Girl Scouts Troop at Watkins

Vanessa again wants to do Girl Scouting due to the fact that many of her classmates participate in a community troop that meets at the school. Since the beginning of the school year she has been badgering me about scouting. I gave her the task of finding out meeting times and dates. Yesterday, she came home and told me they meet on Mondays once per month. To follow up with her findings I contacted the school to verify if there were any open slots however to my dismay I was informed that there is a Brownie troop at the school. Vanessa is at the Junior level. The coordinator informed me that I could of course form my own troop at the school because there is always an interest for Girl Scouting (the story of my life with scouting.)

I immediately contacted council to find out the protocol for transferring service units. The coordinator for the Capital Hill area was extremely excited to have the formation of a new troop.

After speaking with her I knew the next step was to secure a free location.

Of course I knew exactly where I wanted to hold my meetings. Upon picking up the girls I approached Ms. Roberts to find out the requirements for using the recreation space. She immediately shared with me her previous wish of wanting to have scouting at Watkins so it was a perfect teaming for the two of us. We decided to hold twice a month Monday meetings at the recreation center and plan a once a month activity.

The first parent interest meeting will be the first week of November. Here's to a a wonderful new experience of Girl Scouting sisterhood at Watkins!

Brownie Girl Scouts Through the Year

Last night was the first meeting of the 2010/2011 scouting year for troop 6037.

Due to changes in interest our troop has a few new members and some former member now participate in other activities during our meeting time.

Currently, there are 8 members in the troop and aproximately 5 tag-a-longs (siblings of troop members).

To introduce Girl Scouting to new members and re-enforce the history of scouting to current members we completed activities to earn the Brownie Girl Scouts Through the Years try-it. The activities for this try-it taught the girls what it was like during different time periods in history as it relates to Brownie Girl Scouting.

Working It Out Meeting

Tonight Girl Scouts troop 6037 performed activities to earn the Working It Out try-it.

Conflict happens when two people disagree. Learning how to handle conflict in a positive way is the emphasis of this try-it.

Scouts discussed the wrong way of handling an altercation and then followed with the appropriate actions they should take to resolve the matter.

Another activity completed was learning to listen effectively so as not to misunderstand information from others. This activity entailed one scout stating something to her partner and the other scouting saying "I heard you say...." Each scout listened attentively to her partner and every member of the troop was successful in sharing what the other scout said on the first try :)

My Body Meeting

Tonight troop 6037 completed activities to earn the My Body try-it.

The idea behind this try-it is "our bodies are like "machines" that functions in astounding ways." The scouts completed an activity that tested reflexes and endurance, followed by making different facial gestures to discover the muscles used within the face and finished with an eye movement activity that caused them to try to isolate the mucles within the eyes.

Everyone had a great time. Most of the scouts said they enjoyed the facial gestures activity the most. I was intrigued when I realized how hard it is to frown when one is not upset.

Bring a Friend Zoological Scouting Event

Today Troop 6037 visited the National Zoo in Washington, DC where we completed activities to earn the "Bring-a-friend zoo patch."

This program was developed by a Council in Oregon, and GSCNC received their permission to duplicate the program for this event. The Try-Its and patches that the girls earned are official and will be worn on the front of their vest or sash. It's was a great chance for the girls to earn a special recognition that few girls on the East Coast have earned!

We had a blast completing activities to earn this patch.

The Cookies Were Sold Out

Members of troop 6037 gathered at the Giant on Argyle street in Silver Springs, MD for our first attempt of selling cookies via a booth.

Much fun and success was had by all involved with us selling a whopping 175 boxes of cookies in a little over 4 hours.

Our extremely efficient cookie manager, Tammy, informed us that we earned $1298.00 for our troop this cookie season.

I am so proud of my troop because it was our first year selling cookies and we did so in a superb manner with 6 scouts selling over 150 boxes and some going beyond that and selling more than 200 boxes individually.

For all of my parents reading my blog...thank you for supporting your scout because without you we could not have accomplished what we did. Tammy, thank you from the bottom of my heart because I could not have asked for a better cookie manager.

Camping here we come (the scouts decided to use the earnings to pay for their camping trip).

