by Alanna Rose

Created on: October 03, 2010

Your Brownie Girl Scouts will learn many new things while completing requirements for badges called Try-Its.  One of these badges is called the "Watching Wildlife" Try-It and will focus on wildlife that the girls may find nearby in their neighborhood.  Your Brownies must complete at least four out of the following six activities to earn this patch.

Animal Homes

The first activity that your Brownies may choose to complete is to learn about how animals make their homes.  First, the girls should take a walk to find different animal homes.  They should observe which animals make which homes and what materials were used to create them. 

Next, your Brownies will do an experiment to find out which materials animals like to use the most to build their homes.  Each Girl Scout should gather materials such as pieces of string, hair, paper, cloth, etc.  They should place these items outside in either a tray or a mesh bag.  Lastly, your girls should observe which items were the most popular and which animals preferred which material.  

Communication

The next activity that your Brownies may choose to do is to learn a little about animal communication.  The girls should already know what it means when a cat purrs, but they should also think about what sort of communication, whether vocal or body language, wild animals may use.  They should research and observe different animals found locally to figure out what different animal sounds and actions might mean.

Changing Appearances

Your Girl Scouts may be surprised to learn that some animals may change the appearance of their feathers or fur during different seasons.  For this activity, your girls should first choose an animal that is found year-round in their area.  Next, the girls should observe how the animal may look different once the season has changed.

Learning About Earthworms

The next activity that your Brownies may choose to complete is to learn more about earthworms.  The girls should first be provided with a magnifying glass, wet paper towel, and earthworms found outside or from a pet store, if none can be found.  Remind your Brownies that the earthworm's moist skin is what allows it to breathe, so their earthworm should always be on a wet paper towel.  Next, the girls should observe and feel the tummy and back of the earthworm and see if they can find any distinction between the two.  The girls should also be using their magnifying

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