October 2021 Newsletter
A Note From the Founder – USPS Price Increases and Delays Starting Oct. 1
If you plan to place any orders between now and January, please make sure to leave plenty of time. It can take us up to a week to make and ship an order when we are busy since badges are made to order. To keep shipping costs down we ship most orders via First Class mail which can take 7-10 days to reach states back east. I have always told people to order 3 weeks before badges are needed just in case as that usually gives plenty of time to make and receive the badges.
Unfortunately with the increase in shipments due to the holiday season and the short staff of the post office, USPS announced that deliveries could take an average of an extra 5 days through the end of the year. Please make sure to add an extra week to your planning just in case. I would much prefer you get your package earlier than anticipated and be happy than have it be late and miss a ceremony.
In addition to the increased delivery time, they have also increased the postage fees starting today. First class packages have an addition $.30 fee and for Priority Mail Flat Rate the price has gone up $.75.
Sorry everyone. I hate being the bearer of bad news and yet even more inflationary cost increases.
Kerry Cordy
Website Maintenance
As part of our website merges I am transferring everything to a faster server. Unfortunately this means all three websites as well as the stores will be down for about 24 hours. The planned transfer is for October 11 so please plan accordingly. If all goes will it may be done in about 6-8 hours, but I was told to plan for 24. If something goes wrong it may be a bit longer. Try to get all badge information you need for a few days printed out if needed just in case. (I am a Murphy’s Law planner….)
New Badges Posted
Fall Community Service Ideas
- Participate in the Big Help Day on October 9 to help scientists track bird species
- Offer safety tips for youngsters during Halloween.
- Create a campaign to encourage biking and walking.
- Distribute leaf bags during the fall encouraging residents to clean leaves from their streets and yards.
- Recognize veterans in your community.
- November is military family month – support a military family with meals, yard work, babysitting, etc.
- Adopt a “grand friend” and write them letters and visit them.
- Donate toys or suitcases to foster children.
- Adopt a pothole and raise funds to repair it.
Animal Age Levels
In Frontier Girls, our original program, each age level for badge work is named after a specific animal. The animals chosen each have specific traits that describe the girls at that age level. When developing Quest Clubs and Curiosity Untamed, I stayed with simple numerical levels as I did not know if boys would want to be referred to as Butterflies. Many of our Quest Clubs have liked the concept of having levels named after animals and have come up with their own. Jenn Wolf and her family in Kenya came up with these wonderful ideas:
“My Quest boy insisted that as a “Frontier Boy” he needed names for levels. Also we live in Kenya so he insisted on local animals (he was born in the US but has lived here since he was 18 months old so doesn’t remember it). This is what we came up with based off of Kerry’s descriptions for Frontier Girls.
- Preschool – Bush Babies – small but curious, like to go out and see the world, but still want to stay close to mom. Big Eyed Wonder at all the new and exciting things to see and learn.
- Level 1 – Pumba (Warthog) – constantly curious, busy, energetic, move together, 8 second attention span.
- Level 2 – Nyani (monkeys) – work in packs, talkative, share, range further from home but still fairly close to home.
- Level 3 – Punda malia (Zebra) – roam far but within limits, explore the world around them, work together, travel in packs
- Level 4 – Simba (Lion) – free to roam, solid understanding of their world, open to adventure and independent, but appreciate the pack.
- Level 5 – Tembo (elephant) – the “wise old owls” of Africa, long lived, travel far, but mostly stick together, and still curious. Life long learners.
If you have more ideas for age level names, please post on our Curiosity Untamed/Quest Clubs Forum Facebook group to share with others.
How to Earn Badges
At the beginning of each new school year I always get asked by new members how to earn a badge. Since our badges are created for all age levels and there are so many options, sometimes it gets a bit confusing.
How Many Requirements?
The first requirement of each age level is to do ALL the lower level mandatory starred requirements. For your current level, this only fulfills ONE requirement, starred requirement #1. Then you must still do your second starred requirement and choose the remainder of your requirements from the higher levels or optional requirements. For example if you are a Level 3, your first requirement is to do all Preschool, Level 1 and Level 2 starred requirements, but this only counts as one requirement for you. Since you need a total of 6 requirements, you will still need to do your second starred requirement and then choose 4 optional requirements.
