6 Fun Activities to help you earn the Brownie Bug Badge

If you have 2nd and 3rd grade girls they may be interested in exploring bugs. Ever since Animal Crossing came out on the Nintendo Switch, people have appreciated bugs a lot more! They’re learning how to identify different species, just like their avatars in the game. Bugs aren’t scary or evil–they’re just minding their own business and trying to survive in the world too. The more you learn about them, the less scared you’ll become! 

Use some of these ideas below to learn more about the environment and understand every creature’s importance in our natural world while also earning the Brownie Bug Badge.

Your first step is to study what a bug is. There are many different categories of bugs and insects, so take the time to research each one. Create a small pamphlet or brochure about the various types to present to your troop members. There are many videos, documentaries, and books that explain the world of bugs in detail. Check out a few that I recommend.

Once you have a solid overview of all types of bugs, choose one to focus on and research more of. Study all of the different kinds of species, their habitats, lifespan, diet, and more. It would help if you also investigated which bugs are native to your area and can be found in your own backyard. There are many cool facts about bugs–learn five new ones and share them with your friends and family. See if you can surprise them with a weird or unique fact!

After you have studied the types of bugs in-depth and have learned some cool facts about them, it’s time to start drawing! Have your girls choose their favorite bug and draw its picture with their favorite medium. They can get imaginative and make a poster, charcoal drawing, or even a magazine collage. Make sure that the drawing is large enough to add labels and scientific explanations describing the bug’s features. Don’t forget to draw their habitat and preferred food too! Your picture should depict the bug’s everyday life.

Since bugs are a part of our natural world, your troop members have to go out and see some in action. They can go out into their backyard or take a walk through a nearby park to try and find bugs out in their natural habitat. Make sure that your girls don’t go out alone and always let an adult know their plans! It’s best to follow the buddy system when going out for a walk or hike.

While outside, act like a field researcher or scientist and catalog every bug that you see. Bring a notebook and pencil to take detailed notes about the different species you come across. You should even try drawing the bugs in real life and use a ruler whenever possible to measure them. If need be, you can first look up how to take field notes. These notes are crucial for scientists to understand how the natural world works and how bugs live. It also helps keep track of the bug population, any invasive species, and growth patterns. Small notepads like these ones are perfect for observing the bugs.

Your troop has already researched bugs, observed them, and drawn them. Now they’ll need to interact with them! Try setting up a butterfly or bee feeder on your balcony or in the backyard and see whether you get any visitors. You can build your own insect hole or nest, too. For those girls that are brave enough, why not visit the zoo or pet shop to carry a spider in their hands? Many places have tarantulas that you can hold!

The best way to learn about bugs is by going directly to the experts for information and help. Visit your local zoo or bug museum to speak with the educators there. You can also interview a local beekeeper or entomologist. Even the parks and recreation staff in your city might be able to share some information about the types of bugs in your area.

If you can’t get out to interview an expert, utilize online sources. Watch documentaries and YouTube videos about bugs and insects, listen to science podcasts, and follow entomologists on Twitter for cool facts. You’ll be able to learn so much from them.

Can’t get anyone to come to meeting? Check out this great interview with a BeeKeeper!

After completing all these ideas, you will have earned your very own well-deserved Brownie Bug Badge! You should be able to take a stroll through your neighborhood and identify the various bugs you see along the way. Share your art projects and facts with your friends and family, and don’t forget to take pictures of everything!

You could also do a fun patch. Here is a real cute one:

Enjoy every minute being a leader and continue to inspire your girls!