Here are some creative ideas submitted from
leaders across Santa Clara County who wanted to share what has worked
well for them. A very special thanks to Service Unit 8 for contributing
the first dozen entries to start off this section!
Please share your ideas by sending us feedback
on any tips or "best practices" you might have to us.
- We keep disposable cameras on hand to take pictures of meeting
activities and outings. Then we don't have to worry about having
our personal cameras always on hand, (or in harms way). After
we get the photos developed, we put them in our Troop's photo
album that one of our parents maintains for us. The Troop pays
for the camera and developing. - Lois
- Using a (recyclable) disposable camera the girls took close
up photos of each other. When developed one copy of each was attached
to their health forms which are carried in our emergency envelopes.
- Jenny
- We bought clear plastic green file holders to send all paperwork
home in. This makes it easy for parents to identify girl scout
paperwork and prevents permission slips from getting lost in backpacks
or homework. - Kim
- I got a no-fee Visa card that I use only for troop expenses
(mine is a REI Visa card that earns a dividend). This way, when
the bill comes in, I can note what the expenditures were for,
attach receipts, and give to the treasurer for payment. Before
I did this, I would often lose receipts and forget to ask for
reimbursement. Especially helpful on travel trips. - Leslie
- We do quick reminders to the parents of our Juniors via e-mail.
Sometimes making a separate phone call to every parent takes forever
- even though the Juniors get newsletters and calendars to take
home - quick e-mail reminders about pick-up times, upcoming events,
deadlines, etc. all help everyone to feel included. The parents
appreciate this method of communication and know they can get
quick answers to questions. - Lisa
- To make sure we have ample volunteers for our meetings, I put
down the list of volunteers for upcoming meetings on each Newsletter
we send home after our bi-monthly Girl Scout Meetings. If a parent
can't volunteer on that assigned day, they trade with another
parent that is available to work that meeting. This way I am not
calling for volunteers and everyone gets involved. The girls love
to see their parents' names on the volunteer sheet, too. - Michele
- We have written contracts that outline behavior rules to be
followed during all of our gatherings, these are signed by both
girls and parents. - Juli
- We have a "talking stick". During meetings the person that holds
the stick is the only person that is allowed to talk. This prevents
a shouting match with everybody trying to be heard. - Juli
- We have a marble jar. The girls decided how full/empty it should
be to start with. When a rule is broken three marbles are taken
out and we reward them with one marble for good behavior. We do
try to make sure rewards go in on a regular basis (positive reinforcement).
When the jar is full we will party (girls choice). Our girls have
a lot of respect for this, sometimes all we have to do is move
the jar to a different location during our gatherings. - Juli
- As an incentive to have productive meetings, we buy two inexpensive
presents which I wrap to give to those Girl Scouts that were respective
in the group meeting, followed our pre-approved rules, enthusiastically
performed their assigned chore for that meeting and had fun! I
then have my adult volunteer for that meeting pick from all the
names of the girls that acted accordingly (which is usually all
of them). It is exciting to see what little something the two
Girl Scout receive. Everyone hopes that the next meeting will
be their turn. Keeps the girls attention. I just leave the little
gifts out on the table for all to wonder about! This has worked
like a charm for 4 years. - Michele B
- In the spring the girls make lists of ideas for activities the
following year. I create a "draft" calendar for the last meeting
and the parents sign up to help with the activities. Over the
summer I can finalize the entire years calendar which I put in
green folders along with the roster, promise and service unit
calendar. Girls receive their folder at the first meeting and
then they can lead the meeting following the calendar that they
set up! - Kathy
- I use four canvas bags labeled: "Opening Ceremonies Leadership
Team", "Activities Leadership Team", "Historical Leadership Team"
and "Closing Ceremonies Leadership Team". Each bag is equipped
with activities for each team. The girls lead the meeting using
the materials in the bags. The historical bag has a camera and
a journal. The activity bag has badge activities. The opening
bag has roster, roll call, agenda, pledge and bell. Closing bag
has songs and end of meeting remarks. - Kathy
|