Virtual Girl Scouts
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Welcome to Virtual Girl Scouts! – a fun, new way to continue to participate in Girl Scouts from home. Explore outside, experiment with coding, create beautiful art – your adventure starts now!

We are hosting interactive Facebook Events when the new activities roll out each week. However, all of these virtual Girl Scout programs can be completed at any time this summer. Girls can choose which activities that interest them most and finish at their own pace!

Activities will be connected with a badge or fun patch that can be purchased from our Online Shop. 

We wish each & every one of you health and wellness during this time! Questions? Please contact customercare@gsofsi.org or call 800.345.6858. We are here to help!

Want to get the troop together?
Find our most current guidelines for in-person activities.

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Virtual Summer Programs

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Time for some summer fun, Girl Scouts! GSofSI will be rolling out new virtual programs for you to participate in from home every month. Let's have some fun together, even if we are apart. Check out our schedule of what we have planned & check back often!

July Programs
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6/29 - 7/3: Art Attack
Let's make this summer a colorful one! Each day we will explore a different famous artist and some of their works. Then, we'll dive in and create our own masterpieces! Be sure to share pictures with us on the Art Attack Facebook Event. This program can be completed at your own pace. Art Attack Program Kits or just the Art Attack Patch can be purchased online! 

 

Monday: Roy Lichtenstein and Onomatopoeia Bubble Art

Tuesday: Piet Mondrian and My Goals Art

Wednesday: Alma Thomas and Days Filled With Color Art

Thursday: Dale Chihuly and Art Medium

Friday: Angie Lewin and Macro Nature Art

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7/6 - 7/10: Trolling Through the Summer

We all need a little music, dancing and hugs in our lives. During this colorful week we will have a musical world tour, discover the power of fashion, save the day through scrapbooking and learn some new games and recipes.

 

A spectacular program supply kit, complete with a little bit of glitter, felt and a program patch are available for purchase separately.

Monday: Musical World Tour

Tuesday: Scrapbooking Saves the Day
Felt Troll Scrapbook

Wednesday: Trolls to Accessorize! 
Crown Template

Thursday: The Power of Fashion on Zoom 
Trolling Through the Summer Games

Friday: The Biggest, Loudest, Craziest Party Ever!

COMING SOON:

7/13 - 7/17: STEM Camp Unleashed
For our 8th year of STEM camp Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois and the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville STEM Outreach Center are joining forces to bring STEM camp into your home with STEM Camp: Unleashed.  This camp is for all ages, Daisies – Ambassadors. Through live interactions on Zoom and on-your-own activities, we will explore electricity, optical illusions, pH, glow in the dark experiments and engineering challenges. The program fee includes a supply kit mailed to your home with most supplies needed to try out the experiments and a program patch. This program is for GSofSI members only - but there is still time for girls to join Girl Scouts to enjoy STEM Camp Unleashed and other virtual programs!  

Register through Doubleknot by June 22. Program fee is $30.

7/20 - 7/24: It's All Fun & Games
If games are your thing, this week is for you. We will play some games, alter game rules and design our own new games. Activities will meet some requirements from the Daisy Board Game Design Challenge, Brownie Making Games and the Coding for Good Game Design badges. So let’s meet some new friends and play! Everyone is a winner with this program. Program patch available for purchase separately.

7/27 - 7/31: An Enchanted Adventure
Apparate into a magical world where you will transfigure a recyclable into something new, study the stars above during astronomy class, develop a magical concoction during potions class, and learn to take care of your magical creatures. Finish the week by celebrating a wizardly birthday on July 31st by showing your house pride, tasting some scrumptious snacks, playing a rousing game of trivia and settling for a movie marathon. A spellbinding program supply kit and program patch are available for purchase separately.

June Programs
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6/1-6/4: Wacky Weather and What To Do With It: 
Explore weather phenomena that effects our region, such as tornadoes, thunderstorms, blazing heat and numbing cold, through hands-on activities with common household items. Become your family meteorologist when you create your own DIY weather station and also take advantage of First Aid training special offers. Program patch available for purchase in the GSofSI Local Online Shop!

