This is being PROPOSED as a merit badge for the Girl Scouts.
It is NOT yet a merit badge.
Welcome . . .
Introduction and Mission
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Welcome to TheThirdLook.org program! Thank you for joining this journey.
This badge helps young people like Girl Scouts empower themselves, grow self-confidence, self-love, and compassion, and practice resilience in the face of challenges like bullying or body-shaming. Even if you haven’t experienced these directly, this program helps participants develop a strong sense of self, empathy, and future vision, building confidence in general life, friendships, and relationships, including for LGBTQ+ youth
This badge helps young people like Girl Scouts empower themselves, grow self-confidence, self-love, and compassion, and practice resilience in the face of challenges like bullying or body-shaming. Even if you haven’t experienced these directly, this program helps participants develop a strong sense of self, empathy, and future vision, building confidence in general life, friendships, and relationships, including for LGBTQ+ youth
About the Project
My name is Valerie, a Gold Award Girl Scout (Troop 40855) and recent high school graduate. About five years ago, I watched a close friend I grew up with experience body-shaming at school, which escalated to her family moving out of the country. This didn’t only happen with her but with many other friends throughout middle and high school.
These experiences inspired me to create The Third Look, a program to help people grow self-confidence, self-love, and discover and grow their self-worth, learning to look inward, outward, and forward to fight experiences of body-shaming and bullying.
This program is based on real advice from overcomers—350 people surveyed who successfully overcame body-shaming and bullying (Wansink V., 2023, Int Journal of Child Health and Human Development, pp. 191-199).
Materials to help leaders and Girl Scouts
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Guide Book
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Infographic
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Videos
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Discussion Guide
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Slideshow
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All materials are printable, downloadable, and adaptable. You may add your logo or modify lessons while keeping the three-step research framework intact.
Badge Layout & Requirements
Three Research-Proven Steps
- Look Inward – Find your superpowers: character, strengths, talents, and skills.
- Look Outward – Identify supporters, allies, mentors, trusted adults, and communities.
- Look Forward – Visualize a positive future, set goals, and take action.
Leader Overview / Notes
Badge Purpose:
● Build self-awareness, empathy, and future vision
Tips for Leaders:
● Encourage reflection, but allow fun, creativity, and laughter
Badge Completion Requirements:
✅ Complete Workbook & Discussion Guide for each step
✅ Look Inward activity
✅ Look Outward activity
✅ Look Forward activity
✅ Final Reflection
Materials Needed:
● The Third Look Workbook (downloadable)
● Build self-awareness, empathy, and future vision
- Promote self-love, body positivity, confidence, and resilience
Tips for Leaders:
● Encourage reflection, but allow fun, creativity, and laughter
- Use activities individually, in pairs, or as a group
- Adapt based on troop age, needs, and time constraints
Badge Completion Requirements:
✅ Complete Workbook & Discussion Guide for each step
✅ Look Inward activity
✅ Look Outward activity
✅ Look Forward activity
✅ Final Reflection
Materials Needed:
● The Third Look Workbook (downloadable)
- Journals, paper, pens, markers, poster board, scissors, glue, mirrors (optional)
Participant Badge Journey & Activities
Step 1: Look Inward – Find Your Superpowers
Step 1a (Required): Complete the Workbook & Discussion Guide
● Explore identity, strengths, and challenges
Goal: Explore identity, strengths, and challenges
Activities:
Action Step: Start one habit this week to care for yourself
Supplies: Workbook, paper, pens, markers, mirror
● Explore identity, strengths, and challenges
- Answer all prompts in the workbook
Goal: Explore identity, strengths, and challenges
Activities:
- Mirror Words
- Look in a mirror and write one word that isn’t about looks
- Examples: “brave,” “creative,” “curious,” “caring”
- Share with a partner or circle
- Optional: Write personal quotes or daily affirmations on note cards and tape to your mirror
- Look in a mirror and write one word that isn’t about looks
- Superpower Journal
- Write or draw six things you like about yourself
- Identify one role model
- Pick one strength to focus on this week
- Optional: Choose one small change that could make you stronger
- Write or draw six things you like about yourself
- Circle Share
- Share one thing you love about yourself or a time you felt proud
- Example: “I helped a friend solve a problem and felt proud.”
