I know, it looks like I have been a total slacker! I have not, lol...

I am a writer for work, that's my job. I did an awful lot of travel in the last few months and then had my laptop die!

it has just been replaced, and they are transferring my old computer brain into my new computer and then I shall catch up with you on everything we have done in the last few months.

To those of you who asked about the brownie vest invitation cutting file, I apologize. It is on my old paperweight.

Look forward to fresh post being updated next week!

Kalihari Day!

All Girl Scout Troops that averaged 180 boxes of cookies sold per girl qualified for a fun day at the Kalihari Resort!

We soared past this goal and had a GREAT time at the indoor them park and water park. Just check out the fun that was had:

 

May Meeting: Meet the Daisies!

We hosted a Daisy Troop tonight... it's part of what the Brownies need to do to bridge to Juniors and Daisies need to do to bridge to Brownies!

 

Our Early Bird Activity is a quick craft: Mini Straw Hats (Swap)

Welcome Circle: Pledge led by "girl of the week". Girl Scout Promise

We have visitors today!

Let's all introduce ourselves, and share one thing we love about Girl Scouts

• We are going to teach you a song
• We are going to earn our 2014 Global Action Patch
• We have a fun snack!

Song: This is the song we sang to our parents and guests who were at our Bridging ceremony...

(To the tune of Brother John)

We aren't Daisies

We aren't Daisies

Any More

Any More

We're becoming Brownies

We're becoming Brownies

Ooh-La-La

Ooh-La-La

Global Action Patch:
Did you know, in some parts of the world, children get sick because they don't have clean drinking water?
Where to you think your drinking water comes from?

Then, with your Brownie friends, try this nifty experiment with a grown-up. First, mix up a bowl of dirty water by adding cooking oil, soil, and small pieces of paper. Then, with help, cut a plastic bottle in half. Turn the top half upside down so it's like a funnel. Build a filter in the funnel trying different materials: gravel, sand, and cotton balls. Pour the dirty water through the bottle, experimenting with different layers of filter material to see which filters the water best. (Don't drink the filtered water.)

Share your findings with others. (Millennium Development Goal: Helping children survive)

Snack Time: baby carrots in little terra cotta flower pots, with dip

Clean Up Time: Who remembers our song?

Leader sings:

Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, let’s tidy up the room! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, it’s time to go home soon.

Scouts sing:

Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, we’re picking up our things! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, hear our voices sing!

Closing Ceremony:

• We all earned our Global Action Patch! This is an official award now, and can go on the front of your uniforms.  
• Squeeze and goodbye sister scouts!

Children's Museum Overnight!

There was a fantastic program with the Betty Brinn Children's Museum where our troop could spend the night. It was $30 per girl, but we had planned on this with our cookie sale goals.

Program Info:

Camp overnight at the Museum and explore the Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home exhibit. Enjoy hands-on activities to learn more about wildfire prevention and conservation as well as earn the requirements for the Brownie Hiker Badge. Play in the Museum's interactive exhibits and participate in camping activities such as packing gear, preparing an energy snack, following trail signs, and going on a hike. A light evening snack and breakfast will be provided. All Girl Scouts participating will receive a special Betty Brinn Children's Museum Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl: Home Sweet Home patch.

6:00 pm to 8:00 am... we started with a dinner on the way there, and enjoyed the fun program!
Here are some pictures:

 

 

April Meeting

We only have one meeting in April, thanks to Spring Break from school...

We wanted to finish up our pet patch so we had a field trip to the local Animal Hospital.
I would say enjoy the pictures but it was one of the fastest tours we have ever had!
"this is the grooming room".
"this is where we kennel dogs".
"this is where we prep animals for surgery".

Seriously, it was that fast!

We did have a Puppy Chow snack from our snack helper afterwards.

Note to other local troops: Animal Hospital of Sun Prairie is a "skip".
 

Cat Show 2014

 

Our troop was offered a fun opportunity for a Cat Show on April 5th.

They would be stewards at a cat show and the troop would get paid $300!!

Stewards help out in the cat show rings and get to see lots of kitties! The cat show as at the County Fairgrounds...and ran from 9-5. The girls were supplied a FREE lunch too....all they really did was sanitize the cages between judging rounds. Keep in mind, if a cat "messed" the cage, the cat's owner was responsible for cleaning it. 

We also got to bring cookies to sell! AWESOME news for us and we planned ahead with 120 boxes in our hands... and 96 sold!

 
This was perfect timing this year as we were working on our PET patches --

Pets:

Step 1: Find out what care different pets need

Step 2: Keep a pet comfy

Step 3: Help a pet stay healthy and safe

Step 4: Make a pet feel loved

Step 5: Feed a pet

Step one: We made a survey that they asked cat owners!

• How much space does this pet need?

• Does it need to be inside or outside or both?

• Do you need anything special for it in either of these places (cage, leash, etc.)?

• How much food does this pet need?

• What might it cost to buy the food?

• What kind of human contact does this pet like? 