Check out the Wacky Weather Week Daily Schedule! Follow along with each activity Monday - Thursday in the Facebook Event! 

Wacky Weather Resources:
Monday Activity Packet
Tuesday Activity Packet
Wednesday Activity Packet
Thursday Activity Packet
Badge & Award Connections
Wacky Weather Video Playlist

Backyard Patch

6/8 - 6/12: Best Campout Ever
Virtual Campouts? Yes, please! During this week we will be like Bigfoot while we learn about Leave No Trace, enjoy some outdoor cooking and take part in camp skill challenges. Finally cap off your week with a family campout. Whether it occurs in your backyard or in your living room, it’s sure to be a family night to remember. You can purchase your Program Kit with items necessary for the great outdoors and the patch from our GSofSI Local Online Shop. Follow along with each activity Monday - Friday in the Facebook Event!

Click here for the Best Campout Ever Daily Schedule! 

Monday: Plan Ahead and Prepare - As Leave No Trace says, ‘Know Before You Go’. Pick one national park, by clicking here, to explore with a 360-degree tour. After you know what adventures you will be going on during your trip, design an avatar who will join you on your trip. Below there are 4 activities to do on your own to plan ahead and prepare for having a campout at your home.
Family & Troop Camping Toolkit
Plan Ahead & Prepare Buddy Activity
Plan Ahead & Prepare Comic Strip Activity
Plan Ahead & Prepare Diorama Activity

Tuesday: How to Be Like Bigfoot - Who lives in the woods and never leaves a trace, but always has a smile on his face? That’s right, Bigfoot! This is why he is the mascot for Leave No Trace. As Girl Scouts we believe in ‘leaving a place better than you find it’. When we go outside we try to practice eco-friendly ethics. Which means we try to minimize our impact on the planet.
How to be Like Bigfoot

Wendesday: Get to Know Your Tools Challenge - Part o planning ahead and preparing is testing and gettting to know the tools you will be using for your trip. Take part in these challenges to get to know your tool a little better.
Multi-Tool Challenge
Whittle Challenge

Thursday: Dream Campout - One of the most important thing to plan ahaed and prepare for is what you are going to eat. Start planning your meals today for your campout this weekend. You want to make sure you have everything that you need to make this the best campout ever! Use our Dream Campout planning sheet to help you get the job done.
Dream Campout

Friday: Campfire Sing-a-long and Skits - The big day is here and we hope you are ready!  Join us for a campfire via Zoom to perform your songs and skits. Thats right! Breakout those custumes, songs and skits and ask your family to join in the fun, or you can just light a fire at your house and watch others put on a campfire show!

Who Done It Patch

6/15 - 6/19: Who Did It?
Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew and even Scooby Doo have nothing on you when you sleuth through this week. Learn about forensic science, critical thinking and maybe even a little spy craft while solving a virtual mystery puzzle. Program patch available for purchase in our GSofSI Local Online Shop! Daily activity links can be found in the Facebook Event!

Monday: The Mystery Begins - You have been recruited as a rookie member of the GSofSI Detective Agency. Work to uncover the culprit behind the Case of the Bakery Debacle as we hone our observation skills and create a crime scene sketch to put in our case files. Join the Fun!

Tuesday: BioPrints - Our investigation continues to unfold as we interview our suspects, watch for telltale signs and collect and compare fingerprints. Do you know who did it? Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions! Join the Fun!

Wednesday: Covert Operations - As we uncover more evidence, we don't know who we can trust. Us chromatography and cryptography to determine who wrote the coded message. Share the information you uncovered with your fellow detectives by writing in invisible ink. See today's special!

Thursday: Who Did It? - The final piece of the puzzle is identified when you learn to extract DNA and then compare DNA fingerprints to determine "who did it?" Learn about DNA!

Friday: Your Turn - Now it's your turn to create a mystery story, skit or even a crime scene for your friends or family to enjoy! Let's go! 

