So you’re stuck at home, and suddenly regretting all those times you begged your parents to skip school. Maybe you’ve been staring outside your window, yearning for the great outdoors, or maybe you’ve just been missing a little bit of Girl Scout sisterhood.
Don’t fret! You may be social distancing, but Girl Scouts is not cancelled! You can be a Girl Scout anywhere, even from at home. There are plenty of things you can do to keep your Girl Scout spirits high, and we collected some of them for you here!
Patch Programs Exclusive to GCNWI!
Looking for something fun to do while on a break? Check out our GSGCNWI patch programs! Many of these can be done from home including the Barilla Girl Scout Food Camp, Girl Security, Global Action Award, and MORE! All patches can be purchased on our shop website and mailed directly to you—and get free shipping with no minimum through March 31!
Explore the Outdoors in Your Own Backyard
Cross off 15 outdoorsy tasks from this list—like fort building, learning about springtime flowers, playing with a pet outside, and so much more—to earn the BackyardFunChallenge! Make sure to always follow the Safety Activity Checkpoints when doing the challenges, and remember to wash or sanitize your hands after being outside.
Download the activity checklist! [PDF]
Tips on Hosting a Virtual Girl Scout Troop Meeting
While we can’t be in-person, keep your Girl Scout troop connected through online meetings to keep girls engaged with one another, while keeping safe. Here are some tips on how to run a productive, fun and engaging online meeting.
- Choose a virtual platform: There are several different virtual tools you can use to host an online meeting. Here are several suggestions to help you.
- Keep Girls Connected: Designate the first 10 minutes to have girls share what they’ve been up to and how they are feeling. This will keep girls socialized and engaged with one another.
- Prepare: Create an agenda and a purpose for your meeting with the girls. Ask each parent to complete the Girl Scout internet safety pledge.
- Make it Girl-led: Have girls choose a topic they are interested in discussing or learning about and create a simple action plan.
- Use Online Resources: Take advantage of learning tools online! From Virtual Field trips to online patch programs there are multiple activities you can do with your girls.
Don’t Forget the Volunteer Toolkit!
Troop Leaders, don’t forget you can support your troop activities from afar! Look to the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK). Download pdfs of the badges your troop is working on and send them off to parents and caregivers. Easy and simple way to keep the Girl Scout fun going for your troop!
Not sure how to do that? Check out our VTK Resource Guide.
Girl Scouts Take the Lead in a Time of Need
Are you looking for ways to help others while you are home during the next couple weeks? Here are a few options to consider:
- As part of our Silver Lining patch program in partnership with BCBSIL, please consider sending letters, cards, emails, or drawings to senior citizens at retirement homes or centers. Although it is not recommended to visit during this time for the safety of the elderly, it would be a nice gesture to reach out and send some cheer their way.
- Do you have a neighbor or family member who lives alone? Take some time out of your day to call or video chat with them. You can see if they need anything, but it is also just nice to hear from someone in this time when we are all stuck at home. Human interaction is important!
- Check out littlefreepantry.org to see if you could set up or support a food resource for others in need.
- Send cards of thanks to healthcare workers like this group of Girl Scouts from Naperville.
Big thanks to Brownie troop 55693 in Naperville for the thoughtful cards and delicious @girlscouts cookies for our Emergency Department staff. Generous gestures like this go a long way. pic.twitter.com/Er8FzowSyc
— Rush University System for Health (@RushMedical) March 16, 2020
Tell Us What You’re Up To!
Whether you’re writing thank-you letters to your local hospital staff and doctors, learning all about different plant species around the world, completing a Patch Program, or spending time with loved ones, we want to know what you’re up to! Share your story with us here.
Resources from around the web!
We’ve compiled some resources from around the internet including websites, podcasts, YouTube channels, and apps. You can take virtual tours, play games, practice a foreign language, and so much more!
Websites
girlscoutsgcnwi.org
pbskids.org
khanacademy.org
code.org
coolmath.com
sesamestreet.org
kids.nationalgeographic.com
starfall.com
scholastic.com
funbrain.com
timeforkids.com
highlightskids.com
duolingo.com
abcya.com
codecombat.com
scratch.mit.edu
vidcode.com/hourofcode
kids.sandiegozoo.org/activities
Apps
Quick Math
JuniorLightbot: Code Hour
Brainpop Jr.
Movie of the Week
Swift Playgrounds
Nick Jr.
Youtube Kids
PBS Kids Games
Funbrain Jr.
Science 360
NASA Viz
Todo Math
Scratch Jr.
Thinking Blocks Multiplication
Kodable
Pili Pop
Podcasts
Wow In The World
Molly of Denali
Smash, Boom, Best
Book Club For Kids
Story Time
What If World
Stories Podcast
The Past and the Curious
KidNuz
Brains On
Tumble
Noodle Loaf
Flyest Fables
Eleanor Amplified
YouTube
GirlscoutsGCNWI
TED-Ed
AsapSCIENCE
Crash Course Kids
Minute Physics
Smithsonian Channel
The Brain Scoop
Cosmic Kids Yoga
Homeschool Pop
Peekaboo Kidz
Free School
5-Minute Crafts PLAY
National Geographic Kids
Kids Learning Tube
PBS Kids
Stay safe, and hopefully we’ll be together in-person again soon!
Thank you!!!
This was useful. It gave me ideas of how our troop could still connect though we are not meeting face to face.