7 old Girlguiding badges you never knew existed

The challenges included things like:

• Be familiar with the main developments of a ship, from the earliest times to present day.
• Show knowledge of the ocean floor and what is found there.
• Know where the most important fishing grounds are in the world and the trade routes.

While we don’t have a sea lore badge anymore, we still encourage girls to learn about the world around them with badges like nature for Rainbows (girls aged 4-7) and local history for Brownies (girls aged 7-10).

2. Booklover

In 1932, there was a Brownies booklover badge that encouraged girls to read 6 books from a list of authors like Mary Molesworth, Charlotte May Yongel and A.A Milne and tell the leader about them.

It was first included in The Book of Rules, Policy and Organisation in the same year. This was a regular publication for leaders which had information on everything from our organisational structure to syllabuses of Brownie, Guide and Ranger badge tests. More recently it was called The Guiding Manual, which has been replaced by the publication of policies, procedures and guidance on our website.

The early badge was woven and produced in a blue colourway, and bound around the edges.

While this particular badge no longer exists, we do currently have a book lover badge for Rainbows (girls aged 4-7). It encourages girls to visit a library, review books and find a creative way to show off their favourite book!

3. Cobbler

Historically, lots of Girlguiding badges focused on practical skills and traditional crafts. Cobbler, which describes a person who mends shoes, was one of them! It can be traced back as early as 1916, and shows a traditional cobbling tool called an awl.

The badge tasked girls with cobbling a pair of boots or shoes, then making a pair of felt slippers. Eventually, it was discontinued in 1978.

This badge was embroidered on white felt in navy blue, with blue border. This type of proficiency badge was produced between around 1912 and 1922.

With 84% of girls telling us it’s important to them to do something about climate change, we still create badges today about repairing and upcycling items because sustainability is something girls care about.

Nowadays, Guides (aged 10-14) can complete our fixing badge where they can fix something they wear, something that moves and something at home. From 21 July, they’ll also be able to try our new badge called thrift which is all about customising, repurposing and recycling their clothes.

Read our environmental plan.

4. Rabbit keeper

That’s right... there was a rabbit keeper badge! It first appeared for Guides in 1943 who had to get very close to these furry friends.

It required girls to keep rabbits for 1 year, including rearing a litter! It also asked girls to know the difference between breeds, understand common rabbit ailments and write diet sheets for them.

It was first included in the 1943 Policy, Organisation and Rules handbook. It was a woven badge on horizontally ribbed navy blue and overlocked edges.

Although the badge was discontinued in 1983, girls could continue to show their appreciation for animals with badges like the farmer badge.

5. Farmer

Dating back to 1917, the farmer badge asked Rangers to complete the landworker test. During World War 2, there was a skills test for women to join the Women’s Land Army.

To complete this badge, they had to pass the test as well as take part in other challenges. Some of them included recognising field crops, understanding the process from seed to harvest and being able to control a horse or pony with a cart.

The badge design featured a sickle, a hand-held tool with a curved blade used for cutting crops and grass.

Throughout our testing with over 11,000 girls and 700 units for the new interest badges, one of the most popular themes was animals. So you can expect more animal-themed activities coming soon.

6. House surveyor

Did you know there was an old Girlguiding badge called house surveyor? It required Rangers to answer 10 questions so they could assess a property.

It asked them questions like:

• What causes cracks in the ceiling?
• What sort of backyard is desirable?
• What are the 2 most likely reasons for the failing of an electric light?

The house surveyor badge was first included in Policy, Organisation and Rules in 1920. This type of badge, which was on navy blue-black felt, embroidered with a red house on the front, was produced from around 1923 to 1928. It was later phased out in the early 1940s.

7. Motorist

Although a lot of old Girlguiding badges feel outdated now, there are some historic badges that were extremely ahead of their time. For example, the motorist badge!

First appearing in 1917, the motorist badge encouraged women to drive, start and stop a car including filling up the oil, petrol and water tanks. One of the challenges was to change the wheel of the car.

It was uncommon for women to drive in the UK until the 1970s. The first woman to drive a London bus was in late May of 1974! (Link opens in a new tab.)

This Ranger badge was phased out from 1939, but a later version includes the mechanic badge introduced in 1943.

The style of badge in the photo above was available until around 1922. It was an embroidered wheel with wings on white felt or flannel with a blue boarder.

Want more badges that smash gender stereotypes? Lots of our new interest badges give girls the chance to learn more skills that have typically been labelled as ‘for boys’.