girl scout question

[kidzmom3]

I was the leader of my daughters brownie troop for 3 years, but had to give it up. I began working full time, have 3 kids etc.. etc....

No-one was going to take over so my daughter left. As the new year began, one of the other parents agreed to do it. So my daughter rejoined. This mom stayed for 2 years, the girls are in their second year of juniors.

This other mom told the girls she would be doing it this year, now she cannot. I hated the large troop and GS politics. But the girls love it. If I only took the juniors that I had as brownies it would be 5 girls. Not a recommended level of troop in our neighborhood. However, I could handle this alone and have it at my house with only them.

Good idea or bad? The neighborhood would pressure me to accept more girls and have a co-leader. Also, its not forbidden, but frowned upon to have the meetings at your own home.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I am a Girl Scout Leader and I know you are absolutely not allowed to have a troop meeting with only one adult. The other adult has to be registered with G.S. and cannot be related to you. Is there another mom or even a college aged young woman who could help you?
They frown upon meetings at the homes here too, but I think if all the parents know you and are comfortable with it, it is OK. I think it is really convient for leaders. I used to drive 25 minutes each way to a meeting place. I took up a lot of my time.
I think you need a minimum of 5 for a troop and they can't tell you how many to have. I would feel bad for the other girls who joined as Jrs. and were not in your Brownie troop and could not continue with their troop. I think you would have to start a whole new troop with a new number b/c you could not ask those other girls to leave their troop and find a new one.
Good Luck!

 

[CarolA]

I was the leader of my daughters brownie troop for 3 years, but had to give it up. I began working full time, have 3 kids etc.. etc....

No-one was going to take over so my daughter left. As the new year began, one of the other parents agreed to do it. So my daughter rejoined. This mom stayed for 2 years, the girls are in their second year of juniors.

This other mom told the girls she would be doing it this year, now she cannot. I hated the large troop and GS politics. But the girls love it. If I only took the juniors that I had as brownies it would be 5 girls. Not a recommended level of troop in our neighborhood. However, I could handle this alone and have it at my house with only them.

Good idea or bad? The neighborhood would pressure me to accept more girls and have a co-leader. Also, its not forbidden, but frowned upon to have the meetings at your own home.

It's a BAD idea to have a troop without another adult present. The rule exists to protect YOU as much as the girls. If you have an accident you need a second adult and it also proctects you from claims you abused a child.

And how many girls are you leaving out? How do you tell them you don't want them? I just don't know that I could do that.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

You do need a co-leader or assistant leader, no way around that.

Are you saying you want to hand pick from this troop and shut girls out of an already existing troop?

I guess I need some clarity...

 

[kandeebunny]

Where in Mass are you? I may know a girl who could be a co-leader or something similar...

 

[kidzmom3]

Hi Everyone, first time I have been online since my original post. I guess I wasn't quite as descriptive about the troop as I thought I was (it can be so hard to balance giving info with too long of posts on the dis, lol)

I would not exclude any girls currently in the troop, I just wouldn't want to take any more girls. I know that some girls from a different brownie troop, that are ready to move up are looking for a junior one. We have a hard time with leader retention in our town.

I could probably get another parent to take turns and stay for the meeting, but they would probably take turns. If they were all willing to register I guess that could work out. But then the council might think we have 5 leaders for 5 girls.

I guess since my daughter is not ready to give up GS, I want her to be able to do it. I am trying to think of a way to help without overwhelming myself. My two DD's are doing competitive cheering and its very time commitment heavy.
I would love to be the co-leader or parent helper, but no-one else has come forward. Its October and they are bascially going to fold and the council will take any money left from their troop ($150).

Thanks for all the help

edited to add: My second year of brownies the council pressured me into taking more girls and our troop doubled in size to 30 girls. Since that time girls have left the troop leaving only 5 girls. No-one promised the brownies they could move up into this troop, they didn't even do bridging activities with us. However, I think many parents will just assume if a junior troop resumes, their child will be in it. Does that make sense?

 

[mrsmom]

my dd 12 is a cadette now , but her girl scout leader has the meeting at her house and ask each parent to take turns coming to them. she only had 6 girls for a couple yrs and myself or another parent would go on the campouts and trip with them.
now other girls have joined so there is a co-leader to help her all the time.. she still has the meeting at her house.
Kim

 

[pezheadmeg]

Check to see if your local college has a GS chapter. Ours was always on call to take on a tropp if neccessary. We were never needed, but local council liked knowign we'd be more than willing to step up to the plate.

