Ideas For Troops & Leaders (submitted by YOU!)

Let's Dish! Let's Dish of Apple Valley encourages girls (ages 10 & up) to work on their Let's Get Cooking Badge! For just $15 each, Let's Dish will provide a meal option & snack, plus cover many other important elements, including kitchen cleanliness, food safety & storage; plus a tour. This 1.0+ hour field trip is sure to be a winner for your troop. Make sure to contact Kathy, the store manager, at 952-997-2380 to set up your visit in advance. (This info submitted by Troop 52597 - thanks, Veronica)! You may also want to check out letsdish.com prior to your visit.

Reusable Snack Kit: if a snack is served at each troop meeting, put together a resusable snack bag, basket or kit. Include reusable cups, plates, utensils, cloth napkins, and/or containers for serving the snack(s). Each troop member takes turns taking it home after troop meetings and having it washed and ready for the next meeting's snacktime. Not only is this a great way to help the environment by avoiding use of disposable cups/utensils or paper plates, but the troop could even decorate the kit, include a theme, or dress it up with a colorful ribbon, etc. They could also calculate what they save in troop funds by not purchasing paper plates or disposable items, and it also provides an automatic reminder whose turn it is for snack kaper at the next meeting!

 

Sticker rewards: reward good behavior for Troop members by giving out stickers! Stickers are especially popular with younger girls. Suggestion: once a girl collects 5 stickers, she is eligible to pick a prize out of a special prize box; a limit of 5 stickers per girl is recommended. This is a positive way to place emphasis on good character: especially when a girl scout goes out of her way to help, do a good deed, make someone happy, etc. (Thanks, Troop 52597)!

Flag Ceremonies: go to this link to find out more about how your troop can learn to perform a flag ceremony. Troops who would like to do a flag ceremony at the monthly leader meetings are also very welcome--contact one of the service unit managers. Additionally, many community events or even city council meetings welcome Girl Scouts who'd like to begin the meeting with a flag ceremony.

SWAP-of-the-Month

Inquiring Minds Want to Know - Just what are SWAPS? You may have heard the term before. Click here for detailed
info sheet: All About SWAPS

SWAPS stands for "Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere" OR "Shared With A Pal."

Try these links for a few new SWAPs: www.gsswaps.net   www.scoutswaps.com

This month's featured SWAP:     Roasting Marshmallows

Recently featured VLGS SWAPs-of-the-Month:

Jiffy Pop   Rice Bowl   Cotton Candy  

If you would like instructions on how to make the SWAP-of-the-Month, just contact Arlys Thompson, she'd love to help you out!