Girl Scout Meeting?

Question

I am a Girl Scout and my groups leader is not here so every family has to do a GS meeting and I don't have any idea for my meeting! We are in 6th grade and the meeting is in January. Is a art project or just playing games okay for it? Or do I have to do something educational? I was thinking we could just play board games to get more used to each other but we all came from the same school. I REALLY need A LOT of HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are also Cadettes in Northern Cal. Any good Ideas appricated!

Answer 1

Look at the IP "From Fitness to Fashion" -- there's a lot of stuff in there that girls enjoy doing.  Try getting together some basic stuff like yogurt, oatmeal, etc. and try making your own natural make-up and facial cleansing products.  

The "Media Savvy" IP involves looking at TV and magazines and evaluating ways in which the media gets the attention of teenage girls.  (Also a good excuse to browse through magazines!)

If you have time to organize it ahead of time, look at the on-line requirements for the Studio2B IP called "Uncovering the Evidence". Our troop enjoyed a field trip to the local police station having their fingerprints taken, dusting objects for fingerprints, seeing an evidence room and seeing how the forensics department put together evidence to convict a bank robber.

Or plan a trip to a local ice skating (or roller skating!) rink and see if the rink can provide an instructor for 15-20 minutes to teach the girls a few new moves.

You can combine all the above activities with other fun things, such as the games you mentioned, etc.  It doesn't have to be "educational", but I have to admit, I try my best to make sure that, even while we're having fun, we're also learning something new.

You might want to begin planning cookie sales (if they are coming up soon.)

Or, ahead of time, think of several service projects and present the different ideas to the troop to choose.  Possibilities include making cookies for a local fire department, starting a pop-top collection for a local Ronald McDonald house, if there's one in your area.  

Mix the meeting up -- spend a little time thinking about a service project, spend some more time doing the make-up or   other IP activites, and then finish up with a game like "Scene It", or something else fun.

Most of all, have fun!!

Answer 2

If you are Cadettes, planning your meetings is a good idea. I suggest you get together with your troopmates and find out what people want to do. Brainstorm ideas, pick the most popular, try to figure out how to make things happen. Including which adults to ask for help!

Scoutingweb is a great resource. Also see if you can look at a Focus Book or the Interest Project for Girl Scouts book. These are both age-appropriate awards, and can take a bunch of meetings to accomplish.  So if your troopmates pick an Interest Project Award, each can plan one activity for their meeting.

Also ask at your local council (if you don't know which one you have, go to girlscouts.org and put your zip code into the Council Finder).

Another thing to ask is if there are any Program Aides in your area: Older Girl Scouts that have been trained to help out other troops. In this case, they may be able to share what they did at *your* age.

But, yes, have fun! Games and crafts are good getting-to-know-you activities, and some of the brainstorming and planning can take place while you face each other over a game board.

Answer 3

Take a look at scountingweb.com. They have very helpful instant program cards in the junior section that you can modify. You can choose an activity you and your friends would enjoy. http://www.scoutingweb.com/ScoutingWeb/D... or take a look at the Cad/Sen items. Have fun!

Answer 4

The structure can be pretty open. Having some ideas of what to do ahead of time will be helpful though.  Perhaps you can meet some component for a badge while you are meeting or you can raise some ideas of what you want to do with your troop in the future.