Girls Scouts- Daisy's

We did a Daisy's for day today. I'm trying to decide if my girls want to do it next year. Part of it will depend on when the meetings are.
So talk to me about Girl Scouts.

 

My girls have been in Girl Scouts for six years and love it. We have been very lucky to have a great troop of girls and they meet at the elementary school my girls went to which is right down the street from our house. They've had such fun going camping (that's their favorite part) and doing other activities that they'd probably not experience if they weren't in scouts. Last year our troop bridged to Cadettes and we went to San Francisco and participated in an event where the girls walked across the Golden Gate Bridge as part of an all day activity. It was so cool. They've also participated in Operation Gratitude, collecting donations of money and other items to provide toiletries and other things for U.S. Troops. They've helped decorate a float for the Rose Parade. They've gone horseback riding and learned to surf. Every year they walk in the local holiday parade with their troop. They've made friends with girls from other troops when they've gone to camp or other events. Now that they are older, they are planning and running their own meetings and they are looking forward to becoming senior Girl Scouts and being counselors at camp for younger scouts. It's truly been a wonderful experience and I think they will have great memories for the rest of their lives.

 

My girls are in 1st grade and doing Daisy's for the first time this year. They actually love it, but me -- not so much.

Why they love it: fun activities

Why I don't:
1) my girls just interact with each other and not with the rest of the girls
2) the troop leader doesn't involve the moms very much
3) the troop leader sits my girls at a table off together instead of attempting to mingle them with the other girls
4) there is a group of moms that hang out together and it feels like High School all over again, and I'm not in the "in" crowd
5) the mom clique is starting to trickle down to the girls

Okay... all that said. I really like the concept of Daisy's and I can see where it would be really great in the right group. Not sure how you can pre-determine if your potential troop is a "good" one.

Good Luck!

Kat

 

My daughter has been a Daisy for maybe two months now and loves it! She is very social by nature and has fit right in with the girls who all go to different schools. She has already been to the Cookie Kickoff (all day event) and World Thinking Day. I love that she is "thinking" more about the environment and her other "sisters". In my opinion, Girl Scouts is an amazing organization.

Leaders go through background checks as do parents who are going to be spending any time around the girls. This made me feel much more comfortable. Our Troop meets every other week for 1 1/2 hours. We trade off bringing a healthy snack. The girls take turns each meeting as "Special Helpers", passing out snack, helping with cleanup, passing out art supplies. Girl Scouts is a drop off program. It's teaching the girls to separate from us and to take responsibility for themselves and those around them.

Every program is going to have it's frustrating parts. I was a little taken aback when I found out Daisy's would be selling cookies and boothing. My daughter had a great time selling cookies at dad's work and to our close friends and can't wait to booth. I however would strongly have preferred not to have her booth. We'll see if I let her. Part of cookie sales was a way to have the girls earn their courage petal.

Anyway, that's my .02 for the short time we've been in Scouts :ibiggrin: The great thing is, it's not a crazy expensive thing to try! Hope that helps!

 

Maddie has been a Daisy since last year and she loves it. She likes all the activities including Camping, cookie booths, Caroling at Christmas time, etc. In our troop they don't have to do the Cookie Booths but I picked one for her to do so she could get her patch. I think it is worth-while and really is teaching her a lot of skills that will be great as she gets older.

I don't like that the leader won't let Connor participate in some of the activities where Maddie can participate with the Cub Scouts.

 

Dani, that isn't just the leader not letting him participate. We aren't allowed to let siblings participate. Its mostly a liability issue. When you become a registered girl scout (any level, Daisy through adult) you are covered by GS insurance, if anything happens you are covered. Anyone not a registered GS isn't covered. Its could also be a numbers issue. We (as leaders) are required to keep a scout/adult ratio and if we have extra kids we need extra adults.

My girls didn't do Daisys because they didn't have any interest in it. Last year they wanted to be Brownies, so we started. Now I'm their leader. :woohoo: Next year we actually move up to Juniors!!!

