The Courageous and Strong petal helps Daisy Girl Scouts learn that being brave and confident is something they can practice in everyday life, even when situations feel new or a little scary.
This article offers a complete, original guide for parents and troop leaders on how to introduce the red “Courageous and Strong” petal, plan meetings, choose stories and activities, and support girls as they discover their own inner courage and strength.
What the Courageous and Strong Petal Means
The Courageous and Strong petal comes from the Girl Scout Law line, “I will do my best to be courageous and strong,” and is represented by Tula the Tulip, one of the Daisy flower friends.
For Daisies, courage does not mean never feeling afraid; instead, it means trying something new, standing up for others, and keeping going even when a task is challenging, while strength can be both physical and emotional.
- Courage: Trying something even if you feel nervous or unsure.
- Strength: Using your body, mind, and heart to keep doing what is right.
- Tula the Tulip: A character who shows girls how to be brave in age-appropriate stories.
Introducing the Girl Scout Law to Daisies
Before earning the Courageous and Strong petal, it helps to review the Girl Scout Promise and Law so girls understand where the petal fits within the full set of values.
Leaders often start a meeting by having girls recite or repeat the Promise, and then highlight the phrase “courageous and strong” so the girls can connect the words to the activities they will be doing that day.
- Say the Girl Scout Promise together at the beginning of the meeting.
- Point out the “courageous and strong” line in the Law and show the red petal.
- Ask simple questions like, “When have you been brave?” to start discussion.
Tula the Tulip and Story Time
Tula the Tulip is the Daisy flower friend who stands for being courageous and strong, and many petal plans start with reading or telling a story about Tula.
Stories might show Tula standing up for a friend, trying something new, or speaking up when something feels unfair, and then invite the girls to share how they would respond in a similar situation.
Ideas for Story Time
- Read an official Tula story or a short story about a character who is nervous but brave in the end.
- Pause to ask questions: “How do you think she feels?” or “What could she do to be courageous?”
- Let girls act out parts of the story with simple motions or role play.
Some leaders also pair Tula’s story with picture books that highlight persistence and courage, such as stories about characters who keep trying until they succeed or learn to stand up for themselves and others.
Key Learning Goals for This Petal
By the end of the activities for the Courageous and Strong petal, Daisy Girl Scouts should be able to name what courage and strength look like and give at least one personal example.
They should also have practiced specific ways to be brave and strong, from trying a new skill to speaking up kindly when something is wrong.
| Focus | What Girls Learn | Example Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Understanding courage | Courage means taking action even when something feels a little scary or new. | Group discussion after a story about a brave character. |
| Understanding strength | Strength includes being physically active and emotionally confident and kind. | Simple obstacle course or movement game. |
| Putting courage into action | Girls can name one brave thing they will try and how they will handle nervous feelings. | “My brave plan” drawing or pledge. |
| Standing up for others | Girls learn that being courageous sometimes means supporting friends or speaking up about fairness. | Role-playing kind ways to intervene when someone is left out. |
Planning a Daisy Meeting for the Courageous and Strong Petal
Many councils provide sample meeting plans that include an opening, story time, an activity or craft, and a closing reflection focused on courage and strength.
Most meetings last 45–60 minutes and mix quiet listening activities with active games so that Daisies can learn through movement, conversation, and creativity.
Sample Meeting Flow
- Opening (5–10 minutes): Welcome, sign-in, Girl Scout Promise and Law, brief introduction to the Courageous and Strong petal.
- Story time (10–15 minutes): Read a Tula story or a book about a brave character and pause for questions.
- Main activity (15–20 minutes): Craft, game, or hands-on challenge that asks girls to practice being courageous and strong.
- Reflection and sharing (5–10 minutes): Ask each girl to share one brave thing she has done or wants to do.
- Closing (5 minutes): Thank-yous, petal reminder, and optional song or friendship circle.
Activity Ideas to Practice Courage and Strength
Activities for this petal should be simple enough for kindergarten and first-grade girls, but still challenge them to step slightly outside their comfort zones in a safe environment.
Combining movement, creative expression, and social interaction helps reinforce the idea that courage and strength can show up in many different forms.
Physical Activities
- Mini obstacle course: Use cones, cushions, or floor markers to create a path the girls must balance, hop, or crawl through, emphasizing trying their best instead of being perfect.
- New movement or sport: Invite a guest to show a few beginner martial arts moves, a dance routine, or yoga poses and encourage girls to participate as they feel ready.
- Bravery stations: Set up simple stations such as “try a new stretch,” “balance on one foot,” or “do five jumping jacks” and let girls rotate through them.