Cookie Sales Wrap Up Meeting

Tonight, we held our last cookie meeting for 2010.

Unfortunately, I was late attending the meeting due to Metro delays however my co-leader Rostina stepped in and began the meeting until my arrival.

We discussed all of the skills the scouts learned from selling cookies. Also we discussed challenges encountered and Tammy (cookie manager) wrapped the meeting up by given sale summaries to us parents.

Zing Zang Zoom

As all of my blog readers know our family loves the Circus (we try to attend all three that come to our area every year). Instead of just keeping our circus outing as a family affair I decided to extend the sharing of the memories with my Girl Scouts troop. We attend the Ringling Brothers production of Zing Zang Zoom at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

We had a fantastic time at the event but best of all now each scout in attendance has a fun patch to commemorative the event.

Court of Awards Ceremony

Tonight, Troop 6037 held it's first Court of Awards Ceremony for 2010.

Scouts in attendance received the All in the Family and Making Music try-its, along with the following patches: Emergency Preparedness, Cookie College, Science Expo, Gift of Caring, Cookie "Walkabout" and Cookie Booth Sales. Also scouts earned various Your Own Sports pins and book shelves and books for being a part of the troop book club.

After the awards ceremony we had our usual potluck dinner...my favorite was once again on the menu...can you say I love KFC original recipe chicken. I will have to lay off it though since the Mrs. Maryland International pageant is in a little over 7 months and I have to model aerobic wear :)

Nation's Capital Scouting Day at GW

Today troop 6037 enjoyed a day of gymastcs. Girl Scouts were the honored guest for the 3rd annual Nation's Capital Scouting Day at The George Washington University.

GW (George Washington) competed against the University of New hampshire and William & Mary in the traditional areas of parallel bars, vault, beam and floor exercise. William & Mary garnered 3rd place, GW 2nd place and the University of New Hampshire won 1st place.

I was amazed at the caliber of talent the ladies displayed and immediatedly wanted my girls to play a sport so that I could one day be in the audience cheering them on in the way that is so unique to a sporting event :).

Selling Girl Scouts Cookies at Walmart

Today, Vanessa, Jade, Tena and I did our first "walkabout."

What is that you ask?

A "walkabout" is a term used by Girl Scouts to describe selling cookies directly to patrons as you come in contact with them.

Within less than an hour we sold two large re-usable grocery store bags...all of the cookies we bought out of the house with the idea of also selling some while in our neighorhood. We sold a whopping 37 boxes of cookies all in less than an hour. We were amazed by this feat and plan to return next weekend and hopefully have similar luck.

All in the Family Meeting

Tonight, troop 6037 participated in activities to fulfill the requirements to earn the "All in the Family" Try-It. We discussed various attributes that makes each family unique, the value in knowing you have someone to count on during difficult times and finished our meeting off by selecting "time gift certificates" to present to family members in which they could redeem for one of the following: a hug, helping to cook dinner or cleaning your room without objections (the certificate parents encouraged scout to create).

Making Music Meeting

Tonight, troop 6037 completed activities to earn the Making Music try-it. We sang Brownie songs to a variety of "tunes" from popular songs.

Also we discussed lessons learned at cookie college and the adventures had thus far selling cookies.

Cookie College

"My scouts" attended cookie college today. Unfortunately, it was not meant for Vanessa, Jade or I to attend because upon getting ready to leave we realized that my mother took the wrong car and we were without a "drivable" car to get to Chevy Chase.

Initially, I was terribly disappointed that I was letting my scouts down by not being in attendance but my sister told me to take the time to "re-charge." I reluctantly did but after many hours of journaling I am glad I took her suggestion.

I was told that my scouts participated in cookie college superbly. I am so proud of my troop.

Cookie Meeting

It's that time of year...Girl Scout cookie sales have begun.

Our meeting tonight was dedicated to the scouts learning about cookie sales, selecting an activity to use the earned proceeds toward, determining the number of cookies each scout must sell to reach this troop goal, selecting a personal goal to earn cookie incentive prizes and finally selecting a charity organization to donate cookies to in case an individual does not want to bring them home.

Also our trooop sampled the newest cookie, Thank U Berry Much, which everyone enjoyed.

First Court of Awards Ceremony for the Scouting Year

Tonight, our troop held our first awards ceremony to recognize the outstanding work our 15 members have accomplished since October 1st.

As a troop they collectively earned the Girl Scout Ways Try-It. Also an activity patch was awarded for the Breakfast with Dolphins and Science Expo events for scouts who attended these activities. Girl Scouts of America emphasizes the importance of being physically active so they implemented a program that awards pins for participating in a variety of activities. Numerous scouts received pins for the following activities: kung fu, running and swimming. As a literacy advocate I am always encouraging the scouts to READ. To recognize their effort troop 6037 has a book club program in which scouts earn a book shelf patch for the first book read and receive a book patch for each subsequent book.

Also we inducted a new member into our troop. She received her Girl Scout trefoil pin, Girl Scout Brownie pin and her membership star.

After each scout was presented with her awards we concluded the ceremony with a yummy potluck dinner.

Girl Scout Sciene Expo

Today, our troop attended a science expo at Prince George's Community College. While there the scouts had the opportunity to choose and rotate among science-related workshops, conducting experiments and activities showing the role science plays in our world. Fun workshop topics included Healthy Living, Earth and Sky, My Body, Eco-Explorer, Aerospace, Science Sleuth, Making it Matter, Rocks Rock, Eco-Action, Electricity and DNA.

I think the troop unanimously thought the Science in Action session in which they made "gope" was the most fun while Healthy Living was the most educational.

Brownie Quest/Emergency Preparedness

It's Your World—Change It!

Introducing the First Series of Journeys

Brownie Quest

What are the most important keys for a Girl Scout to own? This quest, which has second- and third-graders traveling along two colorful trails—one they can enjoy on their own and one they explore with their Girl Scout group—answers that question in a very special way. Along the Quest, Girl Scout Brownies will meet three new friends and a bright and shining elf—in a brand-new Brownie story meant to inspire their own Take Action Projects.

Journey Awards

Girl Scout Brownies are invited on a search. The three keys they will uncover along their journey are the keys of the Girl Scout leadership philosophy.

Be Prepared

Through a partnership with FEMA's Citizen Corps Girl Scouts USA created the program Be Prepared. This patch program equips Girl Scouts with skills to protect their families, friends and communities when disaster strikes. The Emergency Preparedness Patch program prepares Girl Scouts to:

*Identify local risks and potential emergencies
*Connect with local community service agencies
*Understand hazards and appropriate protective actions
*Learn local alerts and warning systems
*Prepare themselves and their family
*Deal with emotional responses to an emergency
*Discover how to get trained and become involved in community emergency planning

Our November 13, 2009 scouting meeting was dedicated to the above mentioned topic and will be further discussed in the coming weeks.

Founder's Day and Investiture/Dedication Ceremony

Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts of the USA, was born Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon on October 31, 1860, in Savannah, Georgia.

Juliette Gordon Low spent several years searching for something useful to do with her life. Her search ended in 1911, when she met Sir Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and became interested in the new youth movement. Afterwards, she channeled all her considerable energies into the fledgling movement.

Less than a year later, she returned to the United States and made her historic telephone call to a friend (a distant cousin), saying, "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!" On March 12, 1912, Juliette Low gathered 18 girls to register the first troop of American Girl Guides. Margaret "Daisy Doots" Gordon, her niece and namesake, was the first registered member. The name of the organization was changed to Girl Scouts the following year.

To celebrate our founder's birthday we decided to re-dedicate all 2009 scouting members and formally welcome a new members on October 30th. We celebrated with the official presentation of rededication patches and membership pins to former members followed by awarding new members with their traditional membership items that aides others in identifying them as Girl Scouts. These ceremonies were then followed by a pot luck dinner.

Halloween Spooktacular at Tudor House

Today, Troop 6037 enjoyed a gouling goodtime at historic Tudor Place for it's annual Halloween Spooktacular.

The troops enjoyed early American children’s games and crafts, including mask making and pumpkin painting. We also joined costumed interpreters in creating delicious Halloween treats and participating in a Spooktacular Halloween tea party. A local storyteller delighted us with some spooky Halloween tales.