Thursday, June 27, 2013

Earning the Brownie Dance Patch!

We are blessed to have an AMAZING dance teacher for Miss Sarah. Her daughter is a few years older AND a Girl Scout too! That older troop wanted to earn a "Mentor" patch so they offered a FREE Dance clinic to our troop!
That Dance clinic met ALL the requirements for the Dance Badge for our Brownies -- and they were served refreshments {healthy snacks} from the older troop!

So, in one hour, the girls learned a fun dance in Musical Theater Style. They got to network with an older troop and had a ton of fun -- as you can tell from the pictures:

 
 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Independent Patch Pack: Painter/Artist!

Painter Color Palette With Brush Cartoon clip art - vector clip
At our Bridging Ceremony, we sent the girls home with and envelope so they could work on their first official Brownie patch - the Artist one! I like to do this for them as we don't really have meetings over the summer...they will be able to earn THREE patches and a fun patch before our meetings start back up.

I scoured the Internet to come up with this -- they can work on it at their own pace.

I did NOT create this but can't seem to find the original source so I can credit someone.
Blessings to the Creator!


Brownie Painting Artist

Artists take what they see and make it beautiful. Learn to paint and color your world in
super strokes!

Steps
1. Get inspired
2. Paint the real world
3. Paint a mood
4. Paint without brushes
5. Paint a mural

Purpose
When I’ve earned this badge, I’ll have new ideas about what to paint – and how to paint it.

Your paintings can brighten your home –
Tell about Brownie fun –
Make others happy –
And make you happy, too! Brownie Girl Scout Handbook, 1963
 
Every step has three choices. Do ONE choice to complete each step.
Inspired? Do more.

Tips Before Takeoff
To begin this badge, you’ll need a few art supplies:
􀂾 Your favorite kind of paints (washable is best for when you are just starting out!)
􀂾 Different sized brushes: One for big stuff and one for the details is a great pair.
You can, also, paint with your fingers or a cotton swab.
􀂾 Thick paper on which you can paint (what could you recycle? Old poster boards
from school projects?)
􀂾 An old shirt that you can wear as a smock to protect your clothes
 
Can you tell when your painting is finished?
Stop when it shows what you want it to show. Brownie Girl Scout Handbook, 1963

Step 1 Get inspired
Learn more about the paintings you like and the artists who painted them.
CHOOSE ONE:

Talk to a painter. Ask an art teacher or painter in your community where they get their
inspiration. What do they like to paint? Why? Look at some of their paintings and explain
what you like about them.

OR

Go to an art show or museum. Find 5 paintings that you love and decide why you think
they’re great. Who painted them? When? Look for what they have in common with each
other.

OR

Team up with an adult to find images of 5 paintings you love. Search in library books,
magazines, or online. Why do you like them? Who painted them, and when? Look for what
they have in common with each other.


Step 2 Paint the real world
Painting what’s around you is the first step to becoming an artist. Pick one choice and try to paint something from the real world.

CHOOSE ONE:

Paint a portrait of a friend, family member, pet, or yourself. If you are painting
someone else, have the person sit in an interesting pose and try to capture what the
person looks like. If it’s yourself, use a mirror to see all the lines and shapes in your face.

OR

Paint an outdoor landscape with trees or flowers. Find a pretty spot with lots of colors
and paint what you see.
FOR MORE FUN: Paint at a different time of day and see how the light makes the colors
look different.

OR

Paint a still life. A “still life” is an object, like a bowl of fruit or a vase. Set up what you
want to paint first. Don’t forget to show how the light hits the object by using light and
dark colors!
**FOR MORE FUN: After you’ve painted something in your world, paint something
“out of this world,” like the sun or planets.

Step 3 Paint a mood

Some painters create “abstract” art. They don’t paint objects or people. They
use shapes, lines, and colors to paint a feeling or mood. Pretend you are an
artist who is trying to paint an emotion. Paint what you think one of these moods would
look like. Remember, it’s your idea, so it’s okay if other people don’t see it like you do!

CHOOSE ONE:

Calm. What colors would you use to create a calm feeling?

OR

Happy. How would you show a happy feeling? What colors or shapes make you smile?

OR

Angry. What colors or shapes look like anger to you?
**MORE TO EXPLORE
Musical moods. Put on some instrumental music (the kind without words) and try painting
the mood you hear.
**Make Puffy Paint
Puffy paint might be fun to use in your mood painting. Ask an adult to help you follow
these directions to make some:
􀁸 Put shaving cream into a plastic bow. Try a small amount first.
􀁸 Add white glue and 3 to 4 drops of food coloring to the shaving cream. Start with a
little bit and mix until it is almost like taffy, but not quite a s thick.
􀁸 Grab paintbrushes and paint!! Paint it on thickly to get the best – and puffiest
RESULTS.

Step 4 Paint without brushes

Who says you have to use brushes? Try painting with one of the things below.

CHOOSE ONE:

Paint with something from nature. Use something with a design on it, like a leaf. Press it
into paint and, then, onto your paper. Try different kinds of leaves.
FOR MORE FUN: Press the leaf onto one side of your paper, and, then, remove it. Before
the paint dries, fold the paper in half. Open it. What does the shape look like?

OR

Paint with indoor objects. Dip string or yarn into paint and drag it across your page.
Paint an entire picture this way. Then, use a feather, a spoon, or a cotton swab as a
paintbrush. Next, paint a picture and use a straw to gently blow water on it. What does it
do to the picture?
**FOR MORE FUN: Use food coloring and blow that through the straw.

OR

Paint with a stamp. All kinds of things make super stamps. With an adult’s help, cut a
potato in half and carve out a design. Dip the end in paint and stamp it on your paper. Try
it with a sponge, too.
**FOR MORE FUN: Paint bubble wrap and press it on your paper. What does the design look like? Do you like it?

Step 5 Paint a mural
A mural is a really big painting that tells a story. Murals are sometimes painted on
buildings (some take up whole city blocks!). Do you have any murals in your town? If not, team up with an adult to look at some online. Then, create a mural on butcher paper (or many pieces of paper taped together).

 CHOOSE ONE:

Paint a mural that tells a story you love. It could be the story of your favorite book or
all about the best family vacation ever.

OR

Paint a mural about your Girl Scout fun. What about the story of a favorite trip or
activity?

OR

Paint a mural that tells the story of an event or person. Choose a story about which
you want your community to know!

Tip: If you work on the mural with your friends, make sure everyone gets to use their
own style.


Paint a Paper Doll on Old Letters
Daisy Low loved to make paper dolls. She said, “My painting is the greatest pleasure I
have.” When Daisy was young, her cousin Caroline drew the dolls and Daisy painted them.

Try making paper dolls of your own – maybe even team up with a friend, like Daisy did!

Add the Badge to Your Journey
For step 5, have fun with your Brownie sisters by painting a mural that shows the project you did as part of your Journey. You could show what you did to make a world a better place, and how it made your feel!

Now that I’ve earned this badge, I can give service by:

􀁸 Painting murals hat tell important community stories
􀁸 Giving a painting lesson to Daisies and teaching them about different styles of
painting
􀁸 Creating paintings for the front of thank-you cards

I’m inspired to:

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Bridging Ceremony

It's is that time -- for our Daisies to become Brownies!

Refreshments were set up and ready to serve after the ceremony. We had Girl Scout cookies, brownies,
mini muffins and juice.

We had a "pond" with a bridge on it, and "floating on the pond" were the lilypads that the girls had made.

To the side of the "pond" were chairs for the girls to sit on.

We did it at our city hall as the church we
normally meet at is ripped up for construction.
They are a few weeks ahead of schedule and we frantically searched for a place.
We were lucky enough to get the city community room {whew} because I had already called all the churches in town... the room worked out perfectly for us!




We had the girls start with that "bridging" song {sung to Brother John tune}:



We aren't Daisies, We aren't Daisies
Any more. Any more.
We're becoming Brownies, We're becoming Brownies
Oh La La! Oh La La!
We had the girls do the Pledge of Allegiance, the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law.
 
Girls take a seat.
 

We started with $5 last year and really accomplished a LOT!
 
