Mexico Challenge

Thank you for looking at this challenge badge!

My name is Alannah, I’m 17 years old and studying nursing in Glasgow, I am a Lone

Senior Section Member and help out with a guide unit in Bearsden. I have designed

and made this challenge badge because I am fortunate enough to have been

offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to Mexico and Our Cabaña with

Girlguiding Scotland in the Summer of 2017. My home County (Tweed Valley) are

going to Mexico in April and they asked me to design a logo for them so I have

combined the design with a challenge badge and hope to raise money for the trip

and for Our Cabaña; 50p from the sale of each badge will go towards Our Cabaña

for the service projects that they lead- one of which is rescuing sea turtles.

The Challenge Badge consists of 6 parts for girls and a special Adults only section:

Guiding in Mexico

Holidays and Festivals

Wildlife (including Sea Turtles)

Food

Music and Art

Extra Fun

Adults Only

There is no set amount of challenges that must be completed in order to complete

the challenge. Feel free to adapt any of the activities to suit your unit.

Instructions for activities can found at the back of the pack.

Branding approval and the order form can also be found at the back of the pack.

If you have any other queries about the badge, feel free to contact me at

alannahgfox@gmail.com.

Guiding in Mexico

In this part of the challenge you will be able to find out about Our Cabaña and

guiding within Mexico.

- There are 7 sections within the Guias de Mexico along with the ‘Amigos Guias’

and they are the Girasoles (Sunflowers) for the 4-6yr olds, Haditas (Fairies) for the

6-9yr olds, Guias (Guides) for the 9-12yr olds, Guias Intermidias (Intermediate

Guides) for girls aged 12-15, Guias Mayores (Greater Guides) for those aged 15-18,

Cadetes (Cadets) and the Guias Antiguas Unidas en Servicio (Old Guides United in

Service).

Find out the promise law and motto for your relevant section, take it a step

further and learn it in Spanish.

Find out about the uniform for your relevant section, draw it out on some

paper or try to recreate it with newspaper.

- Mexico is home to one Our Cabaña, one of the WAGGGS world centres. It was

opened officially in 1957 although Lady Baden-Powell helped celebrate the

dedication for the centre on thinking day in 1956.

Learn the Our Cabaña song

Raise some money to support the world centre or take a look at their wish

list to see how you can help: https://www.wagggs.org/en/our-world/world-

centres/our-cabana/support-us/wish-list/

- While at a world centre you can have the opportunity to meet girls from all

around the world.

Write to another unit or find yourself a pen pal within guiding, they might

even be from a different country

Make a swap or find someone to swap a badge with.

Learn how to tie a friendship knot in a neckie (if you don’t use neckies

ribbon can also work – it can make an excellent swap)

Mexican Holidays and Festivals

There are many different holidays celebrated within the Mexican culture, including

Day of the Dead, Cinco de Mayo, Navidad (Christmas) and Carnaval.

- As part of the Day of the Dead sugar skulls are bought or made, learn a bit more

about the tradition of Sugar Skulls then try out one of these activities.

http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html

Make a sugar skull plant pot

Using face paint, create your own sugar skull design on each other or make

a mask out of paper plates.

Colour in one of the sugar skull colouring pages.

- Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) celebrates the victory of Mexico over France in 1862

although France outnumbered Mexico by over 4000 men. Although it is mainly

celebrated in the USA some areas within Mexico still hold military parades or re-

enactments of the battles.

Learn how to march or take part in a parade of some description.

Find out enough about the battle to take part in your own re-enactment or

try playing the Taco battle game

- In Mexico Christmas is celebrated a bit differently and is known as Navidad. Find

out about how Christmas is celebrated here:

http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/mexico.shtml

Make your own paper lantern.

Make your own piñata or have a go at playing with one.

Grow your own poinsettia flowers or try making an origami one

- Carnaval takes place in the 5 days before Lent starts and is a big celebration

where people can indulge in what they wish before giving it up during Lent. The

celebration usually involves lots of food, music, fireworks and fancy costumes.

