Scouting gets its “punch” from actual participation in doing things worth while. Therefore, use study clubs, lectures, books, etc.; as may be necessary but base your tests on actual deeds performed. First a follower (learner) and then a leader. A Citizen Scout can observe and study law-making in progress in a local board of supervisors of a county or city council or state legislature; or report on a session of court covering at least one full legal case. She might visit the freight terminal, and follow the milk delivery to the door of the consumer; or find a voluntary job in a creche, hospital or old ladies’ home, and do something worth while for thirty hours. She might attend a meeting of the School Board; help with school luncheons, and follow the work of the school nurse in the home. Any girl who will follow up any department of government and actually take part in it for a week—whether in street cleaning or reading to blind old ladies—will always thereafter have a different attitude toward civic affairs in that field.

Each Citizen Scout should find her own field and cultivate it: devote so many hours actual participation and report on it; develop qualities of leadership for her patrol; assist a captain of younger Girl Scout troop; take over the village park, the care of a public library, provide summer outings for poor children, conduct a camp, helping a teacher, etc. District nursing offers many chances for voluntary effort. Sunday school teaching, Y. W. C. A. work, Girl’s Friendly Societies, Big Sisters, all provide good opportunities. Red Cross and other patriotic organizations need helpers. No one should live to herself alone these days. Your country needs YOU now—not next week or when you have leisure, but NOW. The girl who doesn’t respond never will be worth what she might be. What are you going to do about it? Do it now!

Badges

Special Civic Award.—Must hold a civics badge, and carry out some definite investigation of civic matters, and report on it in an article of 500 words or more, or must carry through some public service for a period of at least three months.

The Badges are similar to those for Girl Scouts with a red border round them.

Badges are also given to girls who qualify in technical or continuation schools, or in some cases in their now factories or workshops. These are grouped as follows:

Activities for Citizen Scouts

Group 1. Nursing Service.