Cookie Training - Oiy!

My head is still spinning...

I have finished the official
Girl Scout Cookie Training.

New to our area, is the direct sale concept.
This means, I have to GUESS the amount of cookies we will sell, pre-order them, and pray that we actually sell them all, LOL!

There are TONS of great gifts the girls can earn and this is the way we will take our almost
non-existing troop bank account and have some serious working capital!

I am ALL OVER this!!!

I have all our "booth" locations and dates/times in for approval, I roughly calculated our first cookie order and placed it, I have planned how to get the girls excited at our next meeting and have made sure all girls are attending the "Cookie Carnival" that the council puts together.

 

What IS A Cookie Carnival?

Here it is, right from our program listing:
Enjoy a Cookie Carnival while earning your 2012-2013 Cookie Activity Pin.

This event will be filled with cookie-focused games. “What Can a Girl Do?”

is this year’s cookie theme and you’ll get plenty of chances to answer that question

at the carnival by “doing” all the games and activities there.

You’ll meet the new cookie mascot (a dolphin) and enjoy fun crafts.

Prepare for the Cookie Program by attending “Cookie College” to learn how to be a

better and safer cookie seller.

Some of Council’s highest sellers will be at the Carnival to help

you set goals to earn your way to great adventures this year!

This event will be full of games, pizza, cookies and information to help kick off

your cookie-selling season with confidence.
Grades: K-12 ($5 girl / $0 adult)

 

This should help get the girls excited about their goal of 156 boxes.

They will earn a lot of gifts like:

A dolphin patch, a booth sale patch, a "set a goal online" patch, a "send out 12 e-cards online" patch, a "100" patch, a logo bracelet, a collapsible water bottle, a mood pencil set with sharpener, a dolphin necklace and ring set! Our troop is also using some of this cookie money to pay for their dues next year, new uniforms (they will be Brownies) and a "school is out" pool party!

 

Of course, they can choose to sell MORE than 156 boxes.

150 is roughly what each parent said they were going to shoot for...

and that includes sales from when they work a shift at one of our cookie booths! 

My daughter wants to sell 600 boxes!

That would also get her a Wisconsin Dells Pass, a logo Messenger Bag,
a logo Beach Towel, a set of logo Ear Buds in case AND the biggie:
 2 tickets to Mary Poppins at the local upscale theater in the spring.
We will see how this actually goes, but I envision my hubby and the red wagon,

taking her all over the neighborhood, LOL!

 

I can always order MORE boxes and pick them up,
and swap out if their magic formula was wrong for our area.

 

After all that cookie talk... I think I need a glass of milk.

Ha

Field Trip: the Library

Today was a field trip instead of our normal meeting: A quick tour of our local public library and then, they got to sit in on the normal story time.

Two of my Daisies had never been to the library before! I am SOOO glad we went because they now know what an AMAZING resource the FREE public library is! That, and our children's librarian is simply incredible.

I have "fun patches" on order for participating in this event... 6 of my 8 were in attendance.

Reminder slips were sent home for our next meeting - the first week in October, along with cookie selling permission slips - that I have to have back, before they can start selling cookies. I figured, if they have the slips ready for the next meeting (Cookie Kick Off), then the girls can go home with the pre-order sheets! I already have half of the slips back ... here is to hoping that the re3st come back!

What Is In My Reminders?

 After each Daisy meeting or field trip, I send home a "reminder" with the girls. What it simply states is the date of the next meeting, who has what "job" and what kind of preparation is needed. We only meet twice a month so, sometimes, I have them read a few pages at home. (I am living in the world that this is going to work...)Here is an example:    Our next meeting is October 3rd, 6-7PM

Getting Ready for the Road – learn about our own feelings, learn what you say to people when they take a trip, get their road trip journey base patches, make bookmarks, role play resolving conflict (easy with their school's Caring Bridge example), sing a Christmas Carol. And, Stem snack. We are also going to kick off COOKIE time and prep them for Sunday's Cookie Carnival.

As we will be talking a lot about plants for this Journey– it might be fun to keep the snacks on the same concept for the first five meetings: This week is Stems = Celery, asparagus, etc

Get as creative as you want and it’s OK to bring dip/ranch or whatever for them! For the rest of the year, as long as we stick with healthy options, we are following along with what they are learning. I have the grocery store field trip planned for when we are talking about “local foods”.  J

For this meeting:
Squeeze starter - M, Leader helper - S, Craft helper - A, Clean up x 2 – L and T, Snack - K, Beverage - A, Law Leader - L.

