Celebrate the Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday

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In 1984, the GSUSA created Girl Scout Daisies. Until that time, girls had to wait until they were in first grade to join a Brownie troop.

Was Leading a Daisy Troop Different in 1984?

Forty years ago, leading Daisies looked different. 

First of all, this level was only for kindergarteners. (Brownies were from first to third grade). This first year was simply a gentle introduction to being a Girl Scout. 

Leaders focused on creating sisterhood and having meetings that centered around the Girl Scout Law. There were no badges to earn and leaders were not allowed to sell cookies or do any other fundraising.

Daisies could join older scouts at events and spend the day at camp. This way, they could learn the traditions and get ready for their own overnight camping experiences ahead.

Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday Celebration Ideas

Since 2024 is the 40th birthday of the Daisy level, you can celebrate any time this year. Here are some things that you can use for your celebratory meeting.

Note-Oriental Trading has coupons and free shipping all the time. Be on the lookout for promo codes. You can also get things for future meetings and save money. Everything you buy for your meetings is reimbursable, so save your receipt.

You can find the complete line of Daisy tableware here.

Girl Scout Daisy Tablecloth

This Daisy themed table covering is made of thin, disposable plastic, making cleanup easy when the meeting is over. It is slightly transparent. 54" x 108"

Available at Oriental Trading

Daisy Luncheon Napkins

There are sixteen luncheon napkins in this set. Each napkin is 6.5 inches.

Available at Oriental Trading

Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday Meeting Ideas

Ask the girls what they think being a Daisy Scout was like forty years ago. They may not have a concept of how much time that actually is, but I am sure the responses will be interesting!

You may want to have some items that show the number 40-a bag of Legos, cereal, buttons-a visual so the girls can conceptualize what this number is.

Once that discussion is over, have the girl play some 80s games.

1980s Outdoor Games

If you have some outdoor space or have a large indoor space, here are some 1980s games that Daisies would have played. These are sure to get the wiggles out. You can find a complete description on how to play these games in this blog post.

• S.P.U.D.
• Red Light, Green Light
• Four Square
• Red Rover
• Chinese Jump Rope (this was my troop's favorite game to play)

1980s Indoor Activities

You can teach the girls hand claps from this era. There are many on YouTube that you can view and learn.

Another fun indoor activity you can do is to teach the girls some of the dances from the 80s, like the Electric Slide, the Sprinkler, the Running Man, the Cabbage Patch and the Pendulum. Play some 80s music while you dance. If you are not familiar with these move, you can watch a YouTube video.

Crafts for the Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday

Once you have done some big energy activities, it is time for a quieter one. This Beaded Butterfly & Daisy Charm Bracelet Craft Kit makes 12.

This set comes with 12 individually packaged, easy-to-assemble kits. Each kit includes colorful and faceted plastic beads, enamel charms, stretchy cord, extra pieces and instructions.

Available at Oriental Trading

Another thing you can do for your craft is have the girls decorate their own cupcake. Your local supermarket, if asked in advance, can make unfrosted cupcakes for you if you do not have the time to bake them yourself. Have some white frosting, some blue and white sprinkles, and some mini chocolate chips for topping.

Fun Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday Favors

Here are some things your girls might like as a party favor.

Daisy Silly Straws

These come five to a package and are something the girls can use at home to remember this fun day.

Available at Oriental Trading

Daisy Head Boppers

These will make a fun photo for your Daisy Memory book or scrapbook! They come 12 to a package.

Available on Oriental Trading

What is your troop going to do to celebrate the Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday?

Girl Scout Leap Year Meeting

If you want to take a break from regular badge work, here is a once every four years Girl Scout Leap Year meeting.

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For many leaders who are in the cookie zone, the end of February may seem like a long way off. Booth sales, cookie meetings, and cookie cupboard pickups are front and center right now. Even though it is a few weeks away, it isn’t too soon to start planning your upcoming meetings.

This year, in 2024, leaders have the once every four years opportunity to celebrate Leap Year with their troop. Daisies don’t remember what a Leap Year is, as they were toddlers the last time one occurred in 2020. 

Leaders, here is an opportunity for your troop to celebrate February 29th, 2024 with this Girl Scout Leap Year Meeting resource.

Girl Scout Leap Year Meeting

 

Available on TpT

Included in this resource:

• Leap Year trivia game
• Movement activities
• Thinking games
• Recipes and other food activities
• Future Me page
• Coloring pages
• All printables

What are you planning to do for your Girl Scout Leap Year meeting?

