Programs for Junior Girl Scouts
Science is great for Girl Scouts! Explore the museum, earn badges, and meet new friends at the Academy of Natural Sciences! The Academy offers exciting and interactive weekend Day Workshops and our popular Safari Overnights sleepovers for 7-14 year olds.
Girls will complete their badges, but please remember that we do not provide them.
Day Workshops
Badge Workshops are offered on selected weekends in the Fall of 2011 and the Winter and Spring of 2012. (See the schedule of workshops dates at the bottom of this page.) You can register for either the morning (10:15 am - 12:15 pm) or afternoon (1:30 - 3:30 pm) sessions.
- Animal Habitats
- Everyone needs a home! In this workshop, scouts will learn about endangered habitats, explore different habitats throughout the museum, and perform their own animal-home-building experiment. To test their knowledge, scouts will attempt to clean up an oiled beach. Please dress accordingly.
- Flowers Badge
- Scouts will uncover the science of flowers by performing an experiment, making flower art, finding out how flowers help people, and sending a message with a special flower code. The great outdoors isnt the only place you can enjoy flowers!
- Oil Up Badge
- Scouts will create and then clean up their own oil spill. They will then experiment with different ways rescuers use to clean up animals caught in the oil. Scouts will also learn about the people of the countries where oil is produced, and explore alternative sources of energy.
Wear old clothes!
Day Workshop Details
The fees per scout are $10 for the Workshop and $7 for museum admission. Workshop fees are due upon registration. Admission fees are due upon arrival. Admission fees for adults are $7 and are due upon arrival. Members do not pay for admission.
A final headcount is due one month prior to the workshop; any cancellation after this date will not be refunded. Space is limited. Register early for your preferred date and time.
Scout parents and leaders can Download additional information about cancellations, workshop fees, where to go the day of the workshop, and more.
Please inform us of any severe allergies or special needs at least one week before your program.
To register, call 215-299-1060.
Interested in a different date? Private workshops can be scheduled for scout groups of 20-30. Contact us at or 215-299-1060.
Safari Overnights
Work on Junior Girl Scout Badges during a fun-filled night of interactive activities that includes a Live Animal Show. Then stay all night, sleeping right next to our museum exhibits. Have breakfast in the morning and, if you want, stay the day. Safari Overnights are offered during the Winter and Spring.
- Saturday, January 28, 2012, Wildlife Overnight
- Friday, March 16, 2012, Plants and Animals Overnight
- Saturday, April 14, 2012, Environmental Medley Overnight
- Friday, May 4, 2012, Water Water Overnight
Check-in is at 6:30-7:00 pm. Overnight gear must be removed from the building by 9 am, but participants are welcome to stay all day. Safari Overnights are appropriate for children ages 7-14. One adult is required per 3 children. Boy siblings are not permitted. Male chaperones will be required to sleep on a separate floor from Brownies and Junior Girl Scouts.
The fees are $35 for members and $40 for non-members. A deposit of $10 per person is due upon registration. The balance is due one month prior to the Safari Overnight date.
To register, call 215-299-1060.
- If you cancel:
- Any cancellations made more than 30 days before the date will be refunded in full. Partial or full cancellations made 7-30 days before the overnight will be subject to a $10/person fee. Cancellations made the week of the overnight will not be refunded.
- If we cancel:
- The Academy may cancel a Safari Overnight if there aren't enough participants. If so, we'll notify you two weeks prior to the event. We'll try to arrange another overnight for you. If not, you'll be granted a full refund.
- Downloads
- Safari Overnight Guide for Trip Coordinators
- Safari Overnight Guide for Parents and Chaperones
- Directions and Parking for Safari Overnights
Interested in a different date? Private overnights can be arranged for groups of 100-300 participants. Contact us at or 215-299-1060. See Family Safari Overnights you're an individual, family, or non-scout group interested in our Camp-In program.
Emergency Weather Cancellation Policy
In times of severe weather conditions, it may be necessary to cancel scout workshops. However, if the museum is open scout workshops will run as scheduled. Refunds will only be provided if the museum has closed due to weather. Please check the website homepage www.ansp.org or call 215-299-1019 for information on closings. In the event of a weather related cancellation, the Academy will attempt to reschedule the workshop. If rescheduling is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
Program Schedule
| Year | Date | Day Workshops | Safari Overnights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | November 12 | Flowers Badge Workshop | |
| November 13 | Flowers Badge Workshop | ||
| 2012 | January 28 | Oil Up Badge Workshop | Wildlife Overnight |
| January 29 | Oil Up Badge Workshop | ||
| March 16 | Plants and Animals Overnight | ||
| March 17 | Flowers Badge Workshop | ||
| March 18 | Flowers Badge Workshop | ||
| April 14 | Animal Habitats Badge Workshop | Environmental Medley Overnight | |
| April 15 | Animal Habitats Badge Workshop | ||
| May 4 | Water Water Overnight | ||
| May 5 | Animal Habitats Badge Workshop | ||
| May 6 | Animal Habitats Badge Workshop |