Girl Scout Star

This event was created during a creative frenzy of mine, while hiking. I sometimes get my best ideas while enjoying nature. The girls today are surrounded by images of Hannah Montana, Justin Beiber and various other young super stars and I thought to myself....hmmmm, they should always remember that they are stars too. It should just be enough for our girls to feel good about themselves for who they are and that they should always just be themselves. This event is to honor each and every girl as unique and as a star. This event is simple. Here is a summary:

1) This can run as a troop event, service unit event, camp theme or council event. Basic supplies: name tags, lots of pens, markers, stickers, face paints, poster paper to label each station, purple star balloons, journals, letter paper or stationary, yarn or string in different colors, tape, scissors, snacks and juice (hopefully donated). Someone in charge of photography.

2) As a simple event, make it approximately two hours.

3) Order purple t-shirts with a star logo on it (saying "Girl Scout Star" and the troop number, council or service unit name). Approx cost is $15 for registration or $8 if they opt not to get the t-shirt. Almost everyone wanted the shirt though.

4) Order "Be a Star" fun patches from a patch company or design your own patch.

5) This is based on the Junior aMuse journey but translates into similar journey's for the other age levels. I had Daisy's through Cadettes at my event and they all had fun!

6) Have purple star balloons decorating tables and purple table cloths from the dollar store. I also had purple plates and napkins for the snacks.

7) Make a red carpet type of area with a Girl Scout Star theme poster. The girls can pose for their photo in front of this.

8) At registration every girl receives a journal (I bought notebooks at the dollar store) and my troop covered them in plain construction paper and a star. At the pre-event prep, the troop and I wrote notes hidden in each journal saying wonderful things like..."You are a super star," and "You are amazing." The girls got and gave autographs to each other throughout the event, using their journals as autograph books.

9) Make a craft service table with treats donated or made by volunteers. You'd be surprised though how many local businesses will donate bagels, donuts and coffee (for the adults). Otherwise, use some of the registration fee to buy treats. The moms from my troop were more than happy to donate juice and snacks.

10) Make around 6 stations: (A) face painting (use only approved face painting materials). Have two or three older scouts or adults doing the face painting and while the girls are waiting their turn, they can decorate their journals. Have stickers, markers and various art supplies on the table. (B) Friendship bracelets (made from colored yarn or string). (C) team building games (like throwing the yarn to each girl while saying something about themselves-it eventually shows them that they are all connected). (D) Casting: (get a drama teacher to help the girls run lines and pretend that they are auditioning for their favorite television show). (E) Improv (a station where they do charades and act out various roles) The improv station can have a wardrobe table to use fun hats, scarfs, glasses while role playing. (F) Fan Mail. In this station, they have to write a letter to themselves. In the letter, they pretend to be a fan...writing a wonderful letter to themselves, complimenting their strengths, talents, etc. For the younger girls, older scouts can write the letter for them. I mailed the letters back to them about a month after the event. (G) Cupcake decorating. This table was a big hit with all of the girls. They frosted and decorated a cupcake. Brown bags were provided for them to decorate to take their cupcake home but most ate their cupcake on the spot. H) The girls can make autograph books and sign each others. 

11) We also stapled a questionnaire inside their journals, for them to answer about themselves at home. The troop running the event can make up the questions. The girls can design questions that they would like to answer. Being that Girl Scouts should be girl led, have the girls brainstorm variations to some of the event and let them make it their own. I'm just giving you a basic design format but any of it can be modified.

12) Have a flag ceremony and opening circle..singing "Make New Friends." Break the girls up into 6 smaller groups and assign them an older scout or an adult. You have each station with a numbered sign and the six groups are assigned their first station. Each station lasts approximately 15-18 minutes. The Director of the event monitors time and blows the whistle when it is time to switch stations. Everyone moves in order (station 2 moves to 3....6 moves to one and so on). Have girls pose at the Star poster in between or if they finish their activity more quickly.

13) After everyone has completed the six stations, they finish up pictures and head to closing circle.

14) Thank everyone for coming and remind them that each and every one of them are GIRL SCOUT STARS! Sing Girl Scout Star song: (Sing first line and the girls always repeat second line).

We are....We are,

Girl Scout Stars....Girl Scout Stars,

One and all...One and all,

We're Girl Scout Stars....We're Girl Scout Stars,

We shine...We shine,

Every day....Every day,

In every way.....In every way,

Because we're Girl Scout Stars.....Because we're Girl Scout Stars

We are....We are,

Girl Scout Stars....Girl Scout Stars,

One and all...One and all,

We're Girl Scout Stars....We're Girl Scout Stars!!!!

*(please consult your local council if you have any questions about t-shirt logo requirements and patch requirements with Girl Scouts. I did not use the GS logo and my local council allows t-shirt designs for events as long as the troop, service unit or council is listed on the shirt).