Girl Scout Badges Program Details

Outdoor Art Maker

Explore the inspiring and artistic qualities of nature. Scouts learn the art of observation with “Leave No Trace” principles, complete a mystery natural sound game, and craft an outdoor inspired art piece. An all outdoor on-site Gardens art hunt is included with a found object “flat lay” photo activity. Learn and Earn: Daisy Outdoor Artmaker badge

Eco Learner

Foster a sense of stewardship for our changing planet. Scouts prepare for a green day out with an “Essentials” race. A guided Gardens walk looks closer at the nature beneath your feet and a trash or treasure activity teaches eco-mindfulness. Scouts plant a native sunflower to take home. An all outdoor on-site walk and nature circle activity are included. Learn and Earn: Daisy Eco Learner badge

Daisy Shapes in Nature

Brush up on STEAM skills exploring the many shapes in the natural world. Join a Gardens search for shapes and patterns that make “ordinary” objects like bee hives, spider webs, and flowers extraordinary for survival. Investigate a working pattern in a hands-on string craft designed to challenge scouts even further. An original adaptation drawing is included. Learn and Earn: Daisy Shapes in Nature badge

Spring Daisy Flower Tour

Meet Daisy’s spring flower friends in the Gardens. Planting, growth requirements, and the importance of bees are discovered while the “bee waggle dance” is practiced. Scouts will plant their own Plant Pal to take home. An all outdoor on-site flower friend hunt is included. Learn and Earn: Watering Can award, Daisy Responsible for What I Say and Do and Use Resources Wisely petals

NEW Portraits and Palettes

Dive into the art and design of Old Westbury House on this house and garden tour! Discover family portraits and the Phipps family’s art collection, unraveling the secrets of the elements of art and image composition. Head to the gardens for a burst of inspiration, sketching, and painting friends amidst nature. Carry your newfound skills and creations with you! Learn and Earn: Brownie Art and Design Badge

NEW My Family Story

Discover the Phipps family of Old Westbury House, exploring their stories and drawing parallels to your own family. Tour the house, examining family heirlooms and the reflection of their life. Participate in activities like building your family story tree and creating your own family crest inspired by the Phipps family crest and your family’s traditions and roots. Learn and Earn: Brownie My Family Story badge

Outdoor Art Creator

Get inspired by nature and its beauty in our seasonal Gardens! An outdoor detective walk leads scouts on a creative journey for their feet- in a nature dance game, for their hands- with a clay nature necklace craft, and for their tastebuds- in a mini herb garden take-home planting. A macro drawing activity is included. Learn and Earn: Brownie Outdoor Art Creator badge

Outdoor Adventurer

Are you ready for an adventure? Five senses are the guide when exploring the outdoors in a whole new way. Sniff and tell to create a personal scent diary and, later, buddy up for outdoor relay team challenge. Scouts plant a wildlife-friendly Zinnia flower to take home. An all outdoor on-site walk and camp knots lesson are included. Learn and Earn: Brownie Outdoor Adventurer badge

Brownie Shapes in Nature

Shape up your STEAM skills and add to the fun as we discover hidden shapes in our environment. Scavenge the Gardens searching for different categories within nature and, later, capture those elements in a word cloud. Use your findings to work individually designing a leaf tessellation and then together as a troop to craft and play giant spiderweb hopscotch. An all outdoor on-site walk and take-home Citizen Science bird watch activity are included. Learn and Earn: Brownie Shapes in Nature badge

Bugs

Join a bug hunt! Stroll the Gardens identifying local species through bug basics like body types and habitats. Beneficial bugs for pollination, pest control and environmental survival will be discovered in action. An all outdoor on-site bee buzzer craft activity is included. Learn and Earn: Brownie Bugs badge*

Available May through mid-October

Senses

Scouts experience nature through the five senses. A mystery fragrance guess game, natural sound match, and outdoor texture hunt keeps scouts engaged. The science of taste is discussed and a rainbow of colored blooms will be observed in our flower beds. An all outdoor on-site sensory Gardens checklist activity is included. Learn and Earn: Brownie Senses badge

NEW Amazing Architecture

Step into the world of architecture in our house tour of Old Westbury House, spotlighting art and design. Learn about George Crawley, the architect, and uncover the secrets of home design. From landscapes to rooms and art, design is woven into every corner. You will channel your inner architect, creating a home inspired by Old Westbury House, playing with artistic elements, and letting your creativity shine! Learn and Earn: Junior Art and Design Badge