Try using some sparklers or see a firework show

Have a fancy dress evening

As carnival takes place over Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) try making some

pancakes

Try playing the Sombrero Dance game

Wildlife in Mexico

In this section, you can learn a bit more about animals and plants within Mexico,

especially sea turtles, and try some activities relating to them.

- Donkeys and mules are quite often used within remote parts of Mexico to carry

water, building materials and other things as they may be a community’s only

mode of transport.

Visit a local donkey sanctuary.

Play pin the tail on the donkey.

Have a go at playing Buckaroo

- Cacti are found around Mexico as they do not need much water to survive

meaning they are perfectly suited to the country’s hot weather.

Make a fake cactus, this could be in the form of a pin cushion

Try playing hoopla on a cactus

- There are many different conservation projects within Mexico to help regulate

the decreasing numbers of Sea Turtles. The trip in April will involve a service

project to help the Sea Turtles. Find out more about the conservation of sea

turtles in Mexico: http://www.seeturtles.org/mexico/

Make a sea turtle hatchling or a paper plate sea turtle

Make and play with your own sea turtle/predator ‘noughts and crosses’

set

Play Sea Turtles, a variation of hedgehogs

Make an origami sea turtle or an egg box turtle

Have a go at the Sea Turtle quiz

Try crawling like a sea turtle, see who can go the fastest.

Sing My Turtle Swims Sideways

Mexican Food

Traditional Mexican food usually involves two main ingredients of corn and chilli’s,

this part of the challenges encourages you to try, or even make, some classic

Mexican food.

- Since a lot of Mexican food is made using wraps, try out some of these wrap

based recipes below:

Fajitas http://greatist.com/eat/recipes/chicken-fatas

Burritos https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/beef-burritos.html

Enchiladas http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/11259/chicken-and-

bean-enchiladas

Quesadillas http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/quesadilla/

Tostadas http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/chicken-tostadas.html

Tacos http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/beef-recipes/beef-tacos/

- Another traditional food is tamales. These were traditionally made as they were

easily carried and provided enough sustenance for men in warring tribes.

Invent your own type of tamale

See if you get tamales at any local shops or Mexican restaurants, you could

even try making your own.

- Beans are another ingredient found within Mexican food

Play the Beans game

Do a bean taste test, what about jelly beans, baked beans, kidney beans,

refried beans?? You could also add in a chilli taste test – who’s the bravest??

- Chocolate was originally made by the Aztecs in Mexico. Why not try making some

sweet Mexican food??

Try some churros, you could even try making them yourself

http://www.marthastewart.com/255835/churros

Make some Aztec hot chocolate, compare it to other hot chocolate.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/216166/xocolatl-aztec-chocolate/

Have a chocolate taste, were any made in Mexico??

Follow this recipe for Apple Pie taquitos:

http://www.jocooks.com/bakery/pies-bakery/apple-pie-taquitos/

Music and Art in Mexico

Music and Art is a big part of the Mexican culture, with lots of it dating back to

Mayan and Aztec times.

- Folk art is rooted deeply into the culture and shows a wide range of handcrafted

décor including pottery and multi-coloured weaving.

Have a go at making some pottery or even some clay modelling

Make a God’s eye

Try out some weaving using bright colours

- Traditional Mexican music has been influenced by many different culture

including the Spanish and the Aztecs so Maracas are often found within the music.

Try making your own maracas

Have a go at making a mini mariachi band

Listen to some traditional Mexican music

- Bright colours are found within traditional Mexican dress, women would wear

colourful dresses decorated with intricate embroidery and men would be more

likely to wear a poncho. Sombreros were used to keep the sun off your face

because of their wide brim.

Make a badge (camp) blanket, poncho style

Design your own colourful dress

Try making some sombrero biscuits

Have a go at doing some embroidery

- Other places art can be found was within the architecture, the Aztecs and

Mayans used to build stone pyramids decorated with intricate carvings.

Build a pyramid using marshmallows and spaghetti or Lego bricks

Design your own carving, this could be done by drawing on paper

Extra Fun

Some more fun activities!!

