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To submit idea’s to Café Corner, please mail them to Lori Kuykendall, Café Corner, 8699 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410 or email them to lkuykendall@ddgsc.org. |
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1. Get your Troop Parents involved and registered. Troop parents/guardians are usually glad to help you out if you approach them individually and with a specific job. Sometimes dividing a big job between several people makes it easier to sell. Jobs can include transportation, demonstrating a particular skill, making phone calls etc. Remember, all girls and adults are covered by Girl Scout insurance when participating in Girl Scout activities only if they are registered.
2. Make sure that the girls are involved in decisions. When planning activities, events, trips, badge-work etc. be sure to ask the girls their opinions and input. By doing so, you can be assured that you are meeting the girls’ needs and interests. As the girls grow older, their role in troop decision-making should also progress.
3. Communication is Key! Be sure that you are keeping parents/guardians informed of troop activities and events. Attend Service Unit meetings to receive news and updates on upcoming programs, events etc. Service Unit meetings are a great forum to share ideas and solve problems. Also, be certain that your Membership Program Specialist receives copies of event flyers and activities so that they are aware of upcoming events.
4. Remember to turn in completed forms. Be conscious of deadlines for trip and money-earning activities to ensure that activities are appropriate and proper safety measures will be taken. It is extremely important to remember to turn in all Financial Reports to the Council.
5. Always have a Plan B. When planning activities, meetings, etc. always be prepared with an alternate plan in the event that an aspect of the first one does not work.
6. Register for Trainings. Remember to sign up for offered trainings. Also be sure to place your name on the waiting list(s) for trainings that are not scheduled yet but you would like to take.
7. Use your resources wisely. There are endless resources to aid in running a Girl Scout Troop, the trick is to know where to look. The council offers resource kits as well as kits that can be checked out to help with activities. Service Unit Meetings are a great opportunity to talk with other leaders and exchange ideas. There are also numerous websites that can help:
Making Friends: www.makingfriends.com
Leaders’ Landing: www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/9385/
TamraLynn’s Girl www.peacefulcottage.com/troop689.girlscout.htm
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Three Brownies:
1. Carries a big sign saying “I am an Owl”
2. Carries a big sign saying “I am a Tree”
3. Carries a smaller sign saying “So Am I”
Leader enters with three or four Brownies and all repeat the Promise They will form a horseshoe on stage so that at the conclusion of the Law all can repeat the Promise and sing a short song.
Narrator:
In Girl Scouting we have one Law with ten parts.
I will do my best to be honest and fair
(Three girls enter with each holding a glass and one holding a bottle of opened pop. She pours a little into each glass making sure they are equal and says “Now let’s be as fair as we can about this”)
I will do my best to be friendly and helpful
(A Brownie enters with a lop-sided cake and proudly announces that she helped her mother make this lovely cake. Mother enters with flour all over her and her hair a mess and a general disheveled appearance)
I will do my best to be considerate and caring
(Two girls appear in archway and take turns saying “You go first - No you go first” Repeat about four times then both crowd through archway together)
I will do my best to be courageous and strong
(Two girls enter, one wielding a whip and a chair, like she is taming a lion, the other lifting a “heavy” object over her head)
I will do my best to be responsible for what I say and do
(One or two girls enter carrying stuffed “pets”, pretending that they are real. They are feeding, watering, brushing and walking them. They also talk to them lovingly.)
I will do my best to respect myself and others
(Three girls enter, each holding a small hand mirror. Looking into the mirror, they say to themselves “I respect you, I respect you, I respect you”. They then turn to each other and repeat the same thing.)
I will do my best to respect authority
(Three girls and an older scout. The girls form a straight line. The older girl gives orders such as “About face” “Left face” “Right face”. Each girl turns in opposite direction for general confusion)
I will do my best to use resources wisely
(A Scout dressed VERY outlandishly such as purple socks, green skirt, red sweater, blue blouse, etc., with everything fitting very poorly.)
She says:
My mother sent me shopping, now wasn’t that very nice
I got all these lovely bargains at half their normal price
I will do my best to make the world a better place
(Some girls enter with pet rocks and potted plants. One shows others the new house she just made for her pet rock. Others talk to their plants, etc.)
I will do my best to be a sister to every Girl Scout
(Two girls enter wearing outfits with the sleeves and skirts sewn together)
They then say (in unison)
Some people say sisters argue
I’m sure this you’ve heard
But the thing that describes us best
You’ll find, inseperable’s the word
Everyone repeats the Girl Scout Promise and sings "Girl Scouts Together"
From: http://www.geocities.com/gsgreenneck/inv.html |
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The original ceremony appears in “Ceremonies in Girl Scouting”, however, this is updated to reflect the recent changes in the Girl Scout Law
Items needed: Ten groups of flowers, a container to set flowers in, sachets or potpourri for each girl.
