Drifting Dunes Girl Scout Council has several resource kits to choose from to help troops earn Try-Its and Badges, or just learn something new. These kits are available for all troops to borrow.
 
Reservations
 
To reserve a kit, you must call the Drifting Dunes Council at (219) 795-9640. You will be able to reserve resource kits for two weeks, if it is a one meeting kit, or three weeks if it is a two meeting kit. Resource kits need to be reserved ahead of pick up time.
 
Deposit and Pick Up
 
The kit you reserve will be available on that date at the Drifting Dunes Council Service Center. Please allow time when you pick it up so staff will be able to check over the materials with you to ensure you receive a complete kit. They will also need to review the check out and return process with you.

Upon check out you will need to pay a $10 refundable deposit. You may pay this with a check or cash.

The kit is due back on or before the last day of the reservation. If you feel you need more time with the kit you should call the Council office to renew the kit. You will be allowed to extend your reservation one time only, if it is not scheduled for use by another troop.

When returning the kit please allow time for staff to check the kit for damages. You will not be responsible for items that have been depleted through normal wear and tear from use of the kit.
 
Fees
 
You will receive your deposit back in full if you return the resource kit before or on the last day of reservation. If the resource kit is 1 to 7 days late, you will forfeit $5 or one half of your deposit. If you return the resource kit 8-14 days late, you forfeit the entire deposit. If the kit is more than fourteen days late, you will be responsible for the full replacement cost of the resource kit. Resource kits with several missing items or unusual wear will be handled on a case by case basis.
 
RESOURCE KITS ARE VALUED BETWEEN $75 AND $300 PER KIT.



Resource Kits

Resource kits were designed to assist troop leaders in implementing activities for certain try-its, badges and patch programs. These kits can be checked out for up to two weeks with a $10.00 deposit at the Merrillville Service Center. Kits available include:

Animal Tracks:  Included in this kit are rubber molds to make animal tracks with a lesson plan, bird track rubber stamps, Whose Tracks Are These (A Clue Book of Familiar Forest Animals), Into the Forest, Nature's Food Chain Game, and other items to help educate girls.
Birdwatching: Watch birds fly, swoop, and even dive back home into their nests. Included are binoculars, field guides, and bird song cassette and bird behavior bingo.
Body Basics: Welcome to the wonderful world of the human body! If you stop to think about everything that your body does, all day and night, you will be amazed. An activity guide and supplies are provided for ten body basic activities.
Building a Rainforest: Everything you need to learn about the cycle of life in the rainforest ecosystem is contained in this kit. All props are included with the script to help girls dress for their role in putting together a make believe rain forest.
Building World Citizenship: Girls around the world are engaged in community action projects linked to six theme areas identified by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). Theme areas are culture and heritage; health; food and nutrition; education; environment; and peace. By using this kit, girls will be encouraged to think of the global impact of their local efforts.
Compass/Orienteering: This kit helps provide an exciting, fun way to learn proper compass usage. Use the giant demonstration compass and visual aid to help your troop understand how a compass works. Subjects covered in the visual aid include Elementary Use of Compass, Finding Your Direction, Sighting a Landmark, Reading Maps, Hiking with Map and Compass, and Making a Sketch Map. Then, move on to the beginner's compass game, which includes simple instructions and is easy to set up in a small area. Kit includes compasses. Orienteering is generally done in a forested area but may be carried out on any site that has been mapped, even a shopping mall. This resource kit contains compasses and topographical maps of Camp Meadowbrook to get you started. Resources are included for local orienteering clubs.
Cookin' Up Science:   This kit is divided into three units: Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Each unit contains eight experiments with background information on specific scientific concepts. An activity guide for the leader is included as well as hints on keeping a science journal.
Discovery Boxes: Use these unique boxes with girls to help them become more aware of the sense of touch. The kit comes with unique sensory items that are placed in the box behind the felt flaps. Girls place their hands inside each section, feel the contents and try to guess what's inside.
Duneland Discovery: Get to know our area and have fun while doing it. This resource kit contains a ton of ideas on how to educate girls on Duneland's local history, legend, and lore. From drawing maps, to taking hikes, to spending time at the beach and much more, this kit is packed with activities to help girls discover the unique features of the Duneland area.
Flag Ceremonies & Etiquette: What everyone should know about the National Emblem of the United States of America is contained in this kit. Read the story of the Stars and Stripes, how to pledge allegiance to your flag and how and when to display it properly.
Foil Embossing: This is a fun art activity for all age levels. Kit includes pattern sheets, rollers and permanent markers.
Food Puppets: Meet the Food Friends, a nutrition program for Kindergarten through grade 3. Puppets and script provide a means to give children a visual experience to become familiar with a diet necessary to maintain good health.
Girl Power!
For Cadette Girl Scouts:
This booklet focuses on the importance of developing "Girl Power”. This kit is geared towards helping Cadette Girl Scouts form lifelong habits for mental, physical and emotional health and fitness.
Girl Power!
For Junior Girl Scouts:
This booklet focuses on the importance of developing "Girl Power". This kit is geared towards helping Junior Girl Scouts form lifelong habits for mental, physical and emotional health and fitness.
Girl Scouts Against Smoking: "Girl Scouts Against Smoking" is an important component of Sports + Girls = A Winning Team, the Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. initiative designed to promote lifelong sports and fitness skills and practices. This kit provides activities focused solely on preventing or stopping smoking in girls and young women. Three booklets are included for the following age levels: Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts, Junior Girl Scouts and Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts.

