IC -- Girl Scout -- Suggested patch

Girl Scout Patch Program--A Proposal

by Arline Berry, W1LIO

A proposal for an Amateur Radio patch for Girl Scouts follows this introduction. I welcome any comments you have on it. There are a number of Girl Scout badges that you can incorporate Amateur Radio into, such as the Junior Scouts' Communications badge, or the Cadettes and Seniors' High Tech Communication badge. But this outline is for an Amateur Radio patch.

We must be sure that this program that I have outlined (below) is called a Patch Program, and not a badge. As far as I can determine, anyone can outline a Patch Program and it doesn't have to be approved by a Council or National. Badges can only be authorized by the National Organization with two exceptions:

  1. A Troop's Own Badge, which is written by the girls in a Troop, and is only for those girls.

  2. A Council's Own Badge, which is approved by the Council's Program Committee, and is unique to that particular Council. That is why I have proposed this Patch Program.

My suggestion is that a girl complete all of the outlined requirements for each age level, or have passed an FCC Amateur Radio license exam. A Patch Consultant, usually a ham, or the Leader, determines if the requirements have been completed--which is the process for passing a Badge.

A Proposal: An Amateur Radio Patch for Girl Scouts

Junior Girl Scouts:

  1. Learn what Amateur Radio is.

  2. Who are Amateur Radio operators and what are some public services they perform?

  3. How do you become an Amateur Radio operator?

  4. Visit an Amateur Radio operator or invite him or her to demonstrate radios to your Troop.

  5. Find out about Amateur Radio clubs and if (or when), they give classes to become an Amateur Radio operator.

  6. Learn how radio waves travel.

  7. Find out how Amateur Radio operators can communicate with hams in other countries who do not speak English. Make a list of some of the "Q" signals used.

  8. Learn how "traffic messages" are handled.

  9. List some of the ways to have fun being an Amateur Radio operator.

Cadette Girl Scout or Senior Girl Scout:

  1. Complete the Junior Girl Scout patch requirements.

  2. Draw a block diagram which includes a transceiver, microphone, antenna and feed line.

  3. Draw 10 schematic symbols often used in radio diagrams and explain what each part does.

  4. Explain the difference between an open circuit, a closed circuit and a short circuit.

  5. List 5 typical Amateur Radio call signs.

  6. With the help of a local Amateur Radio operator, talk to and properly log at least two voice, or two Morse code, contacts.

Suggested by Arline F. Berry, W1LIO,
Volunteer Coordinator, Girl Scouts-Ham Radio,
with modification by others.

Girl Scout Amateur Radio patches can be purchased(for US$1.50 each) from: