Introducing our new adventure badges
New badges to help girls go on more adventures
We’re so excited to launch a new range of badges that are all about having new adventures.
We’ve always done lots of adventure at Girlguiding. These adventure badges are about celebrating the adventure already happening and inspiring members to do even more.
Adventure doesn’t have to be scaling a mountain or white-water rafting - it can be exploring the local park or rock pooling at the beach. Adventure is about taking members outside their of comfort zone and trying something new.
The badges
There are 5 adventure badges - snow, water, sport, height and land. Each section has its own design.
Snow
Water
Sport
Height
Land
How members can get them
These are participation badges and aren’t a part of the core programme. Instead, they’re a way to mark when a young member has done an exciting activity that’s challenged them.
We’ve updated the adventure for girls finder to show you which activities count for each badge.
Why we made them
In September 2021, we spoke with Girlguiding members to understand their thoughts on adventure in guiding. We learnt that most members did adventure within their units and wanted more opportunities to try different activities and adventures.
Then, in summer 2022, we spoke with girls and leaders to decide a framework for adventure badges which girls wanted that was also easy for leaders to deliver.
The adventure badge framework
Girls should think about whether they achieved an adventure badge by asking themselves:
- Did the activity or challenge take them outside of their comfort zone or routine?
- Was the activity or challenge new for them?
- Did they go somewhere new?
- Did they discover something new about themselves?
If the answer to 3 out of 4 of these is yes, then they’ve had an adventure and should get an adventure badge.
We know that adventurous activity isn’t accessible for every unit and volunteers have a lot on their plates, which is why they aren’t part of the programme. And for units already doing adventure, or thinking about doing more adventure, they can now reward girls with a badge.
When they’ll be on sale
They’ll be available in our online shop from late May! This is our summer of adventure, so until girls return to school in September the badges will be available for everyone to buy. From September, only leaders will be able to buy them
You can go to our online shop to see the badges. Fill in your email address to be notified as soon as they go on sale.
Answering other questions you might have
They don’t – they’re part of the 40% of time units can focus their time away from the programme.
These badges will be put in the badge books when they’re reprinted in the new brand, except for Ranger badges which will stay online.
These badges aren’t part of the programme, so you can’t record them on GO.
They’re not linked, but girls could achieve the sports adventure badge while completing the Ranger sports interest badge. Girls should think about whether they achieved an adventure badge by asking themselves:
- Did the activity or challenge take them outside of their comfort zone or routine?
- Was the activity or challenge new for them?
- Did they go somewhere new?
- Did they discover something new about themselves?
If the answer to 3 out of 4 of these is yes, then they’ve had an adventure and should get the sports adventure badge.
It might be trickier to do some adventurous activities in an urban area. But some activities you could do to get an adventure badge that are easier to achieve in urban spaces are:
- Geocaching
- Going to an adventure playground
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Community exploring
- Swimming in purpose-built pools
- 10 pin bowling
- Trampolining
- Parades
But this isn’t an exhaustive list. If you have an adventure that isn’t on the list, get in touch by emailing [email protected] so we can share it with other girls who might want to try it out!
Sport is anything that involves some equipment, a game and some rules. So, football could be done at the park, on a 5 a side astroturf pitch, in a sports hall or in your meeting space. You can adapt sports to suit your girls and the spaces you have available.
Our activity centres offer lots of the activities that are on the adventure for girls list. For example, abseiling, crate stacking, rope courses and improvised rafting.
And country and region outdoor activity advisers are great people to go to if you want to find local activities, challenges and events closer to your unit.
We hope that every girl and unit can find an activity that is accessible to them. Adventure isn’t just about kayaking and hiking to the tops of mountains – a lot of adventure happens close to home. It could be playing a new sports game, going for a walk in a new area and finding accessible ways to help everyone join in. We have a hints and tips sheet on what to think aboutactivities for the individual girls that you have in your unit.
We also have low-cost activities within the adventure for girls pages such as:
- Community exploring
- Stair climb challenge
- Paddling in open water
- Snow art
Adventure is what you make it! Something like a day trip around a city would be a great way to challenge girls – whether that’s by visiting a new place or pushing them out their comfort zone. Going for a day trip around a city would be a great way to achieve the land adventure badge.
If you aren't sure if an activity fits in a category, get in touch by emailing [email protected].
We’re always adding to the adventure for girls finder. We’ve just added adventurous activities like rock pooling, community exploring and going on adventure playgrounds.
What adventures will you try? Let us know by emailing [email protected].