Step 2 we did at meeting - making cat-nip mice, Step 3 they did when they sanitized cages, Step 4 is when they get to pet the cats and Step 5 might happen too - or, when they donate the kitty treats and toys to to the Animal Shelter.

Fund-Raising -- when added to our cookie selling profit, we are GOLDEN for the next year with troop funds!
Yippee!

Just Between Friends Sale

We scored a cookie booth at our local Just Between Friends children's resale event.
It was technically after the cookie sale was officially over but we had great traffic, made some more money for our troop and the girls had a blast!

The girls had fun seeing all the cool stuff for kids and we raised a bunch more troop $$!

 

Cookie Time Is Over!

It seems like it goes on forever and ever...
but it's really not that long of a time, LOL!

We actually almost doubled what we sold over the last cookie sale --
with the average sale per girl at about 350.
They earned the Kalihari Troop reward, and also,
have a GREAT treasury for projects over the next year.

 

Cookie Share Results?
102 boxes of cookies for the military!

 

We are SUPER proud of them!

 

 

Pet Patch Progress

Our Early Bird Activity is the March Swap: Birthday Baggies

Welcome Circle: Pledge led by "girl of the week".

--Birthday Patches passed out

--We are working on our Pet Patch Today!

We are going to have a tour of the Sun Prairie Animal Hospital… and we also have the Cat Show on 4/5…both happen over spring break.

• ·         Who was at the cat show last year?
• ·         What can you tell the new girls about it?
• ·         This year, we will sell cookies AND interview pet owners so we can finish our pet patch!

One of the five steps is making a pet feel loved, so we are making catnip mice toys for the animal hospital. They are pre-sewn, we need to stuff and close. {It was the first time sewing for most of the girls}

Craft time: Making spring themed swap for April.

Snack Time: puppy chow?

Clean Up Time!!

Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, let’s tidy up the room! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, it’s time to go home soon.

Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, we’re picking up our things! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, hear our voices sing!

Closing Ceremony:

• Next meeting we will have the Daisy Troop over. We are going to come a little earlier so we can be ready for them: snack, craft, song!  We are also going to do a dirty water experiment…earning our Global Action Patch!
• Squeeze and goodbye sister scouts!

2014 International Bazaar

Our area puts together this grand interpretation of World Thinking Day - where all troops have the option of hosting a booth or simply enjoying the events. Items and food can be sold ($1 or less) and all money raised goes to the scholarship fund for gals who can't afford to join a troop.

Last year we played, this year we hosted a booth: England.

Our learning poster:

 Our craft: making cute decorated straw hats

Our food: Tube Steaks! (hot dogs) We also had Capri Suns there.

Yes, we did it all, LOL - but we raised $ for the fund! See some of our girls proudly turn it in?

We ended up with a great big Girl Scout Friendship Squeeze!

What did your troop do for World Thinking Day?

Earning the First Aid Patch

Our Early Bird Activity is the Manners Worksheet

Welcome Circle: Pledge led by "girl of the week".

We have a special guest today: a nurse!

We are going to earn our First Aid Patch today.

First, we need to talk about calling 911.

• ·         What is an emergency?
• ·         What do we need to know?
• ·         When do we hang up?

Remember the last meeting when I asked you to thinking of a question to ask a nurse?

Let’s ask them!{They came up with great questions like "how long have you been a nurse?", "what was your worst sickness?", "did you ever deliver a baby?"}

Let’s practice how to treat simple injuries – buddy up:

• ·         Cuts (they practiced cleaning owies on super balls)
• ·         Sprained fingers (popsicle stick splints)
• ·         Sprained wrists (using TP instead of ace bandages)

Craft time: Making first aid kits for our back packs...unless we find them at the dollar store already made up. Dollar Tree has them for a buck -- you can't beat that price! Our nurse used the extra time.

Snack Time: (bloody band aid cookies)

Clean Up Time!! Who remembers that song?

Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, let’s tidy up the room! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, it’s time to go home soon.

Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, we’re picking up our things! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, hear our voices sing!

Closing Ceremony:

• Next meeting we will earn make TWO swaps…. One for March and one for April. We will talk about the cat show and make a special item to go with that Pet Patch!
• Send them home with certification life savers!

• Squeeze and goodbye sister scouts!

Cookie Carnival!

Our council has a Carnival each year where the girls can learn and taste any new cookies, build their selling skills, touch/feel all possible awards to earn and network with the gals who really worked it last year.
It's $5 for each girl and our troop pays it -- but they earn their cookie pin of the year too!

F-U-N
Check out the highlights:

Getting Ready for International Thinking Day!

Our Early Bird Activity is working on their paper bag puppets

Welcome Circle: Pledge led by "girl of the week".

• We pass out Birthday Patches for anyone who has had their birthday since our last meeting.
• Talk about the story in the books that they just read

·         Safety award: National Disaster. Juliette and her girls helped the red cross during WW1, there are people suffering now from the cold, blizzards etc. What do you think is a disaster? What could we do to help?

The International Bazaar – Let’s make our learning poster and sample crafts!

Cut out England Facts, mat them, glue them on.

Make our Price Charts...

Tube Steak Sign?

Snack Time: S'mores!

Clean Up Time!! Who remembers that song?

Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, let’s tidy up the room! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, it’s time to go home soon.

Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, we’re picking up our things! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, hear our voices sing!

Closing Ceremony:

• Next meeting we will earn our first aid patch…we have a nurse coming!  I would like everyone to think of ONE question to ask her about injuries.
• Squeeze and goodbye sister scouts!

Silver And Gold Dance

Our Area group is fantastic and we have some GREAT opportunities for the troops to interact. Our annual dance was one of them -- with our theme coming right from our Make New Friends Song.

A nominal fee to attend, simple snacks and games, along with a DJ and dancing...just look at the fun!

We mean business: Cookie Business (and Doughnut Seeds)

 

Our Early Bird Activity is working on the swap. It's a "mini envelope" from the ground hog capitol of the world!

Welcome Circle: Pledge led by "girl of the week".

• We pass out Birthday Patches for anyone who has had their birthday since our last meeting.
• I did some planning girls, and realized how much cool stuff we are doing before the end of August!
• Girl Scout Global Action
• Our Journey Patches
• Pet Patch
• First Aid Patch
• Safety award Pin
• My Promise My Faith Pin
• Girl Scout Way Patch
• Money Manager Patch
• Philanthropist Patch
• Meet My Customers Patch
• World Thinking Day Patch
• Community Patch
• Snacks Patch
• Up to 5 patches for selling cookies!
• Fun Patches Pledge at City Hall, Pool Party, Camp Out Day
• Fun, right? (show picture and chart)

Something different for snack -- Doughnut Seeds. The template (below) comes from Family Fun. You print it out, tape or glue it up with Cheerios inside. The trick it to plant the "doughnut seeds" and pplace them where they can grow comfortably. In our case, a different room than our meeting...and the girls were POSITIVE that I would leave to switch them out. (they just didn't count on another parent helping them "grow"...ha!
***Plant Donut Seeds***
 

 

Cookie Planning:

• Troop box goal? 180/per girl for the Kalahari Day. 2160 troop boxes +
• What do we want to do as a troop over the next year? (paint your own pottery store visit, go to Whole Foods for a snacks/class workshop, Overnight at Children’s Museum of Milwaukee, make troop t-shirts)...narrow the list
• How much will it cost? $14 - $7 - $30 - ?
• How many boxes does that mean we have to sell? We make $0.70/box so let’s do the math!
• 14 + 7 + 30 = $51  Divide by $.70 = 72 boxes!  
• We already know we need to sell 75 boxes each to pay for all the patches, etc over the year...so that makes a base goal of $147 boxes per girl. Just SSTTTRRREEETTTCCCHHHIIINNNGG a bit to 180 and we get to add a FREE day of fun at the Kalihari!
  (YIPPEE!)
• What can they earn this year?
  We will review the gifts from the cookie carnival --
  Patches, trinkets, American Girl Doll, Mall Of America over night trip, etc
  Talk realistically about how many cookies are sold per booth shift…. The rest is from online, door to door, family and friends.
• How can we have an AWESOME series of cookie booths??
• Know our stock
• Suggestive Sell
• Donations
• Change for Change
• Expectation letter to sign....
• Song

We need to sign thank you notes for booth spots! There are Thank You cards for us to all sign – that way, we can make sure each location knows how much we appreciate them.

Practice the Cookie Song:
We are selling, Girl Scout Cookies,
Get them now, While you can
Only for a short time, You can even donate
Buy a Case, they freeze well.

The International Bazaar - they voted on England. Learning Poster ideas... Straw Hat Craft, Tube Steaks.  What kinds of things do we want our learning poster to cover?

·         Boss of the country

·         Food

·         Flag

·         Public transportation

·         Weather

The money we raise goes to the scholarship fund for kids who can’t afford to become scouts. Their families don’t have that extra $35 a year

What do we want to charge?
I will talk to Copps for a donation of weenies and buns…we have FREE hats and need flowers/ribbons… looking for a sale at Michael’s!

$0.25 small hat
$0.50 medium  hat
$0.75 large hat
$1.00 hot dogs

Mentoring a Troop: A Daisy troop is going to visit our meeting in April – what kinds of things should we do with them? teach a swap – snack – song ? April is a ONE meeting month for us, so we will ALL make the same swap! Flower pot snack? What song: Smile song or Bridging song?

Craft Time: making cookie selling lanyards

Snack Time: check on donut seeds!
 

Clean Up Time!! Who remembers that song?

(leader) Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, let’s tidy up the room! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, it’s time to go home soon.

(girls) Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, we’re picking up our things! Brownie Scouts, Brownie Scouts, hear our voices sing!

Closing Ceremony:

• Next meeting we will finish stuff for our booth at the bazaar…sample crafts and our poster. We will also talk about story #3 in our Journey books.
• Squeeze and goodbye sister scouts!

Get your own Doughnut Seed Packet HERE