Some badges will have quantities added to the badge requirement such as the Bird Watching badge that asks you to be able to identify a certain number of birds. When you advance age levels, that number will go up, but it is not added to the lower level number. Using the Bird Watching example, Level 1 needs to identify three birds. Level 2 needs to identify seven birds. Level 3 needs to identify nine birds, etc. You do not need to add them all together. Level 3 only needs to identify nine birds, not 19.
Can I Adapt Requirements?
Unlike other badge programs, our requirements are not set in stone. Every requirement can be adapted as long as the goal of the requirement is met. For example if the requirement says to write an essay about the badge topic and your kid HATES essays, think about what the goal is. The goal is to show an in-depth knowledge of the topic. This could be done as an oral presentation, a dramatic skit, and artistic booklet, etc. If the requirement is to taste a food that your child is allergic to, the goal of the requirement is simply to understand the taste. You could have others taste it and describe it; create a taste survey for others to use; research the food items and learn what it tastes like if you can’t do it any other way. Is it bitter? Sour? Sweet?
Can I Do More or Less?
Every parent knows their child best. The goal is to challenge your kids without overwhelming them. For some kids, or some topics, this means asking your child to more than what is actually required. For others it might mean simplifying things. Always keep the goal of the badge in mind when making adjustments. Try to get your kids to stretch themselves and get outside their comfort zones, but don’t make things so difficult that it is no longer fun. The goal is get kids to LOVE learning and want to explore even more.
Investiture Ceremony
Every fall at the beginning of the school year, Quest Clubs invest new members into their club and rededicate those who are returning. An investiture is a time to formally admit someone to your group. This is a time for returning members to show their commitment to the group as well as welcome new members. It is also a time to confer leadership positions on those who will be serving your club.
For centuries, flowers have held a variety of meanings and this ceremony uses flowers that traditionally represent the nine parts of our code of conduct. This ceremony may also be adapted to include advancement from one age level to the next.
Flower Ceremony
LEADER: ”Welcome to our Investiture and Rededication ceremony. Flowers have always played an important part in human life. From the earliest times they have been given as signs of love and respect and have been used in ceremonies of all types. The flowers in this ceremony represent the nine parts of the Quest code of conduct.
[Have children pass out flowers to family members as they are read.)
READER: As a member of Quest,
I will be loving, treating others as I would like to be treated. The red rose symbolizes this love.
I will be Joyful, finding the blessings in every situation. The chrysanthemum symbolizes joy in all things.
I will be Peaceful, respecting others opinions and beliefs. Winter greens symbolize the harmony we try to keep between ourselves and others.
I will be Patient, persevering toward my goals despite obstacles. The purple aster represents patience in all things.
I will be Kind, respectful to all and willing to help others at all times. The zinnia represents thoughtfulness about friends
I will be Good, pure in all I do, think and say. The white daisy symbolizes innocence and truth.
I will be Faithful to my God and loyal to family, friends, and country. The dandelion represents faithfulness.
I will be Gentle, taking special care of those weaker or less fortunate than I. Baby’s breath shows generosity and thoughtfulness toward others
I will have Self Control, using my time, materials, and talents wisely, and being accountable for my own actions. The gladiola symbolizes strength of character, maturity, and responsibility
Investiture/Rededication Oaths
Club Members
As a member of Quest
I promise to do my best
To live according to the Quest moral code
Both at our meetings
And in my everyday life.
Patrol Leaders
As a patrol leader I promise
To lead my patrol to the best of my ability
To keep order in my group at all times
To speak for my patrol and not just for myself
And to do my best
To live up to the clubs trust.
Leadership Positions
As a leader I promise
To do my job to the best of my ability
To take my responsibilities seriously
And to do my best
to live up to the club’s trust.
(Other flowers may be used in this ceremony. For a list of flower meanings you can visit the following websites: