Updated October 2019
When I started leading my Girl Scout Daisy troop back in 2008, I had no idea what the difference was between a Girl Scout badge and a fun patch. A badge is something the girls earn by doing various activities towards a specific goal and is worn on the front of the uniform.
A fun patch can be given for participating in an event or an activity. For example, if your troop does a food drive for a community service project, then you can buy each girl who participated a fun patch for that activity. These are sewn onto the back of a tunic, vest, or sash.
Photos by Hannah Gold and image created on Canva
To tell the truth, I never bought a single fun patch for the girls in my troop during their two years as Daisy Scouts. One reason is that we had no funds other than the $25 dues that I collected from each girl. The other reason is that the Girl Scout store was a trip for me and it was difficult to get there when my children were younger.
Personally, while I see merit in wanting to have some Girl Scout fun patches, I don't understand why every single thing a troop does requires a fun patch. When I see photos of girls who need extra material to put these patches, I think of "mompetition". To me, it screams the following:
"My troop has more patches than your troop."
"See how active we are."
"I'm a very involved leader."
Maybe it is because I am an older, wiser mom and troop leader, but I think it is silly to waste all that money on patches. Badges, yes, patches, no. Even when my troop became older, I only bought special fun patches. For example, we scrapbooked for years, so every girl received that patch. For our canned food drive for our Girl Scout 100th anniversary community service project back in 2012, I bought a patch for both of those occasions. When we went on a Build a Bear field trip, each girl received a fun patch as part of the trip.
Photo by Hannah Gold
If you are interested in learning more about fun patches, you can read this blog post that explains it all.
There are many places online where you can buy fun patches for your troop. Here are some of them.
Making Friends
The Making Friends website is one place I used many times over the years when my troop was younger. Not only do they have free printables and craft ideas, they sell tons of reasonably priced fun patches. Sign up for the emails and find out when the sales are happening.
Snappy Logos
Snappy Logos is a site leaders love. Not only can you find reasonably priced patches, there are sale and clearance patches as well. In addition, you have flat rate shipping. You can stock up on your badges and buy them all at once. Don't worry about ordering extras, you can save them for girls who may lose one or you can resell them in Girl Scout Facebook groups.
BCG Patches
This site was launched by Lora Brinkman, a Girl Scout leader who saw her girls bored by traditional programs. In addition to patch programs and patches, she also some downloadable freebies.
Advantage Emblem
This site make all kinds of custom designs and patches. You can find Girl Scout fun patches here.
eBay
You can buy buy one patch or a lot of patches on eBay. Just search what you are looking for and see what pops up in your search.
Fun patches are nice to have, but don't go spending all of your cookie money on dues on them.
I run the group fun patches to buy and sell on facebook. By doing group orders I help troops save tons of money!
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