1. August 2017 Think Like a Citizen Scientist Journey!
Guide for Daisy, Brownie, Junior, and Multi-Level Troops
August 2017

2. Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
I am a Troop Leader, I will…
Create a girl scouts scistarter account here:
On my SciStarter Journey page, view videos from scientists with my troop and ask them to select a citizen science project.
Invite the girl scouts to start their scistarter account to join the project using template sent to my inbox.
Learn how to participate in the project and schedule a time to collect data with the girl scouts.
Assist the girl scouts in making and sharing observations.
These meetings were designed for the troop meeting model, since that is the most common way K – 5 girls get together. Each STEM activity takes 45 minutes (or 30 minutes for Daisies) so there’s enough time for the opening and closing ceremonies. The 3 STEM meetings could be done in day-long workshop or as part of day camp.
Also, a note: the Outdoor Journey has a different structure, because it’s badge-based. For the Outdoor Journey, girls do 3 outdoor badges and a Take Action project. The main thing to remember about a Journey is that it always involves a Take Action project, whether the Journey focuses on learning how scientists think and solve problems (STEM Journeys) or on building new skills (Outdoor Journey).

3. Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
I am a Troop Leader, I will…
6. Return to my SciStarter Journey page (once you have a scistarter account, anytime you sign in, you’ll be directed to your Journey): enter the data the girl scouts collected (if not already entered using mobile device) then take attendance using the Girl Scouts Management tab on your Journey.
7. Lead a discussion with the girl scouts about why this data is important for the community and the scientist who is collecting it. Help them design a Take Action project.
8. Upload their take action project on the SciStarter Journey Page and Mark Attendance for all who participated.
we’ve completed the Journey. Celebrate!
These meetings were designed for the troop meeting model, since that is the most common way K – 5 girls get together. Each STEM activity takes 45 minutes (or 30 minutes for Daisies) so there’s enough time for the opening and closing ceremonies. The 3 STEM meetings could be done in day-long workshop or as part of day camp.
Also, a note: the Outdoor Journey has a different structure, because it’s badge-based. For the Outdoor Journey, girls do 3 outdoor badges and a Take Action project. The main thing to remember about a Journey is that it always involves a Take Action project, whether the Journey focuses on learning how scientists think and solve problems (STEM Journeys) or on building new skills (Outdoor Journey).

4. Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
I am a Girl Scout, I will…
Watch the videos of scientists describing their project and Decide with my sister Scouts which project we want to do with scientists!
Use the link my leader sends me to create a user account on SciStarter.
View a Welcome Video from the scientist we decided to help and Learn how to participate in the project and what materials we need. gather the materials.
Meet with my leader and sister Scouts to make and share observations.
These meetings were designed for the troop meeting model, since that is the most common way K – 5 girls get together. Each STEM activity takes 45 minutes (or 30 minutes for Daisies) so there’s enough time for the opening and closing ceremonies. The 3 STEM meetings could be done in day-long workshop or as part of day camp.
Also, a note: the Outdoor Journey has a different structure, because it’s badge-based. For the Outdoor Journey, girls do 3 outdoor badges and a Take Action project. The main thing to remember about a Journey is that it always involves a Take Action project, whether the Journey focuses on learning how scientists think and solve problems (STEM Journeys) or on building new skills (Outdoor Journey).

5. Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
I am a Girl Scout, I will…
5. Reflect on our observations. Consider why collecting this data is important where we are, and how it connects to the question the scientist is asking.
6. Take Action with what we learned from our experience.
we’ve completed our Journey. Celebrate!
Get involved in more citizen science projects with our family through SciStarter!
These meetings were designed for the troop meeting model, since that is the most common way K – 5 girls get together. Each STEM activity takes 45 minutes (or 30 minutes for Daisies) so there’s enough time for the opening and closing ceremonies. The 3 STEM meetings could be done in day-long workshop or as part of day camp.
Also, a note: the Outdoor Journey has a different structure, because it’s badge-based. For the Outdoor Journey, girls do 3 outdoor badges and a Take Action project. The main thing to remember about a Journey is that it always involves a Take Action project, whether the Journey focuses on learning how scientists think and solve problems (STEM Journeys) or on building new skills (Outdoor Journey).

