Daisy Girl Scout Leaders

[realmom1229]

I'm a second year troop leader and the girls have bridged over to Brownies. They did amazing in cookie sales this year but I for one am ECSTATIC that the sales are over. I ended up putting in way too much of my own personal money because things weren't adding up. I would MUCH rather use that money on my next Disney vacation!

 

[amez]

Has anyone heard any details on the changes to the Brownie program for next year? The only thing I've heard is that there will be changes and the books will be out in the fall--just wondering what they are changing.

Seems like we don't have to much of our year left. We had our second meeting of March last night, we have one meeting in April due to spring break, and then two meetings in May. One of our May meetings we are going to go on a hike and try to do some of the suggested activites from our journey Between Earth and Sky. We have a service unit skating activity planned in April that most of my girls are attending and a service unit picnic in May as well.

We are tentatively planning on having a summer party at one of the parents houses--they have a pool and a blow up waterslide to celebrate summer and to bridge. If it falls through we will probably just meet at a park.

Is anyone planning on attending camp this summer? My oldest daughter has signed up with a friend for day camp (it's really affordable) My youngest hasn't decided yet. I'm hoping we can find a couple of girls from our troop who can go at the same time and they can all buddy around together.

 

[amez]

I agree I can't wait until Cookie sales are over! they are a lot of work! I really hope the parents all turn their money in without problem.

We had a booth sale last weekend for four hours and sold 145 boxes. We have another one tomorrow morning--hopefully we do as well if not better.

 

[TinaLala]

Has anyone heard any details on the changes to the Brownie program for next year? The only thing I've heard is that there will be changes and the books will be out in the fall--just wondering what they are changing.

Seems like we don't have to much of our year left. We had our second meeting of March last night, we have one meeting in April due to spring break, and then two meetings in May. One of our May meetings we are going to go on a hike and try to do some of the suggested activites from our journey Between Earth and Sky. We have a service unit skating activity planned in April that most of my girls are attending and a service unit picnic in May as well.

We are tentatively planning on having a summer party at one of the parents houses--they have a pool and a blow up waterslide to celebrate summer and to bridge. If it falls through we will probably just meet at a park.

Is anyone planning on attending camp this summer? My oldest daughter has signed up with a friend for day camp (it's really affordable) My youngest hasn't decided yet. I'm hoping we can find a couple of girls from our troop who can go at the same time and they can all buddy around together.

There's a bunch of patches that will be discontinued and there's a major focus on the Journeys. I've heard the new Journey books that just came out are good, but I haven't heard good news about the older ones. I'm sad they're retiring some of the try-its.

We've got a lodging trip scheduled for April and Camporee in May. I'm hoping to get the girls out hiking and doing some outdoor day trips.

My girls are attending GS camp this summer - this will be the 4th summer in a row. They're going to day camp this year, but I think my oldest DD11 will be going to overnight camp next year. I would say about 1/2 my troop is going to day camp at the same camp.

We still haven't done anything for bridging yet. I'm working with a Junior troop in May for their bridging activities, but we haven't planned anything yet. You're right it does seem like time goes by so fast!!

 

[kelann7]

Well, we are done with cookie sales. Yeah! I had the girls vote on what they wanted to do with the cookie money. They decided on a Build A Bear party. We are also going to get T-shirts for each of them with the Troop number and a Daisy and their names on it. This was my co-leader's idea to get the shirts. I would rather spend the money on another event, but she sold 500 boxes of cookies, so most of the money was raised by her, so I feel like I need to go with her idea. The problem is I only think they will wear the shirt one time - to the Build A Bear party. We meet right after school and they wear uniforms to school, so they can't wear them to meetings. And next year, the troop is splitting up with over half of them bridging to Brownies, but the rest of them staying in Daisies another year.

Kelly

 

[Marshay]

1,000 Cranes for Japan

Anyone else making origami cranes to send to the Girl Scouts in Japan?

