UP Heritage


UP Heritage Badge

For Girl Scout Juniors
A patch program for troops or groups who are interested in learning about U.P. history. Complete seven (7) of the following nine (9) sets of activities, including the required Taking Action component.

Early Mining Days

  • Learn about the early mining days in the U.P. Where was the first mine and what type of ore did it produce?
  • Visit a mining museum/display, read a story about U.P. mining or have someone speak to your troop about the mining industry.

Early Settlers

Who were the first settlers in your community, and why did they settle there?

Lumbering Industry

  • Identify a famous person associated with the lumbering industry in the U.P. Where did he/she come from, where did he/she live, and what was he/she famous for?
  • What companies are involved in the lumbering industry in the U.P. today?

Indian Tribes

  • Which Indian tribes inhabit the U.P.?
  • Invite someone to a troop meeting to tell about the Indian culture and demonstrate Native American crafts.
  • Research how many reservations are in the U.P. Find out where they are located.

Landmarks

Find out about at least three natural landmarks in the U.P. Visit one of them.

Water Everywhere

  • Find out how many important bridges are in the U.P. Name them. Find out why they are famous.
  • Where are the Soo Locks, and how do they work? When were they built?
  • How many Great Lakes border the U.P.? Name them. Why are they important to the people who live here?

Food

  • Learn where pasties come from, and why they were popular with the early settlers here.
  • Make a pasty, and have a pasty party.

Recreation

  • What recreational activities are popular in the U.P.? What makes them popular here?
  • With your troop or family, participate in at least one activity that is new to you.

Taking Action *Required*

There are many ways to get involved and contribute to your community’s history. Try one of these or come up with your own idea!

  • Contact a local history museum. Offer to:
    • Come up with a cataloging system for library materials
    • Create a display showcasing what you’ve learned while earning this patch
    • Clean up or organize museum areas in need
  • Create “welcome kits” for new residents in your community that contain information on local lore and heritage.
  • Plan and implement an event around a famous person or invention that earned popularity in the U.P. Invite families or local troops to share in the festivities.

UP Heritage Interest Project

For Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors
A patch program for troops or groups who are interested in learning about U.P. history. Complete seven (7) of the following nine (9) sets of activities, including the required Taking Action component.

Early Mining Days

  • Learn about the early mining days in the U.P. Where was the first mine and what type of ore did it produce?
  • Visit a mining museum/display, read a story about U.P. mining or have someone speak to your troop about the mining industry.
  • Prepare a written report of your findings and make a scrapbook on mining. Share this with another troop.

Early Settlers

  • Who were the first settlers in your community and why did they settle there?
  • Invite a local historian to speak to your troop/group or collect some resources about the first settlers and share them with your troop/group.

Lumbering Industry

  • Identify a famous person associated with the lumbering industry in the U.P. Where did he/she come from, where did he/she live and what was he/she famous for?
  • What companies are involved in the lumbering industry in the U.P. today?
  • If possible, visit a paper mill and become familiar with the process from tree to paper or write a brief paper on the process.

Indian Tribes

  • Which Indian tribes inhabit (or inhabited) the U.P.?
  • Invite someone to a troop meeting to tell about the Indian culture.
  • Demonstrate a Native American craft, learn a skill, or cook a typical Native American food.

Landmarks

Find out about at least three natural landmarks in the U.P. Visit one of them. Find out why they are important to the people who live here.

Water Everywhere

  • Find out how many important bridges are in the U.P. Name them. Research why they are famous and report your findings to the troop.
  • Where are the Soo Locks? Why are they important today? When were they built and how do they work?
  • How many Great Lakes border the U.P.? Name them. Why are they important to the people who live here?

Food

  • What is a pasty? Learn where it originated and why.
  • Make a pasty, and have a pasty party. Prepare a “history of the pasty” handout for each guest. Share the recipe with someone else.

Recreation

List three typical recreational activities popular in the U.P. Invite another troop to join you in one of the activities.

Taking Action *Required*

There are many ways to get involved and contribute to your community’s history. Try one of these or come up with your own idea!

  • Contact a local history museum. Offer to:
    • Come up with a cataloging system for library materials
    • Create a display showcasing what you’ve learned while earning this patch
    • Clean up or organize museum areas in need
  • Create “welcome kits” for new residents in your community that contain information on local lore and heritage.
  • Plan and implement an event around a famous person or invention that earned popularity in the U.P. Invite families or local troops to share in the festivities.

UP Heritage Try-It

For Girl Scout Brownies
A patch program for troops or groups who are interested in learning about U.P. history. Complete five (5) of the following seven (7) sets of activities, including the required Taking Action component.

Early Settlers

Mining and lumbering were important in the early days of the Upper Peninsula.

  • Who were the first settlers in your community and why did they settle there?
  • Where was the first mine in the U.P. and what type of ore was mined there?
  • Find out about a famous person who worked in the lumber industry in the U.P. Where did this person come from? Where did he/she live? What was he/she famous for?

Indian Tribes

In the early days, Indians roamed the Great Lakes area. Many still live here today.

  • Find out how many Indian reservations there are in the U.P. and where they are located.
  • Learn a Native American craft.

Water Everywhere

The Upper Peninsula is located in the region of the Great Lakes. Water has always been important in moving from one place to another.

  • Find out how many Great Lakes border the U.P. and name them.
  • How many important bridges are there in the U.P.? Name them. Find out where they are on a map.
  • Find out about the Soo Locks. Why were they built? Where are they and why are they needed?

Food

One food that is popular in the U.P. is the pasty.

  • What is a pasty, and what are they made of? How do you make one?
  • Learn where it originated and why.
  • Have a pasty party.

Landmarks

Landmarks are places where there is something interesting or something important happened.

  • Find out about at least three (3) natural landmarks in the U.P.
  • Visit one of them.

Having Fun

Everyone likes to have fun in his/her spare time. Activities change in different parts of the country.

  • Find out what people do for fun in the U.P.
  • Participate in one of these fun activities with your troop.

Taking Action *Required*

There are many ways to get involved and contribute to your community’s history. Try one of these or come up with your own idea!

  • Contact a local history museum. Offer to:
    • Come up with a cataloging system for library materials
    • Create a display showcasing what you’ve learned while earning this patch
    • Clean up or organize museum areas in need
  • Create “welcome kits” for new residents in your community that contain information on local lore and heritage.
  • Plan and implement an event around a famous person or invention that earned popularity in the U.P. Invite families or local troops to share in the festivities.