Brownie Thrift Badge

Broomstick

I was a brownie in the early1960s and did quite a few badges including my 'Thrift' badge. It was a brown triangular one with a yellow bee on it. Out of curiosity I've been trying to find online the list of things we had to do for that badge and I can't locate it anywhere.

I definitely remember having to make something new out of something old and I know I cut up a no longer needed old towelling nappy to make a flannel. I remember learning how to sew blanket stitch to decorate the new hems on it. I'm also pretty sure I had to show evidence of regular saving over a period of time in my Post Office Savings book (remember those?)

Are there any other brownies of the same vintage who remember what else we had to do to get a Thrift badge? I'm sure there was more.:)

tessie_bear

hi...i did this badge in the early 80's...i made a tape storage box out of a shoe box...complete with inserts and painted outside....i remember being observed wasing a pair of socks but that could have been a different badge....i wonder if brownies still do it

squeaky

Here ya go.... google girl scout brownie badges list

Broomstick

Thanks Squeaky. I'm probably overlooking the obvious but this search seems to refer to American 'Brownies'.

What I'm trying to find is a list of British Brownie badge requirements specifically from the early 1960s. There was a rewriting of Brownie and Guide syllabuses in the late 60s and there have been several after that as well, I think. I'd be interested in knowing if the Thrift Badge still exists (I know the bee got changed into a piggy bank picture at some point). If it did get discontinued I wonder when that happened and why.

I'm quite interested in getting accurate information because, in the not too distant future I am wondering about offering myself as a resource (an original bit of living history from 50 years ago :eek:) to the school I was at in the mid-60s because I still have quite a few old toys from that time, and a handful of school books. My mum happened to keep all my birthday cards from my 8th birthday as well and, although I gifted these into our local museums' collections I know I can borrow them back when I want to.

B x

squeakysue

My dd recently done a brownies badge where she had to wash socks, it was home skills badge. It involves Cleaning at home, laying a table, keeping bedroom tidy etc. Just looked through her badge book and there is no thrift badge or similar nowadays, sounds great though, would be an ideal place to teach about MS xx

lizzyb1812

Here is a list of current badges - no thrift badge

http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/brownies/badges/index.html

And here is a forum that might be able to tell you the specific info you are after

http://www.guiders.co.uk/showthread.php/20566-Brownies-in-1960s

HTH

Lizzy

PS - when searching for info putting "UK" after your search term will bring up more UK-relevant stuff

candygirl

I did it, but have no recollection of what i actually did :o;)

Broomstick

Thanks squeakysue.

I'm sure we did something like that too. Maybe it was called a Homemaker badge??? I think we had to show we could lay a fire in a grate amongst other things. I have a feeling there was a Laundress badge as well which no doubt involved a lot of ironing! Brownies was where I learned to iron a man's shirt properly.:D :rotfl: :eek: We also had to carry clean and ironed handkerchiefs in our uniform pockets as well. No paper hankies then and, anyway, you couldn't bandage a knee with a paper hankie and I think I could probably still demonstrate how to do it with a cotton one!:D

I agree about the Thrift badge being useful for current times. Maybe there will be a revival?

Just seen your post lizzyb. Thanks for the links.

B x

[Deleted User]

who remembers having pockets in their knickers to put a hanky in They were always very tiny so it was a squash to get one in.Also the dreaded navy nap coats with sleeves that seemed to trail on the floor (bought to grow into I never did though ) They had hood lined with a tartan material Todays kids would call it child abuse at the things we were meant to wear I remember the day I left school at 14 throwing my beret over the hedge into someones garden as I never ever would have to wear the awful thing again :)
Brownies were great fun, but I preferred the Guides and when the Scouts were moved to the same night as the guides at our church hall then our intake of guides shot up considerably :)

lily117

I did the thrift badge too, must have been about 1962, can't remember much about what I did though. Also had the knickers with pocket and the gaberdine navy mac with tartan lining

lily117

Forgot to say, my Mum died last month and found she had kept my Brownie dress and beret.