So I have a son and a daughter involved in Scouts, and the leader of the Girl Scout Troop said that the troop wanted to do the woodworking badge next, and if I'd help with getting a simple project together for the girls. I said sure, figuring that it was somewhat similar to the Boy Scout woodworking badge requirements. After I got home and got on the Googles to see what the requirements were, my SWMBO suggested that I go take a walk before I had a coronary.
I mean, I get it that presumption is that girls are not trained / exposed / expected to learn about tools and maintenance in their formative years, so they might be starting from a position of having less practical experience. My daughter kept getting invited to be involved when I was making her bedroom furniture - and I dare say she maybe spent a total of 60 minutes during the 120+ hours of the build assisting, and most of that was helping clean the shop. When it came to cutting, measuring, etc . . . she magically disappeared. So it's not like she didn't have the opportunity to learn, but at that time she lacked the interest. If that's the norm - I can see why there would need to be more of a ramp up in "getting to know your tools" to properly earn a Woodworking badge.
However, let me summarize the 5 sections of the Girl Scouts Woodworking badge as opposed to the first 5 (of 7) sections of the Boy Scouts Woodworking badge:
First Step:
Girl Scouts - Swing a Hammer - learn how to properly use a hammer by hammering nails into a piece of scrap lumber - Draw a shape on the wood and outline it in nails.
Boy Scouts - Explain what hazards you might encounter while doing woodworking, and what you can do to anticipate/prevent/mitigate and respond to those hazards. Show that you know the first aid for any injuries that can happen during woodworking, Tell what precautions must be taken to prevent loss of eyesight/hearing, and why a dust mask is important.
Second Step:
Girl Scouts - Keep It Level. Learn how to make sure your work is level and plumb. Borrow a level and use that level to check things around the house or your meeting area. Straighten any pictures or wall hangings that might be askew, check things like floors/counters/rails to see how they measure up.
Boy Scouts - Describe how timber is grown, harvested, and milled. Tell how lumber is cured, seasoned, and sized. Collect and label blocks of 6 different species of wood useful in woodworking, describing the chief qualities of each and best uses of each.
Third Step:
Girl Scouts - Attach it, Detach it. Using either a screwdriver or power drill (or both), drill six screws into a piece of scrap wood. How can you unscrew those screws?
Boy Scouts - Show the proper care, use, and storage of all the woodworkign tools and equipment that you own or use at home/school. Sharpen correctly the cutting edges of two different tools.
Fourth Step:
Girl Scouts - Saw the Alphabet. Use a miter saw to saw some wood so that you can build letters.
Boy Scouts - Using only a saw, plane, hammer, brace&bit - make something useful out of wood. Cut parts from lumber that you have squared and measured from working drawings.
Fifth Step:
Girl Scouts - Build yourself Something. Work with your expert to find a project idea - birdhouses, picture frames, benches or small bookcases.
Boy Scouts - Create your own woodworking project. Begin by making working drawings, materials list - and then build it. Keep track of the time you spend and cost of materials.
Now, I look at these two side by side - and I rumble mightily. In my humble opinion - one of the main benefits of this badge should not be just another badge on the scarf - it should be practically getting familiar with tools and the independence that knowing how to use tools bring. These girls may never do casework, cabinetwork, or build their own house . . . which is fine. But I see a gap where practical tool use could be added to help make them more ready for life - whether doing crafts or just general household maintenance.
So my question, and I'm especially interested in the female woodworkers opinion - am I setting my expectations too high? If you had to make changes to the badge criteria/progression, either adding elements, removing elements, what would they be?