Organise your own Fiesta; try using some of the activities from throughout

the pack.

Learn a bit of Spanish

Make a Mexican flag using different materials

Try Playing Mexican Kick Ball

Make a Day of the Dead flower crown

Have a go at making tin can art

Tiles are used to decorate homes in Mexico, try designing your own

porcelain tiles

Try making some Mexican Yarn Art

Grow your own avocado tree

Play a game of ‘Mexico’

Decorate your hall/meeting place with some Papel Picado

Adults Only!!

This part of the challenge is for those over the age of 18, possibly a bit of added

fun after an evening of guiding or a planning meeting.

- Tequila is an alcoholic drink originally made in Mexico from the blue agave plant.

Try some different types of tequila, which is the best??

Have a go at making some tequila based cocktails such as a Margarita, a

Tequila Sunrise or a Long Island Iced Tea

Mexican Promise and Uniform

Girasoles

I promise to share and be friends.

The uniform consists of a light pink tunic over a white shirt with a bright pink

neckie.

Haditas

I promise to do my best: To do my duty to God and Mexico my country, and To help

everybody every day, particularly those at home.

1. A fairy always tells the truth

2. A fairy is obedient and cheerful

The uniform consists of a yellow top with Haditas written across it and a green

neckie, sometimes worn with brown shorts.

Guias - Cadetes

I promise on my honour that I will do my best: To do my duty to God and Mexico,

my country, To help other people, and To live the Guide Law.

1. A Guide’s honour is to be trusted

2. A Guide is loyal

3. A Guide is useful and helps others

4. A Guide encourages peace and is a sister to every other Guide

5. A Guide is courteous

6. A Guide conserves and improves the environment and sees in nature the

work of God

7. A Guide obeys orders

8. A Guide confronts difficulties wholeheartedly and with optimism

9. A Guide is thrifty

10. A Guide is pure in thought, in word and in deed

The uniform consists of a white top with Guias written across it, bright blue

trousers, a blue sash and a neckie – the colour changes depending on your section.

Our Cabaña Song

‘Neath the grand Sierra Madre,

on a plain in Mexico,

lies our beautiful Cabaña,

where Girl Scouts and Guides go.

So come then to see the mountains,

the cactus and sunny skies,

hear the cricket in the evening,

see the white moon arise.

When you see the warm red roofs,

you think of hearts that glow with

cheer,

and the walls of sturdy stone work,

stand for friendship so dear.

Each day there is filled with laughter,

each evening is filled with song,

and our stay at Our Cabaña,

gives us memories life long.

When we go to Our Cabaña,

we will find ourselves at home,

there’s a greeting smile so friendly,

and a handshake so warm.

So come now to Our Cabaña,

world friendship to increase,

and carry to your homeland,

international peace.

Sugar Skull Plant Pots

You will need:

- Small plant pots

- White Paint

- Coloured Marker Pens/Paint Pens

1. Paint your plant pot white then leave to dry

2. Once plant pot completely dry, draw on your sugar skull design

Sugar Skull Mask

You will need:

- Paper plates

- A stick (for holding mask to face)

- Scissors

- Pencil

- Tape

- Pens and other bits for decorating

1. Draw out a skull face onto your paper plate.

2. Cut round your outline

3. Decorate your skull using pens or any other material you may have

4. Using tape, attach a stick to the back of the skull.

Taco Battle Game

Two people will face off in a taco battle. This game does make a mess and will

involve having to sweep up afterwards. Mark of boundaries for the battle field,

usually a 5-6ft circle. Both contestants enter the battle ring wielding a wooden

spoon with a hard taco shell balanced on it.

The rules are simple; both players must try to break the other person’s taco shell

while at the same time protecting theirs from breaking or falling.

You are not allowed to touch hit, kick, push or pull the other person, only their

taco sticks or tacos. The last taco shell intact wins.

Paper Lanterns

You will need:

- Paper

- Scissors

- Stapler, Glue or Tape

- Pencil (optional)

- Ruler (optional)

1. Cut off a strip from the top of your piece of paper, this will be used as the

handle.

