Girl Scout Badges
BROWNIE SCOUTS: ECO-EXPLORER
Recommended Age: 6-8
Overview
Scouts will learn the thrill of adventure and exploration through art and science! They will utilize hand lenses and observe decomposers like pill bugs and earthworms as they study the food chain. Along the trail they will search for living and nonliving things and create their very own habitat for an animal of their choice.
Program Highlights
- Identify and explain living and nonliving things in nature
- Identify the four components of habitat
- Create a food chain
- Express appropriate ways to treat living things
- Understand the importance of food, shelter, water, and space needed for animal survival
- Express the importance of maintaining a healthy eco-system for wildlife
Extra Cool Stuff
- Walk in the woods
- Create a habitat
- Decomposers up-close
- Make an ocelot mask
BROWNIE SCOUTS: LISTENING TO THE PAST
Recommended age: 6-8
Overview
Quinta Mazatlan is full of history. Some of that history lies in the Thornforest, with nature’s most magnificent living organisms: trees! By examining tree rings students will trace environmental and historical changes in a tree’s life. Scouts will also tour the historic mansion learning about the time-honored craft of Talavera Tile and the families who once lived here.
Program Highlights
- Identify trees
- Identify relationships and patterns
- Interpret information
- Observe size, shape, textures, and colors of different trees
- Examine cross sections of trees and infer what events might have occurred
- Summarize the process of age old traditions
- Understand the cultural history of the Rio Grande Valley
Extra Cool Stuff
- Walk in the woods
- Tour the 1930’s historic adobe home
- Tree cookie necklaces
- Historic photos
- Games of the past
- Talavera tile painting
JUNIOR SCOUTS: EARTH CONNECTIONS
Recommended age: 8-11
Overview
Girls will explore the relationship between geology, biology, and ecology by studying the Thornforest. This three hour program includes a special guided tour of the forest and a habitat craft for the girls to take home.
Program Highlights
- On their guided tour of the forest, Jr. Scouts will use their observation skills to study the ecosystem, noting the different plants, animals, soil types, and temperatures found in the valley. Scouts will also successfully list and identify 10 native trees while playing a fun Eco-game.
Extra cool stuff
- Forest life
- “Fantastic Foliage” Scavenger Hunt
- Field journal basics
- Tree cookie necklaces
JUNIOR SCOUTS: WILDLIFE
Recommended age: 8-11
Overview
The scouts will enjoy this nature journey through the Thornforest using binoculars, field guides, compass and journal. Scouts will also learn to identify three poisonous plants or animals of the valley and discover ways to remedy snake bites, bee stings and allergic reactions. Scouts will answer questions such as:
- Why don’t woodpeckers get headaches?
- Why is the male cardinal brighter red than the female?
- How do plants survive in the sizzling summers with no water?
Program Highlights
- Learn the proper way to read a compass and field guide
- Identify plants and animals to record in journals
- Identify characteristics and adaptations of creatures and how it helps them survive in the wild
- Recognize unique details of plants and animals
- Understand why some plants and animals are poisonous and how to prevent or remedy bites
Extra cool stuff
- Walk in the woods
- “Who’s that?”
- Pot a butterfly plant for your backyard
CADETTES AND SENIORS INTEREST PROJECT: ALL ABOUT BIRDS
“Wings over the Valley” Program
Recommended ages: 11 and up
Overview
Students will experience the exciting field of ornithology (study of birds) as they participate in a series of activities indoors and on the trails. Quinta Mazatlan has designed a special embroidered “Wings over the Valley” patch available to only those students who complete the course.
Lesson includes
- Identify birds and their parts
- Recognize bird calls and sounds
- Collect and interpret bird data
- Sketch birds and feathers
- Learn to use binoculars and field guides
- Optional: Each student will construct a wooden hanging bird feeder to take home. Additional $3.50 for the bird feeder supplies for each student.
Program Highlights
- Bird Identification
- Observe unique details and adaptations
- Formulate Questions
- Interpret Information
- Participate in Citizen Science with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology e-Bird Trail Tracker
Extra Cool Stuff
- Bird in the woods
- Binoculars and field guides
- Migratory pathways
- Nature journal
- Build a hanging bird feeder (Option: additional supply fee)
Tour Options
- Walk and talk on the trail (2.5 hours)
- Indoor and Outdoor Program (4 hours)