Emotional and Social Courage Activities
- Try something new at snack time: If allowed, offer a new fruit or healthy snack and invite girls to taste it, reminding them it is okay not to like it after trying.
- Singing in front of others: Have small groups choose a simple song to sing for the troop to practice performing even when they feel shy.
- Brave voice role play: Act out scenarios where someone is being left out, and let girls practice what they could say to include or support that person.
Creative Projects for the Courageous and Strong Petal
Crafts and art projects give Daisies something tangible to connect with the idea of courage and strength, and they can also serve as a reminder at home of what they learned.
Many councils and leaders like superhero-themed crafts or art projects that celebrate strong and courageous women and girls throughout history.
Superhero Cuffs or Badges
- Use cardstock or foam to make simple wrist cuffs that girls decorate with stars, lightning bolts, or tulips to represent their “courage powers.”
- Invite each girl to write or dictate one brave quality about herself to be added as a word or symbol on her cuff.
- Encourage them to wear the cuffs while doing a courageous activity at home, such as sleeping with the light off or introducing themselves to someone new.
Courage and Strength Art Gallery
- Create an art project where each girl draws or paints a woman or girl she thinks is courageous and strong, such as a family member, community helper, or historical figure.
- Hang the artwork around the meeting room as a “Courage and Strength Gallery” and let the girls walk around and explain who they chose and why.
- Use this as an opportunity to talk about different types of courage, including everyday acts like caring for others or learning new skills.
Helping Girls Relate Courage to Their Own Lives
To make the petal meaningful, girls need chances to connect the concept of courage and strength to real moments in their own lives, not just characters in stories.
Leaders and parents can gently prompt Daisies to recall times when they felt nervous but tried anyway, such as a first day at school or learning to ride a bike, and celebrate those experiences as examples of courage.
- Ask each girl to share a “brave moment” and praise effort instead of outcome.
- Encourage them to notice when friends are being courageous and say something kind.
- Let girls draw or act out moments when they stood up for themselves or others.
Practice at Home: Extending the Petal Beyond the Meeting
Families can reinforce the Courageous and Strong petal by talking about courage at home and noticing when children do something brave, however small.
Simple follow-up activities can include reading more stories about bravery, setting a goal to try one new thing in a week, or reflecting together about how it felt to do something challenging.
- Create a “bravery chart” where the girl can add a sticker whenever she does something courageous.
- Have a weekly family conversation about times each person used courage or strength.
- Encourage the girl to teach a sibling or friend what she learned about Tula and the petal.
Awarding the Courageous and Strong Petal
Once girls have talked about Tula’s story, completed one or more activities, and practiced being courageous and strong in real or role-played situations, they are ready to receive their petals.
Many leaders like to hold a short recognition moment where each girl comes forward, shares one thing she did bravely, and then receives the red petal to place on her Daisy tunic or vest.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Talk about Tula’s story | Read or tell a story highlighting Tula being courageous and strong. |
| Do an activity | Participate in at least one craft, game, or challenge that lets girls practice courage and strength. |
| Share a brave moment | Each girl talks about a time she was or will be courageous and strong. |
| Reflect on the Law | Connect the experience back to the “courageous and strong” line in the Girl Scout Law. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How old are girls when they earn the Courageous and Strong petal?
The Courageous and Strong petal is designed for Daisy Girl Scouts, typically in kindergarten and first grade, as part of the Daisy petal set that introduces the Girl Scout Law.
Do girls need to do all suggested activities to earn the petal?
Council plans often list more activities than are strictly required; leaders can choose options that fit their troop’s time, resources, and the girls’ interests, as long as the key goals of understanding and practicing courage and strength are met.
Can parents help with the Courageous and Strong petal at home?
Yes, families are encouraged to support Daisies by talking about bravery at home, reading stories about courageous characters, and noticing and naming times when the girl acts courageously or shows inner strength.
How does this petal connect to other Daisy petals?
The Courageous and Strong petal sits alongside other values like being friendly, helpful, considerate, and caring, and together these petals give girls a balanced sense of character, responsibility, and kindness.
What if a girl is very shy or fearful?
For shy or anxious girls, courage might look like very small steps, such as quietly answering a question, trying a new activity for a few seconds, or standing near a group performance, and leaders should honor these steps as valid expressions of being courageous and strong.
Helping Daisy Girl Scouts earn the Courageous and Strong petal is an opportunity to build resilience early, showing girls that bravery grows through practice and that every effort to do what is right, even when it feels hard, is something to be proud of.
