Brownie Age Levels:
Brownie Scouts are in the 2nd and 3rd grade.
The Brownie Name:
Our Brownie age level gets its name from folk tales of little brownies that would enter homes and help the occupants with housework. This sets the tone for Brownie Scouts who are learning to help others.
Uniform:
Brownies wear a special pin depicting a brownie elf in the Girl Scout trefoil. They may also wear either a brown sash or vest to display their earned awards and participation patches. Other uniform pieces are available, including sweats, pants, skorts, shirts, socks and yes, the classic brownie beanie. All items are optional, although the girls enjoying wearing a vest (or sash).
Activities:
Brownies sing; play games; do crafts; explore science, nature, their community and history and more. They hike and camp. The activities are designed to introduce them to a wide variety of topics so they begin to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes as well as develop confidence as they discover they can do all kinds of things.
Costs:
Girls must be registered with GSUSA in order to participate in Girl Scout activities. Other expenses are optional and are determined by the scout, family & troop.
- GSUSA registration: $10.00
- Brownie Sash: $4.75-5.25
- Brownie Vest: $14.50-15.50
- Brownie Pin: $1.35
- Council Identification Set: $4.00
- Troop Numerals: $1.25/number
- Brownie Girl Scouts Handbook: $11.95
- Try-Its for Brownie Girl Scouts: $9.95
- Books sold as a set: $20.00
- Dues cover activities, supplies, and sometimes snacks. Vary by troop.
Find a Troop:
Many troops meet at churches, community centers or schools, so those are good places to check. Local Councils are listed in the phone book and can help you locate a troop. You can also find your local council through the GSUSA Council Finder on their Web site.
Brownies Begin Their Girl Scout Journey:
By the time girls are Brownie age, they have had some experience in group environments. The Brownie program builds on this, encouraging the girls to make new friends by sharing activities and completing projects together.
A typical Brownie meeting consists of songs, games, crafts and other activities on their age level. They also have time to share their thoughts and help make decisions about troop activities. This is the first step of learning to lead that Girl Scouts encourages throughout their program.
During their time as Brownies, girls earn Try-Its, the Brownie version of badges, by completing requirements in their Try-Its book. Try-Its cover many areas, from learning about Girls Scouting, to sewing, science, cooking, camping, and more. The girls are not expected to master the activities, just “try-it”. The exposure to new things is what is important for the girls at this age.
The Brownie program is an excellent environment where little girls make new friends, experience new things and develop their values while having a lot of fun. It builds a solid foundation for future years in Girl Scouts as well as for life. If you have a girl in this age range, Brownie Girl Scouts is and excellent choice to reinforce values and introduce her to a wide range of activities.