My troop is actually organizing the project for our entire service unit (500 girls). Not quite sure how a 1st year Daisy troop of 4 girls got roped into that

Anyway, after 9-11, Girl Scouts from Japan sent US Girl Scouts 1,000 cranes as a sign of goodwill/thinking of you.

So in return, we are sending them origami cranes to show we care after their diaster. We bought 6x6 origami paper with SU funds and will have each troop make as many of them as they can. Then we'll ship them to GS org in Japan. It'll cost about $200 total (shipping and paper for 1000 cranes).

We'll also try to get the local media involved -- photos of Daisy Girl Scouts making origami cranes -- so cute!

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

Anyone planning an end of year award ceremony? I would like to give our perfect attendance awards and also Cookie All Star patches for my top 3 sellers. What else can I give? I would like for each girl to get at least one patch. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Kelly

I know when I go online to our local council website they have tons of fun patches. These are just a few, extra effort, perfect attendance, girls in sports, celebrate the girl in me, arts & crafts, etc. There is also a daisy patch called amazing daisy that we get the girls who will not be getting as many patches as others, because they joined late, so they do not have it yet. When we do awards, we like each girl to at least get one thing.There is also a top cookie seller patch and a my first cookie sale patch.

We got our daisies a shirt from target. Go to their website and search for Girls' Circo® Pink Flower Short-Sleeve Tee to see it. It looks like their daisy flower petals and we thought it would be easier than making them. We are going to get the troop number and their names in their handwriting screened on the back. We are going to keep the shirts anad have the girls change into them when we go to events, this way no one forgets their shirt, because I know that would happen, expecially with a certian one.

Is anyone doing stuff over the summer?

 

[MaidMarian]

Does anyone have an end of year Parent Survey that they've handed out?

 

[Marshay]

Does anyone have an end of year Parent Survey that they've handed out?

We are working on one. I can share once it's done but if anyone else has one, please post, too!

Ours will do the normal what did you like/dislike and what things do you want to do next year.

It'll also ask for moms to list their "talents" and some friends/professional contacts so we can set up some different meetings. One of our moms spent lots of time in Yeman of all places and has lots of stuff to show. We only found out 2 weeks ago so we'd love to use her for our World Thinking Day next year. Another dad is a dentist and we'd love to go to his business and take a tour, talk about teeth falling out, cleaning them and sew a simple tooth fairy bag.

 

[TinaLala]

Getting ready to go on lodge trip with my troop!! 13 our of 15 girls attending! Got my program supplies together today - scavenger hunt/hike, friendship bracelets, beady buddies, sewing sock toys and making ice cream!!! Of course we're making S'mores!

Can't wait...can't wait!!

 

[Marshay]

Getting ready to go on lodge trip with my troop!! 13 our of 15 girls attending! Got my program supplies together today - scavenger hunt/hike, friendship bracelets, beady buddies, sewing sock toys and making ice cream!!! Of course we're making S'mores!

Can't wait...can't wait!!

Sounds like a wonderful time! Let us know how it goes...lessons learned, etc

 

[Stacey012345]

Saw a few of you mentioned doing shirts. I just made up t-shirts with the troop # for the girls but did it super cheap. If you have an A.C. Moore by you, this week (maybe until Saturday, I think) they have the blank t-shirts 5 for $10 so for the 10 girls, it was $20. Then I used a 50% off coupon and bought the iron on transfer paper (reg 9.99, was $5). So for $25 (basically $2.50 per girl for 10 girls) I created a really cute logo, printed it on the paper, and ironed it on the shirts. I'm giving them out at our next meeting in early April because we have 2 events coming up - a community garden planting and a Yoga event - that are not ones for the Vests so I'm thinking they can use them for those....but what I also did was just said Girl Scouts and the Troop # on the shirt so that when they move up a level, they can still wear the shirts...so if they stick together to Brownies & up, they have a shirt that shoud have some long life. I bought everyone a Youth M (10-12) as they are all Kindergarten Daisy level girls so I figure they can grow with it over time...easy to tuck now and wear long as they get bigger.

