Wildflowers of Ohio
BADGE REQUIREMENTS
JUNIORS & CADETTES
There are 3 sections of activities to earn this badge:
1. Wildflower Basics
2. Discover Ohio Wildflowers
3. Plant a seed in others! (Share what you have learned.)
Wildflowers of Ohio
BADGE REQUIREMENTS
Wildflower Basics!
Complete all three steps:
1. Make a diagram of parts of a flower. Choose from the supplemental activities or do a
similar diagram you find on your own. It can be more or less complex depending on the
age and skill level of your troop members.
1. Start a wildflower journal. Keep your drawings, pictures, and other information about flowers in one place. A
folder with paper and pockets is great, or a plastic file/envelope works well if you plan to bring it outdoors. The
first item in your journal could be your diagram from step #1.
2. Learn about photosynthesis! Introduce the topic by talking about energy. For example, how are cars able to
travel? Cars need fuel, and won’t be able to start or move without gasoline. Living things need fuel too! What
type of fuel do we need? We eat food, but where does our food come from? It begins with the sun! Plants use
the sun’s energy to make food! Glucose, is what they make, and it is a type of sugar in plants. There are diagrams
available in the supplemental activities section.
Here are some books that might be useful. These should be available at your local library. If not, ask your librarian if
they have a similar book: Living Sunlight by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm
Photosynthesis: Changing sunlight into food by Bobbie Kalman
Discover Ohio Wildflowers!*
Complete these three steps:
1. Go on a wildflower hike! Visit a Girl Scout Camp, local park, forest, or a field
by your troop meeting site. Bring a simple field guides to learn about what
you see. Or, bring a camera, take pictures, and try to identify the flowers later
using books, doing online research, or ask an expert.
2. Be able to identify 5-10 wildflowers by sight and add these flowers to
your flower journal! Make drawings, cut out photos, and devote a page
to each new flower you learn about. Be sure to answer these questions
about the wildflowers:
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What is its name?
Tell about an interesting feature.
What type of landscape does it grow in? (Forest, fields,
roadsides, wet ground?)
What time of year can you find this flower
blooming? (Spring, Summer, Autumn?)
Juniors: Activities #1 & #2 also completes Requirement
#1 – Uncover the Science of One Flower (Option 2, Go
on a Flower Hunt) for your Flowers badge.
3. Wildflower fun! Choose one of these activities to
complete step #3:
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Learn some ways wildflowers are used by people of
the past and today. Can you find any common edible
wildflowers? Can you find a flower that has medicinal
uses? Or maybe some that are used in beauty
products? For example, Wild Bergamot was used as
a tea to aid digestion and relieve stuffiness from the
common cold. Add this information to your flower
journal!
Wildflowers of Ohio
BADGE REQUIREMENTS
Juniors: This activity also completes Requirement #3 – Find Out How Flowers Help
People (Option 2 –Flowers are Healers or 3) Flowers are Calming) for your Flowers badge.
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Try to make something with flowers! Make tea, a beauty product, or snack with flowers.
CAUTION: It might be best to purchase dried flowers instead of collecting from the wild
(unless you consult with an expert). Some stores sell edible flowers (such as violets) that
can be added to desserts, salads, etc.
Juniors: This activity can be tailored to complete Requirement #4 – Have Fun with Flowers (Option 1, 2 or 3) for
your Flowers badge
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Find out about symbolism, folklore, or other meanings associated with wildflowers. For example, in Wood
Anemone, “anemone” is the greek word for wind, because this wildflower trembles in the wind. Have each girl
pick a flower that has special meaning to them, and incorporate this into your next Girl Scout ceremony. The Girl
Scouts Ceremonies book has a Rededication ceremony that uses flower symbolism to represent different parts
of the Girl Scout Law.
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Learn about rare or endangered native wildflowers and try to find one! Many of Ohio’s orchids are endangered or
threatened, but there are still some places you can see them. Plan a visit to find one of these rare beauties! Ideas
of places to call: Cedar Bog Association, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Inniswood Metro Garden of
Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks.
*Leaders: Use the supplemental “Ohio’s Common Spring Wildflowers” if
you like. Girls can cut out pictures to add to their journal and/or make a
drawing of the flower. You could also gather flower guides from the library
or do online research as well. Here are some websites to try:
http://nativeohioplantlist.com/plants
http://ohiodnr.com/Home/Nature/wildflowers/summer_wildflowers_
main/tabid/1693/Default.aspx
Plant a seed! Share what you learned about wildflowers. Choose one option
from the list, or do a similar activity.
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Make a video or display to share what you have learned! Share with
parents at a troop meeting or scouting event, or perhaps ask your public
library or place of worship for permission to set up your display. If you
make a video, consider sharing it with Girls Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland
online.
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Make an Ohio Wildflowers field guide as a troop! Each girl could choose
her favorite Ohio wildflower and make a page for the book. Alternatively, you could make a blog post highlighting
some common Ohio wildflowers. Be sure to give credit for sources of information and get permission to use
photos not taken by you! <http://www.howtostartablog.org>
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Service project: Find a public place where wildflowers grow and do a clean-up (if it needs it). Make sure to be safe
and use gloves when picking up trash. You could ask a local park or nature preserve if they need help with a cleanup or other projects. Many parks need help weeding out invasive Garlic Mustard plants in spring (usually in April);
this is a great way to help make room for native Ohio wildflowers!