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Girl Scouts (Jr.) Badge & Brownie Try-It Badge
& Cadet Interest Project (IP) Patch &
Husky Power's Dogsledding Badge & Logo Patch
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"DOG MUSHING" BROWNIE TRY-IT $2 each
(this is in color--picture here is black/white)
Requirements: Complete 4 of the following activities:
1. Talk with a musher or visit a kennel. Learn about what is involved in caring for, raising and training sled dogs (or read the entire book: Born to Pull).
2. Read a mushing book or have one read to you. Suggested reading: Born to Pull (an excellent resource on mushing at a kid’s level.), Kiana’s Iditarod, Balto, Storm Run (Libby Riddles), Danger, The Dog Yard Cat, North Country Christmas.3. See a movie about mushing. Suggestions: Balto or Iron Will.4. Attend a dog sled race (such as the start of the Iditarod, or the Fur Rendezvous races) or follow the Iditarod race progress daily on a map or the Internet.5. Learn about the parts of a dog sled and basic mushing equipment.6. View, ride on or mush a dog sled. Learn simple mushing commands ( i.e. Gee, Haw, On-By.)7. Learn about dog safety. (Anchorage Animal Control has an excellent hand out.)
8. Write a story or a poem about mushing, draw a picture or make a model of a sled dog team.
Written by: Brownie Troop 316, Eagle River Service Unit.
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"DOG SLEDDING" JR. MERIT BADGE $2 each. (this is in color--picture here is black/white)
Requirements: Complete six activities:
1. Visit a kennel where sled dogs are raised. Learn about:
- How to care for a dog and what it costs
- When training begins and when dogs retire
- What the dogs eat and how much
- What is involved in the upkeep of a kennel
2. Interview a musher and find out:
- What the dogs have to learn and how they are trained
- Which breed makes the best sled dogs
3. Learn about what happens on the trail:
- First aid for injured animals
- What dogs eat on the trail
- What a person wears on a trail
- How weather influences sledding
- How many dogs are on a team
- How you rest on the trail and how fast can you travel
- What is packed in a sled
4. Read a book about dog mushing or a famous dog musher. Or, see a movie about mushing.
5. Write an original story about dog mushing. Or, draw a picture, make a mural, or make a model of a dog sled and team.
6. Ride on a dog sled. Learn commands. Drive it yourself, if possible.
7. Watch a sled dog race.
8. Sponsor a musher for the Iditarod. Or, do a service project (make booties, collect food)
9. Learn the parts of a sled and dog-mushing vocabulary.
10. Learn all about the Iditarod Dog Sled Race:
- When did it start and why
- Where does it go
- When is it held
- Who has won it recently
- How much can you win
Or, draw a map of the Iditarod Trail. Label checkpoints; include a short description of the race.
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"MUSH ON" INTEREST PROJECT PATCH
from the Girl Scouts of the MN and WI River Valleys Council $2 each
As with any IPP, seven activities must be completed: two Skill Builders, one Career Exploration, one Technology, and one Service Project, and two activities from any category that you choose.
Skill Builders-
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Learn what is involved with the upkeep of a dog kennel. Learn what the dogs eat, how they are housed, veterinarian bills, what it costs to keep a sled dog. Learn how to act around the dogs, how to harness a dog, how to ride a sled, and if possible, drive the sled yourself.
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Learn the parts of a dogsled and mushing vocabulary.
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Make a model of a dog sled.
Career Exploration-
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Interview a dog musher. Learn how sled dogs are trained, which dogs are best for each type of sledding, how and when they are disciplined and when they are retired. Learn what happens on the train: what the dogs eat, what the musher wears, what is carried on the sled and what first aid might be needed by the dogs.
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Find and draw 2 maps of different trails or races for dog sledding.
Technology-
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Find information on the best dogs to use for dog sledding. What traits make them good choices?
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Research the history of dog sledding.
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Read a book about mushing. Examples are “Dogsong”, by Gary Paulen, or “Call of the Wild” by Jack London. Or, watch a movie about dog sledding.
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Log on to www.sleddogcentral.com and browse the web site.
Service Projects-
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Form a cheering team for a dog sledding team. Attend their next event and cheer for your team.
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Make posters, or other forms of advertisements, to help promote a dog sledding event.
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Help out at a local dog kennel or humane society.
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Volunteer at the Cannon Valley Classic dog sled race. This race takes place the last full weekend in January in Cannon Falls, weather permitting.
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HUSKY POWER'S OWN DOGSLEDDING BADGE! $2 each
PERFECT FOR PARTICIPATION PATCH OR JUST FUN
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HUSKY POWER'S OWN LOGO PATCH! 3" WIDE! $3 each
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Alaska Council Who Developed the Requirements
for the Jr Badge and Brownie Tri-It:
Girl Scouts Susitna Council
3911 Turnagain Blvd. East, Anchorage, AK 99517
907-248-2250, 800-478-7448
Fax: 907-243-4819
Email: susitna@gsscak.org
Susitna Home Page: http://www.girlscouts.ak.org/site/c.hsJSK0PDJpH/b.1806483/k.BE48/Home.htm
Susitna Patch Book: http://www.girlscouts.ak.org/home.htm
Alaska Scouts: www.girlscouts.ak.org
Council Who Developed the IP Requirements:
Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys
Various locations
800-845-0787
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