Girl Scout News

Explore the World Of Animals with the New Badges

Girl Scouts are good at so many things, from learning new skills to spreading joy and giving back to their communities. One thing that unites Girl Scouts is their desire to create positive change and help others. With their boundless curiosity, Girl Scouts have the power to make a difference in the world, not only in the lives of people, but also in the lives of every creature we share the planet with: animals!

Animals close to home can provide companionship and support, or make our lives easier. Animals far away can spark a new interest or teach us more about the world. But some animals face danger every day. Because they can't speak up when they need help, it’s our job to protect them. When your Daisy, Junior, or Cadette starts earning one of the new Girl Scout Animal Badges, they’ll embark on a fun journey into the world of animals.

Unlock a NEW badge by downloading one of our free, fun activities! Animal Habitats and Animal Helpers badge—made possible thanks to The Elliott Wildlife Values Project. 

Animal Observer–Daisy (K-1)

Girl Scouts are naturally curious and eager to explore their surroundings. With the new Animal Observer badge, Daisy Girl Scouts will hone in on their observation skills to discover more about animals, near and far. They’ll start by using their senses to identify animal sounds, prints, and behaviors and take notes like an animal scientist. Then they’ll play games to solidify their knowledge and have the chance to visit one of their favorite animals in real life!

Animal Habitats–Junior (4-5)

Animals live in all types of homes—in trees, underground, underwater, and even on glaciers! With the Animal Habitats badge, Junior Girl Scouts can investigate different animal habitats at home and around the world. They’ll use their curiosity to explore animal homes and try their hand at building one. Then they’ll learn about endangered animals and the importance of protecting their habitats to benefit the planet.

Animal Helpers–Cadettes (6-8)

The connection between humans and animals has always existed. Whether animals are serving to protect or provide comfort in difficult times, the animal-human connection is an essential part of human history. With the Animal Helpers badge, Cadette Girl Scouts will learn about this connection and its mutual benefits. They will learn to translate knowledge into action and become advocates for animals by actively participating in organizations dedicated to animal welfare.

The Girl Scout Animal badges not only teach Girl Scouts about their favorite animals, they also help them discover more about the world around them and how to use what they learn to create positive change.
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Explore the World Of Animals with the New Badges

Friendship Matters: How We Can Tackle Loneliness to Boost Confidence Among Girls


Did you know that as girls grow older, they often start to feel lonelier and less confident? Yup! It’s true. Experts have long discussed the impact of loneliness and social isolation on peoples’ well-being, including mental, emotional, and physical health. The U.S. Surgeon General has even called loneliness an epidemic. In recent years, girls have been disproportionately affected by mental health issues—it’s no wonder they’re not immune to the loneliness epidemic, either. It’s time we dive into this.


We set out to learn more about loneliness and how it affects girls by sending out a survey. And guess what? The results were eye-opening. Nearly 70 percent of girls ages five through 13 experience loneliness. And, as feelings of loneliness increase, self-confidence decreases.

But there was a bit of encouraging news, and it has to do with the power of friendship.

Here’s what we learned:

  • Loneliness Increases with Age: Survey results show that loneliness escalates as girls get older. 64 percent of girls ages five through seven, 67 percent of girls ages eight through ten, and 73 percent of girls ages 11 through 13 reported feelings of loneliness.
  • As Loneliness Grows, Confidence Drops: While 86 percent of girls ages five through seven expressed beliefs in their ability to tackle challenges, this figure drops to 80 percent among girls ages eight through ten and even down to 73 percent among 11 through 13-year-old girls.
  • Friendship Is a Confidence Booster: Companionship helps girls try things they wouldn’t otherwise do alone. For more than half of the girls surveyed, having a friend by their side encourages them to try new things (52 percent) like talk to a new kid (52 percent); 50 percent would join a new group with a friend.
  • Girls Prefer Real Interactions to Screen Time: Most girls would prefer to be creative (63 percent), go outside and play (59 percent), or spend time with their family (59 percent) rather than spend all their time on screens. Despite the ubiquity of digital devices, these results point to girls’ desires for a range of authentic experiences and interpersonal connections.
These findings highlight the importance of supporting young girls in building meaningful connections and boosting their confidence. With that in mind, Girl Scouts has programming meant to tackle the specific issues today’s girls face, thanks in part to amazing partners like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

Our amazing mental wellness resources and programming were specifically developed to support girls, Girl Scout council staff, and adult volunteers as they learn about mental wellness, behavioral issues, and healthy habits. Through our mental wellness programming, girls across the country are given the tools to effectively identify and communicate their emotions, offer support to their friends, and seek help from trusted adults in their community.

And we know a thing or two about helping girls build lasting friendships and their self-confidence!

Girl Scouts offers programming that can help all of us address the loneliness epidemic.


Girl Scouts Mental Wellness Programs for Girls:

  • Resilient. Ready. Strong. Patch Program
    • Have you heard about the awesome Resilient. Ready. Strong patch program designed for ALL grade levels? Launched in 2021, this program is all about boosting confidence and tackling challenges heads-on with easy and fun activities and help girls boost their resilience and learn skills to lift their moods when they need it.
  • Mental Wellness Patch Program
    • Picture this: A special program for Girl Scout Juniors through Ambassadors (grades 4–12), packed with practical tips for handling tricky emotions. We’re talking about helping girls identify and tackle their feelings while encouraging help-seeking behavior through the “Finding My Voice,” “Showing Up for Me and You,” and “Knowing My Emotions” patches.
  • Making Friends
    • Brownie troop leaders and caregivers, listen up! Our Making Friends badge program is your Brownies’ ticket to friendship success. From mastering introductions to showing the people in their lives they care and, of course, having a blast together, we’ve got Brownies covered!


Girl Scouts Mental Wellness Programs for Adults:

  • Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)
    • Created for council staff, troop leaders, and volunteers, YMHFA delivers vital information to better support youth mental well-being and address common mental health and substance use challenges. Don’t miss out on this amazing resource!
  • Mental Wellness 101
    • Attention troop leaders and adult volunteers! This training program equips you with the knowledge and tools to promote mental wellness within the Girl Scout community. So important!
To learn more about our programs, this data, or to sign up for Girl Scouts, head to girlscouts.org. Join the conversation on social media. Tag us @girlscouts.
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Friendship Matters: How We Can Tackle Loneliness to Boost Confidence Among Girls

United Airlines Looks to Offset Travel Costs for Girl Scouts

United Airlines Looks to Offset Travel Costs for Girl Scouts® * United Raises Miles for Girls Scouts of the USA®*  to Help Inspire the Next Generation of Leaders United will match the first one million miles raised for Girl Scouts of the USA* through Miles on [...]

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United Airlines Looks to Offset Travel Costs for Girl Scouts

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Limited Edition Girl Scout® Toast-Yay!™ Little Bites® Muffins

Limited Edition Girl Scout® Toast-Yay!™ Little Bites® Muffins Little Bites® Snacks Unveils Limited Edition Girl Scout® Toast-Yay!™ Muffins The Latest Release is Inspired by the French Toast Flavor of Girl Scout® Toast-Yay!™ Cookies Photo courtesy of Entenmann’s Little Bites® Snacks [...]

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Limited Edition Girl Scout® Toast-Yay!™ Little Bites® Muffins