What are SWAPS?

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Special Watchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere

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History

The origin of SWAPS is Native American. Potlatch is the ceremonial exchange of gifts practiced by Native Americans of Northwest Coastal tribes.

The custom stems from the legend explaining why birds have colored feathers.

As the story goes, two Indian girls plucked feathers of a magic bird and distributed the multi-colored plumage to the colorless birds living in the forest. From that time on, birds have had brightly colored feathers and those gifts were remembered at potlatch ceremonies.

Families were summoned to the potlatch by a messenger carrying a bundle of sticks representing the number of people to be invited. The potlatch ceremony was given to commemorate the births, deaths, marriages, or coming of age of members of the group.

• The ceremony included speeches, songs, dances, games, races, and refreshments.
• The host and members of his family were costumed and enacted legends about their heritage.
• The gift giving came last of all, just before the guests departed. Since potlatch gifts were symbols of the family’s status in the village, they were often quite elaborate, often being carved boxes, canoes, dishes, jewelry, mats and baskets.

The idea of SWAPS was started at the original National Roundup Conference. SWAPS can have a tag attached with the event name, date, Troop number, Council name or State, maker’s name and address, etc.

A SWAP was a little remembrance that one Girl Scout gave to another. SWAPS are handmade, thus the girl is giving a part of herself to show friendship. In some countries SWAPS are called hat crafts.

Exchanging SWAPS promotes friendship and encourages girls to talk to other people. SWAPS are great mementos of a good time as well as a great way to share something about where we live and what we do.

SWAPS are exchanged at national council meetings, Council events, STUDIO 2B destinations, service unit events, troop meetings, and most frequently in the camp setting.

SWAP Etiquette

Exchanging SWAPS “do’s and don’ts” vary from council to council but there are some basic rules that everyone should be aware of:

• SWAPS for trade are carried separately from the ones you want to keep.
• Keepers are pinned on to hats or bandannas, and sometimes they are pinned onto a specific area of a shirt.
• SWAPS for trade can be in a SWAP bag, zipper baggie, shoe box, a friendship tie or pinned onto ribbon – anything that can be easily carried.
• SWAPS are usually 1" to 2."
• It is considered rude to refuse to swap with someone who asks.
• If you don’t like the item you have been given or already have an identical SWAP, accept it politely and give them one of yours with a Girl Scout smile. (Try to make your SWAPS something you would want to receive.) always say thank you!
• Try to have a few extra SWAPS on hand for those people who don’t have any to give in return.
• Most SWAPS have a pin on them so they can be pinned to a hat or a shirt but they don’t have to.
• SWAPS can be bracelets, necklaces, council patches, event patches, district/division/camp crests, or other small items.
• SWAPS can also be displayed on a banner, troop flag, or the kitchen curtain.
• SWAPS should not contain edible food. Food items can attract bugs and critters when outdoors.

For more information:

• Thanks to Lynn Fobes Beaver – Castle GSC for compiling SWAP information.
• Scouting Links: Bridging the World of Scouting - John Reese
• Scouting Resources: SWAPS
• Microsoft Word Document - SWAPS information
• The History of SWAPS