Here are 10 ideas for older Girl Scouts who are no longer interested in earning badges.
Keeping older girls in scouting is a challenging task as they get older. Here are 10 ideas to do if they no longer want to do badge work. Besides fun trips or hanging out with previously earned cookie money, what can a troop do to stay together?
Service Ideas for Older Girl Scouts
Check Your Local Girl Scout Camp
Do any of your local Girl Scout camps need anything? Is there any clean up or repair your troop can do? Can they make a rock garden or a build a small bridge to be used for bridging ceremonies? Ask your Council what your troop can do.
Working with Senior Citizens
Four years ago, pre-pandemic, I wrote this blog post Activities for Visiting a Nursing Home A Girl Scout Service Project With Heart. It had many ideas for working with older adults. Since every area and every facility has their own visiting policies, check with them and see if you can do the following.
Have your troop visit and talk to people in an elderly care home. Have them record or write down the stories the residents tell them. They can type p the stories, put them in a book with each resident’s picture, and make copies for each person. They can be bound inexpensively at Staples or OfficeMax.
You can also have the girls put on a Talent Show or perform songs for the residents.
Girls can make no sew fleece blankets for the residents.
Volunteer at Ronald McDonald House
Older girls can make dinner with the residents and play games with them as well.
Make Backpacks for Women’s Shelter
Girls can fill backpacks or nylon bags with feminine care products and other self care products like lip balm, lotion, soap, and deodorant.
Care Packages for the Military
Is there a local military organization that collects items for military personnel stationed abroad? They typically have wish lists for items in need. Take the girls on a field trip to go shopping and help them select the necessary items.
Make Craft Kits for the Pediatric Ward
Children who have long term hospital stays get bored. Your troop can make craft kits for the local hospitals with pediatric wards.
Help at a Local Elementary School
The girls can contact their local elementary schools and see what teachers need help with. Is there a project that they can do for the school or an after-school club they can assist?
Find an Organization That Needs Volunteers
Ask the girls who they want to help and what they want to do. Help them find local organizations that need extra pairs of hands.
What have you done with your older girts to keep them motivated when they do not wish to do badge work?
