Think outside the box! (Girl Scout event ideas)

I wrote the following blog article back in 2010. Little did I know that once I moved back to California with my kids later that year, that my Girl Scout involvement and commitment would skyrocket. My passion to give back was allowed to blossom fully once I took on the Service Unit manager position for Girl Scouts, where I then had the freedom to start a day camp, direct and create new events and to help leaders make their troops stronger. The article I wrote below, helps explain why I love helping girls be the best they can be, each and every day.  "Scouting rises within you and inspires you to put forth your best"...(Juliette G. Low). I received an e-mail today asking if anyone had an inspiring story to tell about a girl who had benefited from the experience of being a Girl Scout, who may not have been able to have those opportunities if it were not for scouting. I went to delete it until a wave of emotion went through me, reminding me of a very inspiring Girl ...

Thinking Day is an easy event overall because generally each troop creates a table with a display, food and swap representing the County they have chosen. However, I have added a couple of fun things to Thinking Day. At our event, I added an Around the World Cake Walk . I use to love cake walks as a child at the school carnivals, so I added one to Thinking Day. Each troop brings a cake or a box of cupcakes decorated in the theme of their Country. Some bring cakes from a recipe that reflect their Country. Some troops simply bring plain cakes which is fine. The more cakes, the better. Each troop is asked to bring a cake or a dozen cupcakes as their contribution. We have a contest and the best decorated cake/cup cakes receives a prize awarded for their troop. Usually local businesses donate prizes. Last year, the winning cake was Singapore and that troop received a bowling party and bowling patches. We sell cake walk tickets for $1 each and we always have a huge line throughout the...

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...