6. 1 2 3 Think Like a Citizen Scientist Your Toolkit!
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Your Toolkit! 1
Your Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit 2
The Troop Leader SciStarter
Account and Journey Page 3
A SciStarter User Account for
each Girl Scout
Confidently lead your Girl Scouts through this new experience.
These are the main resources you will be using.

7. 1 Your Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit
Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16 1
Your Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit
This is located when you log in to “My GS” on your Council website.
Your Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) is a helpful guide to plan and execute the meetings. If you are having difficulty accessing it, please contact the staff at your local Council.

8. 2 The Troop Leader SciStarter Account and Dashboard
Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16 2
The Troop Leader SciStarter
Account and Dashboard
The Troop Leader will create a SciStarter account to manage the troop’s experience.
Troop Leader accounts should ONLY be created using
this link available in the VTK:

9. 3 SciStarter Accounts for each Girl Scout/Family
Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16 3
SciStarter Accounts for each Girl Scout/Family
All participating girls/families will create an account so that their participation can be tracked and supported by the Troop Leader.
GIRL/FAMILY accounts should ONLY be created using the custom link provided to the Troop Leader specific to your Troop and project. The link for individual Girl Scout families to join is available on the Troop Leader’s Girl Management Tab when logged in to SciStarter.

10. Your Journey to Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Your Journey includes access to many resources that will help you confidently lead your Girl Scouts through this Journey. This overview will help you use them.
Meeting
What the girls will learn
Using the VTK you will:
On SciStarter Website Journey page you will:
Meeting 1
How to observe like a scientist
-Use meeting plan to guide activities
-Record girl attendance
-View half of the project videos
Meeting 2
Learn to analyze data like a scientist
-Decide which project the girls want to do
-View rest of project videos
Meeting 3
Collect data for scientists
-Learn about project, collect and enter data, log attendance and girl participation
Meeting 4
Design Take Action projects
Record completed Take Action projects and log attendance, share photos
Meeting 5
Complete Take Action projects
Meeting 6
Celebrate accomplishments as citizen scientists
View thank you video from scientists

11. Think Like a Citizen Scientist Picking a Project for Success
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Your girls will watch overview videos and determine which project they would like to participate in together. Some projects may be better suited to the abilities of your girls or time constraints of your troop events.
Project Name
What the Scientists are Studying:
What the girls will do:
Notes
Ant Picnic
What do ants prefer to eat around the world?
-Prepare a picnic for ants to learn about what types of food they prefer in your neighborhood
-The ingredients are easily accessible in your community
-Activity requires materials, 20 minutes preparation, one hour waiting, 20 minutes data collection
Stream Selfie
What is the health of every stream in the country?
-Your troop will locate a local stream and snap pictures of the stream
-Your troop will share the pictures using an online form with a few simple questions
-Activity requires stream, camera, online access to upload data
-Taking photos may be a quick activity
NASA GLOBE Observer: Clouds
Compare cloud observations you see with what NASA satellites "see" to help scientists predict droughts and floods.
Troop Leader will download the app to a mobile device and assist girls in making and sharing observations about clouds
-Requires downloading an app on mobile device and setting up a user account with NASA GLOBE (put “SCISTARTER” in the referral field)
-Activity usually completed during daylight hours when clouds are visible
-Each observation takes approx 5 minutes