2. Fold the paper in half lengthways.

3. Cut a line every 2cm through the folded bit making sure not to go all the way to

the end.

4. Unfold the paper and attach the two shorter ends together using a stapler, tape

or glue.

5. Attach the handle to the top of the lantern.

Piñata Instructions

Here are some simple instructions on how to make a Piñata:

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Pi%C3%B1ata

Sombrero Dance

To play you’ll need a sombrero, music, fun loving players, and chili peppers. As

your dancing to some festive music take the sombrero and place it on somebody

else’s head, they then must place it on another’s head, and so on.

When the music stops whoever last had the sombrero on must eat a pepper!

Cactus Pin Cushion

http://www.deliacreates.com/geometric-cactus-pin-cushion/

http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2015/07/cactus-pincushion-diy.html

Cactus Hoopla

Paper Plate Sea Turtle

You will need:

- Paper Plates

- Green Paper

- Tissue Paper

- Scissors

- Pencil

- Tape

- Glue

1. Decorate the bottom of your plate using the tissue paper and glue, this will be

your turtle’s shell.

2. Cut a head, 4 flippers/feet and a tail from your green paper, you may want to

draw these out first.

3. Attach them to the shell using the tape

4. Give your turtle a face

Sea Turtle Hatchling

1. Colour in the sea turtle and cut out

2. Cut out the egg

3. Punch the holes then attach using a paper fastener with the hatchling behing

the egg pieces.

Sea Turtle vs Predators

You will need:

- A square piece of paper or cardboard.

- 10 x 1-2inch circles of paper or cardboard

- Pens

1. Split your square into 9 smaller squares, this will be your grid.

2. Draw turtles onto 5 of your circle counters and on the other 5 draw on 5

different predators of your sea turtles.

3. The game can then be played like ‘noughts and crosses’.

Sea Turtles (a variation of Hedgehogs)

Get the girls crawling around the room, pretending to be tea turtles. After a few

minutes, shout ‘Eagle’s coming’, the girls then need to curl up into a ball with

their eyes closed. One girl then gets covered with a blanket before ‘Eagle’s gone’

is shouted. The rest of the girls then come across and have to guess who is under

the blanket.

Egg box Sea turtle

You will need:

- Egg boxes cut up into the individual egg pods

- Pom-poms

- Pipe Cleaners

- Googly eyes

- Glue

1. Decorate the egg box so it looks like the sea turtles shell.

2. Attach the pom-pom to the egg box, this will be the head.

3. Cut your pipe cleaner into 5 different bits then fold 4 bits into a teardrop shape

to form the flippers and the 5th bit in half to form the tail.

4. Attach these to your egg box using the glue.

5. Finally add some googly eyes to your turtle’s head.

Sea Turtle Quiz

- There are 7 different types of Sea Turtle?

True or False

- Name all the types of Sea Turtle

Green, Loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, Olive ridley, Hawksbill, Flatback,

and Leatherback.

- All sea turtles are omnivorous?

True or False

- Name one threat to Sea Turtles.

Predators, Humans, Pollution, Costal Development

- Are sea turtles born or do they hatch from eggs?

Hatch from eggs

- Where do sea turtles nest?

On beaches

- How are the eggs protected?

Buried under the sand so they are hidden from sight

- On average, how many eggs does a sea turtle lay in one nest?

110

- What type of sea turtle is larger, the Kemp’s ridley or the leatherback?

Leatherback

- What is the rough weight of a Kemp’s ridley turtle?

80-100pounds

My Turtle Swims Sideways

(Sing to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance)

My turtle swims sideways. (Make a swimming motion to one side)

Your turtle swims upside down. (Tilt your head back and make a swimming motion

upwards)

My turtle swims sideways. (Make a swimming motion to the side again)

Your turtle is DEAD! (Tilt your head back and flop your hands back.)

