group. Learn what makes a good sled hill and what is involved in safe sledding, including what protective gear to wear. Find out about the different types of sleds available and which ones are the safest. Learn to steer, slow down, and stop.

       7.        First Aid for Cold
              Learn how to recognize the signs of wintertime health hazards, such as windburn, hypothermia, and frostbite. Learn what to do about each.

       8.        The Winter Olympics
              Visit the library or the United States Olympic Committee Web site www.usoc.org to find out about one of the following sports:

              �         Bobsled

              �         Curling

              �         Luge

              �         Speed skating

              �         Ski jumping

              �         Biathlon

       9.  Balance, Coordination, and Agility
              �         Practice these moves on ice skates, or do them wearing in-line or roller skates on a smooth surface. Remember to wear protective gear and to skate with a buddy.

              �         Glide while balancing on one foot. Alternate balancing on your right foot, then your left. See how far you can glide while balancing.

              �         Skate backwards.

              �         Cross over. Crossing one skate over the other lets you turn quickly. Start skating slowly. Pick up your right skate and take a giant step over and across your left skate.

              �         Skate an obstacle course. Set up several cones or plastic soda bottles filled with sand. Skate around these as quickly as you can. Try crossing over or even skating on one foot.

       10.  Ice Hockey Anyone?
              If you are attracted to the ice, learn the basics of ice hockey and become a team player. Discuss the importance of playing fair. Learn why protective gear is so important. If possible, attend a women�s ice hockey game.

      

      Women's Stories

      http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/insignia/online/junior/womens_stories.asp (click here for requirements)

      1. Read all about it

      2. Talk about

      3. Display it

      4. In your own family

      5. Oral history

      6. Creative control

      7. A New Game

      8. Moments in history

      9. Women in the news

      10. Women's issues

      

      World in My Community

      http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/insignia/online/junior/world_in_my_community.asp (click here for requirements)

      1. Map it out

      2. What's in a name

      3. Getting around

      4. Celebrate

      5. Let's dine out

      6. Welcome wagon

      7. Let's get together

      8. Culture sleuth

      

      World Neighbors 

      1. Global Games

      Play one new game from another country. Where can you find games that children play around the world? One way is to ask someone whose relatives came from another country. Or look through books like Games for Girl Scouts, look on the Internet, or check out information at your local library.

      2. The Love of Language

                Choose two languages, other than your own, and for each one learn:

      • To count to ten
      • To say "hello"
      • To say "goodbye"
      • To say "thank you"
      • To say "you�re welcome"
      3. Traditions

      Find out how one of your favorite holidays is celebrated in another country. What�s the same? What�s different? Include a different tradition in you next celebration of the holiday.

      4. World Hunger

      Remember a time when you felt hungry. How did it feel? About one billion people in the world are always hungry. Many of these people are children. Try to imagine what it is like to eat just one cup of boiled rice and some water � or even less � all day. Read in newspapers, magazines, or books about some countries where many of the people are hungry. Talk with your troop, group, or friends about world hunger. Think of some ways you can help the hungry, either at home or abroad, and follow through on one idea.

      5. The World Next Door

      Your neighbors (or their ancestors) probably came from all over the world. Find out about groups of people who came to your town, city, or state from different parts of the world. What countries are represented? Why did they come? What social or economic contributions have these people made to your community?

      6. Without a Home

      Many people in the world do not have a home. A lot of these people live in the United States. With your Girl Scout troop or a group of friends, think of some ways you could help the homeless.

      7. There�s No Place Like Home

      Different countries have different climates, as well as different local materials to build with. What do houses in another country look like? Pick another country and find out:

      • What are the houses made of?
      • How big or small are they?
      • Why are they made the way they are?
      8. It�s a Small World

      Learn more about the history, customs, and heritage of an ethnic group different from your own that is represented in your community.

      9. Kids Helping Kids

      Find out about an organization that helps kids in other countries. Not sure of where to start? UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity International, and Save the Children are just three of them. Find out what you and your friends can do to help one of these organizations. Is there a local project or event you can help with? (Remember: As a Girl Scout you cannot raise money for another organization. But you can help out in other ways.)

      10. Clothing All Over the World

      Find out about the typical or traditional type of clothing that is worn by girls and women in several different countries.

       

      

      Write All about It

      1.        Write from the Start
                  Writers watch and record what they see and hear in the world.  And the more they practice writing, the better they become. Start your own writer�s notebook.  For one week, write at least five minutes every day.  Record conversations, ideas, and images that surround you.  You can describe people you see, places you go, and events that happen. 

