Daisy Girl Scout Leaders

[TinaLala]

Great meeting!! Had 5 council/school comittee members talk to my Juniors to work on the Inside Govt badge. Great discussion. Then after sitting for an hour, we did an awesome 2 troop 25 girl human knot! AWESOME! That's when it went down hill for me - hurt my knee trying to undo the knot! I'm down but still good - was still able to get through the fall fundraiser discussion. UGH!

 

[annabug]

Hi everyone. i just found this thread. i am a second year daisy leader for my daughters first grade class. This year i have 10 girls. We have our first meeting today!
Looking foward to sharing ideas with everyone!
Lisa

 

[Marshay]

Welcome new Daisy leaders!!

We had our 2nd meeting on Wednesday to earn the Purple petal, Responsible for What I Say and Do. We reviewed and made new rules, assigned kapers and had a discussion on bullying. My co-leader and I wrote a little booklet on bullying to hand out, we had the girls do the wrong (be the buly) and right way to handle various situations.

We did our 'About a Girl' book where we get to learn about each other.

Then we practiced our Christmas play (Twas the Night before Christmas). By then an hour was just about done. It goes so fast!

Next meeting is the Halloween costume party at my house and birthday gifts (supplies) for the troop.

 

[kelann7]

Well, I got my new Daisy Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting book/binder. I'm not too impressed. The book is nice, very colorful, but I'm glad this is my 2nd year and some of my girls already earned the petals last year. We have new girls, so I am going through the petals again, using different activites than last year. This book has stories to read about each petal and talk about it. It is bad enough we need to read the Journey book to them, but to add these stories, that is too much like school. And I thought girl scouts stressed learn by doing, instead of reading stories. I can't believe that this is what they came up it. Anyway, just a vent about the book.

Hopefully the Brownie book is much better. I will buy that one soon while they are on sale, so that I can plan for next year.

Thanks.

Kelly

 

[TyTysMommy]

Well, I got my new Daisy Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting book/binder. I'm not too impressed. The book is nice, very colorful, but I'm glad this is my 2nd year and some of my girls already earned the petals last year. We have new girls, so I am going through the petals again, using different activites than last year. This book has stories to read about each petal and talk about it. It is bad enough we need to read the Journey book to them, but to add these stories, that is too much like school. And I thought girl scouts stressed learn by doing, instead of reading stories. I can't believe that this is what they came up it. Anyway, just a vent about the book.

Hopefully the Brownie book is much better. I will buy that one soon while they are on sale, so that I can plan for next year.

Thanks.

Kelly

I have not seen the new book yet. Does it cover the new leaves I heard mentioned before?

 

[purpleorchids]

Hi I haven't been on for awhile. This is our second year as daisies, we had several members already dropped out but will be getting two new ones. We will work on the daisy journey book and finish up the petals plus incorporate a few other activities for the 2 new girls so they can receive there petals too. We did get to be in the parade earlier this month for Salmon days, it was a long wait for us to begin but the girls enjoyed it and our float one first place for the youth float.

Our first meeting is in a couple of weeks, so I plan on doing the 1st chapter, an interactive story about Juliette Low. a brief mentioning of 100 year celebration and a few activities that we will participate, and have some animal foam puppets to make. I am also thinking of having them dress up so it will be a celebration of Juliette's birthday and halloween. Hopefully we will get that all in.

I also plan on doing the postcard exchange again. It was really fun and the girls enjoyed reading about other troops around the world. http://www.mythinkingday.com/

 

[kelann7]

I have not seen the new book yet. Does it cover the new leaves I heard mentioned before?

Yes, it covers the leaves, which is the main reason I bought it. It also has some other good information, like the My Promise, My Faith award, so I am glad I bought it. I do plan on working on the leaves this year.

Kelly

 

[purpleorchids]

Well, I got my new Daisy Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting book/binder. I'm not too impressed. The book is nice, very colorful, but I'm glad this is my 2nd year and some of my girls already earned the petals last year. We have new girls, so I am going through the petals again, using different activites than last year. This book has stories to read about each petal and talk about it. It is bad enough we need to read the Journey book to them, but to add these stories, that is too much like school. And I thought girl scouts stressed learn by doing, instead of reading stories. I can't believe that this is what they came up it. Anyway, just a vent about the book.

Hopefully the Brownie book is much better. I will buy that one soon while they are on sale, so that I can plan for next year.

Thanks.

Kelly

for the new guide books are you buying two or one?