Free Girl Scout World Thinking Day 2024 Resources

If you need help planning, here are free Girl Scout World Thinking Day 2024 resources for leaders to use.

World Thinking Day is an annual celebration that takes place on February 22nd by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all around the world. The day is a reminder of the impact that young girls and women can have on their communities and the world as a whole. In 2024, the theme for World Thinking Day is “Our World, Our Thriving Future: The environment and global poverty” .”

Girl Scouts and Girl Guides from different countries use this day to celebrate the diverse cultures and traditions of their fellow members. They also take this opportunity to learn about global issues and take action to make the world a better place.

One way that Girl Scouts can participate in World Thinking Day is by earning the World Thinking Day award. This award encourages girls to learn about different cultures and traditions, as well as take action to make a positive impact in their communities. Another way to celebrate this day is by organizing cultural events, such as food festivals, dances, and performances, that showcase the diversity of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world.

What is the Theme for Girl Scout World Thinking Day 2024?

The theme for Girl Scout World Thinking Day 2024 is “Our World, Our Thriving Future: The environment and global poverty” ” explores the link between poverty and the environment and find out how these problems are even more challenging for girls and women in your community and around the world.

Free WTD Planner Available on TpT

Does My Troop Have to Celebrate World Thinking Day 2024 on February 22nd?

This question was raised in one of the Facebook groups that I belong to. After reading the responses from other leaders, I did my own research just to be sure what was posted was correct.

The answer is no, you do not have to celebrate World Thinking Day 2024 on the exact day, or even in February. Fit it in when it works for your troop.

From the GSUSA website:

“Making the world a better place is Girl Scout Law, so it’s no surprise we have a holiday dedicated to doing just that. Each February 22, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides across 150 countries celebrate World Thinking Day. It’s a day of international friendship and a time to stand up for causes that could improve the lives of girls around the globe. And while the holiday itself comes in February, the World Thinking Day Award can be earned at any time of year.“

This news will be a welcome bit of information, as so many are knee deep into cookies sales and earning cookie badges.

Free Girl Scout Thinking Day 2024 Resources for Leaders

WAGGS and the Girl Scout of the USA website have you covered with free World Thinking Day resources for leaders.

The Girl Scout Shop has the patch for the girls’ uniform, as well as two PDFs for you to use. Look under the patch description and click on the correct link.

Daisy, Brownie and Junior requirements can be found here.

Cadette, Senior and Ambassador requirements can be found here.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts website has a downloadable activity packet here.

Free WTD Passport Available on TpT

Do Troops Still Learn About Girl Scouts in Different Countries for World Thinking Day 2024?

In the past, learning about other countries was the focus of World Thinking Day. Now the focus is on the how sisters in scouting around the world can help our planet.

If you decide that you want to focus on one country, you can read this blog post and get your free printable passports.

Here is a free printable planner that you can use to organize your World Thinking Day 2024 meeting. I also have a free printable passport to use atyour meeting.

If you wish to play games from other countries, check out this blog post with games from around the world.

When does your troop plan to celebrate Girl Scout World Thinking Day 2024?

Girl Scout Daisy Create and Innovate Badge

*This post contains affiliate links.

Children are naturally creative. Leaders will harness this ability to earn the Girl Scout Daisy Create and Innovate badge. Leaders who have covered the petals in previous meeting and have new girls who have not earned them will find this product useful, as the activities cover the concepts. It also serves as a review for the girls who have earned them already.

Because of the hands on activities, this badge will require two meetings to complete.

Available on TpT

Included in this resource:

• Introduction activity
• Recycle craft for Step 1 (great for review of the green petal, Use Resources Wisely)
• Two activities for Step 2 and a movement activity for introducing what they will be doing. Craft can review/earn the light green Daisy petal, Considerate and Caring.
• Easy closing activity for Step 3
• All printables
• List of materials needed for each activity

Find the Girl Scout Daisy Create and Innovate badge meeting plans here.

The Girl Scout Daisy Snacks Badge Has Arrived!

 *This post contains affiliate links.

When my daughter was a Daisy Scout back in 2008-2010, there were no badges to earn. Fast forward to now, and there are so many choices for leaders to use with their girls.

One choice that is missing from the roster of Daisy badges is a food oriented badge. Every other level has one or two. When a leader has a multi-level troop, she has no badge option for her Daisies to earn; all she can give them is a fun patch.

