Girl Scout Badge activities at WDW

[fan_of_wdw]

For a complete, up-to-date, looooong list, go to the second page of this thread!

Hi there... I am a DH with a 10 year old Junior GS DD. I am also an assistant leader to her troop. I am always on the look out for activities that will help my daughter (and her troop) get credit toward GS badges.

Right now, as we preparing for our Oct. 3rd trip, I am trolling for things in the badge book that we have to do to get ready for the trip.

What I wanted to ask is if anybody has a list (either mental or written) of activities at WDW that match up directly with Jr. badge activities? I figure there are two categories here, one for activities related to preparing for the trip, and another for things happening at the parks (should be a ton of stuff at EP and AK).

So I'll start with some ideas I have:

PREPARATION

"Walking for Fitness"
#3 - Best Foot Forward - getting new walking shoes for the trip
#5 - Be Prepared - putting together a first aid kit
#6 - Fast Food - Pack a well-balanced snack

"Math Whiz"
#4 - Calculate Your Flight Time - depending how far you are from WDW, you may need a globe for this!

"Traveler"
#1 - Stay Safe on the Road - have an emergency plan at the park
#2 - Promote a Place - send off for the video!

"On My Way"
#1 - Create a Travel Postcard -
#2 - What Would You Do? - share details about tickets and reservations
#3 - Travel Bug -
#7 - I'd Take... -
#9 - Travel Safe - have an emergency plan at the park
#10 - Pack Up! -


THERE

"Traveler"
#4 Document the Days - photo journal
#3 Culturally Curious - talk to some of the international CM (EP/AK)

"Earth Connection"
#6 - Saving Animals and Plants - Conservation Station? AK
#7 - Adapt or Perish - ?

"Science Sleuth"
#1 What's Vibration Got to Do with It? - Sounds Dangerous! hands on section (MGM)

"Oil Up"
Ellen and Bill Nye have got help with this one somehow! EP

"Discovering Technology"
#10 - Then and Now - Carousel of Progress? MK
Need some help here... what should we look for in Innoventions? EP

"Dance"
#5 - Dance Around the World - Your GS can definitely find some inspiration for this one in World Showcase!

"Collecting Hobbies" Pin trading, of course!
#1 - Building Your Collection -
#2 - Share your collection with others -
#7 - Go on a Treasure Hunt -
#9 - Collecting Globally -

"Theater"
#9 - Theater Around the World - Does the Japan area do a Kabuki play or Bunraku puppets?
#10 - See It Live! - Beauty and the Beast, Hunchback, Tarzan Rocks, etc. Take your pick!

"Consumer Power"
#7 - Tie-Ins - Duh! Its Disney, for heavens sake!

"Celebrating People"
#10 - It's a Pleasure - Learn greetings from CM around the World Showcase

"Water Wonders"
#4 - Life Underwater - The Living Sea or Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon

"Write All About It"
#1 - Write from the Start- Keep a journal of your WDW trip.
#3 - Memoirs Are Memories - If you don't keep a journal, describe your trip after you get home!

"World Neighbors"
#10 - Clothing All Over the World - Checking out all the CM's clothing is a sure bet
World Showcase at EP - what should we look for?

"Drawing and Painting"
#5 - In Shape - Sit in on a character drawing lesson at DisneyQuest... all the characters are based on basic shapes!

"Humans and Habitats" and "Food Power"
The Land at EP - again, what should we look for?

I realize that some of these require some preparation or some guidance by a parent/adult to make sure that an activity is completed, and not just a near miss. But it doesn't take much to make a "leaning moment".


Do the children’s activities around World Showcase EP match any GS badge activities?

What else at Epcot and Animal Kingdom (and even MGM) matches up to GS badge activities?

What goes on at World of Sports that a girl could use towards all the sport badges?

The safety section of the Test Track should help with Car Care badge, but nothing quite jives.

And don't worry, we will still have lots of time for FUN! But if it is easy, convenient, and fun to do a badge activity, we will!

