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

Girl Scout Daisy Valentine’s Day Meeting

*This post contains affiliate links.

Here is a fun and easy Girl Scout Valentine’s Day meeting that uses Conversation Hearts.

Do you need a break during cookie season and just want to meet with your troop for fun? Selling cookies is intense, no doubt about it.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity have a non-cookie centered meeting.

Girl Scout Daisy Valentine's Day Meeting

Available on TpT

This meeting works well for multi-level troops.
Included in this resource are:

  • 10 activities using Conversation Hearts and items you already have around the house or in your leader bag
  • Activities cover different areas, including movement, crafts, and science
  • You select the ones that will work with your troop dynamics and the length of your meeting

Bulk Conversation Hearts


You will need a lot of conversation hearts for this meeting. You can buy them in bulk. If you have any extras, have the girls put them in cellophane bags and hand out to classmates, neighbors, and anyone else they can think of.

These come in a package of 200.


Girl Scout Daisy Valentine's Day Meeting


200 Plastic Valentine's Day Bags Available on Amazon


Girl Scout Daisy Valentine's Day Meeting


Two Pounds of Conversation Hearts

Available on Amazon

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Girl Scout Daisy Valentine’s Day Meeting

Girl Scout Daisy to Brownie Bridging Certificate for Your Bridging Ceremony

If your troop is moving up to the next level of scouts, here is a Girl Scout Daisy to Brownie bridging certificate that you can hand out at your ceremony.

*This post contains affiliate links.

In a recent blog post, I shared with you ideas for your Daisy to Brownie Bridging ceremony. This is the first of hopefully many scouting milestones you will share with your young troop. 

As your girls bridge over to Brownies, you will want to give them a Girl Scout Daisy to Brownie Bridging Certificate.  

Girl Scout Daisy to Brownie Bridging Certificate for Your Bridging Ceremony


Be sure to take a photo of your new Brownie with her certificate for your Girl Scout scrapbook.

You can head on over to Teachers Pay Teachers and get your certificate today!
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Girl Scout Daisy to Brownie Bridging Certificate for Your Bridging Ceremony

The New Girl Scout Leadership Awards Explained


Girl Scouts’ leadership pathway just got a major glow-up and a few things are changing:

  • Leadership Awards are now the official prerequisites for the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.
  • One Leadership Award earned at your program level fulfills the prerequisite for each of the Highest Awards.
  • Additionally, the Bronze Award is now a prerequisite option for the Silver Award, and the Silver Award is a prerequisite option for the Gold Award.
  • One Journey may still be used to meet the Highest Award prerequisite requirements through October 1, 2026.


Why Were the Awards Refreshed?

Inspired by Juliette Gordon Low’s courage and character, the refreshed awards create a clearer, more modern path to leadership. They focus on long-lasting skills like communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and confidence.

What Are the New Leadership Awards?
The Leadership Awards are a new set of skill-building experiences for Girl Scouts in grades 4–12. They focus on four areas of leadership: personal, peer, teaching, and community advocacy, and they are designed to be flexible.

Each award is designed to help Girl Scouts explore their interests, build practical skills, and focus on things that matter to them. And the best part? Earning one Leadership Award at your program level now fulfills the prerequisite for the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award. Girl Scouts can earn them during troop meetings, at camp, at events, or individually.


Which Awards Are Retired?

Leader in Action (LiA) are retired as of July 2025. Cadettes can still get hands-on experience with younger Girl Scouts through the refreshed Program Aide award.

The previous Silver and Gold Torch award (based on holding a leadership position for a term )is also retired. Updated Torch awards now focus on teamwork and leading peers in more flexible, accessible ways.

Journeys will officially be retired on October 1, 2026. In their place, Juniors through Ambassadors can now earn the Leadership Awards.

The current Global Action award will also retire in 2026. Juniors – Ambassadors can earn the new Global Action Award, and Daisies and Brownies will have other opportunities to explore global themes, like through World Thinking Day and the Democracy badges.



My Girl Scout already started on one of the Journeys and/or a Leadership Award using retired guidelines. Now What?

Starting in October 2026, Journeys will be retired. Until then, Girl Scouts may continue completing Journeys, and any finished Journey will remain valid and will continue to count toward the Highest Awards.

Girl Scouts can apply the Leadership Awards as a prerequisite regardless of whether they were earned using the retired or new guidelines.



A Closer Look at the New Leadership Awards

Below is a quick guide to each award category to help you understand what each award is all about!




