Juniors On A Journey

We have just started our second year of being a Junior and we have definitely been on a journey! We are starting our 3rd Journey book (aMuse), we have been places and done things. We have gained members and lost members. We have added another troop leader. Most importantly we have become very much girl lead. It has been frustrating the heck out of some parents, but it has also been worth every moment!
The first thing we tried was telling them their bank account balance. We wanted them to know that they could do activities, that they had already saved up some money. They decided to buy a set of flags with everything they would need for flag ceremonies. Then they learned how to do a flag retirement ceremony. The highlight of that experience was leading the flag retirement ceremony at the Service Unit Campout (another story for another day). It was the first time they saw themselves as leaders. It was awesome! Still working with them on budget, but that will always be a work in progress.
The next thing was having them facilitate a badge. That didn't go as planned, but we survived it. The girls made a list of badges they wanted to do first. We broke into teams and each team was supposed to facilitate a badge. Every team operated differently. Some teams were task driven. They would look at the badge book and get to work. They would ask for what they needed, and schedule dates that they needed. They would ask for field trips and guest speakers. Other groups had difficulties. The difficulties stem from various differences in the girls. Some girls would just sit there and look at the booklet, but not discuss what they needed in order to complete the tasks. Some sat there and waited for someone else to tell them what to do. Some would come up with an idea, but wouldn't ask for supplies or anything. I would go check on their group and prompt repeatedly with no response. We definitely learned where different people's skill sets were. We are trying this again, but as an entire troop instead of small groups. Our troop is much smaller now and we should be able to do this as a group now. Making progress toward independence is what matters most.
At the end of our first Journey, we had a series of lessons on service projects. I wanted to have the girls prepared to pick a reasonable Take Action Project and know the difference between it and their Bronze Award project. What we discovered through our process is that parents didn't know what separated these things out. The main issue is that our girls do things big! They do things so big, that when all is said and done we look at each other and say, "Well that would have been a great Silver Award."
Then the Bronze planning commenced. I have 2 groups working toward Bronze, and I wouldn't have it any other way. They followed their interests and have made it work. I am amazed at everything they have done and where this journey has taken them. The parents might kill me when it's over, but their girls are stronger for this experience. It has truly been girl lead, which means side tracks and emergencies. I just think of all the wonderful stories they will have to share about their Girl Scout experience. "Remember the time when..."
On to the journey!

EnRICHment

Yesterday was our council's Volunteer Enrichment Conference. In the past only those in Service Unit Leadership positions attended this conference. This year they opened it up to everyone. Leaders, parents, volunteers - everyone. When they announced that I thought it was just weird. Even those who are required to go don't want to go. Why would we subject that event on our parents?
It was in my first session that I understood why. It was the only session that the new vision was well explained, and it's the one session I was almost sitting on the edge of my seat wanting to know more. See, in our area the word "council" has kind of a negative connotation. In the last year we have a new CEO who has set out a new vision for our council. This new vision gives a new definition to the word "council". It took me several tries to fully understand the word's new meaning, but here it is.
Council - All persons involved in Girl Scouts of Central Texas
That is a huge mentality shift for our area. Not only is it a shift in who is council, but in the attitude of our council. It's shifting from an "us vs. them" mentality (volunteers vs. staff) to one of us. Everyone working together for the same goal. No more of "well this is so and so's job". As I sit here and think about it I wonder where we lost the focus of keeping our eye on the prize and working so cooperatively. We all want the same thing. We all want to work toward developing strong girls. We all have different talents in order to achieve that goal, and we all need to allow each other to use those talents for that goal. I can't say that this change is because of any one person. I can say that every staff member I talked to has this mentality shift. Every staff member wanted to partner with me to develop strong girls. They were attentive to my thoughts and ideas. I watched them reading my body language and looking for my strengths as well as looking for where they could support me. More importantly, the plan includes the girls. The plan include bringing the girls along on this journey. Opportunities for the girls to follow the same learning model that I use in my classroom. One of introduction to skill, acquisition of skill, practicing skills, mastering skills, and then teaching the skill. It's one where girls can grow and become leaders within their community. Where they have a safe place to learn how to become those leaders. "I can't wait to..." see where this vision takes us all!

