I am going to be a girl scout

**Dancing Lotus** · 09-02-2011, 01:35 PM

Both of my girls wanted to do girl scouts this year. Unfortunately there aren't enough leaders and sometimes girls have to be turned away. My youngest will be a daisy and her group was one in need of a leader, I stepped up.
HOWEVER, I know nothing about girl scouts! I was a brownie for one year when I was maybe 8yrs old. I remember nothing of it except for the father daughter camp-out we did. I only have TWO special memories with my dad and that's one of them.
Anyone have experience with volunteering with the girl scouts?
I'm looking forward to it and my girls are supper excited that mom is "going to be a girl scout too".

**imagine** · 09-02-2011, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by Dancing Lotus

Both of my girls wanted to do girl scouts this year. Unfortunately there aren't enough leaders and sometimes girls have to be turned away. My youngest will be a daisy and her group was one in need of a leader, I stepped up.
HOWEVER, I know nothing about girl scouts! I was a brownie for one year when I was maybe 8yrs old. I remember nothing of it except for the father daughter camp-out we did. I only have TWO special memories with my dad and that's one of them.
Anyone have experience with volunteering with the girl scouts?
I'm looking forward to it and my girls are supper excited that mom is "going to be a girl scout too".

Congratulations you will have so much fun
Here new leader are given training so the know what to do. I'm sure they will tell you and help you. So do not worry about that.

**Libby** · 09-02-2011, 01:56 PM

Wow talk about making me feel old

Back when I was a brownie/girl guide - we had plenty of willing volunteers. This enabled us to do a lot of local 'outings'. Parents were more then welcomed to help supervise the groups while out and the weeks where we stayed in, there were a lot of activities. Having extra adults around was totally worth it and made it that much more enjoyable. I hope you have a blast

**happymomof4** · 09-02-2011, 02:14 PM

I was a girl scout leader for years. Daisy's are the easiest group to lead.

Good Luck.

**momofslg** · 09-02-2011, 04:05 PM

I've been a Girl Scout leader(for 2 troops) for the past 10 years. My best suggestions to you are:
*to make sure to attend the training sessions offered in your area, and if your service unit
has monthly meetings (most do) plan on attending them, you will learn the most from these meetings.
*Daisy's are pretty easy to do, there is a leader handbook that helps you plan activities so the girls earn their petals and will be ready to bridge up to brownie girl scouts.
*I have each parent sign up to help at a meeting (too many parents are like too many cooks in the kitchen)
*have each family donate a set fee (say $10) to help start the troop, you'll need craft supplies and money for activities until girl scout cookie money profits come in.
*I've started asking for a ($5) fee per child for snack/drink also, I found out that too many parents/girls forget to bring snack on their assigned day, so its just easier for me to pick something up while I'm at the grocery (plus I know of food allergies/religious requirements)
* ask to be mentored by a more experienced leader, especially the first few months, many of us "old timers" are more than happy to help the newcomers... we're like a big family

If you have any specific questions I can help answer, please ask, I'll be more than happy to help.

as a disclaimer: I was never in Girl Scouts as a child, as a new leader I was terrified at first too, but I love it. I love having something special to do with each daughter and I have made some wonderful friends of my own too.

**frugalwarrior2** · 09-02-2011, 04:05 PM

You will have fun and add many new memories! Daisy isn't so bad. They do a lot of field trips,make family scrap books and such. My suggestions is-keep the group small about 8. Assign each parent to 1 meeting and they come on outings. You are not a babysitter. Have a sign up for meetings. Drink and snack. Also see if you can wrangle an assisitant leader. Have them get the vest for patches but a poor group can use the sash just as well. GO!!!lol.

I was a Boy Scout for 2 years as I worked at the headquarters for 2 seasons. I was a member of troop zero. Isn't that a hoot!

**Ramona** · 09-02-2011, 05:34 PM

I don't have suggestions, but I was a Brownie and Girl Scout. I have many happy memories..

**saver** · 09-03-2011, 09:27 AM

Many times the older scouts need to do a service project to help them earn their badges, so see if some older scouts could come and teach your daisys songs, games, crafts, camping skills. Also, see if other daisy or brownie troops can double up for activities, field trips, makes the planning sometimes easier for you.

**wanderlusting** · 09-03-2011, 01:31 PM

I don't have any advice, but want to say that all the ladies above gave great suggestions! When I was in girl scouts, the leaders were sort of left to fend for themselves.

And then when my brother was in boy scouts, I was so jealous because it involved the whole family. And my troops in three different places seemed revolve solely on cookie sales- I wanted to go camping, go on forest hikes and learn to tie knots too!

**pinecone** · 09-04-2011, 08:20 PM

I was in the same position when my girls were in Scouts. Our Council has mandatory trainings before becoming a leader. The training includes first aid too. I jumped in at the Junior level with 27 in my troop. We had a ball and you will too.

Originally Posted by wanderlusting

- I wanted to go camping, go on forest hikes and learn to tie knots too!

I am so sorry to hear that. We had the red licorice strings that the girls used to practice knots. If it was correct they ate the knot and went on to the next! We did kick the can ice cream when camping and hugged trees too. Ahhh the memories but it did take lots of planning and help from parents.

piney

**Dancing Lotus** · 09-04-2011, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by wanderlusting

I don't have any advice, but want to say that all the ladies above gave great suggestions! When I was in girl scouts, the leaders were sort of left to fend for themselves.

And then when my brother was in boy scouts, I was so jealous because it involved the whole family. And my troops in three different places seemed revolve solely on cookie sales- I wanted to go camping, go on forest hikes and learn to tie knots too!

Bummer. The girls have all of that available to do but it's really up to the leaders. Unfortunately if the leader isn't interested the girls will not have a great experience.