 

[raestr]

Has anyone worked on a Journey and the Petals together? I am trying to plan for next year and I'm having a hard time working the petals into the Daisy Flower Garden Journey.

Little History, our troop started around the first of December. I decided to have weekly meetings at 6:30 pm so that we can earn all of our petals this year. We have 4 more petals to earn. Seven girls are in our troop; 2 first graders and 5 kindergarteners. My daughter is in kindergarten.

Next year, I want to have meetings every other week because the weekly meetings are killing me. I have 3 boys who are all currently playing baseball and are also active in Boy Scouts. I also do everything for our troop. I'm the Treasurer and I was the "Cookie Mom" this year. We made about $330 from cookie sales.

I want to do the Daisy Flower Garden Journey next year because all of my girls this year will have their petals and I want them to be able to earn badges next year, too. I've learned that the patches/badges are worth their weight in gold to the girls. I've read through the Leader Guide Journey book and read the Journey book. I read one of the posts from this board that suggested just summarizing the Journey chapters for the girls. I think that is a great idea because the girls do get bored just listening to a story. My girls LOVE to make crafts, so I have picked out several things from Oriental Trading and I want to go ahead and buy everything this summer so that I don't have to worry about it next year. I spend a lot of time now driving to craft stores to find items for our craft projects, and I have spent hours cutting out stuff with my Cricut machine for our craft projects. For $6.99, Oriental Trading will send it all to me prepared except for the adhesive. That is a bargain, because my time is valuable.

Anyway, back to my original question. I've read through the Journey book and I want the girls to earn their petals as we go through the Journey, too. I would like to have the majority of the petals earned by next March because that is when softball and baseball season starts. Attendance gets a lot more sporatic then and I don't want to fool with making up petals. Can anyone tell me which petals you earned with each chapter of the Daisy Flower Garden? I have made a calendar for next year for earning the petals, but some of my links with the Journey chapters are pretty weak.

Thanks for any help you can give me,
Rae

 

[Marshay]

Hi! I just did a "pre-plan" for next year, too. We have 2 petals leftover from this year (red/purple) to earn not including the 2 new "leaves" that Girls Scout is offering to Daisies next year for money management and something else which I forget.

Then we schedule in at least 3 service projects, plus all the major holidays (investiture for new girls, halloween, Xmas, Valentines, World Thinking Day, Mom's/Dad's day), plus don't forget the "Bridging to Brownies" meetings and work associated with that and we already have about 15 meetings that are already done. We'll only meet 18 times total, at 2x/month late Sept to June.

So I'm asking, how in the world do we fit Journeys into that?

I think we are going to skip it again this year. We just have too many other things going on.

 

[amez]

Rae--Will all your girls earn their petals this year? Are you wanting to incorporate the petals for new girls next year? I only had one new Daisy this year and I actually gave her mom a few ideas and suggested they go over the petals on their own. As I went through the journey this year I would point out things from the law to reinforce the ideas for the girls. We are almost done with Between Earth and sky and it does pull in the law at several times--for example each flower in the story represents a part of the law, so I briefly told the girls about the flowers and then asked them which was their favorite flower and how do they follow part of the law (like one flower--represents honest and fair--so how can you be honest and fair) I really try to get all the girls to talk, but if they don't want to that's okay too.

I do read aloud the parts from the journey book that the guide suggests. They are actually not very long--I have also found that if we sit on the floor (or lay down etc) the girls listen better. We actually covered two sections last meeting and the girls listened quite well--the guide doesn't usually suggest even a chapter to read, it's usually part of a chapter. I think our journey was divided into 10 sessions, so you could plan that it would take ten meetings or less if you combined sessions. Not sure how familiar you are with the journey's but remember you do not have to do everything the guide suggests. For our journey we really only had to hit on three main points to earn the patches--so keep that in mind. I know at our service meeting the troops that don't care for the journeys are trying to do everything and it's not necessary.