Personal Leadership

True North Award

Available for Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors

This brand-new award helps Girl Scouts discover their values, build confidence, and understand what matters to them. It’s all about staying true to yourself and taking courageous steps to make a meaningful impact.

Prerequisite for the Highest Awards when earned at your level.






Peer Leadership

Silver Torch Award

Available for Cadettes
Learn how to shine as part of a team. Cadettes build teamwork skills, support group goals, and explore how to motivate and inspire others.


Gold Torch Award

Available for Senior/Ambassador
Grow into a leader who guides with purpose and heart. Girl Scouts practice bringing people together, collaborating, and turning ideas into real impact.

The Silver Torch counts as a prerequisite for the Silver Award—and the Gold Torch for the Gold Award.



Teaching Leadership Awards

Junior Aide

Available for Juniors

Plan and lead one fun, inclusive activity for younger kids. This award builds confidence and helps Girl Scouts discover their unique leadership style.


Program Aide

Available for Cadettes

Lead multiple activities—including a full meeting—for younger Girl Scouts. Cadettes practice being thoughtful role models while building real planning and leadership skills.


Volunteer in Training (VIT)

Available for Senior/Ambassador

Guide younger Girl Scouts by leading two full meetings. Teens learn how to create meaningful experiences, support growth, and make younger kids feel included.


Counselor in Training I (CITI)

Available for Senior/Ambassador

Learn the basics of camp leadership by supporting campers, assisting staff, and leading songs, games, and activities. It’s all about growing confidence and becoming a role model at camp. Contact your local council to locate CIT programs.


Counselor in Training II (CITII)

Available for Ambassador

Take leadership at camp to the next level by planning activities, supporting staff, and practicing real-world leadership skills like schedule management and conflict resolution.

Contact your local council to locate CIT programs.


The Junior Aid counts as a prerequisite for the Bronze Award, the Program Aide as a prerequisite for the Silver Award, and the VIT, CIT, and CITII as prerequisite options for the Gold Award.

 

Community Advocacy Awards

Take Action Award

Available for Junior–Ambassador

Work as a team to identify a local issue, understand what’s behind it, and develop a long-lasting solution that creates real change.


Global Action Award

Available for Junior–Ambassador

Learn how different communities around the world experience similar issues. Then create a project that makes a meaningful, globally connected impact.

Either award fulfills the prerequisite for the Highest Awards when earned at your level.

The Leadership Awards help Girl Scouts grow into confident, capable leaders, whether they love creativity, teamwork, teaching younger kids, or making change in their community. Along the way, they build skills like communication, planning, collaboration, and decision-making that last far beyond Girl Scouts.

With these awards now serving as the official prerequisites for the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, they create a clear, connected leadership pathway where earning the Bronze Award can count toward Silver, and Silver can count toward Gold. That means each step builds on the last as Girl Scouts earn each of Girl Scouting’s highest honors.


If you want to learn more or explore which award is right for your Girl Scout, you can find additional details on the Leadership Awards landing page and in the full FAQs. These resources offer clear guidance, step-by-step information, and support to help every Girl Scout get started with confidence. If you have more individualized questions, reach out to your council staff.
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The New Girl Scout Leadership Awards Explained

10 Virtual Girl Scout Daisy Petal Meetings

With the rise in Covid cases across the country, many Councils are requiring leaders to have virtual meetings. Here are 10 virtual Girl Scout Daisy meetings to help with the planning.

*This post contains affiliate links.

As a nation, we have had a challenging two years. Girl Scout troops across the nation, like most schools, went to virtual learning last year. During last spring, we were finally permitted to have in person meetings.

And now, as the Covid-19 numbers rise again, many Councils are telling leaders to return to the virtual format if they want to be with their troop.

10 Virtual Girl Scout Daisy Petal Meetings


For first year Daisy leaders, this can be daunting, as they do not have the experience from last year to rely on. Add on the challenge of cookie sales, if they chose to do them, and planning virtual meetings is an added stressor.

Since we do not know how long we will be unable to meet in person, I have put together a product that has 10 Virtual Girl Scout Daisy meetings.

With the exception of the orange Daisy petal, which is new, the others are a part of the other Daisy petal products that I have created. Everything you need is included, just let the girls know what they need and your planning is done.

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10 Virtual Girl Scout Daisy Petal Meetings

Girl Scout Daisy Cookie Sale Resources

*This post contains affiliate links. 

It's that time of year...Girl Scout cookie season!

