You could do a few different clues - I've done a set where each clue just has a degree and then steps (Face 210 degrees and walk 25 steps to tree; then face 74 degrees and walk 18 steps to rock). You could also do some cardinal directional clues - Go 30 steps NW and then turn to face SE and look for flagpole.

Compasses on smartphones have made orienteering very easy. If you have the resources - perhaps an additional challenge would be for them to use real compasses with magnetic needles instead of a smartphone?

Good luck with your scouts - thanks for sharing your experiences with them! I hope you all have a great time!

Thanks for the reply :)
yes I am hoping to use real compasses. I have three for them to use.
I just wasn't sure how in-depth to make compass training in the clues. I like the idea of incorporating a bit of the cardinal directions as well.

:)

have you considered doing a Tor box,
such as the following:

https://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?boxId=157157

as an ex-orienteer myself, I found them a refreshing change.

I usually do not put compass work into my clues for Girl Scout camps, mainly because the boxes are used year round and I'm not usually with groups to help. Many of the GS boxes attract the youngest scouts and I have found that just getting them to learn to follow basic directions is enough.

So I have always wanted to do what you are proposing and think it's a great idea if your group is ready for it (I do not know my BSA levels). I think the suggestion of multiple directional clues are good, the only suggestion I have is to include some intermediate reference points (look for the pine tree @45 degrees and walk 10 paces toward it then turn to 250 degress and walk 50 paces. There should be a 2ft stump to your left.) If intermediate waypoints are not called out, a compass mistake two or three steps back my leave you no where near where you should be! I do think you need to include more than one compass reference, to reinforce the compass lesson. Have fun!

I find the phone compasses to be very inaccurate and prefer the old fashioned type. For some reason when I open my compass app it is never oriented correctly and have to shake the phone a few times before it gets it semi-correct.

Ha - that’s funny! I feel like I always have to tap and shake my real compass to get it to work!

Ooh yes, I don't know how to do this, but this is what I want to learn eventually.

I think a intro to help them get in the mindset to learn this type of skills is what I'm looking for. If that makes sense.

I think this is what I'm going to do. I just was thinking there might be a better way to start preparing them for advanced orenteering they might get in their Boy Scout Troops.

My old smartphone compass had a calibrate cycle it would go through when you first started it. You had to roll a ball around the compass points a few before it would work. Just realized my new one does not seem to do that and it does seem less accurate...

So follow me on this one. Many of my staff have had kids over the many years we've worked together. But yesterday, since the day care was down, one of my ladies brought her daughter in to work. This little one came running into my office saying "Auntie K! Auntie K!! I got my first girls scout badge!!"

I scooped her up and gave her a big hug and asked to see it.......her first badge is........Letterboxing!!! I decided ice cream was definitely called for.

Beyond awesome!

As cool as the letterboxing part is, the fact that she was so excited to share whatever badge she earned with you is a testament you what a wonderful person you are as well. Congrats to you both!

As kind as it is for you to say that, one of the joys (and reasons I've been at this company for over 14 years) is the fact I get to run my department my way. Which means a completely family-friendly environment. I love kids and understand parenting isn't always easy. So my team know if it hits the fan, they can always bring their kids in.......I'm usually the one crawling around on the floor making them laugh and squeal......and our entire team will rotate kid watch so all critical meetings are made.

Are you hiring?

Perpetually......we've doubled in size every year I've been here

There has been a discussion regarding the GSA's Bronze Award and letterboxing.
My disclaimer: It's been more than 50 years since I was involved in Girl Scouting.
We didn't have but a handful of girls aspiring to the highest levels.

I have a concern about how letterboxing contributes to the ideals of the Bronze award.

copied from Wiki

copied for the GSA website

copied from the Bronze Award guidelines

The bronze award is overseen by people at GS. I'm sure they have considered the requirements of the patch. We have a local boxer that did her entire GOLD project by planting a major letterboxing series, creating a website to support her clues and educating on letterboxing and local parks. You can find her series, I'm sure, if you look her up (magnolia bud). It has been a few years.

My point is that I'm sure their project involves more than just planting and/or finding letterboxes.

Very interesting.

Just reading this info I would wonder if letterboxing qualifies for this particular project. "the highest honor a Junior can achieve"? "leadership skills"? "benefit the local community"? "make a difference"?


How does letterboxing address the above?

It's something to think about.

As a former GS and GS troop leader & local trainer (lo' these many, many years ago - 35?), and an elementary educator, I don't see any connection between letterboxing and the Bronze Award's stated purpose and objectives. The award talks about observing needs in your community, and doing something to solve a problem.

