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Samantha has an opportunity to join a Girl Scout troop in the area we are moving to. A woman we know up there is the troop leader.
Except for buying cookies once a year, the last I had anything to do with Girl Scouts was in the early 70s when I was a Brownie. LOL I'm sure things have changed since then. The only thing I remember about it was doing arts & crafts which is something Samantha adores.
Does anyone here know anything about today's Girl Scouts?
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Janis was a leader for many years... its a good program for kids as long as they enjoy it! They are encouraged to try many new things through the badge/merit program
I'm sure they are always looking for leaders/helpers if you want to get involved.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8739 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ask questions about the local program; -Are the activities interesting, well rounded, and educational? -Do they have an outdoor program? A lot of todays girls don't want to do cookie baking and friendship poles week after week. -What kind of youth protection training do the leaders have, and what are their standards?
The GSUSA National and many local councils maintain a strong formal affiliation with Planned Parenthood. You must ask about this directly, as this information is not usually volunteered.
I've seen a number of girls join our Venturing BSA program after dissatisfaction with Girl Scouts.
On the other hand, I've been at events with GS Troops who didn't follow the standard program, and these kids had incredibly good outdoor/life skills. I saw a patrol of 6 girls win the coveted silver sabre at the West Point Invitational, competing against close to a thousand Boy Scouts.
In the end, it's all about the adult leadership.
-------------------- Steve Purcell Purcell Woodcarving & Signmaking Cape Cod, MA
************************** Intelligent Design Is No Accident Posts: 900 | From: Cape Cod, MA | Registered: Oct 1999
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Amber wanted to do Girl Scouts this year. I went to what was supposed to be an information meeting. They had no clue about the troop that exist in my town. They really seemed like they only wanted troop leaders not kids.
I was so frustrated with the inability to answer my questions on top of the constant, "You run your own business so you have time to be a troop leader" crap that I signed her up for soccer instead.
I'm sure it's not like that everywhere. Just ask the questions that come to mind. Make sure anyone involved with them has background checks.
Good luck!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Asking around the area for great troops and interview them with some of the questions above sounds great. My son had a wonderful scouting leader from Tigers to age 12 when he "crossed over". Since his leader and his wife were the troup leaders also and had their kids eagling at 13, they got a lot of crap from the other parents. I, personally thought they were awesome and gave so much to my son when he and the other boys were under his wing. His wife was a daisy leader. They were unbiased and open-minded, generous and professional. But, after that, we needed to find a troop after wolves (when he became a boy scout at 12), and since we joined where some of his friends were, it was a mistake since the leadership wasn't good. Long story. My granddaughters are in Daisy's now. I think if you know some of the parents or some that have been through the troops, they will give you wonderful insight. It's great to take a tour of each of them if you have to, just to get a feel of the reception and attitudes. Scouts have huge jamborees sometimes in your area, and that is a great way to see the huge picture, meet some folks and pick up some info and experience with some of the activities as all are welcome. Good luck! The last trip for the daisy's is that they were allowed to go to the Dairy Queen and build their own desserts. Scouts is just a wonderful thing. When all the parents are involved, that's the way to go. I was always a co-leader throughout the 6 years.
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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My oldest did it for a while until she got bored with it - basically a very good program but just wasn't her style - she's more tom-boyish & has always been involved in outdoor stuff - fishing, camping, motorcycles. One of my proudest moments was at one of the father-daughter girl scout outings - we were canoeing & she said dad,this is boring - we do alot better stuff when we just go ourselves. . .
-------------------- Carl Wood Olive Branch, Ms Posts: 1392 | From: Olive Branch,MS USA | Registered: Nov 1999
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As with any organization, it completely depends on who shows up to the meetings. My daughter did it for a few years and had good leaders and not so good too. The program's books has a lot of educational entertainment ... if the child enjoys it, really depends on who shows up.
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I helped my sister Faye with both Brownies and Juniors. I felt like a glorified babysitter. I think the experience depends totally on the leaders. I know a few good ones. But many parents see it as just another place to dump their already bored and over-activitied kid. Samantha is a good kid, and she deserves a good leader! Love....Jill
Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Kialy just bridged from Daisys to Brownies this year, she loves it. As others stated, its all about the leaders. Fortunately for her it is mostly the same group of girls that started Pre-K together. They are a tight knit group, parents included.
Lots of Art and crafts & music (6 year olds), they also occasionally invite girls from the older groups to be "Guest Leaders" with positive results.
Best of Luck! You don't know unless you try!
-------------------- Alan Ackerson LetterWorks Design and Graphics alan@ack2.com Posts: 776 | From: Oak Ridge, NJ | Registered: Aug 2002
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