Badge: Printables – Girl Scouts

When creating and using Girl Scout printables, you already have a theme to follow. However, there are many other choices you’ll need to make.

To help get started on making your own printables, see the badge program “Create Printables.”

Steps

Preplanning printables

1. Audience.
You may think narrowing down your audience to “Girl Scouts” will make creating / using printables easier. However, you need to determine the level of your users to make sure what you create is age appropriate. Who will use your printables?

• Girl Scout Daisies: kindergarten and first grade
• Girl Scout Brownies: second and third grades
• Girl Scout Juniors: fourth and fifth grades
• Girl Scout Cadettes: sixth, seventh and eighth grades
• Girl Scout Seniors: ninth and tenth grades
• Girl Scout Ambassadors: eleventh and twelfth grades
• Girl Scout Volunteers: any over high school

2. Purpose.
Are you using the printables to go with programs such as a specific badge or journey? If so, review the materials so you know what fits with the program before you start. You can then customize your materials to the abilities of your audience.

3. Theme.
If you’re looking for activities for recruitments, events or trainings, concentrate more on age-appropriate printables. You might choose to incorporate the theme of the activities in your printables or remain exclusively with a Girl Scout theme. For example, celebrating Juliette Low’s birthday on October 31 could pull in historical information, generic birthday themes or service that can be done in addition to the celebration itself.

4. Availability and distribution.
Are you sending the files to a Service Unit manager or Council office for output? If so, you need to make sure they can accept your files, have the same fonts and can print for you. If not, you may need to provide fonts, or even graphics depending on how your software works. In addition, keep the files on a memory stick, email them to yourself or upload them to the cloud so you have access in case of an emergency. You’ll be able to print them anywhere.

5. Back it up!
Save all the printables you create for Girl Scouts in two locations. One with the information for the event so if you want to do the event again in the future, all the files are with it. Place the second set into a themed area so you can quickly go to it without having to remember which event went with your printable.

Specific printables

6. Color sheets.
Color sheets can be an activity to keep girls busy or to get girls into a mindset for receiving information. Check out the Daisy Petals to see two versions (SUPP_2011_DaisyColor.pdf and SUPP_2011_DaisyColorWords.pdf). Look through old Girl Scout materials and find images you can use as color sheets. In addition, some service projects use color sheets. Making placemats for Meals on Wheels is just one option. Also check out samples of service color sheets at “Color a Smile” online.

7. Word games.
Explore the offerings of Girl Scout word games on the Internet. Themes can be vintage Girl Scouts, WAGGGS, or even level-specific programming. Of course, you may want to use Girl Scout holidays like World Thinking Day or Girl Scout Week. Check out Enrichment Project supplements for examples.

8. Puzzles and games.
Puzzles and games may not need a theme. Instead, they may just be used as an additional activity in case the girls complete other activities faster than you anticipated. Having a stash of “what if” activities can allow you to quickly add items to a program.

Check out the puzzle and game supplements available through the EP. Use this as a starting point only.

9. Icebreakers.
Icebreakers are activities that allow you to get comfortable in new surroundings with new people. Check out the EP supplement SUPP_Icebreaker_Sampler.pdf and make a printable from one of those ideas or create one based on your own idea. Make sure it takes your Girl Scout theme into account. Try your icebreaker on a group and get feedback on whether it works or if adjustments need to be made.

10. SWAPS.
You can use miniatures or create your own by creating images of larger items and reducing them to a “SWAP” size. Explore cookie box miniatures available online for making as SWAPS. Brainstorm other printable items you can use for swapping.

11. Crafts.
Whether giving directions, ephemera or as templates to work from, crafts utilize printables. Search for printables you can use either to explain how to do a craft or to incorporate as a craft item. Make sure they incorporate the theme you are trying to create.

Note: Grab ‘N’ Go sheets were introduced in 2013 to provide directions for specific crafts and activities. There is also a badge program to go with these sheets.

12. Awards.
From investiture through bridging, printable awards allow you to give your girls a little thing extra to include in their scrapbook or handbook. You can also present awards to parents and volunteers. Search the Web for printable awards or create your own awards to hand out at your next ceremony.

13. More printables.
Review the badge program “Create Printables” and see what other ideas you can add to this list. Share your ideas, findings or completed printables with other Girl Scouts.

14. Girl Scout Traditions.
Check out the Girl Scout Traditions badge set from the EP. Review the programs and supplements to find materials to incorporate even more Girl Scout themed printables.
Supplements Available

Check out the following badge programs for Girl Scout Printables:

• Girl Scout Traditions (all)
• Grab ‘N’ Go Sheets
• World Games

NOTE: EP Girl Scout printables can be found at www.scribd.com/collections/2837586/AEP-Girl-Scout-Supplements; other printables can be found in larajla-Printables (below).

Sites to Explore

• www.scribd.com/collections/4038784/larajla-Printables
  — larajla creates / Enrichment Project printable collection

• www.scribd.com/collections/3986289/Grab-N-Go-Sheets
  — larajla creates / Grab ‘N’ Go sheets
• www.colorasmile.org
• www.makingfriends.com/scouts/scouts_girls_paper.htm
• www.dltk-kids.com/scouts/index.htm
• coloringbookfun.com (search for Girl Scouts)
• suite101.com/article/printables-and-paper-crafts-for-girl-scouts-and-boy-scouts-a392955