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6/22-7/31: Culinary Creator Challenge

Your delicious decorations were dazzling during the "Crushed It! Cake Challenge" earlier this summer. Now, are you ready to take on the Culinary Creator Challenge?! 

This is your chance to show everyone your expertise in the kitchen by planning, cooking and customizing something good to eat!  

For this challenge you have 2 options:

Lunch Challenge:  Make a mac n' cheese meal. For this challenge you can use any pasta and cheese that you would like. Jazz up your recipe with additional add-ins such as be meat, veggies or whatever you'd like. Adjust your recipe for any dietary restrictions that you have. 

OR

Dessert Challenge: Design a dessert for your family using the following  three items: vanilla cake mix (box or homemade), fruit (any variety, canned, frozen or fresh) and breakfast cereal (any variety). 

With either challenge make sure you follow the following steps:

  • Plan your recipe 
  • Shop (at the store or in your kitchen)
  • Create your culinary masterpiece
  • Present (show your dish in a way that makes your family want to try it right away)
  • Taste

Last, round up your family judges and give them a copy of the score sheet to decide if you are a Master Culinary Creator.

Be sure to share pictures of your creation on the Culinary Creator Challenge Facebook event page. If you'd like, include a recipe so others can give it a try! Good Luck chefs!

May Programs

May Illinois State Parks Be With You:

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MONDAY 5/25: Take the national Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge! Check out the activities list and choose the ones you want to do to earn yourself a cool new patch. While safely socially distancing, explore the outdoors from your window, front step, laptop or the wide open trail! The Girl Scouts Love the Outdoors Challenge kicks off in May and ends with Girl Scouts Love State Parks Weekend on September 12 and 13, 2020.

TUESDAY 5/26: Tips and Tricks for the Trail  - Learn how to use a compass and what to wear and pack for the trail with GSofSI Program Engagement Manager Anne "Cupquake" Townsend and friends! 

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WEDNESDAY 5/27: Learn more about your local state parks & earn the Giant City State Park Patch! Use the Giant City State Park Booklet & the park map on your adventure.

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THURSDAY 5/28: Learn more about your local state parks & earn the Cache River State Park Patch! Use the Cache River State Park Booklet & the park map on your adventure.

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FRIDAY 5/29: Learn more about your local state parks & earn the Beall Woods State Park Patch! Use the Beall Woods State Park Booklet & the park map on your adventure.


Use #GSoutdoors & tag GSofSI when you share your photos online - we love to see them! Download a copy of the May Illinois State Parks Be With You Daily Schedule!

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Community Service Projects

Letter Writing Community Service Project

The idea is simple: girls write letters to people in nursing homes, senior residences, and assisted living facilities, including the dedicated staff and caregivers. This long-distance hug is a way to share your good thoughts with these vulnerable and loved community members.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Ask your girls (and their friends!) to write letters to senior and caretakers using our tips (PDF).

  2. You can mail letters to one of the facilities (PDF) or reach out to a local assisted living center and find out how they would like to receive your troop’s letters. You could collect and deliver them (using no-contact practices), have girls mail them individually, or even deliver them via email. Don’t forget to include a note to tell the staff about the letters you’re sending (DOC).

  3. Take a picture of your letter packet and post it to your social media networks using #GirlScoutsGiveBack (and be sure to tag us @girlscouts).

  4. Don't forget to come back here and log the number of letters to add them to the national campaign! Let’s see how many letters of love and care our Movement can send!

  5. If you wish to recognize your troop’s participation with a patch, we recommend this Girl Scouts Give Back patch.

 Check out some more detailed guidance (PDF).

Mask Making Community Service Project

Now, with this nationwide mask-making campaign, all girls have the chance to step up to help their friends, neighbors, and frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. And we’ve partnered with Feeding America, a network of local food banks across the U.S., to make it easy for your girls to amplify their efforts.

