Sept. 19 Meeting

What a fun and productive meeting! I wasn't sure at first that we would be able to squeeze everything in, but we did!


To begin with Ms. Natalie introduced the girls to a Kaper chart. A Kaper chart lists the jobs that need to be completed each meeting, and each girl is randomly assigned a job each week. After assigning jobs, we were ready to begin.

After the opening activities, Ms. Monica talked to the girls about the 100 year patch and what they could do to earn the patch. Girls from last year remembered making 100 butterflies to bring to the Holocaust Museum. Then Ms. Natalie spoke to the girls about the significance of the Holocaust Museum to girl scouts, tying the discussion to World War II in general and how girl scouts made a difference by helping the war effort right here in Houston. There is wonderful article in The Golden Link about girl scouts in the 1940s.

Ms. Krystal then talked about SWAPS (Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere or Shared with a Pal). These are little handmade trinkets that girl scouts bring with them to events to trade with other girls. We decorated bottle caps to make into pins to share at the Big Event.

After reflecting in their journals, the girls joined hands to sing our closing song (Make New Friends) and we had a snack. The girls didn't want to stop reflecting, so we know that they had some great ideas in their heads after a great meeting.

At our next meeting we will being our Journey, 5 Flowers, 4 Stories, 3 Cheers for Animals! See you October 3!

September 5 Meeting

We started the new year for Daisy Troop 18502 with a combined parent/girl meeting. While parents filled out forms and discussed the ins and outs of girl scouting, the girls had fun and crafty meeting.

The girls began their meeting by working on reflection journals that they will use at the end of each meeting to write briefly about their thoughts. The journals were adorable, and the girls got to chat with each other while showing off their creative talents.

Troop 18502 hard at work!

While working girls read What is a Daisy Girl Scout? and discussed their thoughts on being Daisies. Then Ms. Natalie led the girls through the parts of a girl scout meeting:

1. Opening: The girls gather in a circle and recite the Pledge of Allegiance and the Girl Scout Promise. The opening helps focus the girls on the meeting.
2. Sharing time: Girls are social and really love to share with their sisters. This time gives every girl a chance to share a celebration, triumph or even a problem as we pass through the circle.
3. Troop Business: This is when the girls take care of the business end of the evening. This may include discussing upcoming troop activities and projects, collecting dues and handing out forms. 
4. Activity: This is where we introduce the petal or badge we will be working on and do a related activity--perhaps a game, craft, dramatic play or something the girls think up!
5. Clean Up: The Girl Scout motto is to leave the meeting site "cleaner than you found it", and it is the responsibility of the girls to make this happen. In future meetings we will introduce a Kaper Chart to rotate chores so that all girls participate in group jobs and chores equally.
6. Closing: This is the reflection time of the meeting. We will discuss what we have learned and accomplished during the meeting and have the girls write a little in their journals.

Ms. Natalie also led the girls in creating their troop agreements; a list of "rules" that the girls created to guide their behavior during troop meetings. These are the Troop 18502 agreements:

• Listen when someone is talking.
• Have a good attitude.
• Help clean up.
• Be a friend to everyone.
• Show respect.
• Make good choices.
• Have fun!

The girls also discussed some "house" rules when having meetings at someone's home.

Our troop's energy is fantastic, and everyone left feeling energized and ready for more Girl Scouting! 

Use these discussion points to talk with your Daisy about our meeting.