Petals: Not Just for Kindergarteners!

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I’ve heard it a few times over the past few years as a Daisy leader within a multilevel troop– “We did the petals last year, what do we do next?” “Will next year still be fun for her? Haven’t we done all of the patches?”

You’re a Girl Scout leader, so you already know that the scout experience is about so much more than the patches. For this post, I invite you to reframe your thinking about the Daisy Petal patches and let go of the notion that these (or any) badges are just a checkbox, never to be visited again.

What are Daisy Petals?

Each Girl Scout level has a unique uniform and patches (or badges) to be earned. The Daisy Scout uniform is a bright blue vest or tunic, and the official patches include a bright blue center, and 10 brightly colored petals that surround it.

Because Daisies are the youngest scouts (yes, younger than Brownies) in only Kindergarten and 1st grade, these scouts are introduced to each line of the Girl Scout Law, one “petal” at a time.

When they have learned what each petal means and demonstrated an understanding of the concept, they have earned that specific petal for their vest.

So What Else Do Daisies Do?

Just like other levels of Girl Scouts, Daisies have many other patches to earn, which focus on STEM, politics/leadership, art, outdoor and life skills, and more. 

Overwhelmingly, our troop parents have told us that their Daisies join our troop to make friends and have fun. We try to offer experiences to our girls that they may not get to try otherwise, be a part of our community, and also offer a safe place for them to just be themselves and have fun. There is something to be said for being a smiling face to a child who has had a rough day on the school bus, or who needs a hug if requested.

In fact, “making the world a better place”, being “friendly and helpful”, and “being a sister to every Girl Scout” are all parts of the Girl Scout Law.

So How Do I Balance New Scouts and Returning Daisies?

I hear you— what do you do when you spend a year painstakingly leading your troop through all 10 petals, and then you welcome a new cohort of kindergarteners?

There are many, many year plans that can be followed for any troop, whether it’s a suggested learning path or something you have come up with on your own. Regardless of which path you choose, you will find that some scouts have earned certain badges, and some missed a meeting or joined later and did not earn that specific petal.

Sometimes, you will have meetings that focus on a petal. This is ok! But what about those scouts that join later? What if you have scouts that have earned all ten petals, and some who are brand new?

As mentioned earlier, Daisy petal badges are unique to Daisies, but the meanings apply to all Girl Scouts. With the right emphasis and discussion, many other badges, whether official or fun patches, can be adjusted to earn petals at the same time. This is a great way to reiterate lessons learned to more seasoned scouts— whether second-year Daisies or older levels in a multilevel troop— while teaching these concepts to newer ones.

First aid badges and pins are a great way to incorporate being courageous and strong, or friendly and helpful. Democracy for Daisies can incorporate the concepts of being honest and fair and Digital Leadership can be supplemented with discussing responsibility for what I say and do.

Many scout meetings open with the recitation of the Promise and Law, and referring back to this during any badge work can help drive those values home, and get the scouts discussing how what they pledge each meeting relates to their own badge work. Oftentimes, scouts can just seem like fun, but troops are learning important lessons and values that can be tied back and reinforced by discussing and relearning (re-earning) the same petals they once earned as first-year Daisy Scouts.