Our girls
(some were not able to join us for camping)
Team Building
Archery
Structures/Bridges
After our Scouts Own
After our final hike
I love this picture of my niece and me!
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camping. Show all posts
Sunday, December 14, 2014
Girl Scout Camping 2014
I didn't realize it until we returned, but with 10-12 days to go before Christmas, we took 9 amazing young ladies Girl Scout camping. We had the best time! They created their SWAP on Friday night, which was connected to their Scouts Own ceremony. They participated in a flag ceremony first thing Saturday morning, did a team building activity, had a great time with archery, learned about structures and bridges with Mad Science, and did a great job with a skit before making S'mores on Saturday evening. They led the camp in a Scouts Own first thing Sunday morning and then went hiking in the drizzle before breaking camp. It was just the best camping experience!
Saturday, November 15, 2014
More Girl Scouts--Meetings Fall 2014
October:
We met at the beginning of the month to plan our Bridging and Awards Ceremony. Normally, we have the ceremony at the end of the school year or during early June, but we put it off this year. Once the girls decided what they wanted to do for their ceremony, they decorated skulls for Day of the Dead of Día de Muertos. We discuss what the day was, the Mexican culture and the development of the holiday, and then provided the supplies for them to design their own skulls. One of the most exciting parts of the night was that my niece got to join us via Skype. I had mailed her the craft supplies, so she joined in the discussion and then got to do the craft right along with us. All the girls loved that she was joining us.
Two weeks later, we met with their families to perform our ceremony and bridge 4 young ladies from Brownies to Juniors and 3 young ladies from Juniors to Cadettes.
November:
We met twice this month. The first meeting was spent planning meals and beginning discussions around a Scouts Own for our Service Unit Campout in December. We finished the night with the girls creating a Thanksgiving craft.
The second meeting began with our Parent Cookie Meeting/Training and then concluded with the final discussion/plan of the Scouts Own we are leading at the campout next month.
We met at the beginning of the month to plan our Bridging and Awards Ceremony. Normally, we have the ceremony at the end of the school year or during early June, but we put it off this year. Once the girls decided what they wanted to do for their ceremony, they decorated skulls for Day of the Dead of Día de Muertos. We discuss what the day was, the Mexican culture and the development of the holiday, and then provided the supplies for them to design their own skulls. One of the most exciting parts of the night was that my niece got to join us via Skype. I had mailed her the craft supplies, so she joined in the discussion and then got to do the craft right along with us. All the girls loved that she was joining us.
Two weeks later, we met with their families to perform our ceremony and bridge 4 young ladies from Brownies to Juniors and 3 young ladies from Juniors to Cadettes.
November:
We met twice this month. The first meeting was spent planning meals and beginning discussions around a Scouts Own for our Service Unit Campout in December. We finished the night with the girls creating a Thanksgiving craft.
The second meeting began with our Parent Cookie Meeting/Training and then concluded with the final discussion/plan of the Scouts Own we are leading at the campout next month.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Girl Scout Tent Camping
Our girls are 3rd-6th grade, and we have never gone tent camping. When our 5th graders were in Kindergarten, our Service Unit went tent camping at a state park, and our girls went to visit on Saturday only. Since then, we have camped several times (at least once a year), but we have never done it in tents. We decided that they needed the experience, but we would do a backyard campout to ease everyone into it. I don't like showing up in the dark on a Friday evening and then trying to put up tents, so we decided we'd meet in the middle of a Saturday, put up the tents first thing, and then do other activities. We did just that starting at 1:00 pm yesterday through 8:30 am this morning.
We think our tent camping experience was a success. Despite the extremely strong winds, everyone stayed the entire night in their tents. There were a few moments of wanting to go in, but they just got back in their sleeping bags and went to sleep. Some were a little cold, but it turned out warmer than we thought it would be. Yea!
We began Saturday afternoon by working together to learn to put up one tent. Once it was done, the girls worked in pairs to put up 3 more tents. They did very well and did it rather quickly too.
We gathered in a circle and discussed the Girl Scouts' movement to ban "bossy." Historically, when girls step-up to take a leadership role, they are considered to be or called bossy. Girl Scouts is getting others on board to back this idea. When girls step-up or take on leadership roles, they are not bossy, they are leaders, and we need to help develop them as such. We then discussed bullying--what it is, how to handle it, how to help others, etc.
The girls were given a little time to read over some camping related badges--Camping, Hiking, Bugs, Trees, and one other. We decided to go on a hike. While gone, they listened for sounds and looked for different plants and animals. They got to see horses and ponies close-up and a few cows from a distance while e walked more than 2 miles.
When we returned, our special guest had arrived. A Senior we know from church and Juliette Girl Scout, needed to finish a Journey by doing a Take Action Project. Before she began, we went on a hayride (minus the hay).
For her project, she planned to help our girls learn about healthy foods and healthy food choices as well as how to make a healthy meal and snack. She planned our dinner, dessert, snack, and breakfast. She talked about the food groups, had the girls create a pretend meal, and then make changes to that meal by choosing the healthiest foods they would eat or could think of within each group. They then moved to the kitchen. The girls cooked Tortilla Soup (chicken broth, corn, black beans, diced tomatoes/Rotel, tomato sauce, chunk chicken, and Greek seasoning), to which they could add tortilla chips and shredded cheese, and Pita Sandwiches (ham, turkey, lettuce, tomato, cheese, & condiments). For dessert, they made Frozen Yogurt Sundaes. They chose between vanilla and strawberry frozen yogurt and then fruit toppings (green apple, red apple, peaches, banana, strawberries, gingerbread granola, and/or pumpkin granola). For their snack, they made Trail Mix (sunflower seeds, pretzels, granola, butterscotch chips, and a few other items). They played a game to help mix it all up. Before Caroline left for the evening, she showed them how to make breakfast--Yogurt Sunrises. They opened an orange and made each slice a ray of sunshine and put a scoop of yogurt in the center with granola sprinkled on top.
