June 2025 Newsletter

A Note From the Founder – Sorry This Is Late!!

Kerry Cordy – Founder

My sincere apologies that this month’s newsletter is over a week late. I have no excuse except that I was busy playing instead of working. One of my many hobbies is making custom hats, flower crowns and headpieces that I sell at Renaissance Fairs. My youngest daughter also sells her art and ceramics. In May we each had a booth at the Fire Festival as well as the Renaissance fair and neither of us had enough product, so we have been making things like mad since mid April. Add to that hosting a giant Hobbit themed baby shower for a dear friend last week and life just got away from me.

The good news is that I nearly sold out at the Renaissance Fair and the baby shower was a huge hit. Now I just have to get back on track and caught up at work! Many thanks to Emma for making sure all the badges were made and all orders shipped while I was off messing with arts and crafts!

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New Badges Posted

Embrace Neurodiversity, Business Math, Ceramic Painting

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FRONTIER GIRLS OF AMERICA – TROOP 642 – PAHRUMP, NV

by Ashlee Williamson

We were beyond thrilled when our amazing local makerspace, Nyespace, invited us to create a mural in celebration of their ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY! They gave us a few creative guidelines like honoring our hometown and weaving in makerspace items and then let our girls’ imaginations take over!

Our 16 incredible frontier girls kicked things off with a brainstorming meeting where they dove into our town’s history, explored what a makerspace is all about, and learned what it takes to bring a mural to life. Then a few of our girls teamed up with the Nyespace crew to officially start painting. The way they took pieces of EACH of the girls designs and brought them to life has been beautiful to see… and it’s already looking amazing!

Watching our troop GROW has been pure magic. These girls are not just building friendships, they’re building connections with their community. As leaders we couldn’t be prouder.

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How to Choose Badges Without Feeling Overwhelmed

As our badge list continues to grow, it’s easy to feel stuck before you even begin. The good news? You don’t have to tackle everything at once. A little structure goes a long way, and you can still give kids a say in what they earn.

Here are a few strategies that have worked well over the years:

1. Choose a Monthly Focus
Pick one Area of Discovery to focus on each month. It narrows your choices without boxing you in. One month you might dive into science, the next into character. This keeps things fresh but manageable.

2. Offer a Shortlist
Instead of letting kids scroll through thousands of badges, give them 3–5 to pick from. They still get to make the decision, but you’ve already filtered the options based on what fits your group, your goals, or your schedule.

3. Connect Badges to Real Life
Look around—what’s going on in your world? A camping trip? Choose an outdoor badge. Thanksgiving coming up? Try one on gratitude or cooking. Badges mean more when they connect to real experiences.

4. Create Badge Units
Group a few related badges together for a “unit study.” For example, “Insects,” “Gardening,” and “Pollination” make a great spring combo. Or go with “Public Speaking,” “Leadership,” and “Debate” for teens ready to grow.

5. Follow Their Curiosity
If a kid suddenly wants to learn everything about volcanoes or how money works—run with it. That’s where real learning happens. Let their questions guide you to the next badge.

6. Balance the Workload
Mix in a few fun badges with those that require more effort. Higher awards are great goals, but kids still need room to explore, create, and enjoy the process.

You don’t have to do it all. You just need a plan that works for you—and a willingness to let the kids take the lead once in a while.

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STEM Sprinkler Challenge: A Fun Way to Cool Off and Learn

If you’re looking for a creative way to keep the kids active and learning this summer, try building your own water sprinkler using plastic bottles, hoses, and a bit of imagination. Not only does it get kids moving, but it sneaks in some great science and engineering thinking along the way.

What You’ll Need:

• A couple of empty plastic bottles (water or soda bottles work great)
• Duct tape or any strong waterproof tape
• A garden hose
• Something to poke holes (like a screwdriver or nail)
• Optional extras: zip ties, rubber bands, pool noodles, or PVC pipes for bonus creativity

How to Get Started:

1. Make the Sprinkler
   Help your kids poke holes into the bottles (discuss safety and supervise) —try different sizes and directions to see how the water sprays. This is where the experimenting begins.
2. Attach the Hose
   Fit the bottle over the end of the hose and tape it tightly so water doesn’t leak out. Make sure your bottle is securely attached or high water pressure may shoot off the bottle.
3. Set It Up
   You can lay the sprinkler on the grass, tie it to a tree branch, or even build a simple frame with pool noodles or sticks. However you set it up, make sure it’s secure.
4. Turn on the Water and Observe
   Start the hose on low and watch how the water sprays. Talk about what’s happening—where the water goes, how pressure changes things, what works and what doesn’t. Make sure your bottle is securely attached or high water pressure may shoot off the bottle.
5. Want to Take It Further?
   Challenge your kids to improve their design. Can they make it spray farther? Cover more area? Use less water? Have them sketch their ideas or build a new version based on what they’ve learned.

Why It’s a Great Activity:
This project is packed with learning: water pressure, simple machines, engineering design, and problem-solving. And kids don’t even realize they’re doing science—they’re too busy trying to get soaked.

Badges to Incorporate: Physics, Water, Engineering, Fun with Science, Water Games

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