Girl Scout badge?

Question

My kid has been in Junior Girl Scouts since the start of the school year, and she has been trying to tell me that the badge she got last year from a school whale-watching trip is a Girl Scout badge and wants me to sew it onto her vest. Weell I dunno about it, she has always had a somewhat ruthless tendency to believe that her version of what should be is real enough for the rest of the world to simply accept... In other words, if she says her troop leader said it was a badge and I sew it on, somehow no one will look at it and say, "Hey, that's not a real badge." 

I even went online to try and find the answer because I didn't get around to asking the troop leader, and the only badge I found was a whale-watcher badge, on one site, that had far more requirements than getting on a boat, getting seasick, laying down and seeing one whale's tail from where she lay.

So tell me, is there such a badge? And if so, can you really get it by going on one school whale watching outing?

Heather W · Accepted Answer

It's probably a "participation patch" - which is considered unofficial and worn on the back of the sash or vest.  They have all sorts of patches available, from those that include requirements to earn as in depth as any Jr. Badge to "pizza party" or "I remembered to flush!"  Some troops are *really* into getting a patch every time they do anything, some only give out a few, etc.  

If in doubt, I'd just bring the patch with you to the next meeting and ask the leader where it's meant to go.  That way you're not implying you think your daughter is lying, but it gives the leader a chance to get the facts to you.  But honestly, girls are allowed to put anything they want on the back of the vest.

Official Girl Scouts "where to place items on the uniform" info about fun/participation patches:

http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/insignia/where_to_place/junior/junior_participation_patch.asp

clare · Answer

Over time the groups are supposed to be more girl scout led, and less leader-led. So I'd ask the girls to go through the badge handbook and select 4 or 5 badges they'd like to work on. Then have the entire troop vote. Once you know what badges you will be working on, then ask the girls how they think they can accomplish what they want to do. It's nice to have some alternatives for them if they can't think of something, but at this age they should have some (pretty strong) opinions, and should be directing the troop's activities more.

Cord S · Answer

Usually, a school-sponsored event will not give out Girl Scout badges. The Scouts do not allow use of their insignia and badges for anything other that scouting activities. You can ask the school if it is.

? · Answer

This page shows pictures of 173 of the Junior's badges and awards. You could look through them and see if your daughter's badge is there.

It might be easier to ask her troop leader, or call her County Council, to see if your daughter earned the badge.

Girl Scout badge?

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