 

[heatherbynum]

My daughter will be a Daisy this year, her first year She is in Kindergarten. Our first meeting is Monday. We are so excited

 

[kelann7]

for the new guide books are you buying two or one?

I only bought one book - Daisy. I do plan on buying the Brownie book while they are on sale so that I can start planning early for next year.

Kelly

 

[designermv]

Posting to sub here. I'm a new leader for a new troop, my daughter's Daisy troop. I'm working with another leader who is also new. We have our first meeting on Thursday night and we have NO idea what to do. I'm still working on some of the training.

Does anyone have links to some good projects for first meetings?

I was a scout Brownie-Cadette, but I don't remember much because I am OLD.

I hope to learn a lot from you ladies.

 

[kelann7]

Welcome, all newcomers! Please feel free to join in the conversation and ask any questions you may have.

For our first meeting, we just did a getting to know each other meeting. We made name tags. I found flower shaped foam at Michael's. I bought markers and stickers for them to decorate the flower and put their name on it. Then I punched 2 holes at the top and used ribbon, so that they could wear it around their neck. We went around the room and each girl told us a little about themselves.

The first meeting was also a Rah Rah Welcome to Girl Scouts thing. I showed them the Girl Scout Sign and had them repeat the Promise after me. I told them a little about Girl Scouts and some of the things that we are going to do.

Just keep it fun - I'm sure you will do fine.

Kelly

 

[acomasdiaz]

I just found out I will be the leader for my daughter's girl scout troop. So, I will have a lot of reading to do on this thread. Any ideas, suggestions, and feedback will be appreciated.

 

[solstice621]

Just back from a meeting. I'd have to say it was one of our best ever I made up a little "cheer" to go along with our troop number (the girls have trouble remembering it). We practiced it and I let the girls make up moves to go along with it. Then we started to work on the Honest and Fair petal by playing "Mother May I". I was "mother", and first I played it very fairly, then not so fairly - and the girls caught on QUICK hahaha. Now I need to find something to go along with that for the next meeting so they can earn their petal

Also, welcome to the new leaders! For the first meeting(s), we concentrated on learning the promise and getting to know one another. For our first craft, I had them trace their hand on foam paper and cut it out. Then they glued down their thumb and pinkie, so that it was making the scout's honor sign. I had the promise typed up on small sheets of paper and we then glued that to the back of the hand. I hope this makes sense the way I am explaining it. They could take it home and have the promise written, as well as see how to hold their right hand for the promise. I also had petals cut out and had them all sign one and write things about themselves (or draw), and then put them together to make a daisy Hope this helps a little bit!

 

[kelann7]

Then we started to work on the Honest and Fair petal by playing "Mother May I". I was "mother", and first I played it very fairly, then not so fairly - and the girls caught on QUICK hahaha. Now I need to find something to go along with that for the next meeting so they can earn their petal

For Honest and Fair, I gave each girl a clear plastic cup and then I started passing out Hershey's kisses - giving one girl 5, the next girl 3, the next girl only 1, and so on. Right away, the girls starting complaining that it wasn't fair - to be fair, they all needed to get the same amount. We talked about being honest and fair and I also read a Pinocchio book.

This year, I am repeating the petals because I have a lot of new girls - so at our Halloween party, I am going to give them a big bag of candy and they have to honestly and fairly divide the candy up between themselves.

I like the idea of playing "Mother May I?" for earning the Respect Authority petal. However, I think this game is best for a small group - I have 18 girls this year, so I don't think that game will work with that many girls.

If anyone has other ideas for petals, I would love to hear them.

Thanks.

Kelly

 

[Suellen]

I'm sure it has been discussed but I HIGHLY recommend getting the girls guide to girl scouting. AWESOME ideas for earning each petal ~ along with the new leaves and other awards I didn't even know about!!

For Honest and Fair I bought an 18 pack of Squinkies and passed it around telling each girl to take as many as they wanted. Well by the end there was only one left for the next to last girl and none for the last girl. So they all got together and gave some to the girl who had none and started working it out so everyone had enough. It was sweet actually to see that right away they jumped in to make it right.

For Respect Authority I am planning to have a field trip to the Police Station.

For Helpful and Friendly we are visiting the Food Pantry in November with donations. I'm trying to have an activity as well as the story so they really put it all together. We have a lot to cover this year so each meeting is crazy busy!!

This weekend we are going to the Cornfield Maze.