Thanks!

 

[catwho]

Don't try making your *vacation* a badge workshop. Why not sit down and pick out one or two badges that you can complete while preparing and going there. I'm a Junior Leader and I would be suspicious of a girl who came to me with 18 partially completed badges. I think there is a difference between doing badge work and finding ways of completing badges through something you do naturally in the course of things. Does that make sense? Here are some badges that I think you and your daughter could work on together and complete preparing for your trip and while there:



Write All About It (keeping a journal, writing about her trip, writing about her expectations, etc.)

On My Way OR Traveler (not both since you can't use one activity for 2 badges or patches)

Celebrating People OR World Neighbors

Collecting Hobbies

Walking for Fitness

I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but remember this is a *vacation* Enjoy it! If you run around trying to complete badges you may not enjoy it. You can always journal though and see what things *afterwards* would count towards badge work.

Allow me on my soapbox for a moment. If your dd was in Brownies and earned Try-It's the idea of a proficiency badge may be strange to her. Unlike in Brownies where we wanted our girls to *try* more things, in Juniors we want our girls to *do* more. To explore things more fully. Does that make sense? We want to make sure when a girl gets a proficiency badge for something that she really understands it. She has fully experienced it. I tell my girls not to look at badges as a race to see who can get the most, but to work on things that interest them and help them discover more about themselves.

I don't know about her leader, but I require my girls to write up what they work on. They have to tell me what they did, how they went about it, what the final outcome was and what they learned from it. If they don't do those things, then they don't get badges. I have the full support of my parents on this!

Anyway, stepping down now. I'd be more than happy to help you decide which would work best for your dd though.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Thanks, Catwho!

These are all excellent points... especially writing a "report" for each activity. Unfortunately, my dd sufers from the same aversion to writing that I do. (As you can see from the previous post, I tend to write in outline/bullet style!) She woulndn't have ANY badges if she had to write for everything!

But I am a "teacher" at heart, and nobody in our troop gets credit for an activity without understanding it. My daughter and I discuss activities beforehand and afterwards, and if she doesn't "get it" (the concept), then she doesn't "get it" (the badge).

We don't intend to work on everything in the list above, only a couple of badges, as you suggest... it IS a vacation! But I am a database geek, and wanted to "identify" all the opportunities and share them with other parents and leaders.

I appreciate the difference between the Try-Its and the Badges... and it is very important! Definitely Junior GS is about "doing" things!

There are a ton of things at WDW that could be the seed/catalyst/inspiration for starting a badge or activity when a child get home, I would just like to help identify them for others.

Thanks, again!

 

[catwho]

My dd also abhors writing. I let her do alot of things on the computer and bullet style works for me I'm not as "hard nosed" as I seem in my earlier post.

Have fun on your vacation. We are also looking forward to how we can incorporate our next vacation into badges and Try-its (I've got a Brownie and a Junior in my house)

An idea that I had was for your dd to purchase a couple of extra GSUSA pins and possibly some patches from your council. Last year we ran into a GG from Mexico and guess what? We had nothing to swap with her! I could have kicked myself. So this year we will have a few GSUSA pins as well as some council patches to share and swap with other GS and GG that we meet on our trip.

YIGGGGS!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

There are Girl Scout programs offered at Disney.

WDW Scout Spirit Days patch was earned by our troop at Magic Kingdom in '99.

Discovery Island was still open at the time....our troop spent about 2 hours on the island with a CM guide who explained everything from park history to animal conservation.

Call guest services and they'll tell you if the program is still available.

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Thanks, tiggerwannabe... I'll call them tomorrow!

About having the girls write... I just found a web site that has "packets" or "worksheet" as well as links for each badge. They have lined blank sections after each activity item that requires descriptions/explainations/lists.

http://jenefer.speedyweb.com/jrbadgehelps.shtml

I'll definitely have my GS DD use these from now on!