Homework:
Read pages 6-12 in the Journey Book before the next meeting

I hope that helps you -- I have a similar note each time, about the next event.

The First Daisy Meeting: Getting Started

My Early Bird project was simple: decorate white boxes with markers and colored pencils. I scored a BUNCH of them for FREE and thought it would be a great thing to use for the day we are caroling at the local senior center. Each box will have 2 Thin Mints in it and we shall pass them out to the residents after we are done singing. We need 50 boxes ready. We will have this project until they are all decorated. We stop this at 6:00 PM sharp, when it is time to start our meeting.

Circle time!!

·      We sang the make new friends Song – then talked about our new friends to the troop and the old friends we met last year - the Flowers. We reviewed the flowers and what part of the Girl Scout law they represent.

·      We talked about new things: Daisy Wheel. Our Journey Book this year, What awards were were going to earn this year and what field trips we were going to go on. We are working on a LOT of awards: Blue Bucket,  Firefly, Clover, Cookie seller, Finance, Safety, Bridging and they will get patches for each of our field trips/outings.

·      Theme of the day: Getting Ready For Our Road Trip! We read the introductory page of our Journey Book (Between Earth and Sky)

·      Girl Scout Law

·      Leader Helper: Pass Out Journey Books to all girls - they were SUPER excited to get them!

Craft time !!

·      Craft helper pass out craft bags. Each project was all ready individually bagged, in a one gallon baggie. I used the Girl Scout Promise, inside a basic Trefoil shape and had already cut them into circles. The girls could color them and then popped them into plastic "buttons" that I scored on clearance at JoAnn's craft store - 2 in a pack for $.50. They wore them proudly on their vests!
Here is my sheet - 5 to a page:

Snack Time !!

·      Snack and beverage helpers passed out treats - we are doing healthy stuff this year! Just look at the creative interpretation of the "FLOWER" snack - I LOVE it!!

Just in case you can't tell - it's cauliflower and dip, with a sliced pear stem. Uber Cuteness!

Circle time to close

·      What is next? I have a hand out that "reminds" parents about the next meeting but think the girls like knowing what kind of fun we will have at the next meeting.

·      Squeeze helper - the perfect way to end the meeting - with the friendship squeeze.

Clean Up helpers help pick up things and load up my cart so we leave the space as we found it.

How did our first meeting go?
Pretty awesome, I thought - with one exception: My Child.
The whole "my mom is the leader" thing grew old very fast. We had a little chat after the other girls left and made it clear that ALL girls are EQUAL in the world of Girl Scouts. I explained that they were all going to look to HER for an example on how to behave and that I really needed her on her best behavior.

She "got it".
(I hope)

Only time will tell - and a few more meetings...

The Big Outline

As a troop, we have already gotten through the summer and our first meeting is coming up next week! Here is my rough agenda for the school year - including the field trips and service projects. Keep in mind that we are trying to encompass a few different areas of the Scouting mission: work with a journey book to build their minds and guide the lessons, give back to the community, doing things for other people AND keep it all fun!

September

·         Intro meeting – talk about our Journey this year as we go on a “Road Trip” with our Daisy friends. They will get their journey books, talk about awards to earn and our field trips to take review the flower friends, explain the Daisy Meeting Wheel, make a Christmas Carol List that we all know, make a button with the Girl Scout law on it (they can wear on their vests), and the Flower Snack.

·         Field Trip!-à 6PM at the Public Library to be followed by 6:30 story time

October

·         Getting Ready for the Road – learn about our own feelings, learn what you say to people when they take a trip, get their road trip journey base patches, make bookmarks, role play resolving conflict (easy with their school's Caring Bridge example), sing a Christmas Carol. And, Stem snack.

• October 7th: Cookie Carnival -- from the Council. $5 per girl, and a lot of fun with TONS of other Scouts. Pizza, prizes, games and more.