 

[Suellen]

Well, I got my new Daisy Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting book/binder. I'm not too impressed. The book is nice, very colorful, but I'm glad this is my 2nd year and some of my girls already earned the petals last year. We have new girls, so I am going through the petals again, using different activites than last year. This book has stories to read about each petal and talk about it. It is bad enough we need to read the Journey book to them, but to add these stories, that is too much like school. And I thought girl scouts stressed learn by doing, instead of reading stories. I can't believe that this is what they came up it. Anyway, just a vent about the book.

Hopefully the Brownie book is much better. I will buy that one soon while they are on sale, so that I can plan for next year.

Thanks.

Kelly

I did read the story in the Girls Guide but not the Journey book. I expect a lot of the reading to be done at home with Mom and Dad if they have the book. (the Journey that is) and I loved the suggestions that followed the story on ways they can earn the petal on their own not just in a one hour meeting every other week.

I also printed the law and cut each line out and had the girls pick them out of a hat ~ they were to learn about it with mom and dad and share with the group at the next meeting. They loved that!

We haven't done much work on actually learning the law as in to recite it... but are learning what each line means.

Good luck to the new leaders!! Please ask if you have any questions....we've all been out there flailing around and understand the difficulty in getting organized the first year!

 

[Marshay]

Hello! I'm going to include a little journal/scrapbook with each Flat Daisy when I mail them off. I was wondering if any of you would be interested in having a Flat Daisy visit your troop? if you think you might feel free to PM me! I'm hoping that each Flat Daisy can visit troops in other areas! We are from southern Minnesota!
Thanks so much!
~Micki

I love your Flat Daisy idea! What would you want us to do? Take pictures and write in the notebook? Anything else? Our 2nd year Daisy Troop from Northern Viriginia (outside of Washington, DC) would be interested.

Well, I got my new Daisy Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting book/binder. I'm not too impressed. The book is nice, very colorful, but I'm glad this is my 2nd year and some of my girls already earned the petals last year. We have new girls, so I am going through the petals again, using different activites than last year. This book has stories to read about each petal and talk about it. It is bad enough we need to read the Journey book to them, but to add these stories, that is too much like school. And I thought girl scouts stressed learn by doing, instead of reading stories. I can't believe that this is what they came up it. Anyway, just a vent about the book.

Hopefully the Brownie book is much better. I will buy that one soon while they are on sale, so that I can plan for next year.

Thanks.

Kelly

We decided to skip the book this year but thanks for the update. Great idea to buy the Brownie book. I was just at the shop this morning and saw the book and then said, eh, wait until next year.

Posting to sub here. I'm a new leader for a new troop, my daughter's Daisy troop. I'm working with another leader who is also new. We have our first meeting on Thursday night and we have NO idea what to do. I'm still working on some of the training.

Does anyone have links to some good projects for first meetings?

I was a scout Brownie-Cadette, but I don't remember much because I am OLD.

I hope to learn a lot from you ladies.

We concentrated on teaching the 2 new girls the Promise and teaching everyone the GS Law. We had an investiture ceremony for the new girls and all the new girls walked under the arms of the 2nd year girls. Then the 2nd year girls were rededicated (walking through the arms again, getting a patch). We had the girls play a "That's Me!" game to get to know one another and traced their full bodies on paper.

Then we made a troop flag and traced their hands on felt and decorated them to add to the flag.

Oh, and we have a Treasure Hunt to find supplies/patches, etc every night. The girls love the Hunt the best!

 

[Marshay]

Also, when we teach the GS Promise and the GS Law, we actually sing them to songs we know. Makes it soooo much easier to remember.

GS Promise -- sung to "Old McDonald"

GS Law -- sung to "ABC Song" with hand motions for each petal

It might help you, too!

 

[kelann7]

~ they were to learn about it with mom and dad and share with the group at the next meeting. They loved that!

I don't like to count on the parents to do anything at home. It's too much like homework and my parents don't want to do it.

I sent home a chore chart (for the Friendly and Helpful petal) and asked each girl to do 5 things to help around the house and the parent was supposed to fill it out, sign it and they were to bring it back to the next meeting - only 1/2of the girls brought it back! I know some may have forgot about it, but I sent an email to the parents reminding them to bring it to the meeting. I thought the parents would love to have an excuse to get the girls to help out at home.

I really don't think they will want to do anything at home- they just want them to do GS stuff at meetings. Some of them don't want to do any events, only meetings.

I know it is sad, but that's what I'm dealing with.

Thanks.

Kelly