Well, anyway back to Disney! Does anybody have clues as to how well the stuff at The Land, The Body, and Innoventions translate to GS badge activities? The last few time DD and I have been to Epcot, we only hit the Test Track and did the Chicken Dance at the Biergarten!

 

[MrsPete]

My daughter is a 3rd grade Brownie right now, so she'll "fly up" to Juniors just before our trip in June. I also have a kindergartener who will start Brownies in the fall.

I've already scanned the two badge books, and this is what I'm thinking about:

For the Brownie: She'll earn the Travel Right Try It mainly by helping pack and prepare for the trip. I'll also prepare some back-seat type activities to go along with the Math Fun Try It.

For the Junior: She'll earn one of the two travel badges. Because we're planning to stay at the Wilderness Lodge and we'll definately use the Water Mice a couple times, she can earn the On the Water (name?) boating-type badge. Perhaps she could start the Books badge on the drive.

 

[catwho]

Originally posted by fan_of_wdw

Well, anyway back to Disney! Does anybody have clues as to how well the stuff at The Land, The Body, and Innoventions translate to GS badge activities? The last few time DD and I have been to Epcot, we only hit the Test Track and did the Chicken Dance at the Biergarten!

Quite well I would think. Here are some of my ideas for badges (after thinking about them this week)

Food Power - go to The Land for this one. You could do quite a bit here Maybe 4 of the 6 required activities

Highway to Health has stuff on cleaning hands, brushing teeth, "Eating on the Run" (gee, we don't do *that* at Disney!)

Walking for Fitness (preparing for the trip)

Earth Connections - A few activities at The Land could count here

Finding Your Way - one or two activities here (let dd be in charge of the map at the parks!)

Horse Fan - if you are going over to Ft. Wilderness to horseback ride!

Plants and Animals - At Ak I see quite a few. In fact if I had a girl go who completed the Safari Stations (the ones where you have to do different activities and collect stamps) I would give this patch to her!

Wildlife - almost ditto. These two badges could be good for your dd to initiate some questions to the CM's that hang out in places like the bat area and the aviaries.

Art to Wear - make matching shirts for the whole family prior to going

Books - if it is a long trip LOL!

Camera Shots - get her a camera!

Discovering Technology - Universe of Energy and Innovations (Especially the Then and Now section!)

Folk Arts - you can do a bit of this throughout World Showcase

Write All About It - I can see a few things here. Like memoirs are memories and How to how-to (How to navigate WDW)

Aerospace (if space is open by then)

Globe Trotting (doesn't making all the way around World Showcase count for this? LOL!)

Music Fan - Listening to something new, Folk songs from Afar, careers in music, Nature's call!

Science Discovery - again Innoventions and maybe Universe of Energy

Science in Everyday Life - ditto

Water Wonders - Living Seas

Global Awareness - World Showcase

Humans and Habitats - Break Bread, Your life would be different if...., and The World Close to Home

Model Citizen - A Good Neighbor, Global Citizen, Red, White and Blue

Traveler - duh

Celebrating People - another duh

Gee, and wasn't I the one who said, "Don't try to do it all?" LOL!!! Not that one should try to do all the above, but one *could* do quite a bit or find one or two of these that they think the could complete combined with stuff that they do at home!

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Wow! Very nice!!! I don't need to pull out the Birnbaum's now!

I think we have put together a very good "opportunity" list! (Not a "to-do" list! )

I think any JGS DD could pick a couple of badges per trip and be productive as well as have alot of fun.

But if a parent/leader studied the list before going and paid attention to the possibilities, they could have a year's worth of "Hey, kiddo, remember when we were at the World and you saw/talked/touched/heard/felt/tasted....". Lots of connections to be made!

Thanks, again, CatWho! Our job is done here. (Yeah, right!)

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Well, its summer time again, so I figured I would give this thread a bump, as well as an update!

Our trip in October was terrific, and we did NOT spend the whole trip working on badge!

We ended up doing 5 activities towards the "Collecting Hobbies" badge, by way of pin trading... as well as two activites to finish "Walking for Fitness" (#5 & 6), and the vibration/sound activity to finish up the "Science Slueth" badge.