- Share one thing you love about yourself or a time you felt proud
- Draw Yourself
- Highlight talents, hobbies, or qualities
- Highlight talents, hobbies, or qualities
Action Step: Start one habit this week to care for yourself
Supplies: Workbook, paper, pens, markers, mirror
Step 2: Look Outward – Connect & Empathize
Step 2a (Required): Complete the Workbook & Discussion Guide
● Notice supporters, allies, and practice empathy
● Complete all reflection prompts and group activities
Your Superfans & Supporters (Step 2)[1]
● Faith youth leaders and groups
● (Moved this here from above)
Goal: Notice supporters, allies, and practice empathy
Activities:
Action Step: Do one intentional act of kindness this week
Tip: Identify superfans, allies, and supporters who help you grow
Supplies: Workbook, pens, poster board, markers
Where’s step 1? Maybe this goes later?
● Notice supporters, allies, and practice empathy
● Complete all reflection prompts and group activities
Your Superfans & Supporters (Step 2)[1]
● Faith youth leaders and groups
- Youth organizations: Scouts, YMCA, Girls Club
- Schools: Trusted counselors, health teachers, student services
● (Moved this here from above)
Goal: Notice supporters, allies, and practice empathy
Activities:
- Story Swap
- Pair up and share a challenge you’ve faced
- Partner listens without interrupting, then repeats back what they heard
- Example: “You worked hard on your presentation even though you were nervous.”
- Pair up and share a challenge you’ve faced
- Empathy Walk
- Read scenarios aloud (moving forward if experienced them)
- Examples: “You moved to a new school,” “A friend made fun of something you love”
- Reflection: “I am not alone; others feel this too.”
- Read scenarios aloud (moving forward if experienced them)
- Kindness Brainstorm
- Make a troop poster of ways to show kindness
- Examples: Compliment someone, leave positive notes, help a peer
- Make a troop poster of ways to show kindness
- People Watching with Purpose
- Observe people in your environment
- Write or draw: What they might be feeling & how you could help
- Observe people in your environment
Action Step: Do one intentional act of kindness this week
Tip: Identify superfans, allies, and supporters who help you grow
Supplies: Workbook, pens, poster board, markers
Where’s step 1? Maybe this goes later?
Step 3: Look Forward – Imagine Your Future
Step 4: Reflection & Celebration
Activities:
● Looking Forward Wall: Post your future vision on a poster
● Circle of Appreciation: Share one kind word about another troop member
● DIY Notecard for Reflection:
This badge is meant to be part of an ongoing journey, not just a once-and-done experience. Set aside a special notecard or piece of paper for a reflection you’ll return to one month after completing this badge. Write down notes, goals, or things connected to your three looks (inward, outward, forward) that you hope to have worked on or changed after finishing the badge. Decorate the border or design it however you’d like, but leave room on the front and back for the reflection you’ll complete later in Step Five. Store this notecard somewhere safe—like on a bulletin board as a reminder—or give it to your troop leader to hold onto.
Peer & Adult Discussion (Required): Share your workbook results with a peer and also discuss them with a trusted adult. Optional: have a peer complete the workbook too, then compare and talk about your results together.
Remember that is is a journey and although the workbooks and badge could be completed very quickly, you should come back and reflect on this.
● Looking Forward Wall: Post your future vision on a poster
● Circle of Appreciation: Share one kind word about another troop member
● DIY Notecard for Reflection:
This badge is meant to be part of an ongoing journey, not just a once-and-done experience. Set aside a special notecard or piece of paper for a reflection you’ll return to one month after completing this badge. Write down notes, goals, or things connected to your three looks (inward, outward, forward) that you hope to have worked on or changed after finishing the badge. Decorate the border or design it however you’d like, but leave room on the front and back for the reflection you’ll complete later in Step Five. Store this notecard somewhere safe—like on a bulletin board as a reminder—or give it to your troop leader to hold onto.
Peer & Adult Discussion (Required): Share your workbook results with a peer and also discuss them with a trusted adult. Optional: have a peer complete the workbook too, then compare and talk about your results together.
Remember that is is a journey and although the workbooks and badge could be completed very quickly, you should come back and reflect on this.
Completion Checklist:
● Step 1: Look Inward (Workbook & Discussion Guide complete)
● Step 5: One-Month Progress Report This is where you’ll return to the notecard you decorated and wrote your goals on earlier. Write a one-page reflection about three actions you are taking to move forward. Pick 2–3 of these to share with a peer or trusted adult. A month later, revisit your progress and outline two new changes you want to make going forward. This activity helps keep your “Three Looks” in mind—not just for earning this badge, but for building habits you can carry into all aspects of your life – even for badges you complete in the future!
“By looking forward, we gradually start to move forward.”