If you decided to take the plunge and sell cookies with your troop, here are some blog posts from the past to help you get your bearings.

One thing that girls love is to receive recognition for their accomplishments (and come to think of it, don't we all love to be recognized for a job well done?)

Girl Scout Daisy Cookie Sale Resources

In my Teachers Pay Teachers shop, I have a Girl Scout Daisy Certificate and Cookie Box Label product.  

The 9 items included in this resource are:

  • First Cookie Booth certificate
  • Daisy Specific Congratulations certificate
  • Hard Work certificate
  • Enthusiastic Helper certificate
  • First Cookie Booth certificate
  • Certificate of Appreciation for the girls' help
  • Certificate of Thanks for Cookie Mom
  • Certificate of Thanks for Cookie Dad
  • Set of 8 Daisy "Thank You" labels girls can cut and paste to their cookie boxes

Every girl is going to contribute in one way or another. Some may have a lot of parental support while others will have none. Girls who help at meetings can also be recognized for their efforts.

These certificates can be given at your troop cookie selling celebration. They are perfect for Girl Scout scrapbooks!

What are your cookie goals for the year?
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Girl Scout Daisy Cookie Sale Resources

Girl Scout Cookies: Unboxing the Girl Powered Future

The sweetest time of year is here! Girl Scout Cookies® are more than delicious treats—they’re building blocks for Girl Scouts to create a more equitable future for themselves and the world. Did you know the proceeds from each purchase stay local and fund Girl Scouts’ ambitions? Whether it's embarking on cross-country trips or supporting local communities, there's no limit to Unboxing the Future.

We asked our community on social how they’ve used past cookie funds, and their answers showed the impactful power of the Girl Scout Cookie Program®! Let’s take a look at how REAL Girl Scout troops have used their cookie money!

Giving Back

Girl Scouts are always looking for ways to make a positive impact in their communities. Many troops use their cookie funds to give back and help others. From donating toys and food to animal shelters to providing household products and food to local families, and bringing holiday cheer to fellow kids, cookie packages are a powerful tool for helping those in need! Moreover, cookie proceeds play a role in supporting Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award projects, which inspiring Girl Scouts use to make a difference by identifying and addressing challenges in their communities.



Badges and Activities

Girl Scouts are the champions our communities crave! Beyond selling cookies and mastering incredible skills, they channel their profits into further learning and adventure. They're shaping the future as leaders, problem-solvers, innovators, and their authentic selves, embodying the spirit of courage, confidence, and character. With each badge earned and every community project undertaken, they're building a brighter tomorrow—one step—and one cookie—at a time. Over the years, cookies have fueled pottery projects, STEM experiments, and even overnight adventures at the zoo and the aquarium!


 

Trailblazing Adventures

Have cookies, will travel! Every year, Girl Scouts across the country turn their cookie money into unforgettable trips, where they forge strong friendships and create lasting memories. Some Girl Scouts have gone on adventures in nature by embarking on weekend camping trips or traveling all the way to Yosemite National Park. Talk about taking a hike! Other Girl Scouts have explored our Movement’s history in Savannah, Georgia. More into thrill-seeking? We’ve had troops take their money to sunny California and Florida to enjoy fun-filled theme parks, and some have even traveled abroad to Europe.




Troop 70643 took two years to save and plan a week-long trip abroad, visiting London and Paris! These Girl Scouts got to see things such as the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and the Eiffel Tower.

These journeys truly give Girl Scouts new perspectives of the world they contribute to!

Entrepreneurship Endeavors



From humble beginnings to remarkable success, the journey of Girl Scout alums Taylor and Sydney Davis traces its roots back to the invaluable lessons learned during their cookie-selling days. Crediting their start-up skills to those early entrepreneurial experiences, they have nurtured the growth of their size-inclusive boutique from the ground up. When you buy a box of Girl Scout Cookies, you are directly investing in the world’s largest girl-run business. Girl Scouts everywhere are developing valuable entrepreneurial talents, just like Taylor and Sydney.

Embrace the sweetness of empowerment this cookie season by supporting local troops. Head over to girlscoutcookies.org to discover your nearest cookie booth and play a part in helping Girl Scouts in your area 'Unbox the Future.' And remember! You can always text "Cookies" to 59618 to stay up to date on all things Girl Scout Cookie.

We can’t wait to see how Girl Scouts will unbox their future this year! Make sure to tag @GirlScouts and use #GirlScoutCookieSeason in all your amazing stories on social media.
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Girl Scout Cookies: Unboxing the Girl Powered Future