Home for Pearl:
Anyone who has read or seen the "Wizard of Oz" knows that, for Dorothy and Toto, there is no place like home. The same is true for wildlife. Each type of animal has a special home called its habitat. Included in this resource kit is an educational video, "A Home for Pearl", an instruction guide and owl pellets to help you teach girls about wildlife habitats.

Honor the Past,
Imagine the Future:
Girls can use this kit to highlight and preserve American history and treasures. Through the process of completing this program, girls will participate in activities that support democracy. They will also gain an appreciation for the unique history of the United States.
Issues for Girl Scouts: A new set of exciting and easy-to-use Girl Scout program resources will gradually replace the current booklets in the Contemporary Issues series. Issues for Girl Scouts expands the concept of the original Contemporary Issues series by putting contemporary, age-appropriate, interactive, and engaging program materials into the girls' hands. Issues for Girl Scouts are "Read to Lead", "Connections", "Girls are Great" and "Media Know-How."
Japan, A Passport To: This kit will introduce girls to numerous and interesting facts about the Japanese life, people, and culture. It provides information on Japanese holidays, and the physical features of Japan. Also included are materials to help you learn Japanese crafts, games, and how to speak the language.
Knot Tying:  This kit includes two step-by-step manuals about knots, knot boards for practice and some fun ideas about ways to use knots.
Leather Stamping: Leather stamping tools, including the alphabet, numbers, symbols and mallets will give girls hours of fun creating all kinds of leather crafts.
Magnet Magic: Introducing girls (and yourself) to science activities doesn't have to be a frustrating experience. Explore the magic of magnets with this resource kit full of magnet magic and fun.
Meadowbrook Adventurer: What better way to spend a weekend than at the Meadowbrook Program Center learning all it has to offer. This kit provides information on the camp history, plants, animals, and insects. Included also are the materials necessary to make your own discoveries about the Meadowbrook Program Center.
Mosaic of People: My History... Women's History... Black History... Hispanic History... Native American History...These colorful pieces contribute to the Mosaic of People in Northwest Indiana that we are a part of. Brownie through Senior Girl Scouts may work on these six individual program segments. Included in the Women's History Resource Kit, is the Vote for a Better America Patch Program. This Program will introduce girls to the hardships, struggles, and pains women went through in the fight for equality. By studying these materials, girls will grasp the meaning behind the 14th, 15th, and 19th amendments.
Night Eyes:  Reflective "Night Eyes" and poster are all you need to have a fun hike at night with your group. This kit involves some on-site preparation. Eyes will need to be hung prior to nightfall.