12. Think Like a Citizen Scientist Picking a Project for Success
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Picking a Project for Success
Your girls will watch overview videos and determine which project they would like to participate in together. Some projects may be better suited to the abilities of your girls or time constraints of your troop events.
Project Name
What the Scientists are Studying:
What the girls will do:
Notes
Globe at Night
Seven out of 10 people in the US have never seen our Milky Way Galaxy arch across their night sky from where they live. How much light pollution exists where you are and what effect does it have on nocturnal animals and ecology?
-Take your troop outside at least an hour after sunset but before 10 pm local time
-Don't stand under or near a light. Wait about 10 minutes for everyone's eyes to get adjusted to the night sky. Then, help your troop locate in the night sky the constellation of the month 
-Must plan activity clear and moonless nights during the 10-day campaign timeframe each month
-Observations will take about 20 minutes
Project Squirrel
Scientists are curious to understand more about tree squirrels. What can we learn about them through collecting some basic data from a lot of different places? 
-Go outside and look for squirrels! Learn how to tell different species apart with useful guides, count them, think about what predators and food are in the habitat
-Observations can be completed in twenty minutes or less, anywhere
-Even data that squirrels are not present is useful to the scientists

13. Think Like a Citizen Scientist Picking a Project for Success
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
Think Like a Citizen Scientist
Picking a Project for Success
Your girls will watch overview videos and determine which project they would like to participate in together. Some projects may be better suited to the abilities of your girls or time constraints of your troop events.
Project Name
What the Scientists are Studying:
What the girls will do:
Notes
iSeeChange
How are environments changing locally and globally?
Are leaves turning colors earlier than usual? Does it seem like there's more (or less) fireflies than last year?
Help your troop select and join an "investigation" to explore or dive deep into something they care about. From bugs to smog to heat and “seasonal firsts,” iSeeChange let’s you explore your environment in many ways
-Requires that an account on iseechange website is created to enter data
-Requires that girls are able to make observations relative to similar events in the past
Nature’s Notebook
How are plants and animals changing locally and globally as a result of climate change?
Observing life cycles of plants and animals with Nature's Notebook is easy and fun, and you will discover so much more about the plants and animals you see everyday
-Focused on specific plants and animals; review species list to identify animals/plants that are part of study
-Requires that an account on Nature’s Notebook website is created to enter data

14. Think Like a Citizen Scientist Tips for a Journey Program Event
Suzanne Harper 5/9/16
The Journey is designed to take place in six typical Girl Scout meetings, but can be facilitated during a day or weekend-long adventure. Condensing the time frame will require additional preparation. These tips are designed to help you be successful in preparing.
PLAN AHEAD BEFORE THE EVENT:
At least 2 weeks before the day of your event, make sure you:
Create your leader SciStarter Account and review the project requirements/videos
Invite the girls to create their own SciStarter Accounts using the code you them (you’ll find this on your Girl Scouts management tab on your SciStarter Journey page)
Download the videos of the scientists describing the projects and saying thank you allow the girls to really connect the dots between their contributions and the scientific community. Make sure you integrate these videos in the process, whether they be viewed at the event, or at home before/after.
Acquire essential materials for project. (This will take more time for some projects than others, plan ahead!)
Print data sheets so all Girl Scouts can participate in data collection.
EARNING THE JOURNEY AWARD THE DAY OF THE EVENT
Consolidate the observation (Meeting 1) and data analysis (Meeting 2) activities into sequential activities.
Ask girls to consider what kinds of questions could be answered with the data they are collecting, discuss what the scientists are examining, why this data is important.
Collect data more than once in a weekend, have girls compare their data and results, and keep it fun for a lifelong love of citizen science. Don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments as part of the program.
Mark attendance in your SciStarter Girl Management tab for all of the girls who attended the event.
TAKING ACTION (MAY BE AN ACTIVITY OF EVENT PROGRAM OR SOMETHING DONE AFTER BY THE GIRLS):
Take Action projects can include making an educational piece like a piece of art, brochure or video that the girls will share.
Create a zine, write a blog article, make a video or powerpoint presentation then have the girls share it at school or with their friends after your Journey event.
Girl Scouts should report back to their Troop Leaders about their Take Action Projects.
AWARDS:
There are two awards for each level to earn on this Journey. Be prepared to hand out the first once the day is complete. Prepare a plan that works in your setting for girls to complete their Take Action award. Taking Action is an important part of the Journey process!

15. QUESTIONS? Contact: GirlScouts@scistarter.com
Think Like a Citizen Scientist
QUESTIONS?
Contact: