Troop Tips

Schools out, now what?

Let’s Get Ready for Summer!

It’s a great time to have fun with your Girl Scout friends. Don’t take a summer break from school, homework AND Girl Scouts. Make this the best summer for your troop.

Staying active over the summer

Meet with your troop and determine if you want to meet once or a couple times over the Summer. Meeting with your troop in June, July or August has a couple advantages. Your troop can earn a badge or the community service bar pin. The troop can meet and determine which badges and Journeys they want to earn during 2018-2019. The girls can create a troop calendar to include service projects, badges, service community annual events, holiday activities and Citrus Council programs.

If your troop decides to meet, schedule a couple troop activities. Here are some suggestions:

  • Image from Daytona Lagoon water park

    Regal Summer Movie $1 Express

  • Go to play or musical
  • Take a morning day or evening hike
  • Visit splash playgrounds
  • Cook a new recipe and provide to your local fire station
  • Participate in a 4th of July parade
  • Visit a farmer’s market
  • Try a new yogurt or ice cream shop
  • Collect & donate school supplies

 

Stay Productive

Ask Juniors/Cadettes/Seniors/Ambassador Girl Scouts to consider a bronze, silver or gold award project.

Be sure to check the Citrus Council calendar for upcoming Silver or Gold training before starting any higher award project.

Over the Summer girls will read novels, picture books and chapter books.

Earn the GSC Summer Reading Patch! Girl Scouts complete book logs to receive the fun patch. The fun patch can be purchased at the GSC Council Shop.

If your troop doesn’t meet over the summer, ask your girls to write post cards when they travel or maintain a summer journal to include their local adventures. Be sure to plan a fun back to school activity to reconnect the girls before the school year begins.

Girl Scouts from Seminole County

Visit a Seminole County Public Library, sign up for the Summer Reading Program, complete the book log and receive a free book at www.seminolecountyfl.gov/departments-services/leisure-services/seminole-county-library/kids-page/

Read 10 books or 300 pages, complete the online Z Kids Summer Book Club form at http://zradio.org/completed-z-kids-summer-book-club-form/

The bookmobile schedule can be found at www.scps.k12.fl.us/district/departments/lets-read-seminole/bookmobile.stml

Image from Palm Springs Middle School website

Girl Scouts from Orange, Brevard, Volusia, Lake & Osceola

Complete a book log from the Summer Reading library program and receive a book.

Read 10 books or 300 pages, complete the online Z Kids Summer Book Club form at http://zradio.org/completed-z-kids-summer-book-club-form/.

Participate in the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program (first-sixth grade) complete the reading journal and receive a free book.

Earn a religious emblem over the summer

Girl Scouting promotes and encourages girls to participate in faith-based programs. It has been part of the Girl Scout tradition since its inception in 1912. Girl Scouts recognizes the religious diversity that exists within our communities. There are various religious recognitions offered by different faith communities at www.praypub.org/gsusa

The National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts serves Catholic youth and adults through quality faith based programs at www.nccs-bsa.org/index.php/religious-activities

Our Catholic Faith Patches: Women in Scripture & Models of Faith patch series guidebooks available at www.catholicscoutingstl.org/awards/catholic-identity-patch-program

Plan for the Fall

Ask the adult volunteers and troop parents to meet during the Summer.

Recruit adults to support the Co-Leaders during back to school recruitment, fall product, cookie season and during troop meetings. Update your MYGS profile to include the adult volunteer role(s).

Outdoor

Pack Your Bags! It’s Camp Time!

It’s almost time to pack the bags for summer camp! We’ve still got some time, but the Girl Scout motto is to “Be Prepared,” so now is the time to make sure you have everything she’ll need for her camp session. As you’re spring cleaning, you might find items to set aside for camp, or realize it’s time for a shopping spree because her “outside” sneakers have a hole in the toe…

For Day Camp:

  • Non-refrigerated lunch
  • 2 bandannas
  • A water bottle on lanyard and labeled
  • Sun screen/bug repellent (non-aerosol)
  • Day Bag

For Resident Camp:

Clothing & Activity Accessories

  • T-shirts (No Tank, Halter or Spaghetti Strap Tops)
  • Shorts, jeans, long pants
  • Warm sweatshirt or lightweight jacket
  • Rain gear (poncho)
  • Bathing suits (one-two for pool and one for waterfront activities) – One piece or tankini; no bikinis
  • 2-3 Towels for pool/shower
  • Sturdy, closed toe/closed heel shoes for walking around camp (no Crocs or flip flops)
  • Shower shoes (these can be flip flops or Crocs)
  • Water shoes or old sneakers for waterfront activities. They will get wet (no Crocs or flip flops).
  • Undergarments
  • Pajamas
  • Socks (worn at all times)
  • A hat or bandana
  • Laundry bag (for dirty clothes)
  • Plastic bag for wet clothes

 

Personal Care Items

  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Soap/Deodorant
  • Hairbrush or comb
  • Shampoo/conditioner
  • Insect repellant (non-aerosol)
  • Sunscreen (non-aerosol)

 

Day/Evening Gear

  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Small backpack/nap sack-(day bag)
  • Refillable water bottle with name

 

Overnight Gear 

  • Sleeping bag or blanket and sheets. Note: Bring a single top sheet if you are using a sleeping bag. (twin size)
  • Pillow
  • (Optional) Comfort items: stuff animal, books, coloring pages, journal, pictures

 

What not to pack

There are a few things you shouldn’t bring along to camp. Some are for safety purposes (like keeping critters away from your stuff), but others are just to make the camp experience more enjoyable. Plus, you won’t have much room left in your bag anyway! Don’t bring this stuff:

  • Soda, energy drinks, candy, gum, and coffee type drinks
  • Fruity smelling deodorant or toothpaste
  • Body sprays or perfumes
  • Aerosol containers of any kind
  • Permanent markers
  • Any expensive or irreplaceable items
  • Valuable jewelry
  • Electronics – iPods, iPads, MP3’s, digital cameras or any other electronic devices
  • Cell phones
Cookies

Top Ten Cookie Sellers

The 2018 Cookie season is in the books. Our girls did an amazing job selling cookies, working booths and managing their business. While many sold well over 1,000 boxes, there were some that were able to sell upwards of 2,000 boxes.

The Top Ten Cookie Sellers for 2018 are:

Girl Scout Service Unit Total
Ashley Henderson Sparkling Rivers 3795
Senaia Asanya Foliage 2687
Temperance Houck Ohana 2156
Sabrina Mcelwain Voyager 2043
Serenity Blackley Voyager 2039
Hailey Gomez Imagine 2024
Meryem Belghazi East Orange 2004
Rebecca Zehnal Imagine 2000
Kayleigh Remer Voyager 2000
Melissa Janes Heart of Lake 2000

 

 

Congratulations Girl Scouts! You did an incredible job this year.