A Note from the Founder – Price Increase on Badges Next Fall
In nearly 20 years, I have only raised badge prices once, from $.99 to $1.10 roughly 10 years ago. I have waited as long as I possibly could, but unfortunately increasing costs have reached the point where I need to raise them again. Pinback badges will be going to $1.25 and magnets will be $1.75 starting on August 1, 2026. Feel free to stock up over the summer before the price increase, but please remember that badges are non-refundable so make sure to earn anything you order. Our annual January sale will still go on, and will drop the prices back down to $1.10 for pins and $1.50 for badges for the entire month of January. I appreciate your understanding.
—Kerry Cordy
New Badges Added
Sticks Badge – Explore the surprising versatility of one of nature’s simplest materials. Learn how sticks have been used for tools, shelters, art, fire building, and construction throughout history, and put them to work in your own creative projects.
Chores Badge – Build responsibility and practical life skills through age-appropriate household tasks. Learn how daily work contributes to a healthy home and how consistent effort builds character and independence.
Japanese American Concentration Camps Badge – Study an important and sobering chapter of American history. Learn about Executive Order 9066, life in the camps, and the lessons this period teaches about civil liberties, resilience, and justice.
Making God’s Eyes
God’s Eyes—also known as Ojo de Dios—are simple woven crafts traditionally made with sticks and yarn. They’re inexpensive, relaxing to create, and perfect for all ages. Younger kids practice coordination, while older members can experiment with complex color patterns.
Supplies:
- 2 craft sticks (or small straight sticks from outdoors)
- Yarn in one or more colors
- Scissors
Instructions
1. Form the Cross – Place the two sticks across each other in the center to form an “X.” Hold them together firmly.
2. Secure the Center – Tie one end of the yarn around the center where the sticks cross. Wrap the yarn diagonally around each stick several times to lock the sticks tightly in place.
3. Begin Weaving – Start wrapping the yarn around one stick. Then move to the next stick in a clockwise direction and wrap once. Continue wrapping around each stick in order.
The pattern is simple:
Wrap one stick → move to the next → wrap once → repeat.
As you continue, a diamond shape will begin forming in the center.
4. Change Colors (Optional) – When you’re ready to switch colors, cut the yarn and tie on a new strand. Continue the same wrapping pattern.
5. Finish the Edges – When your design is the size you want, tie the yarn securely around one stick and trim the excess.
Ideas for Extension
- Use four sticks instead of two for a more intricate design.
- Create a themed color pattern (team colors, seasonal colors, etc.).
- Attach a loop of yarn at the top to hang it as decoration.
- Pair this craft with badges like Weaving, Cultural Studies, Art, or Sticks.
God’s Eyes are a great reminder that simple materials—sticks and yarn—can become something beautiful with patience and repetition. They’re also an excellent group activity because everyone works at their own pace while following the same pattern.
Seasonal Activities
May is a natural bridge month. School is winding down, summer is approaching, and the weather finally cooperates enough to take learning outdoors.
Start with a Memorial Day Reflection Project. Visit a local memorial, cemetery, or veterans’ monument. Clean headstones (with permission), place small flags, or write thank-you notes to veterans. This pairs well with Veterans, WWI, WWII, or United States of America and helps members connect history with gratitude.
Host a Mother’s Day Appreciation Project. Members can create handmade cards, plan and prepare a simple brunch, or assemble small gift baskets. Tie this into Gift Giving, Cooking, Table Setting, or Thankfulness.
Take advantage of the longer daylight hours with a Sunset Nature Walk. Observe changes in plants and wildlife, identify trees in bloom, or sketch what you see. This connects naturally with Trees, Wildflowers, Weather, or Bird-watching.
Leadership Position Spotlight
The Treasurer helps track troop or club finances. This includes recording dues, documenting expenses, and maintaining transparency with adult oversight. It’s an excellent way to introduce budgeting, accountability, and financial literacy. With adult supervision, this position can start as early as 3rd grade.
There are printable forms to create a financial binder in the Forms section of the Resources page. This is a practical skill that translates directly into adult life.
Higher Award Highlight
The Servant’s Heart Award recognizes consistent, meaningful community service. It’s not about one big project. It’s about a pattern of choosing to help.
As summer approaches, now is a great time to review service logs and encourage members to complete remaining hours. Look for small, consistent opportunities—Pickin up trash, assisting at events, or volunteering locally.
Toolbox of Skills Ceremony
As you present badges and higher awards this spring, consider a “Toolbox of Skills” theme. Set up a simple toolbox or table display. As each member comes forward, explain how each badge represents a tool they’ve added to their personal toolbox—skills they’ll carry into adulthood.
This keeps the focus on growth and capability rather than just recognition. Full script and instructions can be found on our Blog.
Frontier Girls Scholarship Winners
$1,000 Abby Olson Award – Caroline Duke
Each year, the Abby Olson Award is given to a Frontier Girl who best follows in Abby’s footsteps—demonstrating exceptional achievement, leadership, and a deep commitment to the program by earning not only the Diamond Gem Award, but also the Eagle (Level 4) WOW! Award.
