We just wrapped up our 2nd Cookie Selling season as a troop-and I must say, it was a great success! So proud of the Parents and Brownies-participation was absolutely more than I ever expected. I just contribute the success this year to the wonderful Brownies we have in Troop #234! I will be doing a post soon with some highlights of our Cookie Sales this year real soon. In the meantime, I wanted to go over some information about the difference between Fun patches and badges.
Fun Patches
Fun Patches only go on the back of your Brownies vest. I think of them as a wearable scrapbook of not only their Girl Scout Brownie experience, but an opportunity to commemorate special milestones in their sweet little lives on an ongoing basis. Lots of troops only allow their members to place Fun Patches on their vests/sashes that they have earned along with their troop. I don't find that that should be so with our troop. I feel that if your daughter visits somewhere that impacts her life and she wants to make a memory with a patch they have available, please feel free. You may also set certain criteria and earn other patches-like this cool cosmic bowling patch below.
You may also pick up patches while you are on vacation-you certainly earn these!
It's completely up to the Parents how they want to handle distributing fun patches to your Brownie. Fill up the back of that vest-you can always buy another one!
Official Badges
Only Official Girl Scout Badges, Pins and Insignia are placed on the front of our Girl Scout Brownie vests. I think of the front of the vest to be the side that shows true earned accomplishments-its all business. For instance, we earned a Cookie Badge similar to this one during our Cookie season this year. This Badge is placed on the front because it says to other Girl Scouts that you've worked hard to earn this badge and have satisfied the requirements as laid out by Girl Scouts of America. So, for the front of the vest, you only place badges approved by your leader. (Me) Now, that being said, I am 100% in favor of any girl earning badges on their own, away from the troop. I'm happy to help anytime, if any Brownie expresses her desire to work independently-just let me know!
In closing, the stuff below supposedly works wonders on attaching Patches and badges. Most of our Girl Scout patches/Badges are iron-on. I haven't felt the need to buy any of the additional stuff made by various companies to adhere the patches because I just take a couple of minutes and run a quick needle and thread around my girls patches/badges to ensure they stay put.
Press on the link above to purchase on amazon!
Please remember, our ultimate goal always is to use our troop as a way to keep our girls close to us, and to supply a safe haven for them. Rules and regulations do not matter, and everything is fixable. Finally, some words from the fabulous first girl scout ever:
Badges mean nothing in themselves, but they mark a certain achievement and they are a link between the rich and the poor. For when one girl sees a badge on a sister Scout's arm, if that girl has won the same badge, it at once awakens an interest and sympathy between them.
Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low