  1. Ask your girls (and their friends!) to make masks for adults and kids. Use the instructions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If your troop chooses to make masks for other kids, use 7.5” x 9” cloth instead.

  2. When you are ready to send your masks, you can include a letter like this (PDF).

  3. You can safely distribute masks where you see the greatest need in your community (check out these ideas). Through our partnership with Feeding America, your troop can easily donate (PDF) masks to your local food bank staff and families that rely on food bank services.

  4. Inspire others to give back! Snap a photo of your troop’s masks and post to your social networks using the hashtag #GirlScoutsGiveBack. Be sure to tag @girlscouts too!

  5. Don’t forget to come back and log the number of masks you made!

  6. If you wish to recognize your troop’s participation with a patch, we recommend this Mask Making Patch. 

 Check out some more detailed guidance (PDF).

Girl Scouts Give Back: Citizen Scientist

How can you play a part in solving some of the biggest problems facing our planet? Enter citizen science, where volunteers help scientists collect data for their studies and experiments. Anyone can be a citizen scientist—all you need is curiosity and a willingness to help! 

This summer, your troop can contribute to important scientific research by participating in one of our Girl Scouts Give Back citizen science projects. We’ve partnered with SciStarter, an online citizen science community, to help get you going!

Here’s how your troop can make a difference: 

  1. Choose either the Great Sunflower Project (for girls of all ages) or the Globe at Night project (for Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors) to create an account for your troop on SciStarter. 

  2. Read the project’s instructions on your SciStarter dashboard and gather the needed tools and materials.

  3. Collect data for the project using the recommended tools and materials, and log the data using your SciStarter dashboard.

  4. Snap a photo of your troop’s work and share on social media using #GirlScoutsGiveBack (be sure to tag @girlscouts). Don’t forget to add your project to be counted as participating in our national service projects.

  5. If you wish to recognize your troop’s participation with a patch, we recommend the Girl Scouts Give Back patch. 

Want to learn more about citizen science? For a limited time only, you can download all activity instructions and the Take Action Guide for the Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey for free from the Girl Scout Shop! 

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Girl Scouts Take Action Against Racism

A Message from Our CEO Loretta Graham
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As America wrestles with the impact of racism, Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois focuses on the solution. Children often learn racism at home. Girl Scouts teaches another perspective: respect for all, inclusivity and equity. Girls of all races experience equal opportunities to lead, set goals and achieve them. They work together on service projects, learn entrepreneurship and have fun together.

Every February, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts celebrates the diversity, equity and inclusion in Girl Scout and Girl Guide troops. Girls at every level of Girl Scouting participate in World Thinking Day, celebrating the diverse global sisterhood of Girl Scouts + Girl Guides. Troops include girls of all races, ethnicities and abilities throughout the year and ensure everyone is treated fairly.

As an African American female leader, I believe getting to know people of other cultures and races is key to ending racism. My dream is that we all understand people are people, no matter what color a person’s skin is, where they were born, or what religion they belong to. We have similar needs and desires. We all want to live in peace, make a decent living and raise healthy families. Girl Scouts arms girls with the courage, confidence and character to be leaders in their schools, communities and careers. They will be leaders of the next generation’s continued fight to end the impact of racism.

I care deeply about ending racism because I grew up in the Deep South. My father was a sharecropper in rural South Carolina who died when I was a child. My mother was a strong, optimistic woman who worked as a school custodian. She wanted better for her 14 children. So, she talked the school administration into allowing her children to attend the white high school. We lived on the white side of the tracks and were decidedly different because of our mother.

My first assignment in my Girl Scout career was in North Dakota, a place with few black people. I like to say country music star Charley Pride and I were the only two black people there. My 26 years in North Dakota built bridges. My colleagues, Girl Scout volunteers, friends and neighbors learned that I am a lot like them!

Girl Scouts of the USA proclaims “Racism and hate have no place here.” Girl Scouts are preparing for lifelong leadership around critical issues. I invite you to enroll your girl in Girl Scouts or renew her membership to continue our journey together. 