Outdoor Art Explorer

Explore nature inspired outdoor art concepts within the current maker movement. Get impressed with a clay nature necklace craft and practice your micro and macro photo skills in our flower beds. Chat art teamwork with a floral designer in a 100% woman owned small business and learn about community based guerilla gardening. An all outdoor on-site walk and a troop led “round” song activity are included. Learn and Earn: Junior Outdoor Art Explorer badge

Individual or “troop camera” required for this badge

Junior Shapes in Nature

Count on your STEAM skills to get outdoors and find the most beautiful shapes in the Gardens. From symmetrical elements to fractals and Fibonacci sequences, the orderly organization of nature is astounding. Scouts complete a backwards bilateral symmetry drawing, seek out natural sequences in our landscape, and circle back around with concentric designs. An all outdoor on-site walk and Fibonacci flower activity are included. Learn and Earn: Junior Shapes in Nature badge

Drawing

Get outside to breathe the “plein air”! Immerse yourself in the outdoors to observe and gain artist’s perspective amongst seasonal flowers. Practice the art of the sketch with a botanical and a reflective drawing. An all outdoor on-site landscape drawing and portfolio activity is included. Learn and Earn: Junior Drawing badge

Gardener

Explore the world of gardening at Old Westbury Gardens! Scouts get hands-on with a personal soil experiment, learn about hardy plants while discovering surprising OWG gardens, and challenge career stereotypes along the way. An all outdoor on-site hardy plant scavenger hunt activity is included. Learn and Earn: Junior Gardener badge

Flowers

Canvas the Gardens in an all outdoor tour discussing flower basics like annuals, perennials, bulbs, growth conditions and the importance of flowers in daily life. A variety of seasonal flowers are highlighted with a focus on sensory flowers and their value in horticultural therapy. Secret flower message/ floriography activity is included. Learn and Earn: Junior Flowers badge

Animal Habitats

Soak in the season with the beauty of the outdoors while identifying native wildlife species like birds, fox, rabbits, and more along our Lake Trail. Endangered habitat preservation and the importance of people’s role in environmental sustainability is emphasized, particularly in relation to local LI species. Environmental researcher and food chain competition game activities are included.

Learn and Earn: Junior Animal Habitats badge

Playing the Past

Time travel to early 1900’s Long Island for a fully immersive experience of the life and times of Peggie Phipps and the Phipps family. This outdoor tour challenges scouts to see the world through Peggie’s eyes and ears hearing stories of family traditions, playing a multitude of games of the past and other historic fun. Paper doll fashion design activity in included.

Learn and Earn: Junior Playing the Past badge

NEW Culinary History

Explore early 1900s cooking in Old Westbury House’s service wing. Discover the roles of culinary staff, trace modern food roots in history, and understand the impact of transportation and seasons on eating habits. Enjoy culinary games and create a historic cookbook with recipes from the past. Learn and Earn: Cadette New Cuisines Badge

Outdoor Art Apprentice

Gain artistic perspective while venturing out to gather found materials for original art in the Gardens. Discover land artist Andy Goldsworthy and practice observation with pattern and texture photography. Collect natural items to build an ephemeral wildlife habitat and test its endurance against the elements. Scouts craft a take-home clay jewelry bowl from their findings. An all outdoor on-site walk and nature play list game are included. Learn and Earn: Cadette Outdoor Art Apprentice badge

Individual or “troop camera” required for this badge

Trees

Trees connect every aspect of our everyday lives. Discover key characteristics to identify local trees. Complete a tree product guess game and learn the basics of tree biology and dendrochronology. An all outdoor on-site tree identification activity is included. Learn and Earn: Cadette Trees badge

Animal Helpers

Discover helpful animal heroes and their connection to people and the environment. Scouts complete a mix and match animal jobs game, discuss emotional assistance animals as well as the pros and cons of training them, and conduct a rapid fire pet owner interview. An all outdoor on-site “Take Paws” interdependence activity is included. Learn and Earn: Cadette Animal Helpers badge

Outdoor Art Expert

Look to the land as a resource for outdoor art inspiration. Take a Gardens sculpture stroll to see artwork in a natural setting and practice perspective capturing photos along the way. Study the Rose Garden with its maze-like style and try your hand at designing an original parterre garden for meditation. Scouts create an upcycled treasure/ not trash paper mosaic piece. An all outdoor on-site walk and round song activity are included. Learn and Earn: Senior Outdoor Art Expert badge

Individual or “troop camera” required for this badge

Traveler

Get inspired to visit your dream destination! Scouts plan and prepare with virtual language lessons, create a personalized travel board, and find ways to be budget minded. A staycation activity helps troops envision their own town with a visitor’s eye. Scouts must bring their own device to complete an all outdoor on-site team photo tour activity is included. Learn and Earn: Senior Traveler badge