Exploring Nature | Older Girl Hangout | Career Conversations | Meet the Pets
Animals, whether you have one at home or not, have been constant sources of joy, comfort, and healing for us humans. We can all agree that a little love to and from our furry friends could help a lot right now. This week, we’re featuring programming on all sorts of animals: those you take care of at home, those that live in zoos, and beyond.
Looking for ways to learn more about and help animals? Check out these resources:
- Daisy Girl Scouts interested in learning what animals need and how to care for them can embark on the Three Cheers for Animals Journey.
- Girl Scouts in grades 3-6 (second year Brownies, Juniors, first year Cadettes) can embark on an educational adventure with the Puppy Rescue Mystery Book.
- Cadette Girl Scouts who want to explore how animals help out humans with the Animal Helpers badge.
- Girl Scout Seniors looking to use their voice to advocate for animal rights can earn the Voice for Animals badge (part of the Mission: Sisterhood Senior Badge Activity Pack).
- Any Girl Scout who cares for pets can purchase the Pet Care fun patch.
- If you adopted your pet from a shelter, visited an animal shelter before the shelter-in-place order, or donated resources to a local shelter, purchase the Animal Shelter patch.
There are plenty of videos to take a look at this week–– check out Wildlife SOS and their amazing videos of the elephants and other animals they rescue. Curious about how the animals have been doing at your local zoo? Check out these videos from zoos around the area: the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Brookfield Zoo, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Cosley Zoo.
Interested in learning about local pollinators? Check out this webinar hosted by the University of Illinois Extension to learn all about Illinois pollinators: who they are, how they help us, and how we can help them by building habitats for them:
This Week in Virtual Programming
Explore Nature in your Neighborhood
Tuesday, June 9 – Thursday, June 11 | For Girl Scouts Grades K-5 | Webinars & Video Premiere
Girl Scouts in grades K-5, join us for our three part series, Nature in your Neighborhood. Learn about the animals that might live in or around your neighborhood. This series will cover a variety of topics all about animals! Join us for two webinars that will cover topics including animal tracks, where you will learn how you can identify tracks, and animal homes, where you will have the chance to build your own and go on your own animal exploration hike. You are welcome to join us for all three activities, or just one.
Animal Tracks Webinar
Tuesday, June 9 at 3 p.m. | Girl Scouts (level)
Step into the world of backyard animal tracks. You will learn about where to look for animal tracks in your neighborhood and how to identify common tracks that you might find. We will make a field guide to animal tracks, play a matching game, and even make our own animal tracks.
Materials Needed:
- 5-10 pieces of plain paper
- Coloring utensils (markers, crayons, or colored pencil)
- 1 black or dark brown marker
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Staples or Hole Punch & String/yarn
- 2 new sponges (thin with no scrubber side preferred)
- 1-2 colors of washable paint
- Paper plate or paint tray
- Newspaper or tablecloth
Animal Exploration Hike Video
Premiering on Wednesday, June 10 at 3 p.m.
Join us for an animal exploration hike in our neighborhood to get inspired for a walk in your community. Learn about some of the animals or animal homes that you may encounter and ways to stay safe while on your hike. Discover what we found on our hike to prepare for your own animal exploration adventure in your neighborhood.
Materials Needed:
- Yourself
- Your fab five (water bottle, sunscreen, bug spray, rain coat, & flashlight)
Animal Homes Webinar
Thursday, June 11 at 3 p.m.
This webinar is all about animal homes. Learn about why animals build homes and how these home are designed to meet the needs of specific animals. We will take a closer look at Mason bees and learn about why they are important and the design of their animal home. Get your creativity ready as we will go through the steps of how you can make a Mason bee home to put in your backyard, using everyday items.
Materials Needed:
- Tape/glue
- String
- Container (Choose one: tin can, toilet paper tubes, plastic bottle, mason jar)
- Filler (Choose a combination of: sticks, 15-10 straws, paper, newspaper/magazines, cardboard)
If you participate in the two webinars, watch the Animal Exploration Hike video, and take your own exploration hike, you will have completed a variety of steps to the badges listed below based on your Girl Scout level. If you are interested in these topics, you can complete the rest of the steps and earn the badge to add to your vest.
- Daisy Eco-Learner Badge Steps 1 and 2
- Brownie Bugs Badge Steps 3 and 4 and Eco Friend Badge Steps 1, 2, and 3
- Junior Animal Habitats Badge Steps 1, 2, and 3
Register to explore the nature in your neighborhood »
Older Girl Hangout
Every Thursday at 4 p.m. | For Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors (Grades 9-12) | Webinar
All Girl Scouts in grades 9-12 are invited to our weekly Older Girl Hangout every Thursday at 4 p.m., where you’ll get to connect and make space to talk with your Girl Scout sisterhood. Each week we’re talking about things that matter to us and our communities, and girls always drive the discussion. Join us.
Register for the weekly hangout »
Career Conversations
Monday, June 8 at 4 p.m. | For Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors (Grades 6-12) | Webinar
Join us for our weekly Career Conversations for girls in grades 6-12! Each week we will host some career-expert panelists to discuss a multitude of career opportunities with our council members. Not only will they share about their experiences, but they will also be able to answer any questions you may have. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to hear about all sorts of careers–– this week we’re talking about careers with animals.
Register for Career Conversations »
Meet the GSGCNWI Program Team Pets!
Friday, June 12 at 4 p.m. | For Girl Scouts of All Ages (Grades K-12) | Webinar
Whether they’re cute and cuddly, or feathery and chirpy, pets can provide a lot of joy in tough times. Join this webinar to meet the pets of the GSGCNWI Program Team! We’ll introduce you to a dog, cat, turtle, and birds and share how we care for these pets. Use this advice to take care of your own pets at home or learn how to choose a pet that’s right for you and your family. Girl Scout Brownies will work toward their Pets Badge, but other Girl Scout levels are welcome to join!
Register to meet the Program Team pets! »
WILD Resources
Check out these awesome wildlife and nature resources from the comfort of your home!
Smithsonian Wildlife Education
Share With Girl Scouts GCNWI
This week, share pictures of your four-legged family members by tagging us on social media @GirlScoutsGCNWI or by submitting your story on our website! We can’t wait to see all of your adorable critters–– we could really use the cuteness.