Girl Scouts Resources to Take Action Against Racism
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Virtual Patches

Pillar Power Patch Program
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We know that with everything going on it can be a little overwhelming to fit in badge work. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois believe that through the four pillars of Girl Scouts we can find ways to continue being women of courage and confidence that make the world a better place. All it takes is making sure that we have a solid foundation to build upon.

The foundation of Girl Scouts consists of Life Skills, Outdoor, STEM and Entrepreneurship. As we are transitioning to spending more time virtually, it can be a challenge to experience activities in each pillar. To make sure you get to experience all that Girl Scouts has to offer, we are giving you this Pillar Power challenge.

To complete the challenge, all you need to do is consult our Pillar Power Chart of Activities and find a way to incorporate something from each pillar into your ongoing life. Below is a list of how many activites from each pillar your Girl Scout level must complete:

  • Daisy - Complete 1 activity from each pillar.
  • Brownie - Complete 2 activities from each pillar.
  • Junior - Complete 3 activities from each pillar.
  • Cadette - Complete 4 activities from each pillar.
  • Senior - Complete 5 activites from each pillar.
  • Ambassador - Complete 6 activities from each pillar.

  Pillar Power Activities Chart
 Pillar Power Grade Level Requirements

Other Virtual Patch Progams
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We love to see our Girl Scouts succeed! Share your pics and videos with us for a chance to be featured on GSofSI social media and to help keep the true green Girl Scout spirit going strong! 

FB: www.facebook.com/GirlScoutsofSouthernIllinois
IG: www.instagram.com/GirlScoutsofSouthernIllinois
Twitter: www.twitter.com/GSofSI                                                       

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Past Virtual Programs

While the interactive Facebook Events connected to these programs have passed, these fun virtual Girl Scout programs can still be completed at girls own pace! 

Activities will be connected with a badge or fun patch that can be purchased from our Online Shop. 

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Virtual Program Spirit Weeks

Participate in our Virtual Program Spirit Weeks! Check out our Girl Scouts of Southern Ilinois Facebook page to find each week's event where you can learn how to get involved & have some fun while earning patches!

Outdoor Pillar: Earth Day Spirit Week

Help us celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day! While Earth Day Spirit Week has passed, there's still time to enjoy the activities at home! Please note: the Earth Day patch has sold out!  

Each day of the week offers a challenge that connects you back to Mother Earth. Once you've completed the activities, order the Earth Day patch in our GSofSI Online Shop. LIMITED RESTOCK OF PATCHES AVAILABLE!

GSofSI Earth Day Celebration videos on YouTube! 

Life Skills Pillar: Crushed It Cake Challenge
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Girl Scouts! Challenge yourself and participate in our first ever Crushed It! Cake Decorating Challenge!

All Girl Scouts Daisy-Ambassador can join the fun! Your family will come up with your cake decorating challenge and be the judge & jury if you CRUSHED IT! All cakes will be displayed at the end of our challenge on our GSofSI Facebook Page. 

Please photos submit to our Crushed It! Cake Challenge Facebook Event! 

GS Journey: Frozen Fun Spirit Week
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Frozen Fun Spirit Week has passed, but there is still time to join the fun and earn the Frozen Fun patch at home!There is a frosty activity for each day of the week. Check out the Frozen Fun Spirit Week Schedule! All levels are welcome to participate in the fun. Once you complete each activity, you can order the Frozen Fun patch. 

See the Frozen Fun Spirit Week Facebook Event!

Monday: Make Your Own Snow STEM Challenge
Tuesday: Frozen Fun Scavenger Hunt
Wednesday: Frozen Fun Craft Night
Thursday: Zoom Sing-Along with Special Guests (Link to be shared in event)
Friday: Movie Marathon with Reindeer Munchies

Frozen Fun Week Videos on YouTube! 

