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Girl Scout Badges

Badges & Patches

What's that? You've always wanted to make your own movie, build a robot, cook food from a different country, go geocaching, sleep under the stars, write a book of short stories, plant a garden?

Great news! You can learn to do all these things and more while earning badges as you go. 

A Girl Scout badge is an official, embroidered insignia that Girl Scouts earn by completing a certain number of requirements in the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting. They're sewn on the front of the uniform and are distinguished from patches, which are obtained by participating in various events. (See more information on patches below!)

Check out our new Journeys and badges. Looking for even more? Visit the Award and Badge Explorer to get details on every badge a Girl Scout can earn.

    

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Download the Badge Charts

Get these newly updated Award Logs and Badge Charts for each grade level. Print these out for reference, and to replace the versions in her copy of The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting. 

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Check out every Girl Scout badge.
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A Girl Scout patch, on the other hand, is a supplementary insignia that Girl Scouts receive for simply for participating in an event or activity. They are worn on the back of their uniform.

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio has several patch programs that girls can participate in by completing the requirements below!

Patches
Media Star Patch

The Marketing and Communications Department at GSWO has created a patch Girl Scouts across western Ohio can now earn: the Media Star Patch!

Girls receive the patch when their story is featured in the media or by GSWO. This includes social media channels, the GSWO Blog, the GSWO website, or local media. Stories can be about one independent Girl Scout, or it can be about an entire troop.

Simply submitting a story does not automatically qualify someone for the Media Star Patch; it must be featured.

How do I submit my story?
 To submit your story, visit www.gswo.org/shareyourstory !

What increases my odds of having my story featured?
There are a lot of things that can increase your chances! Here are some tips:

  • Include photos or videos with your submission (but make sure you have the media releases for any girls in the photos or videos—that responsibility is with the person who submits, not the MarComm department). Photos or videos with girls in uniform are especially encouraged!
  • Showcase what they were doing, where and when they were doing it, and why the girls chose to do this.
  • Please include your troop number, community, and age level.
  • Explain how your girl or girls were a G.I.R.L.s (Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader)™.
  • Take Action projects and other events in the community do especially well.

If you’re still not quite sure, we suggest looking at other stories that have been featured in the past!

Who receives the patch?
The Media Star Patch is only for girls; none are given to adults.

If it is an entire troop who participated in the activity, each girl in the troop gets a patch (even if she isn’t in the photo that is featured!). If it is a story about one or a few Girl Scouts that did an activity outside of a troop, only the girls involved receive a patch.

If we feature the story of something a Girl Scout did, but she is now an adult member, she does not receive a patch.

I submitted my photo for the Program Events Guide. Do I get a patch?
To receive the Media Star Patch, you must have your story featured, not simply your photo. You’re welcome to submit the same photo(s) in the Share Your Story form, but make sure to include a captivating story with it!

Can I receive the patch more than once?
Yes! There is a new patch each year. Only one patch will be given out per calendar year (2017, 2018, 2019, etc.; not per membership year), but continue submitting stories each year and you may get more!

My story was featured on the media. Why didn’t I get a patch?
The Marketing and Communications Department is always looking for stories of our girls featured in the media, but we don’t always catch every story! If you were contacted by the media and don’t think the Marketing and Communications department was aware of it, simply send us an email with the news story at marketing@gswo.org! 

I was featured in a press release. Do I get a patch?
To receive the patch, the press release with your story would need to be picked up by the media and be featured.

Can I just buy the patch?
No, the patch is only available as a thank-you gift from the Marketing and Communications department.

Invite a Friend

Are you having a blast as a Girl Scout? Do you have friend who would love to join in on the fun? Now she can join, and you can earn an awesome patch!

After you and your friend have completed your membership for the year, fill out the Invite a Friend form and we will send both of you an Invite a Friend patch!

Please note that both girls need to be registered members to receive the patch.

Family Adventure Patch

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is excited to announce the Family Adventure Patch!

