August 2005 Volume 31 Issue 7  

Leaders' TIPS

With Beth Watkins

The More You Know
      The beginning of school signals the beginning of a new Girl Scout year. Things sort of slow down in the summer, but with the start of school, regular troop meetings, field trips, service projects and all that goes with a great Girl Scout troop begins. Are you ready? Being ready not only means letting the girls plan their year, but it also means that you, as a leader/co-leader or troop volunteer, are up to date with your trainings. If your girls bridged from one level to the next, you need to take the training for the new level. An effective leader is one that is prepared with the proper information. You get that information by attending trainings. As girls grow, they need new challenges and you, as a leader, learn about those challenges by attending training appropriate for your girls’ age level. Training is continuing education that allows you to offer the very best to the girls. Who would want anything less for their girls?
     If you took a training several years ago, and are returning to a program level you led in the past, you probably need to go take the training again. There have been many changes in the Daisy program in the last few years, there are many more Brownie try-its than a few years ago, and Juniors are on the edge of STUDIO 2B, and even a current Junior leader needs to learn about what is coming up as the girls get older. If you used to be a Cadette or Senior Leader, you need to take the new Teen Advisor training to get the newest ideas for our oldest girls. Training is not a one shot deal, it is an ongoing education and you want to take all that you can to be the leader your girls deserve. The more you know–the more fun you and your girls will have.

Meet Them Where They Are Comfortable
     Are your girls struggling with the “it’s not cool to be a Girl Scout” syndrome that hits somewhere around 6th and 7th grade? It happens to all of the girls; they begin questioning if they want to remain in a program they have always enjoyed. They see the new options available to them in Junior High School and think they don’t have time for Girl Scouts. Your job, as a leader, is to make their troop so interesting that they want to find time to continue their Girl Scout involvement. Yes, there are the conflicts with band, choir, cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, and anything else that comes along, but you, as a leader, can make it possible for them to put Girl Scouting into their schedules. Change your meeting times, have longer but more infrequent meetings. Have slumber party meetings, or pizza meetings. Grab them where they are comfortable. If they want to meet at the local coffee shop, then do it. If they want a meeting where they just sit and talk, let them do that. You would be surprised how much actual work you can get done by just letting them talk.
     There are other ways to keep them involved. Many troops find that planning trips is a way to maintain involvement. A goal

gives them something to work towards, some reason to stay in the troop. Let them choose a place to go. Try to make it relevant to Girl Scouting, such as a trip to Savannah, one of the four World Centers, or a trip where they can use some of their skills. Their parents can take them to the popular theme parks, but they can’t do some of the things Girl Scouts can do.
     Service is part of our Girl Scout heritage. Teenagers want to be involved in their community and to feel useful. By doing service projects, they learn that they can contribute to the community, and it exposes them to different cultures, age levels, economic situations, and the needs of the community. They may also find a career idea from one of those service projects.
     You can keep them interested and involved if you let them plan and serve. Isn’t that what we are about, anyway? Review the Girl Scout Promise with them and let them see how it is really relevant to them as teenagers.