SWAPS! Have you heard of them? I was completely uninitiated into this whole “secret world” until last spring. From the Girl Scout’s Website: “Girl Scouts [and in Canada Girl Guides] often make small tokens of friendship to exchange with the Girl Scouts they meet while traveling. These little gifts are called ”SWAPS,” which stands for “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.”
SWAPs are cute little arts and crafts projects that Girl Guides and Girl Scouts make that can be attached to a safety pin and traded at Girl Guide and Girl Scout meetups.
Bean joined Girl Guides last spring as a Brownie. Being a Brownie is right up her alley, she loves camping and crafting so being a Brownie is a perfect fit for her. At the end of most meetings, Bean comes home with a SWAPS that she made during the meeting and her Brownie leaders save a second SWAPS for her to trade at a later date.
One of my friends who has a daughter who is also a Brownie, makes SWAPS with her daughter all year long. Last year, after their end of the year Girl Guide Rally, she came home with a blanket that had every square inch covered with SWAPS that she had traded with other girls.
I think SWAPS are a fun concept for kids whether they are a part of a Girl Guides or Girl Scouts program or not. Most SWAPS ideas, kids can make on their own. I think it would be fun for kids to bring SWAPS to school at the end of the school year, trade and decorate their backpacks with!
So far, Bean has just been making SWAPS at Brownies, but I’d love to start making them with her at home too. Today I thought I’d share 27+ SWAPS Ideas for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to get some inspiration going!
Read on for the SWAPS ideas inspiration!
27+ SWAPS Ideas for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
SWAP Rainbow Girl Scout Ribbon Tutorial from Me and My Inklings
Summer Camp SWAPS from Dude That’s Dope
Felt Flower SWAPS from Kunin Felt
Aquarium Themed SWAPS from WikiHow
Pipe Cleaner Flower SWAPS from Mommy Snippets
Sleeping Bag SWAPS from 4 You With Love
Bridging Swap from Girl Scout Swaps
Perler Bead Bird SWAPS from Flickornae
Flower Turkeys from Our Best Bites (These are supposed to be for a Thanksgiving table but would be adorable for SWAPS)
Beach Towel SWAPS from While Wearing Heels
Butterfly SWAPS from Red Heart
Boomerang SWAPS from Scout Mom
Girl Guides Rainbow Bridging SWAP
Bandaid SWAPS from The Pfeil Family
Emoji SWAPS from Momtastic (These are supposed to be Christmas ornaments but I think they’d make adorable SWAPS)
Camp In A Bag SWAPS from Tracy’s Guiding Blog
Buy these SWAP Kits from Etsy
Russian Nesting Doll or Matryoshka Doll Girl Scout SWAPS Kit
Girl Guide Tennis Shoe SWAPS Kit
Nature Hike Jar Necklace SWAPS Kits
Tell me… Were you in Girl Guides or Girl Scouts? How about your daughters? Which of these SWAPS is your favorite?
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Debbie Mraz says
I love these fresh ideas! I have an American Heritage Girls Troop (AHG) but never did any scouting, so I never heard of SWAPS! My girls love them.
Karen says
Preschool summer camp teacher looking for SWAP ideas and found some great ones!
Freddy says
I love them especially the emoji one it is just so fun to make them
Clara says
I was a Junior leader for twelve years I enjoyed making swaps they fun.