Beans game

Jumping Bean – jump up and down on the spot

Runner Beans - run around the room

Beans on Toast – Lie in a star shape on the floor

Baked Bean – Curl up in a ball

Jelly Bean – wobble like jelly

Green Bean – stand up tall, arms stretched upwards

Broad beans – stretch out as far as you can

God’s Eye

You will need:

- Wool in different colours

- Lolly sticks

- Glue

- Scissors

1. Glue your two lolly sticks together in the centre of each to form an x shape

2. Choose your wool colours

3. Wrap the wool round the x as shown in the diagram, when changing colour of

wool, remember to knit the wool together or to the lolly stick.

4. Continue until the cross is completely covered then knot to the lolly stick, use

glue to secure.

Weaving

http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Colors/Paper_Weaving/Paper_Weavin

g.html

Maracas

You will need:

- Plastic Spoons

- Plastic Eggs (must open)

- Decorative tape

- Rice or something similar

1. Fill your eggs with rice or another dry ingredient

2. Close your egg and tape over the seam.

3. Tape the handle of two spoons together with the top of them both facing

inwards.

4. Your egg should then fit in between the tops of both the spoons.

5. Secure in place with tape.

Mini Mariachi Band

http://hideousdreadfulstinky.com/2014/04/mini-pinata-tutorial-cinco-de-

mayo-mariachi-band.html

Sombrero Biscuits

You will need:

- Round biscuits like shortbread or rich teas

- Icing

- Hundreds and Thousands or other sprinkles

- The little round jelly sweets you get on top of empire biscuit

1. Put some icing on around the rim of your biscuit

2. Cover in sprinkles

3. Secure your jelly sweet to the middle of the biscuit using some more icing

Spanish Words and Phrases

Hello – Hola

Please – Par favor

Thank you – Gracias

Thank you very much – Muchas gracias

Excuse me – Perdone

I’m sorry – Lo siento

Good day – Buenos dias

Good evening – Buenos tardes

Good night – Buenos noches

Goodbye – Adios

See you soon – Hasta luego

Numbers 1 to 10: Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, diez

Mexican Kick Ball

This is a fun relay race that is a traditional game in Mexican villages. Divide into

two teams, one person from each team starts and kick a ball through an obstacle

course as fast as they can. After they finish they may pick up the ball and run it

back to their team to pass it to the next player. The first team whose members

fully complete the course is the winner.

Flower Crown DIY

https://happythought.co.uk/day-of-the-dead/make-paper-flower-headpiece

Tin Can Art

Tin Can Art can be made by piercing holes into a tin from your soup or bean can,

find helpful hints here- http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Garden-Lanterns-from-

Old-Tin-Cans , it makes it easier to here are a couple of ideas of what you could

do:

Mexican Yarn Art

http://www.auntannie.com/DecorativeCrafts/YarnPainting/

Grow an Avocado Tree

1. Pierce your avocado pip with 3 cocktail sticks around the circumference, equal

distance apart

2. Suspend the bottom of the pip in a glass water.

3. Leave in a light, draught-less place but not in direct sunlight until your sprout

reaches about 6inches, top up the water as needed.

4. Once your plant reaches 6” cut it back to 3” then wait for it to grow back up to

6” again.

5. At this stage, move your sprout into a flower pot with light, sandy soil

remembering to leave the top part of the pip exposed.

6. Water every so often but don’t allow it to get too damp – its best to lee it to dry

out completely between waters.

7. Wait for your avocado tree to grow.

Papel Picado

Papel Picado is a craft made of paper cut into elaborate designs.

Using some bright coloured paper why not try this out yourself, you could use it to

make a banner type decoration.

MEXICO 2017 CHALLENGE BADGE ORDER FORM

Thank you for completing this challenge – I hope you’ve enjoyed the activities! To order your badges please complete this form and send it to: Alannah Fox S13 Caledonian Court Dobbie’s Loan Glasgow G4 0JF Cheques should be made payable to: Girlguiding Tweed Valley

Unit: County:

Number of Badges @ £1.50 each (Please remember 50p from every badge is for Our Cabaña!)

Total £

Plus Postage of:

Up to 20 badges £1.00 £

21-40 badges £2.00 £

41-50 badges £2.50 £

51+ badges £3.00 £

Total to pay £

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