I imagine it does make it quite busy meeting every week--we meet twice a month--the first Thursday and the third Thursday--if there are five weeks in a month we just have a longer break. We try to do either a service unit activity or some sort of additional activity each month as well.

Are you having your first grade girls bridge to Brownies for next year? Our first year we had k and 1st graders and then the three first graders bridged to Brownies, but are still in our troop. We did a Daisy journey so I tried to make it fit a couple of try-its for the Brownies. Thankfully next year all the girls will be Brownies and they can all earn the same badges. I'm just curious on what other troops do when they have mixed levels like that--I wish I could have my older girls just stay Brownies and extra year and then they could all be juniors together. The girls all want to stay together as a troop, so splitting off into another troop isn't really an option right now esp since there is just the three older girls.

 

[raestr]

Marshay,

What do you mean by, "plus don't forget the "Bridging to Brownies" meetings and work associated with that?" We have 2 girls bridging to Brownies. I have talked with the Brownie Leader at our school and we are going to get together at a local park that has a small bridge so the girls can walk across the bridge from Daisies to Brownies. Other than that, I haven't heard of any "work" we are suppose to do for bridging. 3 of the Brownies came to our meeting Monday night because they are bridging to Juniors next year and part of that requirement is that they teach Daisy Girl Scouts something they learned in Brownies. They made GS Law pony bead bracelets, taught them the Brownie song, and taught them the GS handshake (which my Daisies already knew).

Amy,

Yes, all of my girls are earning their petals this year. I wanted to make sure my first graders were able to earn all of their petals before they bridged to Brownies. I do not plan on doing all of the Activities in the Journey book. Most of them seem to be, "Draw a picture of ...." They can do that at home. Actually, I am planning to have the girls read their Journey chapters before each meeting. With 2 weeks in between each meeting, they can read the chapter (or a parent can) and do the activity drawings to share at the upcoming meeting. I just think my girls will get bored if I try to read too much to them. I have decided to read a short book to them while they have their snack at the end of each meeting. The Clifford books have several that relate to the petals like Manners (respect myself and others). They are short and help keep the girls from getting too loud and making a mess with their snacks. My meetings are pretty structured. We do dot-to-dots and mazes while we wait for everyone to get there. Then say the Pledge of Allegience, the Promise, & the GS Law, discuss the petal for the night (every girl has an opportunity to talk here), do our craft, have our snack, do the friendship circle and Make New Friends song and leave. If we have more time, we sing an extra song or play a game, but normally, we run short on time. Our meetings are for one hour. I need the structure because the girls get too loud if they don't have direction and I can't take it. My sons' Boy Scout meetings drive me nuts because they run around the entire time (screaming it seems like). Yes, I make mine stop repeatedly, but when no one else tries to control them (including the leader) they just start running around again. It is very chaotic.

I do not want to paint the thumbprints on the back of the tunic as someone else suggested because then you get into "making up the thumbprint" drama. I think it is a cute idea, but not worth the trouble. Yes, I know they don't "have to have" the petals or the thumbprints, but at 5 & 6 years old they want what all the other little girls have on their tunics, kwim.

I really appreciate your opinions and suggestions,
Rae

 

[Marshay]

Marshay,

What do you mean by, "plus don't forget the "Bridging to Brownies" meetings and work associated with that?" We have 2 girls bridging to Brownies. I have talked with the Brownie Leader at our school and we are going to get together at a local park that has a small bridge so the girls can walk across the bridge from Daisies to Brownies. Other than that, I haven't heard of any "work" we are suppose to do for bridging. 3 of the Brownies came to our meeting Monday night because they are bridging to Juniors next year and part of that requirement is that they teach Daisy Girl Scouts something they learned in Brownies. They made GS Law pony bead bracelets, taught them the Brownie song, and taught them the GS handshake (which my Daisies already knew).

Rae

In our SU, in order to become brownies we need to:

- attend a meeting with brownies
- do a service event with brownies and/or try-it
- have a separate "bridging" meeting

I suppose you could combine the first two together but it was told to us that we should make these all separate.