Supplies: Poster board, pens, markers[1] [2] , note card and note card decoration materials
(and notecard space for one-month progress report sharing & reflection)
It seems like there needs to be follow on of some sort
One thing would be to require them to discuss this with a peer
Anohter would be to discuss their results with an adult
A third would be to have a a peer go through the same abooklet and then discuss it with the Girl scout when done
A fourth step would be to write a one-month progress report, and to write the tree actios they are doing to make moving forward
in a month -- one page -- share this -- pick 2/3 share w peer or adult --- and month after all and revisit of how the last month gouuin g and outline ttwo changes they wanna make going forward
- Step 2: Look Outward (Workbook & Discussion Guide complete)
- Step 3: Look Forward (Workbook & Discussion Guide complete)
● Step 5: One-Month Progress Report This is where you’ll return to the notecard you decorated and wrote your goals on earlier. Write a one-page reflection about three actions you are taking to move forward. Pick 2–3 of these to share with a peer or trusted adult. A month later, revisit your progress and outline two new changes you want to make going forward. This activity helps keep your “Three Looks” in mind—not just for earning this badge, but for building habits you can carry into all aspects of your life – even for badges you complete in the future!
“By looking forward, we gradually start to move forward.”
Supplies: Poster board, pens, markers[1] [2] , note card and note card decoration materials
(and notecard space for one-month progress report sharing & reflection)
It seems like there needs to be follow on of some sort
One thing would be to require them to discuss this with a peer
Anohter would be to discuss their results with an adult
A third would be to have a a peer go through the same abooklet and then discuss it with the Girl scout when done
A fourth step would be to write a one-month progress report, and to write the tree actios they are doing to make moving forward
in a month -- one page -- share this -- pick 2/3 share w peer or adult --- and month after all and revisit of how the last month gouuin g and outline ttwo changes they wanna make going forward
For More Resources & Adaptation
Visit TheThirdLook.org for:
● Workbooks, discussion guides, infographics, videos, and slideshows
This badge journey works for:
● Youth who have experienced bullying or body-shaming
● Workbooks, discussion guides, infographics, videos, and slideshows
- All materials are free to download and print
This badge journey works for:
● Youth who have experienced bullying or body-shaming
- Youth who want to grow confidence, self-love, and empathy
1. Print out the Guide Book
I asked 350 people from around the world how they recovered from being bullied and body shamed. Most said some version of the same thing: 1. They looked INWARD, 2. they looked OUTWARD, and 3. they looked FORWARD.
Some of their advice on how they specificially they did this is condensed in this 8-page booklet. There are 11 exercises that guide you through the same types of things they did.
After reflecting on these exercises and after writing out your answers in the guide book, consider sharing it with trusted adult or a close friend. Sharing helps.
Click to download
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Permission granted: This material is free to print and distribute for any purpose. No additional approval is required.
© Valerie Wansink/TheThirdLook.org 2025. Licensed under CC0 1.0.
This work is dedicated to the public domain. You may copy, print, and share it freely without asking permission.
© Valerie Wansink/TheThirdLook.org 2025. Licensed under CC0 1.0.
This work is dedicated to the public domain. You may copy, print, and share it freely without asking permission.
2. Post the Infographic in Your Room
I'm a teenager, so I know how hard it can be to lock in on things and put them into action.
I recommend printing this infographic out and taping a copy or two in your bedroom. This will help remind yourself there is a way forward. Instead of focusing on how bad you feel, you'll focus on the things you can do.
It's got some great quotes from people in the study which are worth rereading until you eventually internalize them.
 Click to download
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Permission granted: This material is free to print and distribute for any purpose. No additional approval is required. © Valerie Wansink/TheThirdLook.org 2025. Licensed under CC0 1.0. This work is dedicated to the public domain. You may copy, print, and share it freely without asking permission. |
3. Watch This
Sometimes it's easier to watch something than to read.
Here's a video of how this The Third Look program started and how it helps people.
Nothing fancy, but people find it helps them put things in perspective, shows them a way forward, and gives them encouragement.
4. Share the Discussion Guide
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Maybe you're in a youth group outside of school -- like 4-H, Girl Scouts, or a church youth group. Telling your leader that this might be an interesting topic to discuss could lead to something good. |
Youth leaders share how they would use the discussion guide and the program with the youth who they work with. These leaders range from school counselors, shelter directors, Sunday School teachers, Temple programer, therapist, and a clinic director.
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5. Make a Punchy Speech
If you ever have to make a presentation and you want to talk about bullying or body shaming, you can download and modify this one. Personalize it so it has your voice and your personality. Make it your own. Permission granted!
Click to download
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Permission granted: This material is free to print and distribute for any purpose. No additional approval is required.
© Valerie Wansink/ TheThirdLook.org 2025. Licensed under CC0 1.0. This work is dedicated to the public domain. You may copy, print, and share it freely without asking permission. |
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