      2.       Story Starters
          Create three different story starters � opening lines of a story, play, or poem that help writers get going.  Then, pick one of the story starters and continue!  Write for 15 minutes or more.  Can�t think of any of your own?  Try one of these:
      �         Aisha and her best friend hadn�t spoken for days�
      �         �Did you see what Shawna brought to school?� Kim asked Johanna as the ran to their next class�
      �         She was home alone when she heard a strange tapping at her window�

      3.       Memoirs Are Memories
          Memoirs are people�s written memories of their lives.  Try your hand at writing a memoir.  Think about an event that meant a great deal to you.  It can be something that happened a long time ago, or last week.  Use your words to capture the sounds and smells of the event, as well as what happened.  What characters (people or animals) were involved?  Having trouble getting started?  Try starting with �The day I�� or �How I�� or �When I was ___ years old�� Even �I remember�� will get you started.

      4.       How to How-To
          How-to writing explains how to do something.  Pick a skill or hobby you are good at and write instructions that tell someone else how to do it.  It can be a cooking recipe, how to operate a video player, how to fold your sleeping bag � anything!  Give your how-to to a friend and ask her to follow your instructions.  Did you forget anything important?

      5.       True Fiction
          Fiction is writing that comes from your imagination.  Many fiction writers use a real event as a starting point then make up the rest. Use these hints to write your own story:
          �         Figure out what things happen in your story (this is called the plot). Your story needs to have a beginning, middle, and end. Usually the actions build to a climax (the high point of a story), which is usually near the end.
          �         Before you start writing your story, describe your main characters in a notebook. Jot down ideas or make sketches of them. Include details so that your characters seem different from each other. (Remember, characters can be animals, too.) When you start to write your story, look at your descriptions to help you figure out what a character might do or say.
          �         Describe your setting. Does your story take place on a farm? In a city? On a beach?
          �         Make your story have a point. Why should someone bother to read it? Will the characters change? Will they learn something important?

      6.        Group Writing For Laughs
           With a group of friends, write a fun story. The first person writes down one sentence and shows it to the second person. That person writes one sentence and shares only that sentence with a third person. When everyone has had a turn, read the whole story aloud.

      7.        Play It Out!
           Playwriting takes special skills. Not only do you write down the words the characters will speak, but you also have to remember to describe the people�s actions! Look at a play or script to learn about the format for playwriting. Then, write a short play using that form as a guide. Perform your play or read it aloud, asking friends to play each part.

      8.        Author! Author!
           Some writers write ads, news stories, reports for companies, even handbooks for Girl Scouts! Try to talk to writers in your community about their work. What type of training did they have? What is their typical day like? How much are they paid? What do they like least about their writing jobs? What do they like most?

      9.        A Pocket Full of Poems
           Free verse or rhymed poetry. Haiku or concrete poetry. Limericks or sonnets. There are many different kinds of poems. Find out how to write three different types of poems. Then pick one and try your hand at two or three examples.

      10.     Good News
          To write a news article, reporters must cover the �five W�s�:  Who, What, When, Where and Why. Some would also add �How.�  Practice using the five W�s to write a news story about something that�s happening in your community or Girl Scout troop. If you like, see if your local newspaper will publish your story.

      
      
      Yarn and Fabric Arts

      1. Dye It
         Use dyes or tints to decorate a small object like a scarf, T-shirt, or pillowcase.
      2. Weave On
         Learn how to weave and do one of the following: Weave something on a cardboard loom; weave a tapestry on a cardboard or other type of loom; make and thread a simple loom (such as back-strap or flat frame), then demonstrate how to use it and weave something on it; make a belt with finger weaving, tube weaving, or some other type of narrow weaving; create a basket in a woven, coil, braided, or twining technique.
      3. Famous Fabric Masterpieces
         Find examples of fabric arts displayed in a museum in your area or in a virtual museum online.
      4. Knots
         Learn how to make the following knots:

      • Overhand
      • Square
      • Granny
      • Half hitch
      • Sheepshank
      • Clove hitch

      5. Knot Project
         Do a simple macram� project: belt, plant hanger, bookmark, or place mat.
      6. Knit On
         In knitting, learn how to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off. Make a scarf, cap, afghan square, or other small item.
      7. Crochet On
         In crocheting, learn to start a chain, single crochet, double crochet, tie off, or end. Crochet a scarf, cap, afghan square, or other small item.
      8. A Stitch in Time
         Learn how to do each of the following embroidery stitches:

      • Chain stitch
      • Cross stitch
      • Satin stitch
      • French knot
      • Blanket stitch
      • Back Stitch

               Complete a small embroidery project.

      9. Fabrics of the Past
         Find out about a fabric art that was traditionally done by women in earlier times.
      10. Fabrics �Round the World
          Find out about fabric arts that are traditional to a particular culture or country.

