Woodcock is queen of the Brownie badges

Woodcock is queen of the Brownie badges

 By ASHLEY MARTIN, The Leader-Post September 17, 2013

Eight-year-old Aislyn Woodcock earned all 71 Brownie badges in one year.

QC Photo by TROY FLEECE
Photograph by: TROY FLEECE , Regina Leader-Post

Sitting at the family’s dining room table, Aislyn Woodcock points out and explains the fruits of her labour: colourful little circles sewn onto two brown sashes.

Each represents a lot of time, energy and lessons learned in Brownies, the second branch of Girl Guides, which promotes skills, community service and self-confidence in girls.

During her one year in Brownies, Aislyn accomplished a rare feat, earning all of the 71 available badges.

When Aislyn, now eight, joined Brownies last September, she quickly decided to pursue all her badges, even though, because of her age, she only had one year to get them instead of the usual two.

“She did a few in October and then did some more in November and then decided she wanted to do them all. We looked at each other and went, ‘Um, OK, how many are in here?’” says mom Janice.

For the Chef badge, she made supper: lasagna and a cinnamon roll dessert that got dad’s approval.

Taking care of the family’s cat, Sapphire, earned her the Pet badge.

She saved money to buy snowshoes, which resulted in two badges — one for saving money, the other for winter fun.

Her favourite badge, and the hardest to get, was the Tell-It badge. She had to give a short speech; her subject of choice was saving the Monarch butterflies.

She wants to be a lepidopterist when she grows up, and likes butterflies because they “look pretty, and I want to fly but I’m afraid of heights.”

The Monarch butterflies winter in Mexico, where they’re dying because of deforestation and pesticide use by farmers there. And here, their primary food source — milkweed — is being depleted “because people think it’s a weed or it smells bad or both,” says Aislyn.

Earning 71 badges is no small feat.

“It definitely did not” happen by accident, says Aislyn. She then amends her statement.

“I thought it would be cool to get most of the badges but instead I got all of them, so it’s kind of on accident, kind of.”

“I worked a lot.”

Marnie Green, Aislyn’s “Brown Owl” Brownie leader, says Aislyn was dedicated the entire year. She worked during meetings and at home to earn all the badges.

“This is a whole year process she continued right from the minute she started, right to the end,” says Green.

“I think she has achieved something that probably doesn’t happen too often,” adds Alice Gaveronski, a 25-year leader in Guides and the public relations adviser of Girl Guides of Canada Saskatchewan Council.

Gaveronski credits Green and Aislyn’s parents, Marty and Janice Woodcock, for helping the child with the
“pretty awesome” achievement.

A leader typically divides the Brownie program into two years and the groups work on the units together during their weekly meetings.

Green put in extra time doing badge testing to help Aislyn reach her goal. And Aislyn did a lot of independent work at home, with the help of her parents. One month, she completed 23 badges. It took Green an hour to count them.

No doubt earning all of the badges is an achievement, but her parents are especially proud that she did so while dealing with ADHD and dyslexia.

“With ADHD, especially kids but adults too, have a very hard time planning anything,” says Marty. “She was a huge part of the planning process.

“For her birthday badge, she planned essentially by herself her birthday party, what cake she was going to have, the decorations, what friends she was bringing over, music, everything.”

She received the Cookie All-Star badge for selling the most Girl Guide cookies in her troupe of 36 girls — 38 cases of 12. Though her mom sold a few cases at work, Aislyn went door-to-door to sell 30 cases herself.

She was rewarded with a $75 Chapters gift card, which she plans to spend on some books from her favourite series, Judy Moody.

Aislyn plans on collecting all her badges over the next three years in Guides too, which she started this month. She is excited “to meet new friends and to learn lots and lots and lots more stuff.”

Her sister Danika started Sparks this year and is inspired by her big sister: “I want to get all my badges,” says Danika.

Girl Guides is looking for volunteer leaders. If you’re interested, call 306-757-4102, email: provincial@girlguides.sk.ca or visit the office at 200-1530 Broadway Ave.
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