Think outside the box! (Girl Scout event ideas)

Our annual fall Harvest Moon overnight retreat was held at Camp Gilmore in the Malibu Mountains. This was a new location for us and we loved it! Each troop stayed in cabins and each cabin slept 9-10 girls and adults. The girls decorated their cabins in fall/Halloween theme and attended 4 workshops on Saturday. If your service unit or troop wants to plan a retreat, there are many summer camps that offer their cabins during the school year for this purpose. Camp Gilmore is a Salvation Army sleep away camp during the summer for under-privileged children from the inner cities. I especially love that the money we spent on our Girl Scout retreat helps fund their summer programs. Harvest Moon had 167 girls and their leaders/parents attend. The workshops we ran are as follows: 1) Archery. (5-6 year olds did marshmallow archery with bows we purchased off Amazon, since the Archery bows are difficult for the younger girls to handle). 2) Solar Over Cooking (details listed below) and they cooked m

My camp Program Director Mindy Hostetter, designed a Masquerade Ball and Girl Scouts from our service unit and neighboring service units were invited. The event was held in the early evening at a local middle school, using their multi-purpose room. This event was a big hit!! Event details: Cost $20 per pair (father/daughter, mother/daughter, etc). $30 per family (yes-siblings were included, making this a fun family night). Hours: 5-8pm. 1) Hire a local DJ or see if any parent has some DJ skills. 2) Mindy rented a Photo Booth which the kids loved. She contacted local vendors and one gave her a great deal, since it was for Girl Scouts. 3) Craft table: the kids could color and make a craft masquerade mask. 4) A table was set up with masquerade mask sugar cookies, frosting and sprinkles and the kids decorated their cookie. 5) Parents from the hosting troop made foods and desserts and donated them to the event. 6) Create invitation, stressing that it is a dress up event (no jeans or t-shir