Lessons Learned from a Take Action Project

These are the girls from Troop 900. We just finished our second year of Brownies and are headed up to Juniors. There is something you should know about them. It's a secret that keeps getting out. They are nothing short of AMAZING! They look so "normal", until you really get to know them. I just don't know what else to tell you so you will have to see for yourselves.
I started my Girl Scout journey with an enthusiastic kindergartner who was determined to be a Daisy. She went to every meet and greet. She reminded me, "You put my name on the list right?!". I had never been a Girl Scout. The most I knew about it was that one of my friends was  Girl Scout all the way through school. I am also "that mom", highly involved in their kids activities. I know that most of what they do is run by either volunteers or under paid teens. If I want my kids to have a good experience I need to be supportive and involved. When they asked abut being a troop leader it was a no brainer. Be a troop leader and girls get to participate - my girl gets to participate. Don't be a troop leader and girls miss out on the fun. 4 years later and I have learned a lot. The really cool thing about being a Girl Scout is that you never stop learning. I cannot wait to share with you what I am learning, what I have learned, and to learn from you.

Cupcake Diaries by Coco Simon

At the end of every Journey the girls are supposed to complete a Take Action Project based on what they learned. We had been diligently going through A World of Girls Journey and looking at the possibilities for a Take Action Project. I tried placing several of the scripted ideas in front of them, presenting ideas for needs I saw in the community, anything. It just wasn't working. The girls were FRIED! I was done, they were done, and we were just done. We had about 2 months left of being a Brownie until Bridging, but it was ok. We had already completed 2 other Journey's, and did not need to be stressed over the third one. I gathered the girls in a circle outside and said, "Girls, lets just play until Bridging." Relief swept over them. Then I said the words I never regret, but always get me in trouble, "What do you want to do?" They threw out ideas left and right - none of them small. None of them having to do with camping, or singing, or art, or other things we've done though out our time together. They were BIG!

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald

"Mrs. Ellen, can we have a book picnic?"
"Yes, but what does that look like?"
"Can we collect books?"
"Yes, but who are the books for?"
And in those moments the most amazing Take Action Project formed. This project was the girls from start to finish.
The girls got into groups of about 3. They picked a book and designed a table around the book. They had table decorations, food, and some of them even made SWAPs.

The Sword In The Stone by T.H. White

The groups project planned including who is bringing what, flyers to advertise, and when things needed to be brought. Some had to have baking days to get their snacks put together. (They decided that the TAP wasn't enough, they had to throw in earning the snack badge.) For the first few weeks I facilitated them learning about different snacks and them making samples to try. Then my role changed. We created a time line so that they knew how long they had to complete certain tasks. My co-leader and I would go around to different groups and check in. The girls would tell us what they had planned and where they were. we would ask questions to get them thinking. It became apparent that some of our girls weren't understanding the vision of their peers and needed a correctly completed model. I created my own book table and the girls could submit ideas on which book I was using. those who figured it out won a prize.

Bake Sale by Sara Varon

The girls invited friends and family to their book picnic, which ended up being inside due to weather. They asked people to either bring books appropriate for ages 0-12 or monetary donations. Their goal - to hold story time for kids living in shelters and foster homes and give those kids books. They have collected well over 300 books at this point. They also received enough money to buy about 40 books for a school in Guatemala. The books are bilingual and are some of their favorites! See, they studied literacy rates for World Thinking Day and learned that Guatemala had low literacy rates. They focused their World Thinking Day studies on Guatemala and the need for education of children in that country. We thought we hit a road block in obtaining books for these kids, but opportunity knocked and they took it.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

We are in phase 2 of this project, setting up story times and passing out books. These are some of the most AMAZING girls ever, and I learned that with passion comes results - no matter your size.