Complete at least six of the activities below and post a photo or video of you and your family engaged in an activity to social media (tag with #GirlScoutsFamilyAdventure).

  1. Show your Girl Scout spirit! Rock your favorite Girl Scout gear and have your family members wear Girl Scout green.
  2. Make s’mores together over a campfire, in an oven, or even in  a microwave—a sweet Girl Scout tradition. Did you know Girl Scouts is credited with creating the s’mores recipe?
  3. Research Girl Scout founder, Juliette Gordon Low, and have a discussion about her life during dinner.
  4. Interview your family members to find out if they were Girl Scouts. Learn what was different and same then versus now.
  5. Spend time outdoors together. Go on  a hike, take a nature walk, go camping, or pursue another outdoor adventure as a family.
  6. Identify an issue in the community that is important to your family, and do a community service project together.
  7. Attend a Girl Scout event together.
  8. Find out how your family can help your Girl Scout troop.
  9. Visit the G.I.R.L. Resource Center at your regional office, and explore the retail store to see what badges you may want to earn.
  10. Show your troop leader appreciation, by writing or drawing a thank you note.

The first 100 members who visit a council store and show us their Girl Scout family photo on social media will receive a free patch. Additional patches will be available for purchase in council stores.

Centennial Suffragette

2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. Why is this an important milestone for Girl Scouts (and American women in general)? 

The 19th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by a state on account of sex. It took decades of determined campaigning by countless women (and some men too!) to secure equal voting rights under the law. The legacy of this group of determined advocates has positively impacted generations of Girl Scouts (and Americans in general), and we want to celebrate their achievement with our council’s own patch program.  

To earn your Girl Scouts of Western Ohio Suffrage Centennial Patch, complete the required number of steps for your age level and purchase your commemorative patch in one of our shops.

Ready to get started? Download the activity sheet!

Activity Requirements
Activity requiemenents per grade level include:

  • Daisies: 3 steps, including 1 starred item
  • Brownies: 4 steps, including 1 starred item
  • Juniors: 5 steps, including 2 starred items
  • Cadettes: 6 steps, including 2 starred items
  • Seniors & Ambassadors: 6 steps, including 3 starred items
Get Outdoors Challenge

The Summer 2019 Get Outdoors Challenge is now complete! Thank you for everyone who participated this year.

Just because the patch program is over doesn't mean you can't complete the challenge! Use the activity checklist to inspire your next outdoor adventure.

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is excited to announce the Get Outdoors Challenge for the summer of 2019! We challenge Girl Scouts and their families to get outdoors this summer. And yes, there's a patch for that!

How to participate:

  1. Download the summer activity checklist.
  2. Complete the required number of summer activities for your program level.
  3. After completing the summer activities for your level, girls and adults can request their Get Outdoors Challenge patch!

You must complete the patch request form before 11:59 pm on Monday, September 2, 2019 to be eligible to receive the free patch.

Challenge Dates & Deadlines
The challenge is open to current girl and adult members of GSWO. Family members may participate in activities, but are not eligible for patches.

Girls and adults may only submit one patch request. You MUST complete the required number of activities before requesting your patch. You must complete your registration before 11:59pm on Monday, September 2, 2019 to be eligible to receive your patch.

All entries must be submitted individually and must be sent to the home address of the participant.

Rules & Guidelines
Girls and adults are only eligible to earn one patch per challenge, and they must be registered members of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio.

Girls and adults must follow Safety Activity Checkpoints for all activities.

Activity Requirements
Activities required per grade level include:

  • Daisy - 20
  • Brownie - 25
  • Junior - 30
  • Cadette - 35
  • Senior - 40
  • Ambassador - 45
  • Adult - 45

Girls and adults may only submit one patch request. You MUST complete the required number of activities before requesting your patch. You must complete your request before 11:59 pm on Monday, September 2, 2019 to be eligible to receive your patch.

Girls and adults may complete activities individually, but each girl and adult should only count activities that they participated in. There will not be a troop entry for this challenge.

 

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