Fall Back Into Girl Scouts - A New Troop Season Awaits!

By -

 5 Ideas to Keep Planning Girl-Led

Girl Scouts shape their experience by asking questions, sharing ideas, and using their imaginations. As a leader, allow girls to take an active role in making decisions and choosing activities, while providing guidance that is appropriate to the age of the girls.  When girls step up and take ownership of their decisions, they develop new skills and grow into empowered, confident leaders. All levels of Girl Scouts can be girl-led! How much responsibility varies based on the age of the girls. It is just as crucial that Daisy Girl Scouts get the chance to lead as it is for Junior Girl Scouts, it is just going to look different.

Here are 5 ways troops can incorporate girl-led activities:

  1. Hold a Braining Storming Session: To start a brainstorming session, ask the Girl Scouts, “what do you like to do?” Write their answers on a dry erase board or blackboard. Talk with them about how their ideas can be incorporated into the petals or badges they are earning. 

  2. Use the Volunteer Toolkit: Troop leaders can pull up the Volunteer Toolkit (VTK) during a troop meeting. Share the computer screen and let the girls explore all of the resources available. Have them choose one or two badges they want to earn and add it to the Year Plan!

  3. Let Girl Scouts lead a meeting or activity: While at troop meetings, have the girls take on different leadership roles. Allow them to make decisions and they will feel the meeting belongs to them. Troop leaders can also share meeting plans, from the VTK, with the Girl Scouts so they have an outline to follow as they take the lead on their activities. Be sure different Girl Scouts get to lead each meeting!

  4. Have the Girl Scouts plan a ceremony or event: When planning ceremonies, allow the Girl Scouts to decide the guest list, the food that is served, and what the decorations will look like. After all, it’s their event! Also, encourage the Girl Scouts to step up and make a speech at the ceremony, when appropriate. 

  5. Introduce Troop governance: Troop Government is a democratic system that allows all members to have a chance to express their interests, feelings, and share in the planning and coordination of troop activities. This will help them to develop communication and decision-making skills through group discussion. Allow the troop to decide which form of government they will use. To learn more about governance at each level, check out the How To be Girl-Led series on gsLearn. 


Remember that every troop experience is different and its members diverse, so no two troops will experience girl-led planning the same way. It’s important to try different options and find what works best for your Girl Scout troop!


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Make a Sit-Upon Using a Reusable Shopping Bag

By -
Image
With some many Girl Scout spending their summer outdoors and at camp, now is the perfect time to talk about sit-upons... a great item to bring on any outdoor adventure . So, when we were challenged to make a sit-upon, we decided to do what Girl Scouts do and use our resources wisely... so, we used some items that we had on hand. Here is what we came up with: Supplies needed : Scissors Already read newspaper Reusable shopping bag Duct tape (we used gold glitter duct tape of course, but an type of duct tape will do) Instructions: Cut the sewed seams of the reusable shopping bag.  Lay the reusable bag out flat (waterproof/plastic side down) and place the newspaper on one half of the laid out bag as shown.  Fold the other side of the bag over the newspaper so that the newspaper is sandwiched between the two sides of the reusable shopping bag. Using the duct tape, tape the seams of the bag that are open so that the newspaper is sealed into the b
Read more

How To...Tie a Girl Scout Scarf

By -
Image
By: Paige D., Intern Have you been trying to find new ways to wear your Girl Scout scarf? If so, then today is your lucky day. We here at Girl Scouts of Nassau County are running a new mini blog series on how to tie your Girl Scout scarf. For those of you who don’t know, Donna Ceravolo has been recognized for her wide variety of scarves and different ways to tie them. You never know what you might find Donna wearing, from simple square knots to elaborate bow ties; your selection will never seem dull! Throughout this mini-series we hope to inspire your creativity when it comes to stepping up your Girl Scout uniform! You can pick up one of our beautiful scarves in the Girl Scouts of Nassau County shop, or online at shop.gsnc.org/store/ . Follow the simple step-by-step instructions and you'll be on your way to a whole new updated look for your Girl Scout uniform! The first scarf we are using is a long and narrow silk scarf . First, you must fold both edges of scarf to meet in
Read more

Working at a Girl Scout Camp by Maggie Robinson

By -
Of all the different first jobs a young person could have, summer camp counselor is simply the best. Other regular jobs won’t leave a young person with as well-rounded a skill set as summer camp and in my (incredibly-biased) opinion, being a Girl Scout summer camp counselor is even better for introducing young minds to the workforce. Growing up I had two dreams: become a world famous best-selling author and be a Unit Leader at Camp Blue Bay. Thanks to my experience working at summer camp, I’ve already been able to achieve one of my lifelong goals! (And as soon as I finish my novel, I’ll complete the other one…)  It all started 15 years ago. I was 8 years old and enjoying the sleepaway experience at Camp Blue Bay for the very first time, but my camp counselors were an enigma to me. They were teenagers and college kids who were also adults, and they were cool but also responsible?? I had never met a person like that before. They were friendly and helpful when I misplaced my water bottle
Read more