Before bed, since the wind was so strong, we made S'Mores in the oven. Yummy! Before turning in for the night, the girls played Flashlight Tag. The girls grouped up in one tent to hear jokes before separating and turning in for the night.
We got everyone up around 7:15, and they instantly started getting ready, packing up their things, taking down tents, and preparing breakfast.
It was a great experience!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Service Projects and Meetings Underway
We have already had 3 meetings and been involved in 4 service projects in less than 2 months.
Shoes
The church where I have been visiting with one of my best friends (and co-leader) supported a shoe drive for the Shoe Bank. We decided to get our girls involved, and with little notice, our girls donated between 25 and 30 pairs of shoes. The adult shoes will be shared in our Metroplex, and the children's shoes will be sent to Haiti.
Household Items
We are participating in the Goodwill Good Turn service opportunity. Each girl has been asked to bring 2 trash bags full of household items to donate. This can be clothes, towels, bed linens, dishes, pots/pans, and so much more. About half of our girls have participated, so I have bags and bags of items that I will be donating next weekend.
Exercise, Phantom Energy, and Food Items
Last year we participated in 9-10-11, so this year, we chose to participate in the 10-11-12 initiative. 10--We discussed exercise and being healthy as they got involved in 30 minutes of exercise for 10 days. This also tied into the Juniors' Get Moving! Journey.
11--To go along with Girl Scouts Going Green, we discussed saving energy. The girls had to find 11 items in their homes that are plugged in but are not turned on and then unplug them. These items are using phantom energy. There is a light on, a clock showing, or something else showing they are plugged in but not on. They are still using electricity even though they are not being used for their actual function.
12--Each girl was asked to donate 12 non-perishable food items that we will then donate to the local Food Pantry. 48 items are ready to go. We are hoping for a few more items before I donate them next week.
Grocery Shopping
The church where I have been visiting has "adopted" 3 needy families. Each month, someone at the church goes shopping for each family to purchase $100 worth of food and household necessities. Our girls met us at our local store to do the shopping last weekend. We discussed cost per unit/item, best price, store brands, and so much more. They had to keep up with what each item cost and get a total of what we were spending. They also subtracted to see how much we had left when making or decisions.
Meetings
Our 2nd meeting of the year was spent on Journey work and voting on whether or not to spend the night at the zoo or aquarium. We were very democratic in our voting system. While we wanted to spend the night at the zoo, the girls voted to spend the night at the aquarium, so we will be doing that in the spring. We are trying to set-up a workshop at the zoo.
Our 3rd meeting was spent with more fun/fellowship than before, so we did not get to our Journey work. However, we are going camping in about 3 weeks, so we spent a lot of time discussing our camping list and what we will be doing that weekend.
What is your troop doing this fall?
Shoes
The church where I have been visiting with one of my best friends (and co-leader) supported a shoe drive for the Shoe Bank. We decided to get our girls involved, and with little notice, our girls donated between 25 and 30 pairs of shoes. The adult shoes will be shared in our Metroplex, and the children's shoes will be sent to Haiti.
Household Items
We are participating in the Goodwill Good Turn service opportunity. Each girl has been asked to bring 2 trash bags full of household items to donate. This can be clothes, towels, bed linens, dishes, pots/pans, and so much more. About half of our girls have participated, so I have bags and bags of items that I will be donating next weekend.
Exercise, Phantom Energy, and Food Items
Last year we participated in 9-10-11, so this year, we chose to participate in the 10-11-12 initiative. 10--We discussed exercise and being healthy as they got involved in 30 minutes of exercise for 10 days. This also tied into the Juniors' Get Moving! Journey.
11--To go along with Girl Scouts Going Green, we discussed saving energy. The girls had to find 11 items in their homes that are plugged in but are not turned on and then unplug them. These items are using phantom energy. There is a light on, a clock showing, or something else showing they are plugged in but not on. They are still using electricity even though they are not being used for their actual function.
12--Each girl was asked to donate 12 non-perishable food items that we will then donate to the local Food Pantry. 48 items are ready to go. We are hoping for a few more items before I donate them next week.
The church where I have been visiting has "adopted" 3 needy families. Each month, someone at the church goes shopping for each family to purchase $100 worth of food and household necessities. Our girls met us at our local store to do the shopping last weekend. We discussed cost per unit/item, best price, store brands, and so much more. They had to keep up with what each item cost and get a total of what we were spending. They also subtracted to see how much we had left when making or decisions.
Meetings
Our 2nd meeting of the year was spent on Journey work and voting on whether or not to spend the night at the zoo or aquarium. We were very democratic in our voting system. While we wanted to spend the night at the zoo, the girls voted to spend the night at the aquarium, so we will be doing that in the spring. We are trying to set-up a workshop at the zoo.
Our 3rd meeting was spent with more fun/fellowship than before, so we did not get to our Journey work. However, we are going camping in about 3 weeks, so we spent a lot of time discussing our camping list and what we will be doing that weekend.
What is your troop doing this fall?
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