Understanding that the problem a group of girls attempts to solve should be a kid-size problem with an age-appropriate solution, letterboxing remains something that elementary age kids can not do alone. There isn't a Brownie Try-It for driving a motor vehicle, and there's a good reason for that.

It appears that one of the goals of working toward this award is to develop leadership and promote initiative in the girls. It also asks the girls to actually observe their neighborhood to find something they can work on. This is scaled to what a group of girls can do with minimal supervision (an escort who keeps them on topic). They would never see the absence of letterboxes while out on that observation walk or ride.

My apologies for butting into a conversation I haven't been following closely, but I have a strong affection for the Girl Scouts, and am sad to see how much of what I once thought was essential to the program is now gone. I also have a strong affection for letterboxing, so obviously, where they meet, I can't keep my mouth shut.
Girls should be offered age-appropriate activities to choose from, not activities their letterboxing-novice parents & leaders must initiate, direct, and supervise. Heck, kids can't even get clues on their own until they are older than Brownies and Juniors.
It's great to learn new things through Girl Scouting, but once learned, they should be activities the kids can manage almost all on their own. Letterboxing is not that.

I have found some of those boxes and know how much work went into her project.

But reading the original post about what the Bronze Project is supposed to entail one might wonder if letterboxing would fulfill those particular high ideals.

I don't think you should have to apologize. It's a public forum and you are free to express our opinion. You make excellent points.

As a former GS leader, I think it's possible that a letterboxing project could meet the Bronze Award qualifications if it was educational. For example, a series of letterboxes could take people to different historical locations in a community, with the clues providing detailed information about each location. Another example might be a series of letterboxes that teach finders about native plants along a trail, specifically providing information about why the plant is beneficial to the local ecosystem.

If a letterboxing project wasn't educational, though, I agree that it wouldn't contribute to the ideals of the Bronze Award.

Having dealt with school group projects my granddaughter realized that as a team project, each girl had to do the same amount of hours. Then she realized that there were a couple of girls in her troop that wouldn't do their share and she didn't want to 'deal' with that type of drama again. So she earned her Bronze Award by herself. She learned how to handle things on her own at that early age and it would carry her through her whole life. She is a "tri-fector" Girl Scout............Bronze, Silver, and Gold and is now a college scholar student studying Occupational Therapy and Art Therapy.

As the Letterboxing specialist here in GS of CT, we get girls/leaders who want to do letterboxing as a Bronze or Silver Project. My daughter did her Bronze Award project around letterboxing.

When they submit a project which incorporates letterboxing, we really try to get them to think about the need in the community that they are fulfilling. Usually they are trying to get people to go outdoors, get more exercise and enjoy nature. They cannot simply plant boxes and be done, they usually need to also have some sort of plan to introduce letterboxing to the community - workshops are usually the method they use. The educational aspects of teaching people how to letterbox and become comfortable outdoors are emphasized, but often not visible after the project completes and only the boxes are left.

We have had several inquiries about letterboxing for Awards that have either required significant rethinking to meet the intent of the award, and at least one that they dropped because they could not see a way to meet the goals of the award. We try not to say no outright, but do make them explain what problem they are addressing and how letterboxing can be a part of that solution.

LL

Hi all,
I have a bunch of Girl Scouts who are learning about letterboxing. (it's an official badge now)
Wondered if there is someone willing to come to our Zoom meeting on Friday 10/30 6:30-7:30pm (PST) to speak about hiding/planting letterboxes? maybe speaking for 5-10minutes?
if you message me, I can share the zoom link information.
The girls range in age from 7-15, last week we learned about carving stamps and this week we're learning about writing clues, and planting boxes.
Thanks for considering-
Little Bunny Foo Foo

If no one else offers, let me know and I can do it. I teach letterboxing for GS of CT. Given I am on the East Coast, it's a bit lat for me. Also if you can get someone younger, that sounds like a better option...

Lowland Lass

Hey Bunny Foo Foo! At GS Camp Vic-to-Rae in 4th grade, I played the Goooooood Fairy :D

Anyway, if you don't find someone else, my daughter (age 17) and I could do it. I'm a former GS leader, she's a current Ambassador and is always looking for good volunteer opportunities. We're on the east coast and she has marching band that night, so she's only available after 7pm your time, but I'm available any time.

have 2 people I'm working with thanks!

Very cool! would love to hear about her Gold award and how it's related!
found a GS leader who also letterboxes that is going to help AND 16 year experienced letter boxer

I found a couple people to work with- thanks for your message!