Point, Click, and Go (Brownie Try-it)

This Try-it was introduced in 1997 and retired in 2011, largely replaced by the Computer Expert Try-it.

Learning how to use the computer is fun. The computer can help bring your ideas to life with words, pictures, colors, and numbers. You need to take care of your computer by keeping it safe from food and spills. Magnets can also hurt computers an disks, so they should not be kept nearby.

As with all retired Brownie Try-its, scouts need to complete 4 activities to earn the badge.

Making the Computer Work
If you have not used a computer before, ask someone to teach you:

How to turn on computer and start a program you want to use. How to use a mouse to make the computer do the jobs you want it to do. Point, click, go! How to handle disks and CD-ROM's to keep them clean. How and where to save something you create. How to print your work. How to turn off the computer when you are finished.

Computer Language
Learn the meanings of some special computer words and you will have an easier time communicating in our world of technology. As you hear other new computer words, do some detective work to learn their meanings too.

Writing a Story
Use a computer to write your own story or poem or write a group of stories with your friends. One girl writes the first sentence. Someone else writes the next one and so on and so on.

Your computer may be able to check your spelling. If so, does your story have spelling errors? Correct any errors and print your story. Add colorful drawings.

Playing a Game
Lots of games have been made for computers. With the help of someone in your family or a teacher, get a computer game and play it. What do you like about the game? How would you change it to make it more fun? Harder? Easier?

Creating
Use a computer to make an invitation to a party, write a thank-you note, or make your own stationary. Print your creation and share it with others.

Talk Time
Some computers are linked together by telephone lines so that people can send messages to each other. Ask an adult to go "online" with you and send messages to other girls who are using the computer. Many computer online services provide safe places for kids to talk to each other. They are called "chat rooms". Talk to a parent or guardian or a teacher about a time when you can talk with other girls.