Introduction:
Welcome to our investiture/rededication ceremony. In almost all countries and cultures there are ceremonies to mark important events in life - days of celebration, sad days, joyous days, days on which a special commitment is made, days that mark an achievement. Girl Scouts, too, have ceremonies to mark important events and significant days. Tonight we are here to confirm or reaffirm our belief in the Girl Scout Promise and Law. The Girl Scout Promise and Law are the foundation of all Girl Scouting. The Promise is like a basket that holds flowers. Flowers have always played and important role in human life. From the very earliest times, they have been given as tokens of love and respect and have served in ceremonies and rituals of all types. The flowers we mention in this ceremony symbolize the ten parts of the Girl Scout Law.
Main Part of Ceremony:
Please join me in repeating the Girl Scout Promise (All girls recite).
And now we will dedicate ourselves to living the Girl Scout Law (as each part of the Law is read, the corresponding flower is placed in the basket)
I will do my best to be:
honest and fair,
This part of the law is represented by the white chrysanthemum. It shows truth, honor, trustworthiness, equality and fairness.
friendly and helpful,
The zinnia represents thoughtfulness about friends, while Baby's Breath represents generosity.
considerate and caring,
Together, a red and a white Rose stand for a warm and caring heart.
courageous and strong,
The garlic plant grows anywhere and has a strong flavor. It represents courage and strength of character and body. The Indian paintbrush shows cheerfulness even in difficulty.
and responsible for what I say and do,
The gladiola symbolizes strength of character, maturity, and responsibility. Binding it with straw, we show that we honor our word and keep our agreements.
and to respect myself and others,
The white Rose and white zinnia show that we hold ourselves worthy and good. Winter Greens symbolize the harmony we try to keep between ourselves and others.
respect authority,
The daffodil represents careful thought, attention, and concern. With the daffodil, we are saying that we hold others in high regard.
use resources wisely,
The foxglove shows thriftiness. When we use our resources wisely, we are being thrifty.
make the world a better place,
The cattail represents the peace we are trying to bring to the world when we help others. The Caladium shows the great joy and delight we take in the world around us.
and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
With the striped carnation, we are saying that we think about those Girl Scouts and Guides who are not here with us. It helps indicate our love for our fellow Scouts and Guides.
Closing:
The sachet (or potpourri) symbolizes our dedication to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Flowers alone do not last. The sachet (or potpourri), a combination of color, texture, shape, and aroma of each of the symbolic flowers, will always remind us of our commitment. A gift of fragrance is a gift of remembrance
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Opening: Friendship Circle
Leader: We gather here today to join hearts and hands in the spirit of friendship. We welcome our new Girl Scouts & rededicate those girls who have been with us in years past.
New Girl 1: I bring to the log a candle of green. The color symbolizes the riches I find in the values and lessons of Girl Scouting. (Insert candle into middle hole)
New Girl 2: I bring to the log a candle of royal blue. The color royal blue symbolizes the admiration that I have for myself and for my fellow Girl Scouts across the world. (Insert blue candle next to green)
New Girl 3: I bring to the log a candle of white. The color white symbolizes the honesty that I will practice toward others and Girl Scouts around the world. (Insert white candle on other side of green candle)
New Girl 4: I bring to the log a candle of silver. The color silver represents all girls new to Girl Scouting. May we all become true friends. (Insert silver candle next to white candle)
New Girl 5: I bring to the log a candle of gold. This gold candle represents all members of this troop that have been down the Girl Scout road of adventure for many years together. May we all continue down the same path for years to come. (Insert gold candle next to blue candle)
Leader(s): We now intertwine the candles, holding them together with a rope of leadership. Under my (our) guidance, may these girls continue on the path of kindness towards each other and all Girl Scouts around the world. (Weave rope between the candles)
All: Recite the Girl Scout Promise
Closing: Friendship circle, & sing “Make New Friends”
From: http://www.geocities.com/gsgreenneck/inv.html |
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Setting: Room is dark except for thirteen lit candles.
Leader: We know our Promise & our Law. We have recited it many times over the years. We may have questioned its importance in our life or forgotten its value.
But, what would the world be like if we stopped serving God and our country? (blow out one candle)
What would the world be like if we stopped helping people in need? (Blows out one candle)
What would the world be like if we stopped living by the Girl Scout Law? (blows out one candle) (At this point, Leader can pause, then blow out all ten remaining, or continue…)
What would the world be like if we all chose to be dishonest & self-serving? (Blows out one candle)
Continue through the law until all candles are out & room is dark. Pause.
If we choose this path, our world becomes very dark. Pause
But I, _________, make a commitment today to serve God and my country. (Re-light first candle)
Who else wants to renew their Promise and Law?
Allow girls to re-light each candle while they say their part of the Promise and Law.
Girl: I, _______, make a commitment to __________ (be honest & fair, etc.)
Close with a favorite Girl Scout song.
From: http://www.geocities.com/gsgreenneck/inv.html
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