The Westport Historical Society offers engaging programs for Brownies, Junior Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, enabling participants to complete many badges. Each program includes a fun hands-on activity and stimulating and educational presentations and learning activities. A WHS staff member and/or guest facilitator implements the programs. Healthy snacks are provided. Depending on the badge, and the activities selected, each badge can be completed in one or two visits.

All programs are held at the Westport Historical Society, generally between 3:30 - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, although other arrangements can be made. For more information, please contact Hilary Gibson, Education Director at 203-222-1424, ext. 108, or hgibson@westporthistory.org.

Cost: $8 per badge per child (includes snack and materials)

Made in Connecticut, Made by You - a young inventors program.  This badge works well for Scouts of all ages, either as a standalone program, or as part of Technology, Science, of Community badges.  Learn about the wide range of inventions from Connecticut, including the Frisbee, Silly Putty, Wiffle ball, helicopter, hamburger, Erector set, Wetbone and so many others.  Invent something responding to a "problem". 

Additionally, as part of many of our programs, we customize trips to Town Hall to meet with either the Town Selectman or other representatives of local government and we also conduct full programs at our one room school house, the Adams Academy, sharing both current and past flavor and information about life here in Westport.

Examples of new badge programs follow, although we continue to offer many others to allow scouts of all ages to fulfill badge requirements:

BROWNIES

Write Away - enables participants to view, discuss and participate in varied written and verbal communication activities, including exploring the relevant WHS exhibits, making their own "books," practicing interview techniques to gain useful information and learning about former resident, Helen Keller, Braille, and American Sign Language.

Science in Action - enables participants to engage in age-appropriate science in their lives, and also discuss science in an historic context. Activities include a science-based treasure hunt at the Wheeler house, making "ooblek", doing an art project with water soluble ink or paint, testing magnets, light and color changes and creating a chemical change.

JUNIOR GIRL SCOUTS

Communication Arts - enables participants to learn about different genres of communication. After exploring the two new WHS exhibits about the history of cartoons and photography, Scouts learn about different forms of verbal and non-verbal communication, including symbols, Braille and American Sign Language, and then create their own "book" to take home.

Junior Citizen - enables Scouts to understand the meaning of citizenship and their roles as contributing citizens to our local community. Meet a representative of local government or a town board and then create a take-home project that demonstrates their own active involvement in good citizenship. This program can be a one or two session program, depending on the number of activities completed.

Other badges frequently done at the Westport Historical Society for Brownies, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts include:

As appropriate, each program offered includes walking tours, looks at special historic collections and artifacts, special guests including historians, artists, local government workers and others, and the creation of one or more special tie-in projects for each participant to talk home.  A healthy snack is provided during each program.

Contact Education Director Hilary Gibson at 203-222-1424, ext. 108 or hgibson@westporthistory.org to discuss these and other badge programs.