I have created an unofficial Girl Scout Daisy Snacks badge, complete with requirements! Whether you are a Daisies only level troop or a multi-level troop, this badge your girls will enjoy earning.

What is the Girl Scout Daisy Snacks Badge?

The badge requirements include a preparation page with an introduction and a list of what items are needed. 

While Daisy badges require only three steps for completion, four steps are included. This gives leaders choices and also makes it easier to integrate with your Brownies who are earning their Snacks badge.

The options are:

• Make a Savory Snack
• Make a Sweet Snack
• Snacks for Energy
• Slurp a Snack

All of the steps include multiple recipes and are no bake. There are alternative options for those who have peanut allergies in the troop.

In addition, the snacks are easy for the girls to prepare.

The badge has an iron on backing-no sewing required!

Where on the Uniform Can You Place the Girl Scout Daisy Snacks Badge?

The Snacks badge is unofficial, so technically, it is supposed to go on the back of the vest. 

That being said, there are no badge police and you can place it on the front. That is what I did for my daughter when she earned some unofficial badges. No one said a word as she proudly bridged to Adult and those badges were on the front of her vest!

You can find the unofficial Girl Scout Daisy Snacks badge here on Etsy.

The Easiest Girl Scout Kaper Chart Ever (and it’s not a chart!)

Giving girls jobs keep them actively involved with every troop meeting. Here is the easiest Girl Scout Kaper chart that leaders will use for years!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Over the years, I have written extensively about Girl Scout Kaper charts (you can check out those posts here).

Recently, a leader in a Girl Scout Facebook group recently shared her version of a kaper chart, and it is mic drop genius!

I remember schlepping my large poster board kaper chart in from Daisies until 5th grade Juniors. In bad weather, I had to put it in a black garbage bag so it would not get ruined. It was one more large thing to juggle, along with my leader bag and bags of craft, cooking, or other materials for the meeting. Since we met after school, my daughter could not help me and my co-leader was coming straight from work.

This Girl Scout Kaper chart is not a chart, is easy to carry into each meeting, and is a low out of pocket (and reimbursable) expense.

Girl Scout Kaper Chart (that is not a chart)

These are wrist keychain key tags with a stretchy coil and they come in 10 assorted colors. Write the kaper on each tag and that scout wears that tag during the meeting.

Available on Amazon

Another Version of the Keyring

Available on Amazon

These are wrist keychain key tags with a stretchy coil and they come in 10 assorted colors. Write the kaper on each tag and that scout wears that tag during the meeting.

One way to keep it "fair" with assigning jobs (you know how young children stand on that hill), put the wristlets into a gift bag or lunch bag. As part of you opening, have each girl turn her head and reach into the bag. That is her kaper for that meeting.

If you want, on a simple chart, your co-leader can keep track of who does each job at the meeting.

Need Ideas for Girl Scout Kaper Chart Jobs?

In order for this to work, each scout needs a job. Here are some ideas:

• Lead the Pledge of Allegiance
• Flag Holder
• Lead the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law
• Take attendance
• Set up craft stations
• Pass out papers or craft supplies
• Bathroom buddy
• Floater (substitute if someone is absent)
• Push in chairs
• Clean up crew
• Game leader (selects the game your troop will play)
• Lead songs
• Lead a game
• Lead goodbye

What do you think about this kind of Girl Scout kaper chart?

Girl Scout Daisy Craft and Tinker Meeting Plans

*This post contains affiliate links. 

The Girls Scouts of the USA have issued some new badges for Daisies, Brownie and Juniors. One of the newest badges is the Girl Scout Daisy Craft and Tinker Badge.

What is the Girl Scout Daisy Craft and Tinker Badge?

The Girl Scout Daisy Craft and Tinker Badge badge will have your troop  creating something new, but thinking about who they are making it for and what they need to make it work. They will get to use different craft tools to make a gift for someone special.

Available on TpT

What's included in this resource:

• All three steps
• Hands on stations activity for Step 1
• Choice of three different age appropriate crafts for Step 2
• Easy discussion for Step 3

You can get the Girl Scout Daisy Craft and Tinker badge meeting plan here.

Girl Scout Daisy to Brownie Bridging Guide 2023

Leaders who have first grade kindergarten Girl Scout Daisies will be bridging to Brownies before the girls enter second grade.

Hosting a Daisy to Brownie bridging ceremony is not a stressful event if you keep it simple.

In this updated Girl Scout Daisy to Brownie bridging guide, read how to create your own special and memorable event for your troop.

Free Girl Scout Week 2023 Resources for Leaders

Are you looking for free Girl Scout Week 2023 resources? Here is a list to help you organize the third Girl Scout holiday of the year.

There are three Girl Scout holidays on the calendar. The first is Girl Scout Founder's Day, which takes place on October 31st. The second is World Thinking Day, which is February 22nd.

The third holiday is Girl Scout Week, which takes place around the same time each year in March. It always falls sometime during the week of March 12th, which is the day Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scout movement.

When is Girl Scout Week 2023?

This year, Girl Scout Week 2023 takes place from March 12th through March 18th.

When a troop celebrates Girl Scout Week, most of the activities are individual. The exception to that is when a girl goes to her place of worship to celebrate to participate in the service. This year, those dates are:

Girl Scout Sunday (Christian)—Sunday, March 12, 2023

Girl Scout Jummah (Muslim)—Friday, March 17, 2023

Girl Scout Sabbath/Shabbat (Jewish)—Friday/Saturday, March 17–18, 2023

For more resources and information, head on over to my main Girl Scout blog for a complete list of free resources.

Girl Scout Daisy Valentine’s Day Meeting

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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.

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.

200 Plastic Valentine's Day Bags Available on Amazon

Two Pounds of Conversation Hearts

Available on Amazon

Free Girl Scout Cookie Thank You Printables

Cookie sales are in full swing across many parts of the country. One way to jazz up your cookie boxes and bags is to use these four free Girl Scout cookie box tags to thank your customers.

There are four designs, including:

One for Daisy Scouts

One for Brownie Scouts

One for Junior Scouts

One multi-purpose tag that can be used for multi-level troops, older scouts, and any level of scouts.

How Can Leaders Use Free Girl Scout Cookie Thank You Printables?

You can go to your local Office Max or Staples and have copies run off for your troop. Hand the girls a few pages of each appropriate tag for them to glue or donut tape to the box. This is good for walkabouts.

These tags can be stapled to shopping bags if people are buying large quantities at your booth or when delivering pre-orders.

You can get your four free Girl Scout thank you printables here!

How to Earn All Four Girl Scout Daisy Cookie Badges

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Cookie season is one of the busiest times for a Girl Scout leader, especially if it is your first or even you second year participating.

You will still be running meetings alongside cookie sales, so you time to plan has been stretched even further. Many leaders want their girls to earn one of the cookie badges since it is relevant during cookie season. 

In order to save you time, I have created meeting plans for all of the badges.

Which Girl Scout Daisy Badges Do Troops Earn First?

The four badges are structured so that you earn one cookie badge and one financial badge each year. These badges are replacing the leaves that were once part of the daisy.

Available on Teachers Pay Teachers

Available on Teachers Pay Teachers

My First Cookie Business and My Money Choices are meant to be earned Year One.

Cookie Goal Setter and Money Explorer are meant to be earned Year Two.

Available on Teachers Pay Teachers

Available on Teachers Pay Teachers

Do You Have to Earn the Girl Scout Daisy Cookie Badges in Order?

There is no hard and fast rule for badge earning at any level. While the GSUSA has made it easier for leaders by assigning badges to specific years, you can mix it up if you want. The only thing I will warn is that the set of Year Two badges is a bit more advanced, so you may need to adapt the activities for kindergarteners.

What Badges Should Second Year Daisies Do if This is Their First Year Selling Girl Scout Cookies?

My suggestion to you is to earn the Year One badges for this troop of girls. It is really as basic as it gets and the girls will find the activities easier.

Can a Second Year Daisy Troop Earn All Four Badges in One Year?

While the simple answer is yes, you can earn all four in one year, I want you to think about why you want to do this. The badges are very repetitive. The reason for this is just like school...you build on what you learned the previous year. You don't start doing long division in first grade, you learn your math facts and build up to long division.

Because the activities are repetitive, you might want to "double dip", ie, use one activity for two badges. That is not allowed. Each badge has three steps and you need to do all three in order to earn the badge. Badge earning is not a competition to see who can fill up their uniform the fastest. It is a learning experience.

Girl Scout Daisy Print and Go Booth Decor

In the early 2010's, the GSUSA promoted "Blinging Your Booth", aka, decorating it to attract customers. It is one more layer to cookie sales that leaders may not have time to do.

I have just the product for you!

The Girl Scout Daisy Cookie Booth Decor Kit is all print and go. 

Available on Teachers Pay Teachers

What badges is your troop earning for cookie season?