Think outside the box! (Girl Scout event ideas)

One of my favorite memories of being a Girl Scout is the camping trips. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and I did not have opportunities to camp until I joined Girl Scouts. Many kids these days, have never camped out in tents. I love bringing kids back to basics and to nature. Now kids are so connected to their technology that they rarely have an opportunity to spend any amount of time under the stars, sleeping in tents, eating food made over a camp fire or spending time hiking and enjoying the outdoors. I have led many events but this year, I had the opportunity to take over as Director of a weekend camping trip called Harvest Moon. Most of the girls slept in tents but at Camp Arnaz, some girls had an opportunity to sleep in yurts as well. We had workshops during the day: archery, knife handling, outdoor first aid, songs/skits, dutch oven cooking, craft (making bird feeders) and a scavenger hunt. We also had a DJ after dinner in the camp lodge. The girls loved that of course! I

Camp Conejo 2013 was a huge success and our theme was Brave. We had a rock wall brought in and a giant slide. We had box oven cooking (baked cupcakes), dutch oven cooking, made ice cream in zip lock bags, scavenger hunt, zumba, flag football, relay races, water color painting, cartooning, banner making, spy workshop making invisible ink with lemon juice and more. The key to any sucessful event or camp is making is fun, fun fun. We dance to Girl Scout camp songs at opening and closing circle but add a hip hop song or two to get the girls dancing. I add songs I've written to current pop songs with my own homemade lyrics. I do this at smaller events as well. Always remember to really listen to what the girls want at an event or camp. My events and camps are girl led and although I am guiding the process, our teenage (PA-Program Aids) are completely in charge of the tribes of Girl Scouts.

Don’t Stop Believing Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world She took her mini van goin' to her Girl Scout troop. Just a Girl Scout leader, born and raised in __(your town)________, She took her new Prius goin' to her Girl Scout troop. A singer in a camp workshop A smell of cupcakes and s'mores For a smile they get spirit beads It goes on and on and on and on (Chorus) Strangers waiting, up and down the camp sites Their shadows searching in the night Girl Scout people, living just to find their mission Hiding, somewhere in the world Working hard to get my fill, Everybody wants a meal Payin' anything to roll the dice, Just one more time Some will win, some will lose Some were born to sing the blues Oh, the music never ends It goes on and on and on and on (Chorus) Strangers waiting, up and down the camp sites Their shadows searching in the night Girl Scout people, living just to find their mission

Girls love current popular music...so I take a popular song and add my own words, turning it into a fun new Girl Scout song that we sing at camp and events. Here are the lyrics to "Girl Scout Hall of Fame." Girl Scout Hall of Fame (to the music "Hall of Fame" by the Script) Yeah, you can be the greatest You can be the best You can be the King Kong banging on your chest You could beat the world You could beat the war You could talk to God, go banging on his door You can throw your hands up You can beat the clock (yeah) You can move a mountain You can break rocks You can be a master Don't wait for luck Dedicate yourself to others.... Standing in the Hall of Fame (yeah) And the girls are gonna know your name (yeah) 'Cause you burn with the brightest flame (yeah) And the girl's r gonna know your name (yeah) And you'll be in the Girl Scout Hall of Fame You can go the distance You can run the mile You can w

Program in Thousand Oaks shows Girl Scouts they're already stars By Alicia Doyle Wednesday, December 5, 2012 Aspiring to be a singer when she grows up, 8-year-old Megan Zide learned more about the craft of being on stage during an event for Brownies and Girl Scouts designed to bring out the star in every girl. "I'm here because I love to sing and dance and I wanna be a singer," said the Westlake third-grader, a Brownie in Troop 60138. "When I get on stage, I want to do the best I can." Her mom, Erica Zide, said: "She's confident by nature. This will help build more confidence and self-assurance." Megan was among about 100 girls who participated Saturday in Girl Scout Star, a program inspired by Thousand Oaks resident Denise Burke, who holds a master's degree in social work. "Girl Scouts is another way to help empower girls and young women," said Burke, who has been counseling teens and adults for the past 15 years

Direct Your Life: (Express, Create, Inspire!)  is an event for older Girl Scouts, Junior's and up, but it could be designed for younger scouts as well. This is a two to three hour event or could be a series. Direct your life is based on the Media Girl Scout Journey. Girls today need to be more aware of how the media portrays women and the pressure they are under from peers and for them to feel empowered enough to be leaders of their own lives, instead of following others. Young women can help each other make better decisions and realize their uniqueness, instead of trying to be like everyone else. This event can be broken up in to three 40 min workshops. 1) Start with an opening circle: flag ceremony, introduction and the Girl Scout promise. Hand out an inspiring song to sing. 2) Girls are divided into 3 groups. They head to their workshops and rotate. 3) Workshops: a) Directing. They meet with a real director of plays/music/commercials. They have a mock camera and stage an