      
      

      Your Outdoor Surroundings
      Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

      1. What Would I Need If..
         Find out about the best fabrics and products for different types of weather conditions. Find out about the various types of equipment used in camping, trekking and traveling. Visit an outdoor store, look through an outdoor catalog, or visit an outdoor equipment company�s Web site.
      2. Pack It Up
         Plan a trip to an imaginary site. What equipment would you absolutely need to bring to survive? What would you bring to make your travels more comfortable?
      3. What Does Minimal Impact Mean?
         What is the definition of minimal impact? Read about it in the "Let�s Get Outdoors" chapter of you Junior Girl Scout Handbook. How could you practice this on one type of outdoor trip, like backpacking, troop camping, a day trip, or a trip to a park?
      4. To Protect the Environment
         In a troop, group, or with other girls, brainstorm a list of ways you can help the environment. Look in your Junior Girl Scout Handbook for ideas.
      5. An Outdoor Hobby
         Learn about an outdoor activity that can become a lifelong hobby. You could learn to ski or hike, do outdoor photography, try orienteering, backpacking, or bird-watching. Find someone who is an expert in the hobby to teach you the basics.
      6. Classifying Outdoor Objects: the Artist and the Scientist   
         Art and science are often related when you are outdoors. Look around a park, backyard, or other outdoor space and find a number of Different objects.
         Then use the following list of words to describe how each object looks:

      • Shape � circular, square, oval, cone-shaped
      • Size � inches, feet, meters, centimeters
      • Texture � rough, smooth, slick, gritty
      • Directions � right, left, up, down, in the middle, bottom left
      • In relation to � parallel to, horizontal to, smaller than, wider than
      • Color � shaded, intense, lighter, darker

      7. An Outdoor Career
         Learn about a career that is spent mostly outdoors. Find a woman who is working in that career. Invite her to speak with your troop, friend, or family. Or see if you can visit her at work. Don�t know anyone who works outdoors? Check out the "Just for Girls" section of the Girl Scouts Web site.
      8. What Do You See? (Do this activity with a group.)

      1. Each person collects an assortment of natural objects that can be held in the hand. For example, a pine cone, a shell, a feather, a leaf, a rock, a twig or a flower. Each person does not show her objects to anyone else. Each person also has a pad and a pencil and chooses a partner.
      2. Partners sit back-to-back � one is the artist and one is the scientist. The scientist holds one of her objects and describes it to the artist without saying what the object is. The artist tries to draw the object from the scientist�s description.
      3. Compare the drawing with the object. How well was the object described? How accurate was the drawing?

      9. Take a Nature Hike!
         There are tons of hikes you can take! Try a color-palette hike where you look for as many colors a you can while you hike. Or hike to find shapes in nature. At night, go for a spider-eye hike where you shine your flashlight beam parallel to the ground in grassy places and look for those red spider eyes.

      10. Outdoor Fun and Games
          Collect different outdoor games to play with other Girl Scouts or friends and family. Plan an "Outdoor Fun and Games Day" in which each person gets a chance to lead some of the games and play in others. Create wild and wacky prizes and have healthy snacks on hand to keep your energy up.

      

      "Our Own Troops" Badge

      As a troop, you can create your own troop's badge. You can name the badge, come up with the activities needed, and design what the badge will look like. This badge becomes special for your troop.
      What Do You Do?

      1. Check that the subject of your new badge is not the same as that of any other Junior Girl Scout badge.
      2. Make sure that the topic you've chosen is in keeping with the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
      3. Find out if the topic you want to explore can support at least eight different activities. Even though only six are necessary, you need at least eight activities so girls can find activities to fit their own talents, abilities, and interests.
      4. Make sure all the girls in your troop want to do the badge.

      How Do You Create Your Activities?
      With other girls in your troop and your leader, brainstorm a list of possible activities. Then look over your list. Ask each other:

      • Are the activities safe?
      • Are the activities original? They should not repeat ones in other badges.
      • Can all the girls in the troop do the activities? If not, can the activities be altered so all the girls can do them?
      • Are there people in the community who can help with the activities?
      • Are the activities fun and interesting?
      • Are there enough options so that everyone�s interests and talents can be explored?
      • Are the activities free or easily affordable?
      • Are the activities challenging enough to be interesting?
      • Will all the girls have enough time to complete them?
      • Do the activities show respect for all kinds of people?
      • Will the girls learn or do something new?
      • Is the community service activity included?

      Once you can answer �yes� to all these questions, you�re ready to design your badge!
      
      Then What Happens?
      Your Girl Scout Council must approve your badge topic. After your troop chooses a topic and designs the badge, your leader sends a copy to the council. Some councils may ask to see the activities you want to do. Once you�re �Our Own Troop�s� badge is approved, have fun doing it!

      

      "Our Own Council's" Badge

      The �Our Own Council Badge�
      An �Our Own Council�s� Badge reflects a special quality or resource in your community. Your leader can find out from your Girl Scout council office if it has its own badge. If not, consider creating one and recommending it to your council.
      
      Topics for an �Our Own Council�s� Badge would take advantage of something unique located in your council�s area, like a science museum, a space center, or an historical or geographical site.
      
      An �Our Own Council�s� Badge is different from a participation patch you might get for attending a council event like a skating party, fitness walk, or holiday celebration. An �Our Own Council�s� Badge should follow the guidelines of an �Our Own Troop�s� Badge, but should be broader in scope and opportunities so that all girls in your council can earn it.

       

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