Taking your Girl Scout troop on educational field trips around town is a fun way to get to know your neighborhood, learn new and interesting things, and earn Girl Scout badges.
Grocery Stores
Visit your local supermarket, and learn about healthy foods and eating right. The Field Trip Factory can help you coordinate this trip with a participating store. Your Brownie troop can earn the “Eat Right, Stay Healthy” Try-It badge. Our troop went to Albertson’s in Ladera Ranch which provided an outstanding educational tour about making good food choices.
Museums
Check to see if the museums in your area offer educational programs. Some museums can even help your troop earn a badge. The Bowers Museum has a program that can help a troop fulfill the requirements to earn a cultural arts badge. The Bowers Kidseum will give the girls an opportunity to explore the world around them.
Zoos
Many zoos have educational programs your group can participate in and earn a special fun patch. You can fulfill many of the requirements for the “Animals” or “Eco-Explorer” Try-It badges. Our troop visited the Santa Ana Zoo and had a great time learning about animals up close. The San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park also have education programs geared towards Girl Scouts.
Knott’s Berry Farm
The Adventure in Education program at Knott’s offers age-appropriate tours through the park specifically for Scouts, with each girl receiving a special fun patch. Depending on the tour selected, you can probably can earn a Try-It. We took the 2nd Grade Geology Tour, and our guide was fabulous and the girls were completely engaged. Many of the tours include a ride (ours was the Calico Mine ride) and for an additional charge, we were able to pan for gold and dip candles.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center
This facility in Laguna Beach is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine mammals along our coastline. We will tie in community service with our visit by bringing some needed supplies.
California State Parks
Our troop visited San Clemente State Beach where they offer various educational programs. We went to the Visitor Center located in the park’s Historic Cottage and participated in their Native American program. For a small fee, we learned how to weave baskets.