In the course of the year, you should do some of the following. How many of each depends on the girls' preferences. A balanced offering with variety makes it easier to maintain the girls' interest and enthusiasm:
Service projects: participating in larger ones with other groups or small ones such as planting flowers at the troop's school or meeting place.
Arts and Crafts: geared to the appropriate age and developmental level. Arts and crafts should be selected with an eye toward helping girls develop physical skills such as eye/hand coordination and fine motor dexterity, as well as making something fun and pretty.
Games: especially those with a strong physical component to get girls up and moving around.
Outdoor events: whether it is overnight camping or something as simple as an outdoor nature scavenger hike, get the girls outside often.
Multi-age events: with other troops from your service unit or neighboring service units.
Learn the Girl Scout Promise and understand the Law.
Learn songs: there are dozens of resources for great Girl Scouting songbooks, websites, CDs. Take a look at the songbooks and CDs offered by your council's shop to get you started, or check out what might be offered on e-Bay. Or, invite an experienced songster to your troop to teach songs!
Take pictures often and maintain a scrapbook: not only for you, but for the girls too. They'll have so much fun looking through it in the future, and new girls will love seeing what was done in the past. It’s a wonderful promotional tool to use during beginning year parent meetings too!
(NOTE: be mindful of any girl whose parents have not given photo consent. Also keep SAFETY in mind if posting pictures to a Troop Facebook group page or website. Never identify girls by name in media postings.)
Keep parents informed: with phone calls, newsletters, parent meetings, text messages, emails, Troop Facebook group or website. Find out which ways parents prefer to receive communications, and settle on 2 or 3 methods that you (or a designated Troop Communications person) can manage.
Most of all, remember Juliette Low’s words of wisdom:
“Strive to provide girls with both education and fun.
But if you cannot do both, make sure they have the fun!”
“Strive to provide girls with both education and fun.
But if you cannot do both, make sure they have the fun!”
