Heartstrings NOVEMBER 2019 9 Ways for Troop Leaders to Have a Successful Year in Girl Scouts Whether you have been a Girl Scout leader for years, have GET PARENTS INVOLVED. Setting clear expectations and been with one troop for a little while, or are just starting, it creating a troop committee is key for a successful year. If you can be tough to know where to begin. We asked Girl Scout have a larger troop, these four essentials for managing a large troop leaders, parents, and volunteers what their best tips troop are a must. Nervous about having your first parent are for launching the new troop year, and their answers did meeting? Girl Scout leaders shared their top tips for running not disappoint! a successful parent meeting. USE YOUR SUPPORT SYSTEM. Connect with the service unit INTRODUCE GIRLS TO HOW THEY CAN INFLUENCE THEIR in your area so you know when its meetings will be. You can COMMUNITY. When girls are passionate about something, also talk to other Girl Scout leaders, get information about they can do incredible things to make positive changes in what’s happening locally, and build your support network. their community through community service and Take Action Your local Girl Scout council is a great resource! Get help, ask projects. There are also many things you can do to build questions and more by calling us at 800-624-4185. Please community partnerships with your troop. leave a message if we are busy helping another member. We try to return all calls within the hour. Or email us at GO OUTDOORS. A change of scenery can be just what girls [email protected]. need to learn through hands-on activities. If you’re looking for ideas to get outside, check out these tips for getting your Girl LOG ON. The Volunteer Toolkit, the official GSUSA online Scout troop outdoors this fall. Don’t forget to leave no trace! source for program content and related resources and troop financial management support, is a digital planning tool that REMIND YOUR GIRL SCOUTS THAT IT’S OK TO FAIL. Girl helps you set up, customize and track your troop activities Scouts allows girls to try new things, and sometimes they and achievements. Everything in the Volunteer Toolkit is fully don’t always go as planned. But those happy accidents can customizable. You can add your own troop activities and turn into the fondest memories. Learning alongside your change their order with a quick drag-and-drop. You can also girls can be a great way to show them that making mistakes report on troop finances, access your girl and family roster is part of the process. Check out our tips for boosting your and track your girls’ achievements and attendance. confidence in program areas that you might be intimidated by and how you can find local experts for Girl Scout activities. KEEP IT GIRL-LED. The best way for girls to learn leadership is through girl-led experiences. There is a fine line between Have fun! If it’s not fun for you, it may not be fun for the girls girl-led success and girl-led chaos, but taking a step back to either. let your girls take the lead is where magic happens. Looking for more tips for Girl Scout troop leaders? We’ve got GET ORGANIZED. Some Girl Scout troop leaders find it your back. extremely helpful to have all the information a parent may need in a folder, such as the troop meeting schedule, necessary forms, and troop guidelines. Better yet, get ahead THANKSGIVING HOURS of troop communication issues. TREFOIL TRUNK COUNCIL SHOPS WILL BE CLOSED NOVEMBER 25-29 COUNCIL LEADERSHIP CENTERS WILL BE CLOSED NOVEMBER 28-29 www.girlscoutshs.org1 800.624.4185 Spreading Holiday Cheer HOLIDAY PARADES Holiday parades are right around the corner! Before you start on floats and costumes, check out Safety Activity Checkpoints (page 105) for help planning a safe and enjoyable experience for your girls. Parades are a special event for girls, filled with fun, holiday memories, and a great way for them to raise awareness in their communities. Make sure to take pictures and submit to the council to share! Email pictures to [email protected]. COMMUNITY SERVICE Girl Scouts give back all year-round, but you already knew that! There are so many ways her G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ energy and caring make a difference in her community—whether she and her Girl Scout friends are working on a Take Action Project after a Girl Scout Journey, working towards one of their Girl Scout Highest Awards, or giving back simply because they want to! Each December on National Wreaths Across America Day, If you’re looking for how your Girl Scout troop can give back our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach is carried out by this holiday season, here are just a few of the ways Girl coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 1,600 Scouts give back across the country: locations in all 50 U.S. states, at sea and abroad. • Organize a food drive The following cemeteries located within the council are • Send care packages to Armed Forces or combat participating. Click the location for information and to register veterans to volunteer to place wreaths. • Organize a toy drive • Spread cheer by caroling at your local nursing home West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery • Collect or make warm clothing to donate December 14, 11 a.m. • Volunteer at a local food pantry or soup kitchen • Organize a drive for children in foster care or children in Memphis National Cemetery your local hospital December 14, 11 a.m. • Find a local issue directly affecting your community. • Lay wreaths at a veterans cemetery Corinth National Cemetery December 14, 12 p.m. Every Girl in a Tent Challenge We’re celebrating Girl Scouts’ 100-year-plus camping legacy and we want you to take part! Challenge yourself to experience the outdoors by spending a night under the stars between October 1, i 2019 – September 30, 2020. g te n Earn an exclusive Every Girl in a Tent Patch for any outdoor v overnight stay in a non-permanent structure (think tent, E hammock, or quinzhee) with your troop, family, or Girl Scout sisters. Why It’s Important H G T I U Outdoor education is one of the four areas that form the RL SO SC THE OUTS HEART OF foundation of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Every Girl in a Tent continues a strong tradition in camping and learning outdoor principles such as Leave No Trace. Camping experiences and programs like Every Girl in a Tent afford every girl the opportunity to: • Explore nature and learn to appreciate and protect the outdoors • Be challenged to grow in new ways and become better problem solvers • Unplug from screens and social media – and know that it’s ok to take a break • Develop leadership skills and become team players • Have fun exploring and building social bonds within a safe space like Girl Scouts! Get Your Patch and Share Your Story After your trip, tell us about it! To earn the patch, complete the form below and share a photo. Don’t forget to tag us on social media with #GSEveryGirlInATent and submit your trip details here to earn your patch. Patch will be available for purchase starting in December. Expired Memberships The new Girl Scout year started on October 1. Memberships not renewed by the last day of the Girl Scout year, September 30, have expired. Non-registered members are no longer covered by Girl Scout Activity Insurance and therefore should not be participating in activities until their registration is current. If you need any assistance with member renewal or new member registration, check out helpful tips online, or please contact our Customer Care Team at 800-624-4185 or [email protected]. If we are assisting other members, please leave a message and we will promptly return your call. GIRL SCOUTS’ 55TH NATIONAL COUNCIL SESSION • OCTOBER 21–25 JOIN US IN RLANDO Girl Scout Destinations ROUND ONE APPLICATIONS DUES DECEMBER 1! Every summer, Girl Scouts from across the USA travel to environmental attitudes, values, and behaviors, with activities Costa Rica and Panama to participate in Girl Scout-exclusive like hiking and camping, cultivating a sense of responsibility programs with Outward Bound Costa Rica. for nature. One of these is titled Scuba & Sea Turtle Adventure—an Going on a Girl Scout Destinations trip is an incredible way unforgettable experience featuring wildlife conservation girls can develop love and respect for the environment—as learning, exciting outdoor activities, and even scuba diving they discover new places, jump into challenges, learn a ton, certification! Part of Girl Scouts’ Destinations program and and make awesome lifelong friends. the ultimate experience for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scouts, Scuba & Sea Turtle Adventure is perfect for bold There are 40+ Destinations posted for 2020-2021. and courageous lovers of animals and the outdoors. Applications are open – Round 1 applications are due December 1. This life-changing experience is supported in part by the Elliott Wildlife Values Project, which helps girls grow STEPS TO GET STARTED: as leaders in wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship—efforts that positively affect their communities 1. Review all Destinations and the world. 2. Contact the Destination host with trip-specific questions, Girls who’ve experienced Scuba & Sea Turtle Adventure have or contact the council with questions about Destinations. also shared that learning about wildlife on their Destinations trip inspired them to help others protect and conserve 3.