I'm going to ask for clarfication on this at our next SU meeting.

 

[Stacey012345]

Has anyone worked on a Journey and the Petals together? I am trying to plan for next year and I'm having a hard time working the petals into the Daisy Flower Garden Journey.

Little History, our troop started around the first of December. I decided to have weekly meetings at 6:30 pm so that we can earn all of our petals this year. We have 4 more petals to earn. Seven girls are in our troop; 2 first graders and 5 kindergarteners. My daughter is in kindergarten.

Next year, I want to have meetings every other week because the weekly meetings are killing me. I have 3 boys who are all currently playing baseball and are also active in Boy Scouts. I also do everything for our troop. I'm the Treasurer and I was the "Cookie Mom" this year. We made about $330 from cookie sales.

I want to do the Daisy Flower Garden Journey next year because all of my girls this year will have their petals and I want them to be able to earn badges next year, too. I've learned that the patches/badges are worth their weight in gold to the girls. I've read through the Leader Guide Journey book and read the Journey book. I read one of the posts from this board that suggested just summarizing the Journey chapters for the girls. I think that is a great idea because the girls do get bored just listening to a story. My girls LOVE to make crafts, so I have picked out several things from Oriental Trading and I want to go ahead and buy everything this summer so that I don't have to worry about it next year. I spend a lot of time now driving to craft stores to find items for our craft projects, and I have spent hours cutting out stuff with my Cricut machine for our craft projects. For $6.99, Oriental Trading will send it all to me prepared except for the adhesive. That is a bargain, because my time is valuable.

Anyway, back to my original question. I've read through the Journey book and I want the girls to earn their petals as we go through the Journey, too. I would like to have the majority of the petals earned by next March because that is when softball and baseball season starts. Attendance gets a lot more sporatic then and I don't want to fool with making up petals. Can anyone tell me which petals you earned with each chapter of the Daisy Flower Garden? I have made a calendar for next year for earning the petals, but some of my links with the Journey chapters are pretty weak.

Thanks for any help you can give me,
Rae

I can speak to this question. I have a Kindergarten Daisy troop this year (my first year as a leader, too) edging towards the end of their first year, and I've worked on the Flower Garden Journey with them as well as the petals. We are completing 2 of the 3 garden journey pieces this year along with 5 of the petals, and next year we will complete the other five petals and the final piece of the journey.

Maybe the best way to show what I've done is to copy/paste my meeting plan file....any questions or thoughts, let me know. We meet around every 3-4 weeks with activities in between so usually at least 2x a month. Hope this helps a bit.

Meeting Plans (always close with Friendship Squeeze ceremony):

Sept end of month - 1st meeting – Introduce Girl Scout Promise; Do Color a Pot activity; Plant soil and seeds in pot for Troop Garden. (working towards first part of flower garden journey)

Oct - Dr. Seuss Knew event through council, participation patch earned

October - Pumpkin Patch/Hayride event (RAINED OUT) so regular meeting
Review Girl Scout Promise at start of fun day!
Water community garden before everyone leaves.
Distribute information to troop members on Food Drive.
*If in school room, water community garden, pumpkin craft, and work on Girl Scout Promise again. Read 1st chapter of Daisy Flower Garden Journey & 2nd chapter, too. Play “Daisy Says” with the girls.

November - Discover Our Oceans event through council, participation patch

November
*Read next chapter (#3) of flower garden journey.
*Earn watering can piece of Journey Patch set – for tending to community garden together. Have them water community garden 1st, then present their awards. Take home their own flower pots/flowers at end of meeting now that they are done earning this piece.
*Earn Daisy Blue Promise Center for their petals for reciting the Girl Scout Promise all together.
*Earn Spring Green Considerate & Caring Petal – For Food Drive - Each child brings in collections from neighborhood of food items to donate to those in need. Talk about how we are going to deliver them from the troop to people who aren’t as fortunate as we are, and have the troop sign a troop card to be provided with their donations to the place accepting them (determine where to donate). Earn Food Drive Fun Patch here as well.
*Turkey Hand w/Feather Stick Puppet Craft
*Use activity books for extra activities/time