 

[MrsPete]

I've been a scout leader for years, and I can verify what's been said: You are absolutely not allowed to have a scout meeting without two unrelated adults present, and at least one of them must be female. Only the leader must be council-trained -- the second person can be a parent volunteer. Have you taken training yet? They'll go over these things there. In the meantime, I'd suggest you pick up a copy of SafetyWise. It'll give you details about what's necessary for meetings, trips, etc.

This two-deep rule exists for two reasons: 1) it protects you from unfounded accusations that are, sadly, a part of our world today and 2) it means that in case of an emergency you could take care of a girl in trouble while the other adult stayed with the troop. MANY times we've had a girl develop a tummy ache, need a band-aid, or something similar, and it's essential that one adult be able to take her away from the group while the rest continue with their activities.

You're allowed to have meetings at your house, though it is discouraged. Do you have space? Parking? How would you handle it if something was broken?

There's no problem with ALL the moms registering. We encourage our moms to register if they're ever going to drive on a scout trip. Registering means they're covered by GS insurance, and that's worth the $10 fee.

Five is an awfully small troop, but you -- as a volunteer -- have every right to set your own limits. If that's what your space and your leader-staff will allow, then you should not allow yourself to be bullied into more. At the same time, five is a little dangerous. That's your council's minimum number, right? If just one girl leaves, you lose your troop. It's also hard to fundraise with so few. And it's hard to justify renting a campsite for so few. On the other hand, you can carry them (plus your co-leader) in one mini-van, which is a definite plus.

If this troop doesn't work out, you could consider having your daughter register as a Juliette -- an independent scout. Honestly, I think it's a second-best option because scouting is all about the friends and the group, but it would allow her to work on badges, attend summer camp, and attend council events. It's not perfect, but it's something to keep in reserve.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Ok, I see nothing wrong with your plan.

I guess the tricky part is going to be assuming the role of leader of the troop and then telling council that you want to keep it to 5 girls.

Frankly your council operates "oddly". Everywhere we go, leaders get to say 'yay' or 'nay' to adding girls.
Also it would NEVER EVER be assumed that bridging Brownies go to a troop that already exists. That is just weird to me. Really never heard of such a thing except for troops that were "mega-run" in churches and organizations like that.

Our rules were we maintained the same grade level.

As far as parents in your troop...have them all sign up as assistants and then rotate them.
Very doable.

Oh and as far as the house thing being frowned on....gimmie a break... Your home is the best place for meetings.

 

[agnes!]

If the Council "frowns on" meetings in homes(even if you have the required number of adults present, etc), keeping troops to a manageable level...then THEY should be leading the troop. I loved Girl Scouts, but honestly, some of the "stuff" that goes on...ugh.

agnes!

 

[CarolA]

I would suggest that ALL the mother register. (They don't have to register as leaders, but if they register then they are also covered by the insurance)

If your Association pressures you just tell them that you will take this troop and that's it! Take it or leave it... Generally they take it LOL!

(And as for councils leading troops, they have done it. My Cadette/Senior Troop was lead by the council and I have volunteered on a few council led troops. It's not as nice as you might imagine. We wound up working at EVERY council event! LOL!)

 

[ADisneyQueen]

One year I did not have a co leader so each mom registered and took turns being there. They were registered as an 03 b/c they did not have training and therefore were not considered leaders. I am an 01. The only bad thing is that the 01 has to be there in order to have a meeting or field trip.

 

[alanapapa]

Hi all,
What about the dads?? I am a registered GS leader. My DW and a friend are the registered co-leaders and I am one of the asst. The three of us have all gone through the leadership classes and the friend & I have each done the Troop Camp Training. We encourage both parents to register as adults and we have 6 second year brownies and 8 adults, along with 2 cadettes. Last year we also had a Junior troop but the only girls staying were our DD and the other leaders. Our Co-SUMs are both men and we have a great time. Before we branched off and started our own troop, we had a Father/Daughter campout and since we were all registered GS we didn't have to buy extra insurance.

I will say that I get a lot of kidding from co-workers as I am a male GS, but they also admire that I am taking an active roll in the DD's lives. It doesn't hurt that our CEO is a lifetime GS and buys cookies every year.