For "Collection Hobbies" , for #2 - "Share Your Collection with Others", DD got her pin bag sorted out and organized before leaving for WDW.

An evening excursion to the Contempory for an official Disney Pin meet helped with #3 - "Meet Other Collectors". She started out in the children's special trading area, but soon migrated over with the adults... on the boat back to Wilderness Lodge she confessed that trading with adults is WAY more fun!

We took our bags to Pin Central at EPCOT, and found a young Japanese woman who spoke nary a word of English. She had pin bags loaded with DL Tokyo, Disney Store Japan, and Disney Sea pins (all somewhat hard to find under normal circumstance!). The young lady saw that my DD collected Ariel pins, and the trading started in ernest! #9 - "Collecting Globally".

On our last day, we sought out Scoop, the "expert", at the MK Exposition Hall. There were quite a few adults there ready to start trading with Scoop, but he defered to my DD, and did a talk and show on how pins are made. She got a "Magical Moments" certificate afterwards, and to Scoops suprise, many of the adults wanted one too! Scoop was terrific, and gifted my DD a couple of nice Minnie Mouse pins. #4 - "Be the Expert". Side note... while waiting for Scoop, there was a small Girl Scout display in the Exibition hall that we were looking at, and an older lady approached us (she was waiting for Scoop also), and showed us her old Girl Scout sash... on the back side of which she keeps her pins!

The whole trip, DD was on the prowl for Minnie Mouse and Ariel pins, as well as the elusive "lanyard" pins... #7 - "Go on a Treasure Hunt"

 

[macs4us]

My niece just bridged last Saturday from juniors to cadettes (she is soooo looking forward to the cool new uniforms), and might be interested in doing some in depth work when we are at WDW the first week of August. Any suggestions on where I can get some info or who to contact at WDW?

Thanks!!!

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Well, I am notorious amongst our leaders for having the whole Junior BadgeBook memorized! But I have not looked at a Cadette badge book yet. My DD is 11 and starting 6th grade.

I would think that there are many badges (are they called badges?) that are similar, and since you guy have been a few times, you should be able to start your own list for cadettes... go get a Cadette manual and start boning up!

As for WDW, they have organized trips for groups of 10 or more girls.

I tried to call the council in Orlando, and they were less than helpful, even hostile. I posted my list at our council's resouce center and they think it is great.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Hey, troop leader here too and my girls just bridged to juniors.
This is a great thread with lots of ideas of things to do related to badges while there. Ofcourse we wouldn't do many- but it will be great to print this out and maybe do some if she wants to. She loves writing also- so writing about everything will be right up her alley too. LOL

 

[Reflection]

What a wonderful thread. My daughter is also a junior in Girl Scouts. I am going to share some of the ideas in this thread with her troop leader.

Thanks to all of you for providing such wonderful suggestions/ideas.

 

[indyanna]

I'm a Junior leader and it never even occurred to me to work on a badge related to our trip. What a great idea! I think my daughter will like the idea. Another girl from our troop is going the same week we are, and we'll be meeting up with her family a couple of times. The girls might have fun doing a couple of things together. Thanks for the tips!

 

[fan_of_wdw]

I have compiled a more complete list than is posted here (with the help of catwho!).

Please send an email to Gerry@NorvellDesigns.com and I will send you a nicely formated document, ready to print!

Or cut & paste the full list below:



Junior Girl Scout Activities at
Walt Disney World


Unlike most theme parks, Walt Disney World (WDW) provides a very rich learning environment. Many of these will be found at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. This is not intended to be a check list of everything for a Girl Scout to do or look for on one trip to the World. It is recommended that a JGS pick one or two badges to work on in depth, or maybe a way to satisfy that one more activity to finish a badge. If nothing else, your trip to Walt Disney World could provide some inspiration to work on a new badge once you are back home.