December
Snowflake Suncatcher Painting Project
2 Pages of Activity Book – portrait of self and first page about each girl
Alphabet Hike for Holiday Gifts from Leaders at end by Mr. Z

January
Craft - New Years Mobile
Cookie Sale Review: Discuss # of boxes per girl goal; Explain 25 boxes to earn participation patch for vest per council
Service Goal: Plant Community Garden in Spring (ties into our journey as well)
Troop Fun Goal: Ideas (giving 2 options to kids, one will be chosen) KIDS PICKED BUILD-A-BEAR
Earn Orange - Responsible for what I say and do Petal ---
(1) Copy a picture from a coloring book. Have the girls color the picture. Have the girls crumple the picture up into a ball. Now smooth out the paper. Note all the wrinkles left on the paper. Explain when you say something mean or bad, it will always leave a mark on that person. Some marks don't show but others do. A Girl Scout's job is to be responsible and not say things that might hurt someone on the inside. Discuss what words hurt and what words are nice. AND (2) Talk to girls about being responsible for what they do by always wearing seat belts and safety belts in cars and on buses.

January - Fancy Nancy Mystery Luncheon Event – Valentine's Day Fun Patch

February
Craft - Valentine’s Day 6x6 canvas totes to decorate with embellishments
Flower Garden Journey Chapter 4 – corresponding activity sheets in book
Pages in Activity Book
Review Cookie Sale Progress, remind to drop off orders to me by deadline

February
Model Magic Clay Craft – Make their own flower garden with clay
Feb 22nd was World Thinking Day – Do World Thinking Day Activity!!
Give them prepartion for earning Yellow Petal at next meeting -- Provide children with stickers and a list of tasks related to helping people and being friendly, like helping a parent with a cleaning task or talking to a new friend. Once they have completed a task on the list, they put a sticker next to it on the list.
*2011 World Thinking Day Patch for Girl Scout Daisies
Suggested Activities for Girl Scout Daisies
Girls complete one or more activity to receive the patch. We did these 2:

52 million girls around the world (equal to almost twice the number of girls and boys in the U.S.) are unable to go to school. Imagine how your life would be different if you couldn’t go to school. Take photos or draw a picture of your school and the places you like best: your classroom, the cafeteria, the playground, etc. Share these with your group.

Form a circle and shout out positive things girls could be or have, such as being friendly, having a younger sibling, or drawing well. Girls jump into the center of the circle if they are or have that quality. Encourage others to jump in. The game ends when everyone is squeezed into the middle and there is no one outside the circle.


March
Spring Suncatcher Craft (painting with stain glimmer pens)
St. Patrick’s Day Rainbow connect-the-dot & color sheet
Flower Garden Journey Chapters 5 & 6 read
Earning of Yellow - Friendly & Helpful petal for doing the following which was
reviewed at February meeting, therefore earned today – go over what the girls did and with whom!
· Provided children at Feb meeting with stickers and a list of tasks related to helping people and being friendly, like helping a parent with a cleaning task or talking to a new friend. Once they have completed a task on the list, they placed a sticker next to it on the list.


March - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs council run program, participation patch


April - early month
Earth Day Activity (fun patch for girls)
Crafts - Kangaroo necklaces and Mother’s Day “Pouch of Kisses” Craft
Green Petal- Use resources wisely - Read Fancy Nancy “Every Day is Earth Day” book, do work in conservation booklet I will give out - stickers & bookmark handout part of earning petal

April - end of month (using cookie money for plants, service project)
Community Garden Planting - Golden Honey Bee Award earned for Journey Patch

May
Yoga Studio troop outing - Earning of Red Courageous & Strong Petal

May
Ice Cream Social - Freeze Dance & A few other fun games
Craft – Father’s Day Bookmark Craft
Tentatively a few pages in journey and/or activity book

May
Ocean Fun Day (patch) - Families welcomed, free parking & free event

June
End of year celebration & closing party – Build A Bear!! (using cookie money)




NOTE TO SELF: SAVE FINAL PART OF JOURNEY FOR NEXT YEAR UNTIL ALL PETALS ARE EARNED:
Amazing Daisy Award (Final Journey patch – flower) Represents knowing and living the Promise and Law. Girls receive it at a closing party as they say the Promise and Law. Shows an important end goal: making the Promise and living by the Law.