·         October 14^th :  Fire Station Open House, 8-3PM. We are looking at a 30 minute “helper shift” and then, to enjoy the festivities J

·         Our Road Trip Begins - learn about other people’s feelings, learn what you say to people when they take a trip in French, Learn about different types of soil from Jung’s Garden center (maybe a guest), talk about littering and make a Frankenstein Can Craft, and role play  on how I help my friends. Sing a Different Christmas Carol, and Leaf snack. ***All girls will need a clean, empty soup can. I have a toplifter can opener if you don’t so they will have NO sharp edges on their final project. J

November

·         You, Me, How Different We Can Be  - learn about other people’s feelings, learn what you say to people when they take a trip in Spanish, Learn how plants drink, explain our “Feast of Plants” for snacks over the last few meetings and “Color-A-Carnation Craft” to take home. Talk about nature’s colors and make a Hand print Turkey Craft. Role play on how I feel and you feel, earn the Blue Bucket Award. And, Root snack.

·         Living the Law, and So Many Seeds – learn more about the Girl Scout Law, learn what you say to people when they take a trip in Chinese, talk about seeds (like those of our flower friends) and how they are just baby plants waiting to grow, Toilet Paper Butterfly Craft, role play how I feel and you feel. And, Seed snack.

 December

·         Special Skills, and Textures Too – learn the diversity of textures in nature, lean what to say to people when they take a trip in Japanese, paying attention to our special skills, learn about reflection (water and stone project), think about different shapes in nature (too cold for a nature walk!) Talk about winter and how to help nature with a milk jug bird feeder craft and a snack. **All girls will need a clean, empty milk jug for this craft. I will cut them, they will decorate and assemble.

·       Bonus meeting– Cookie Awards Ceremony **

12/20 Caroling at Senior Center and passing out mini cookie boxes! (I send them with a little gift for them all to open at Christmas/holidays – A Daisy Hair Clip/barrette!)

January

·         We Have Skills and So Do Plants! - learn more about our special skills and those of plants, learn what you say to people when they take a trip in Italian, girls earn their Firefly award, We will talk about how the snow is like water to the plants and make a Snow Measuring Stick Craft.  Also, Snack.

·         Field Trip! à To a grocery store to talk about LOCAL foods that we will talk about in the next meeting. (cheese, apples, milk, corn, etc)

February

·         In the Land of Milk and Cheese – review all ways to say “Have a Good Trip”, the Flower Friends Visit Wisconsin (yippee!) learn about how different foods affect our bodies (sleeper foods like milk/cheese/turkey and wake up foods that they share from their experiences) talk about textures and a Valentine Heart Craft. Start thinking about their Clover Project. (a play, posters for a school or library, a community planting project, litter pick up, etc) A string cheese snack would be PERFECT!

·         When the Flowers Meet the Trees – learn about different kinds of trees (Spruce, Pinion and Chestnut – then classifying them into deciduous and conifers), Making Bark Rubbings, talking more about our Clover Project, touching on recycling and making a Pop Top Friendship bracelet Craft. Hot chocolate would be PERFECT for the beverage person-- I can bring hot water. **Parent note: If anyone has a fireplace, bringing a log or two with bark on it would help us with the rubbings – it will be too cold to go outside to trees to do it. J 

March

·         Protecting a Natural Treasure – We start work on our Clover Project. Shamrock card from stamping with Bell Peppers Craft, and Snack.

·         Field Tripà(bank or police)

April

·         We work on our Clover Project! – Secret craft project – No Mom’s allowed!

·         On the Road To New Adventures – We review the blue bucket and firefly suitcase. Girls review their clover project and earn their award, craft is girls signing each other’s Journey Books and a group picture!

May

·         Field Trip! àTV station (this will be on a Saturday)

·         Bridge Ceremony – let’s make this really special for all of them! They will get their special Bridging award in a clear, ribbon tied baggie. It would be great if all Moms (and any other family members that want to) could attend. I will bring Daisy Cookies – we will have a party sign up like Brownies, etc. J

That's it - my whole year roughed out. I hope it helps someone make their own plans...I will be posting each meeting/event as they happen.

Planning Out the Year

I sat through all the training that spoke about girl driven/led, etc concepts.
Super!
One thing: These girls are 6.

I have helped out actively in my daughter's classes for the past three years and know we are taking a LOT of energy, a short attention span and still, the need to be included.

Enter the Daisy Wheel:

I found the pinwheel at the local home improvement store on summer clearance - $1.00
A sharpie let me label the petals with the simple tasks from each meeting:

• Snack (Healthy Choice)
• Beverage
• Clean up (twice)
• Law Leader
• Leader Assistant
• Craft Helper
• Squeeze Starter

The girls names are on clothes pins and simply get rotated around.
Delegating a bit helps me keep things straight.
:)

Encourage Scientific Minds This is the goal of the new Journey book we are using: Between Earth and Sky. I picked it because girls are SOOOO discouraged in science and fostering that love for it now is so precious!  It is broken down into 10 sessions and is important, as so few girls are encouraged in science. It takes an observational approach in nature. We will also be talking about feelings, and being aware of what other people are feeling...both things that their school does fantastically in the sense of community that they create.

Now, let's talk snacks.

Last year, the girls really got sugared up after their meetings -- so close to bed time. This year, we are talking HEALTHY treats - just like the new guidelines for the schools.

As we will be talking a lot about plants, etc – it might be fun to keep the snacks on the same concept for the first five meetings:

·         Flowers = Broccoli, cauliflower, etc

·         Stems = Celery, asparagus, etc

·         Leaves = Lettuce, spinach, Kale, Cabbage (our turn for this and we were planning on making Kale Chips)

·         Roots = Carrots, radishes, etc

·         Seeds = Sunflower, Pumpkin, etc

They can get as creative as they want and it’s OK to bring dip/ranch or whatever for their snack.

OK ... we are getting off to a great start!

Some things I wanted for every meeting, as consistancy is AWESOME:

·         Early birds activity (something for them to do until the meeting really starts)

·         Circle Time : Lesson/story time from their books

·         Craft

·         Girl Scout Law

·         Girls Scout Friendship Squeeze

·         Snack

·         Looking ahead to the next meeting

Great basic check list - right? And easy to do in one hour!

Now, what else did we want to add for the year?

Field Trips!

• Library - learn about great uses of our resources
• Police Department - learn about safety and our community
• Grocery Store - learn about local foods
• Bank - learn about money

Service Projects!

• Clover project - part of our Journey book
• Fire Station Open House - part of the safety award, we help out for a bit and then play!
• Caroling at the Senior Center - we are going to pass out small boxes of GS cookies too!

My next post will show you how I put this ALL TOGETHER for the year's rough agenda.

Sooo I Am The Leader!

Not sure how it happened, but I became the new leader to my daughter's Daisy Troop!
After I thought about it for a bit, I came up with a plan:

1. Increase troop size
2. Add some summer fun
3. Plan out the year with our new Journey Book (Between Earth and Sky)

We had four girls.
As amazing as those girls are, I thought it would be MORE fun, if we had a few more. Like at least twice as many. I think back to my scouting days and remember our troop of 10-12 gals... it was a BLAST!

Increasing troop size was easy - I put a simple note out to all the kindergartners before school closed for the year. We picked up four more girls, which doubled our troop! We have 7 first graders and 1 kindergartner (who is a sister of a first grader). A SUPER sweet bunch of kids!

Now, for adding some summer fun. Our troop had about $5 in it's account, so things had to be CHEAP. I planned out one thing a month over the summer:

1. A field trip to the local video store
2. A pool party
3. A camp out/sleepover

In June, we took a simple tour at the local video store. They all got FREE rental passes (tied into report card time). After that, we zipped over to Culver's and had FREE custard, as I still had a ton of passes in my gift card box.

In July, we had a pool party at my Mom's house. Everyone brought some treats and they swam like you wouldn't believe. We made it a whole family affair - it was a hoot!

In August, we had a few of the mom's and a few tents in our backyard. Keep in mind that our troop is a giant bunch of school chums - most who have already known each other for a few years between 4K and dance classes. Everyone pitched in with snacks, dinner items, breakfast waffle stuff - we did an outdoor scavenger hunt and even showed a princess movie on the back of the garage! Again, Free to the troop!

I did pick up "fun patches" for each event, out of my own pocket, until we get a  positive balance from cookie sales. I have the receipts tucked in the troop fund booklet and had to see what else I could do, on the cheap, until we were in a better financial shape.

Now... to plan out the year.
I think that deserves an entire post of it's own - don't you?