We had field trips to places like the police station or a bank, did service work by making bags for the homeless and singing at the senior center, gave back to the community but cleaning up the church lot and buying gifts for kids at Christmas and had fun at bigger area events like the January Dance, International Bazaar or the camp out last weekend! Just look at some of the fun we have had over the past two years -- just by looking at a vest and letting your daughter talk about the patches she earned.
 
We did burn off a photo disc for you - so you can print any memories that they want to put into their scrapbooks.
 
They learned about personal safety this year - fire escape plans, stranger danger and basic first aid for their friends. They learned finances with their cookie sale! They learned how to protect their planet through their journey book. We learned, as a group, to respect others and how to help each other.
 
We are incredibly proud of them and all the efforts they put in to it.
 
Simple accounting - We currently have a little over $150 in our troop account and think that should hold us until the big cookie sale in February.
 
Now that they are going to the next level our scouts, we are looking forward to the girls taking more leadership of what we will be doing as Brownies -- that is why their surveys were so important. (remind all to turn them in)
 
How Brownie Patches work.
  • 5 steps
  • 3 choices
  • Application of what is learned
Already Planned:
  • They are starting their first Brownie adventure with the Paining/Artist Patch! (DIY)A July Meeting/event - FREE Dance Clinic!They will get a second Brownie DIY adventure
  • There will be one August Meeting/event (depends on the girl's surveys)
  • Meetings start up again in September - at the church, the first and third Thursday of the month.
  • Sign Up sheet for snacks/beverage helpers. Once of both for each scout over the year.
The Daisy is a flower,
As pure and white as can be.
Juliette Low was called Daisy,
She started Girl Scouts you see.
And now the time is near,
Dasies will bridge to Brownies,
for another Girl Scout year.
 
As a Brownie, you might ...
bulletLearn how animals are cared for and organize a toy and blanket drive for a shelter
bulletTake a trip to Dairy Queen and learn how they make ice cream
bulletAttend special Girl Scout events like the Dance in January or the International Bazaar
bulletMarch in community parades
bulletTeach Girl Scout Daisies songs and games
bulletGo camping, make s'mores over a campfire
bulletEarn Try-Its, learning new skills
bulletTry a week of new things at summer camp

***Then we call each girl one at a time (alpha by first name) 
 
After each girl crosses the bridge, we hand them their certificates, bag, they take off their Daisy vests, and they take a chair.
 
When you were a very young girl
You wore Daisy Girl Scout Blue,
You learned the joy of singing
With Daisy friends so true.
But now that you are older
You will be trying something new,
You will bring along your happy smile
To Brownies we are welcoming you.
Brownies you’ll be for two short years
Make the most of each day that goes by.
Be cheerful and helpful and do a good turn,
And greet each Girl Scout with a “HI”.
Our Daisy years were lots of fun.
Now it’s over and Brownies has begun!
 
They sing "I've Got Something in My Pocket" and say "Brownie smile" extra loud.
 
We'd like to present to you - BROWNIE Troop #1123

Then, I called our troop assitant leader over the bridge and gave her a gift and big note of thanks for all the help she has given me (and the girls) over the year.
 
Please join us in our friendship squeeze.
 
Then we have our refreshments
 
We made sure we get the surveys back from everyone....
 
I DID get sign up sheets done for snacks, beverages and the 2 special meetings next year (Brownie Soup night and our Trail Mix Ceremony

That is our ceremony.... short, sweet and simple.
The girls LOVED it!

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Carnival Campout!

We had made Sit Upons a few meetings ago -- just for this event!
:)

Our area troop (over 350 scouts) had a big camp out planned and the weather almost scared off a bunch of troops! It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL out and the gals had a great time!

The theme was "Carnival Camp Out" and included lots of great props like the photo stand!

We had dinner, s'mores, skits, coloring hats, cotton candy, a hike, games, a DJ for a 2 hour dance, breakfast, lunch, and so much more.
All along with the chance to make friends with other scout troops/ girls!

What a lot of great memories AND a fun patch!





 
Photo: Camping with Alanna & her Girl-Scout friends & Moms. The kids have a DJ, so much fun!