 

[kelann7]

Stacey, it looks like your council and/or service unit has some nice fun events planned. We are not so lucky, I find that our service unit is very unorganized and the council events filled up so quickly that the few that I wanted my girls to attend filled up before we could register! It was crazy. This was my first year - I learned alot, including register EARLY for council events next year.

Anyway, to answer someone else's question, I also have a group of Kindergarten and 1st graders who were all 1st year Daisies this year. My daughter is in Kinder, so I will be the leader for Daisies again next year, but I most of my girls are bridging up to brownies. I probably will get new girls to join our troop next year. This year, we did earn all of the petals because I wanted to first graders to have all of them before moving to brownies. We did not do a Journey.

I'm starting to plan for next year and I do plan to do the Flower Garden journey and I also want to do all of the petals for the new girls and I think it will be a good review for the 2nd year girls. This journey can be done in 6 meetings. I plan to do one or two meetings dedicated to a journey chapter and then 1 or 2 meetings for petals, then back to the journey, alternating petals in between. So, we are not doing Journey book every meeting for 6 meetings - I'm going to spread it out. Because the 2nd year girls already have their petals, I want to plan different activities for earning petals than I did this year, so that the 2nd year girls aren't repeating the same exact craft or activity and they won't get bored. I have a few ideas, but I still need more ideas for some of the petals.

We meet every other week, which I think is perfect. I am looking forward to a break during the summer.

Thanks.

Kelly

 

[raestr]

Kelly,

It sounds like you and I are pretty close to being on the same page. I have tried very hard to earn all of our petals this year and I want the new girls to have the opportunity to earn them all next year, too. I also agree that reinforcing the petal character traits is a good thing to do. Plus, it is a requirement for earning the Honor Troop award, which I think we have a pretty good chance of earning this year.

I am also planning all new activities for next year, because I don't want next year to be a repeat of this year. The only thing I may repeat is a bird seed craft for Considerate and Caring. I still have a LOT of bird seed left so I'm trying to figure out how to use it, but I will change it up some and not make the EXACT same bird seed feeder.

About the Council Activities. We've only been to one so far this year, but our Council does not have many for Daisies and Brownies. They had a bunch for March and April. We missed out on the March activity we wanted to go to because it filled so quickly. It was called the Great Outdoors and was at the Nature Center, which is the HUGE area nearby where the girls can hike, fish, etc. Because it was so popular (150 was the maximum allowed) our Council scheduled a 2nd session of the same activity for this coming weekend (4/2) and it also filled (it really sounded fun and earned the girls multiple patches/badges for all the levels of GS). I got an email Monday saying that the event was canceled because the Nature Center had also booked a wedding there for the same day. Then, when I went by the council office that afternoon to pick up the key for our meeting space, one of the council employees said to me, "I just sent you an email. I had to cancel Spring Fling because not enough people signed up." I of course said, "But the Great Outdoors event was just canceled this morning!" Spring Fling was suppose to be 4/16 at the GS camp on the lake. We are going to a baseball game on 4/9, but frankly, that was the one event I am least interested in. Baseball games are long and 5 & 6 year olds get bored, not to mention I am watching my sons play baseball right now, so I could care less about watching more baseball. So out of the 3 activities that we signed up for in April, we are now down to one.

We are suppose to plan at least one activity during each month in the summer. I want to keep them simple (and cheap) like, Popsicles in the Park, or something like that.

If I get my calendar/itinerary into a Word document, I will post it. I would like to compare activities/crafts with you for next year.

Rae