Some of these activities require some preparation. Some guidance by a parent/adult may be needed to make sure that an activity is completed, and not just a near miss. The Badgebook needs to be consulted on each activity to ensure the requirements are met… many of these may be only partially completed at the park, and may need some follow up at home (write down observations, thoughts, feelings, etc.).

If a badge below does not have a numbered activity listed, then the WDW attraction is of just general interest to the badge, or requires more preparation or planning.

AEROSPACE or SKY SEARCH
Mission: SPACE (opening fall of 2003) at EPCOT

ART TO WEAR
#5 – Pattern Maker – make matching shirts for the whole family prior to going

BOOKS
Read on the road trip to WDW!

CAMERA SHOTS
#3 – Be a Sports Photographer – catch the action at the World of Sports
#4 – Landscape – lots to shoot for this

CAR CARE
The queue at Test Track a lot about safety testing of cars. (EP)

CELEBRATING PEOPLE
#10 – It's a Pleasure – Learn greetings from Cast Members around the World Showcase (EP) (with the help of the Passport).

COLLECTING HOBBIES (Pin trading, of course)
#2 – Share your collection with others – Get your pins organized for presentation
#3 – Meeting Other Collectors – you can’t trade if you don’t meet!
#4 – Be an Expert - Meet "Scoop", a pin expert, at the Exhibition Hall at MK
#7 – Go on a Treasure Hunt – Trade for the pins that you need to fill in your collection
#9 – Collecting Globally – Specifically trade for some international pins (Paris, Tokyo, DisneySea)

CONSUMER POWER
#7 – Tie-Ins – Duh! Its Disney, for heaven's sake!

DANCE
#5 – Dance Around the World – Your GS can definitely find some inspiration for this one in World Showcase at EPCOT or at the Polynesian Luau!
#6 – Lines & Squares - You may have an opportunity to do this at the Fort Wilderness Campground.

DISCOVERING TECHNOLOGY
#9 – The Future Is Here – Innoventions may have much to offer (EP).
#10 – Then and Now – Carousel of Progress for technology (MK) or Spaceship Earth for communications (EP)

DRAWING AND PAINTING
#1 – Media Savvy – At ImageWorks at EPCOT, transform a picture of yourself, then send it to someone over the Internet.
#5 – In Shape – Sit in on a character drawing lesson at DisneyQuest (DTD)... all the characters are based on basic shapes!
#7 – It’s How You Look at It – Explore perspective by way of 3-D images in Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (EP), or MuppetVision 3-D (MGM).

EARTH CONNECTION
#6 – Saving Animals and Plants – Rafiki’s Planet Watch (AK)
#10 – Earth as an Ecosystem - Rafiki’s Planet Watch (AK) & ) & Kali River Rapids ride (AK) &
Living With The Land (EP)

ECO-ACTION
#10 – Women’s Work – Check out the Eco-Heroes exhibit at Rafiki’s Planet Watch (AK)

FINDING YOUR WAY
Have your GS carry the map, navigate the parks, and understand the legends.

FOLK ARTS
#7 – Folk Arts Around the Globe – you can do a bit of this throughout World Showcase (EP)

FOOD POWER
The Land at EPCOT for several activities.

GLOBAL AWARENESS
Visit World Showcase at EPCOT

GLOBE TROTTING
#6 – Map It Out – Get some ideas in the World Showcase (EP)

HEALTHIER YOU
Check out the Wonders of Life pavilion (EP).

HIGHWAY TO HEALTH
#5 - Eating on the Run - gee, we don't do *that* at Disney!

HORSE FAN
#4 – Horses Through History – Visit the Tri-Circle-D Ranch museum at Fort Wilderness
Fort Wilderness Trail Ride

HUMANS AND HABITATS
#4 - Your life would be different if....-
#7 - Break Bread - Go to World Showcase and eat!
#8 - The World Close to Home – Eat some more!
The Land and World Showcase at EPCOT

MATH WHIZ
#4 – Calculate Your Flight Time – depending how far you are from WDW, you may need a globe for this!