This year, I’m proud to announce that Caroline Duke has been selected as our recipient and awarded the $1,000 continuing education scholarship.
For her Make a Difference project, Caroline created New Baby Gift Bags for local families, including handmade blankets, baby hats, and breastfeeding information. She secured grant funding, coordinated donations, and completed much of the work herself before donating the bags to the Open Door Resource Center in Gilmer.
Beyond that project, Caroline completed over 1,000 hours of community service to earn her Eagle Level. She serves with two volunteer fire departments, volunteers weekly at a therapeutic equestrian center, supports veterans and local events, and participates in regular food distributions. She has also earned her state firefighter certification and completed advanced officer training. At the same time, she completed 240 hours of farrier training and launched her own business, Duke Horseshoeing LLC.
Caroline is continuing at the Owl level and plans to use this scholarship to further develop her skills, including returning to music training.
$500 Charlotte Duke Award – Collene Duke
Each year, the Charlotte Duke Award is presented to a Frontier Girl who demonstrates exceptional perseverance, leadership, and a strong commitment to service by earning her Diamond Gem Award at the Eagle (Level 4) level.
This year, I’m proud to announce that Collene Duke has been selected as our recipient.
For her Eagle Level Make a Difference Award, Collene led a series of beaded bookmark workshops for teen volunteers at the Upshur County Library. She organized materials, set up workstations, and taught participants how to create bookmarks that were then donated to local libraries for fundraising—resulting in more than 400 bookmarks.
Beyond that project, Collene serves her community in many ways. She volunteers weekly at Windridge Therapeutic Equestrian Center, assists with food distribution through the East Texas Food Bank, supports veterans and first responders through multiple events, and contributes to local fundraisers and service projects throughout the year.
Her dedication, leadership, and willingness to take on challenges make her a truly deserving recipient.
$500 Megan Lundquist Award – Christopher Lundquist
The Megan Lundquist Award is presented each year to a Frontier Girl who has earned the WOW! Award at the Eagle (Level 4) level, earning more than 100 badges. For the first time, I have made an exception and offered this scholarship outside the Frontier Girls program to a Quest Club member, Christopher Lundquist.
Christopher was only 5 years old when his older sister Megan first earned the award that is named for her. He set a goal to match her and earn the award as well. He surpassed her and has already earned more than 200! Christopher has been an active Quest Clubs member for the majority of his life, earning multiple awards over the years and becoming a wonderful role model for those around him. Watching him grow in the program has been a blessing and I am honored to present him with the scholarship that bears his sister’s name.
Tips & Tricks for Troop & Club Leaders
Schedule a Reflection Meeting
Before summer break, dedicate one meeting purely to reflection. Ask members:
- What badge did you enjoy most this year?
- What was the hardest thing you completed?
- What leadership role would you like to try next year?
- What would you change for next year?
Reflection builds ownership. It helps kids recognize their own growth instead of waiting for adults to point it out.
Hard History, Hard Work: What One Thesis Taught Me
by Cassie Jensen – author the the Japanese American Concentration Camps Badge
I recently finished my master’s thesis on World War II. I researched and studied how Japanese Americans in Idaho were incarcerated during World War II and forced into labor camps, including a small and largely forgotten camp in Rupert, Idaho, known as the Rupert Labor Camp, which I refer to as the “F” Street labor camp. This camp was not well documented, and finding information about it often felt like searching for a needle in a haystack due to its official name being shared with the POW camp in Pual that housed German prisoners, and the Rupert CCC camp that had the same name! Talk about confusion. That experience showed me how easily important parts of history can be overlooked or erased if people do not take the time to look deeper.
Just a fun fact, if you Google the “Rupert Labor Camp,” only photos of the Rupert CCC that housed Japanese Americans in Paul, Idaho, or the POW camp in Paul appear; nothing about the small labor camp I wrote my paper on appears, this camp was somewhere near “F” street in Rupert its exact location is still lost, All i know is its two blocks south of the rail road near city square.
This project was especially challenging for me because I have dyslexia. Writing and getting my thoughts onto paper has never been easy, and spelling can still be difficult. There were many times I wanted to give up because the process felt overwhelming. However, I learned that sticking with hard things is important. Each draft, correction, and revision helped me grow stronger and more confident in my abilities.
Through this experience, I realized that challenges do not mean failure, they are part of learning. My thesis is proof that even when something feels impossible, you can succeed with persistence and effort. Studying history and overcoming my own struggles showed me that understanding the past and believing in yourself are essential for growth.
Not a Member Yet?
Curiosity Untamed provides thousands of hands-on badges across nine Areas of Discovery. Whether you’re homeschooling, leading a troop, or simply looking for meaningful activities, our program offers structure without limiting curiosity.
Join us and start building skills that last.