Girl Scouts sell cookies for many reasons, one being fundraising. More importantly it teaches girls confidence, math/money skills, cooperation, planning, goal setting and much much more. It is a great way for girls as young as Daisy's to learn some of the these skills that they wouldn't get in other area. One of the most important parts of Girl Scouting is teaching girls to be leaders (not girl scout leaders, but leaders in the rest of their lives). At each level of scouting more is introduced that helps girls become stronger women. Daisys learn basics, in small doses. Brownies build upon those basics, and add more skills. Juniors are becoming more independent, but still learning and building on what they learned in Brownies and Daisys. Cadettes are even more independent, but are learning more on how to be independent leaders. Seniors are often called on to help with younger girl troops as part of their learning.

 

Molly,
So what do I need to know if I fill out the leader application?

I think my girls want to do the daisy's next year.

 

:woohoo:
Lisa, fill out the adult volunteer form at least, that way if you decide to become a leader you are ready and if you decide you just want to help, but not necessarily be leader, you will be ready also.

I'm not sure how different a daisy troop is from a brownie troop, but its not all that difficult. I am working with older girls so I am able to let them make some of the decisions as to what to do each meeting. Having parent support is key. Last year the leader and I really only had each other and occasionally one other mom for help. This year I have had support from almost all of the parents and even some of the grandparents. It makes it easier on you and more fun for the girls if their families are behind it. We plan activities each week, sometimes a craft, sometimes a science project, sometimes a community service project, sometimes planning a troop activity. We have an opening ceremony--flag, with pledge, recite promise and law, then a song or two, and then on to the meat of the meeting. We leave about 15 minutes for snack (which can be provided by the girls on a rotating basis).

Finding out the interests and skills of the girls in your troop is key. There are leader guide books specific for Daisys that I'm sure will help you. I'm sure your service unit manager (the person who overseas all of the local troops) is a great person to contact, she can tell you what she has and where you can get the books.


Send me an email/pm/fb message if you want more specifics. I can look them up for you!

I'm sure your girls will have a great time! Girl Scouting is a fun learning experience.

 

Molly I understand about the numbers of the group and that but when the troop is drawing pictures, doing things in the meetings Connor can't even do it with them. I know for our troop there are always at least 6 moms who hang around during the meetings so there are always extra adults to help out.

I can understand Connor not being allowed to go on overnight trips, etc. but it makes it harder for me because of being a single parent. Last year Maddie went on the camping trip for the troop and I couldn't go because I didn't have anyone to watch Connor.

 

I have been a daisy leader for 2 years now. I think the main difference with Daisys between brownies is you just kinda wing it. Their are the petals that they can earn, however you can decide what they are going to do to earn them. As Daisy's my girls are just now finding out what Girl Scouts is. The first year is just a little hang out group. We started in Kindergarten and it has just been craft time with some field trips involved. Now that we are finishing up being Daisys I am looking forward into moving onto Brownies. There is a book that kinda tells us what is going on so much better.

I became the leader by being asked to come to a meeting at the library, there they let me and another mother know that we did not have a leader for our school. I took over that role and have a coleader that I believe is leaving after this year.

I like to somewhat plan the crafts out at least 5-6 months in advance. I usually buy them from Oriental Trading or will assign a month to another parent and her child to do. We meet 1 day a month for 1 hour at a scrapbook store that one of my parents own. We have a snack, craft and talk in that time.

I have 8 girls and all of the parents are ok. I wish we could get higher participation in events outside our meeting. I am sticking with it though because it is something the girls enjoy doing.

 

I just got a call from girl scouts today asking me if I still want to be a leader. There is one other mom (who I don't know yet) who is interested in my girls school.

 

I was in GS from Daisies until my junior year of high school (we stopped because of a tragedy in the family of one of the other girls). I loved GS and learned so much. I made some really great friends and had experiences I would never have had otherwise. I have wonderful memories that I will cherish forever.