MODEL CITIZEN
#3 - Global Citizen – Talk to international Cast Members and compare life in US to life in their country
#8 - Red, White and Blue – The Wilderness Lodge has a flag family each day

MUSIC FAN
#2 - Listening to something new – World Showcase (EP) & street musicians at AK
#6 - Folk songs from Afar – World Showcase (EP) & street musicians at AK
#7 - Careers in music – Talk to some of the CM's after a performance.
#9 - Nature's call! – Animal Kingdom, even Rain Forest Café!

OIL UP
#2 – Fossil Facts - Universe of Energy pavilion / Ellen's Energy Adventure (EP)

ON MY WAY
#1 – Create a Travel Postcard -
#2 – What Would You Do? – share details about tickets and reservations
#3 – Travel Bug -
#7 – I'd Take... –
#9 – Travel Safe – have an emergency plan at the park
#10 – Pack Up! -

PLANTS AND ANIMALS
At Animal Kingdom, complete the Safari Stations (the ones where you have to do different activities and collect stamps) to finish this one.

PRINTS AND GRAPHICS
Make matching shirts for the whole family using some of the techniques from this badge (stamp, stencil, silk screen)

ROCKS ROCK
#9 – Fossil Fun – Learn more about fossils on trails near Dinosaur! Attraction (AK).

SCIENCE DISCOVERY
#6 - Become a Scientist - At Conservation Station (AK), talk to a veterinarian, or at scientist at Living Sea (EP)
#9 – See What? – Try "Journey into Imagination" with Figment (EP) for some neat optical illusions, and the Haunted Mansion also (MK)!

SCIENCE SLEUTH
#1 What's Vibration Got to Do with It? – Sounds Dangerous! hands on section after show (MGM)

SMALL CRAFT
Canoes, sailboats, and motor boats are available at Fort Wilderness Campground.

THEATER
#9 – Theater Around the World – Does the Japan area at EPCOT do a Kabuki play or Bunraku puppets?
#10 – See It Live! – Beauty and the Beast (MGM), Tarzan Rocks (AK), Festival of the Lion King (AK), etc. Take your pick!

TRAVELER
#1 – Stay Safe on the Road – have an emergency plan at the park
#2 – Promote a Place – send off for the video!
#3 – Culturally Curious – talk to some of the international CM (EP/AK)
#4 – Document the Days – photo journal

VISUAL ARTS
#10 – Putting It In Perspective – See an example of "forced perspective" at MGM (view down the street at the skyscrapers).

WALKING FOR FITNESS
#3 – Best Foot Forward – getting new walking shoes for the trip
#5 – Be Prepared – putting together a first aid kit for the park
#6 – Fast Food – Pack a well-balanced snack for the park

WATER WONDERS
#4 – Life Underwater – The Living Sea (EP) or Shark Reef at Typhoon Lagoon

WILDLIFE
At Animal Kingdom, ask some questions of the Cast Member's that hang out in places like the bat area and the aviaries.

WRITE ALL ABOUT IT
#1 – Write from the Start– Keep a journal of your WDW trip.
#3 – Memoirs Are Memories – If you don't keep a journal, describe your trip after you get home! Or write about a "Magical Moment"… you will know it, when it happens!

WORLD NEIGHBORS
#10 – Clothing All Over the World – Checking out all the Cast Member's clothing is a sure bet at World Showcase in EPCOT





Abbreviations:
AK - Animal Kingdom
CM - Cast Member (Disney Employee)
DTD - Downtown Disney
EP - EPCOT
MGM - MGM Studios
MK - Magic Kingdom
WDW - Walt Disney World





Last updated July 6, 2003
Prepared by Gerry Norvell, Asst. Leader, Troop 2463, Circle T Council, Fort Worth, Texas.

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Bump-a-ruskie

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Last bump of the summer...

 

[fan_of_wdw]

Bump for Spring Break

 

[DonnaDavid]

What a great idea! Thank you.