Entrepreneurship Pillar: Innovation Week
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Stretch your imagination, explore your creativity and discover ways to bring your brilliant ideas to life. Learn about great inventors and how you can use science to solve a problem or create something new. Find inspiration for an idea that could change the world! Investigate innovation by completing at least 2 of the DIY Innovation Activities on your own. 

Order the Girls in Innovation patch from our GSofSI Online Shop

Check out the Innovation Week Daily Schedule!
Check out the Innovation Week Facebook Event!

DIY Innovation Activities:

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The 4 Pillars & Girl Scout Journey

Participate in our Pillar A Day Program! Over the course of 5 weeks girls in each grade level can earn 4 badges and a journey. Each week (for 5 weeks) we released the next step for each badge. Mondays were Life Skills, Tuesdays were Entrepreneurship, Wednesdays were STEM, Thursdays were Outdoor, and Fridays were Girl Scout Journey.

Life Skills

Week Three:
Daisy - Good Neighbor Badge
Brownie - My Best Self Badge
Junior - Staying Fit Badge
Cadette - Eating for Beauty Badge
Senior - Cross Training Badge
Ambassador - Dinner Party Badge

Week Four:
Daisy - Learning to Draw
Brownie - My Best Self Badge
Junior - Staying Fit Badge
Cadette - Eating for Beauty Badge
Senior - Cross Training Badge
Ambassador - Dinner Party Badge

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Entrepreneurship

Week One:
Daisy - Money Counts Badge
Brownie - Philanthropist Badge
Junior - Savvy Shopper Badge
Cadette - Budgeting Badge
Senior - Financing My Future Badge
Ambassador - On My Own Badge

Week Two:
Daisy - Money Counts Badge
Brownie - Philanthropist Badge
Junior - Savvy Shopper Badge
Cadette - Budgeting Badge
Senior - Financing My Future Badge
Ambassador - On My Own Badge

Week Three:
Daisy - Money Counts Badge
Brownie - Philanthropist Badge
Junior - Savvy Shopper Badge
Cadette - Budgeting Badge
Senior - Financing My Future Badge
Ambassador - On My Own Badge

Week Four:
Daisy - Money Counts Badge
Brownie - Philanthropist Badge
Junior - Savvy Shopper Badge
Cadette - Budgeting Badge
Senior - Financing My Future Badge
Ambassador - On My Own Badge

Week Five:
Daisy - Money Counts Badge
Brownie - Philanthropist Badge
Junior - Savvy Shopper Badge
Cadette - Budgeting Badge
Senior - Financing My Future Badge
Ambassador - On My Own Badge

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STEM
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Outdoor

Week One:
Daisy - Outdoor Art Maker
Brownie - Outdoor Art Creator
Junior - Outdoor Art Explorer
Cadette - Outdoor Art Apprentice
Senior - Outdoor Art Expert
Ambassador - Outdoor Art Master

Week Two:
Daisy - Outdoor Art Maker
Brownie - Outdoor Art Creator
Junior - Outdoor Art Explorer
Cadette - Outdoor Art Apprentice
Senior - Outdoor Art Expert
Ambassador - Outdoor Art Master

Week Three:
Daisy - Outdoor Art Maker
Brownie - Outdoor Art Creator
Junior - Outdoor Art Explorer
Cadette - Outdoor Art Apprentice
Senior - Outdoor Art Expert
Ambassador - Outdoor Art Master

Week Four:
Daisy - Outdoor Art Maker
Brownie - Outdoor Art Creator
Junior - Outdoor Art Explorer
Cadette - Outoor Art Apprentice
Senior - Outdoor Art Expert
Ambassador - Outdoor Art Master

Week Five:
Daisy - Outdoor Art Maker
Brownie - Outdoor Art Creator
Junior - Outdoor Art Explorer
Cadette - Outdoor Art Apprentice
Senior - Outdoor Art Expert
Ambassador - Outdoor Art Master

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Girl Scout Journey
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Girl Scouts of the USA

Additional self-guided "Girl Scouts at Home" activities can be found on Girl Scouts of the USA's website! 

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Volunteer Resources

Volunteer Support
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