Bella's Brownie blog

update

2009-04-17T18:48:00.000-07:00

We decided to do space explorer from teh book at the last meeting and then took the last 1/2 hour or so to just do some fun game stuff. It was GREAT!

Tonight we did the neighborhood all brownie event. We had a great time and earned totally teamwork and talked about bullying and standing strong. The american girl movie Charissa is just awesome for this and a great fun way to bring up the topic.

Ok I'm stumped and need help

2009-04-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

I know that several of you read the blog...and now I need some inspiration from you. We have our next meeting on April 11 (or so) and I had slated to do a try it on the Upper Penninsila (sp?) but some how that just doesn't seem to do it for me. I can't rely on the weather being its April and Michigan to plan something for outside. But feel like the kids need to get moving. Anyone got any ideas for try its?

so today's mail came in...

2009-03-31T11:41:00.000-07:00

and brought us the maple syrup try its. Just waiting on a few more that are on back order. This was a great one to do and very easy since its sugar maple tapping season here in Michigan. The local nature center does a program that we attended. Lots of fun!

so I've been scanning away this afternoon

2009-03-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

and have tons to share:

starting wtih watersheds and me, water safety and fun,

sewing, outdoor skills,

on ice and Ms. President

Life in Colonial Times

its magic,

Honoring Our Armed Forces,

homeless awareness,

girl scout pride

every vote counts,

dinosaurs,

confectionarily yours,

computer ease,

climate control,

cheerleading,

archeology

we are still waiting on more to be delivered. And I don't scan in the ones that are in the brownie book either.

update

2009-03-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

Gosh I'm behind on things... I've got just about all the try its ordered/purchased so we are up to date. Which is a great feeling! This past meeting we did "what if I couldn't?" from Georgia (here is the link to the requirements...you will need to call the council shop to order them and right now they are on backorder http://www.girlscoutsofgreateratlanta.org/volunteer_zone/default.asp?page=tryit_badge ).... what a great one for troops to earn! I think this should be on every troops to do list. We talked about how not all disablities are seen and out of the leaders there we had the girls vote on which one of us has a learning disablity. They got it wrong but it got them talking about how just because you learn or do things differently doesn't mean you are stupid or wierd. WE also got to talk to the mom of one of their classmates who has autism. Like I said it was a great try it to earn!

I will to some more scanning soon so you can see what has come in.

It was Thinking Day Friday night

2009-03-08T05:42:00.000-07:00

and what a great time we had. Last year was great with just the troops in the school but this year we did it as a neighborhood- so all the girl scout troops in our area were invited to partake..... It was alot of fun and the girls had a great time.

Today the girls have a cookie booth and Bella is now 80 boxes away from her 550 goal...so hopefully today will bring her really close to that number!

another round...

2009-03-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

well this past few days brought us our Society of Women Engineers try it... that Bella and a few friends earned at cranbrook...they have a great area on building and pulleys and levers and such.

We also got our Girl Scout pride patches in (I'm having scanner issues so will post a picture soon)..they are an earned patch and when I remember the contact info for both these I will share it. I promise Jill!

Got some feed back last nightabout the blog

2009-03-03T04:12:00.000-08:00

since part of the reason for the blog is to help other troops earn try its. When I post about a try it I will try to post the contact info for the council and the requirements if possible as well. (unless they are really long and then I will just refer you to the site). The exception would be if its a troops own rather than a council's own because I don't feel its would be right to give out people's personal info but if you email me than I will share how you get in touch with them.

If you have any other things you'd like to see here just let us know.

So for those of you I talked to last night....and mentioned the maple syrup try it here is the link to the requirements
http://www.gs-sybaquay.org/program_patch_official_syrup.aspx
Maple Syrup Try-It
Complete four of the eight requirements including the one starred.
1. Discovery of Maple Syrup*Native Americans have several different legends about the discovery of the ‘water’ found in trees. Read or listen to a legend.
2. Collecting the SapEarly Pioneers improved upon the collection and reduction process. Learn about the way that early European pioneers processed the sap. Taste sugar maple sap, if possible.
3. Knowing the SourceLearn how to identify a sugar maple tree. Learn how big a tree should be before it is tapped. Learn about the sugar maple trees and how the weather affects when the sap will flow.
4. Maple Syrup ProcessHow many gallons of sap will it take to make one gallon of pure maple syrup? Listen to a talk or demonstration on the past and present methods for making maple syrup or sugar.
5. Enjoying the LaborTaste pure maple syrup. Set up a taste test with pure maple syrup and two other maple syrup brands. How are they different and how are they the same?
6. Planting for the FuturePlant a sugar maple tree for future generations to enjoy.
7. Read about Maple SyrupRead several books to someone younger than you along the theme of pancakes or maple syrup. Some examples are: The Run Away Pancake by Joan Tate, Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie DePaola, and Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle.ORMake up a game using the idea of pancakes and/or maple syrup.
8. Cooking with Maple SyrupHost a pancake breakfast for your families.ORPut together a recipe book with favorite recipes using maple syrup. Ask family members for contributions. Publish the completed book for all the troop members.

then you can order it online here http://www.gs-sybaquay.org/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?Search=Yes&sppp=10

for those interested in the bat try it

2009-02-26T13:55:00.001-08:00

its called going batty and is from http://www.riverbluffs.org/
they have the junior badge as well...didn't ask about the IPA .

The Netherlands has be to ordered from a troop...as its a troops own rather then council's own and if you email me privately I can get you the contact info.

new try its in...

2009-02-25T07:16:00.000-08:00

we got in the going batty try its (finally) and the Native American Culture ones... Love them!

getting ready for Thinking Day

2009-02-25T04:30:00.000-08:00

yesturday the girls started to get ready for Thinking Day. We "elected" to represent Ireland and one of the mom's in the troop, who's lived there, is organizing things. It was rather nice to just be able to watch and partake rather then plan everything. The girls learned an Irish Lullaby and about traditions in Ireland. We made our swaps...then we had paczkis for snack (which is Polish not Irish but since it was Fat Tuesday how could we let the opportunity pass). Anyways we came away with earning Citizens Near and Far.
Today we are going Ice Skating at the local arena.

so at this point...

2009-02-17T17:24:00.001-08:00

we went to the troy historical muesum...which was a great time for the kids. We learned alot and saw alot. Bella and William decided they didnt' want to live back then because they didn't have computers. LOL

I also realized that I'm going to have to point Bella into the try its that face point down... LOL because right now most of the try its she's earned/doing are point up and that's just making it a pain to sew on. Probably because I don't like it if they look upside down.

today's mail brought lots of treats

2009-02-17T10:00:00.001-08:00

today we got Ballerina and Rock on from MIddle Tennesse and then cosmic adventurer and creepy crawlers from rolling hills (I believe)

all were lots of fun to earn!

I scanned

2009-02-16T06:50:00.000-08:00

these are 2 troops own... rather then council's own. They are a little harder to find and order because there is no council website that "advertises" them ... the share the season one was great fun and the one on the Netherlands looks fun as well ...

I need to scan in some

2009-02-14T17:50:00.000-08:00

but yesturday (maybe it was Thursday) brought up a few troops own... Share the Season and the Netherlands. Bella wants to do the Netherlands one and I figured if I was mailing away to the same group for the others it was faster and cheaper (postage wise) to go ahead and get it. So this week is mid winter break and I think I will "push" her to get the Netherlands one done. We also are going with a brownie friend to Cranbrook Science muesum and maybe the Troy Historical Muesum.

we had a great time at the pool

2009-02-11T04:13:00.001-08:00

I am so sorry I forgot my camera (again!) ... some how I have to work on remembering that. Overall it was good... the only glitch was that they told our field trip mom that they do a pretty standard water safety class so it was no problem. However when we got there the lifeguard had only done one other class for cub scouts/boy scouts and they had brought her a list so she didn't have a real clue. Thankfully I got a hold of grandma at work and she was able to tell us the requirements via phone so we could do it. =) In the end it was still great and I would recommend this for other troops. Even just taking the group there to swim/play since we went to the Warren Community Pool
http://www.cityofwarren.org/default.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath%7Cdefault.asp&area_2=parksrec/Warren%20Community%20Center%20Photos/Warren%20Community%20Center%20Photos

got the bat situation fixed

2009-02-10T04:16:00.000-08:00

They had my credit card/debit card number written wrong and no phone number. So I called yesturday and all is well. They are now officially on their way from IL and so they should be here in a day or two. I'll of course post pictures then.

Today we are going to a local pool to earn our water safety and fun try it from Virigina Skyline Council.

more pictures of try its earned

2009-02-07T11:00:00.000-08:00

we have native American Lore, underground railroad and marvelous mystery from Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council.

from the girl scouts of chesapeake council we earned the campfire try it (at camp LOL).

For some reason our going batty try it hasnt' come in yet... and that was ordered back on 1/26 so I need to call them on Monday. Even though it doesn't look like it I am almost caught up on ordering... several of them come from the same council so I'm waiting till after we go ice skating (on 3/25) to order because I don't want to have to pay postage twice.

Thursday's adventures

2009-02-04T06:40:00.001-08:00

Tommorrow is 1/2 day at our school. With so many working mom's its hard for them so we planned for all the troops who wanted to to have lunch and spend soemtime together. We are watching the Kit Kitridge movie and doing some activities. So we should be able to have the girls earn "Girl Scouts through the years" and hopefully because the group isn't overly large and I have several mom's helping we can also get "listening to the past" done as well. Not to bad if you ask me. Bella's excited! I still have to get some shopping done before then.

Did you know chocolate chip cookies were "created" in the 30's? Ritz crackers and fritos as well.

here is the sun safe earned patch

2009-02-03T15:33:00.000-08:00

The girls earned this one this past fall.... I have one that I think I finally figured out who gets it! LOL Some days its easier then others. But when you have a daughter earning on her own, with one other friend from another troop, a combined group of brownies and your regular troop it can get confusing.

THis one is from Frountier Council and I believe that's in Arizona. Its a great one to earn when gearing up for the summer because its alot about using sun screen and such. Which here in Michigan the sun is out only so much. Though we did learn that its very good to use sunscreen even in the winter here in Michigan because of the UVA and UVB rays. (UVC rays don't reach through the earth's atmosphere! Told ya we listen and learn!)

fun with flight from Western Washington

2009-02-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

I believe that's what the council is called...

Bella earned this last summer when she went to Dreams and Wings with UMDM.

Bella is now working on earning her safety award and her God and Me award ... I think there is one other Brownie Challange pin as well she wants to still do this school year.

just in

2009-02-02T10:16:00.001-08:00

here is the gymnastics try it and junior badge from Western Penn. Again another cool looking design!

I think I scanned them upside down but you get the idea LOL

I am hoping tommorrow's mail will bring me the going batty try its and fun with flight try its. Then on Wednesday I should be ordering another round!

ok so I said before that I was ordering try its

2009-02-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

And just in (well ok it came Saturday but still) ... here is "fishing fun" from GS of NoARK. The lady at the shop was just a doll to talk to and order from! And its soo cute!

It was super fun to earn and you actually could earn it with out really going fishing if you had to but why not get out this summer and go fishing!?

What do you have planned with your troop for Feb?

2009-01-29T18:48:00.000-08:00

Feb will take us swimming to earn the water safety and fun from Virginia Skyline, work on Thinking Day stuff (which we will try to tie into "people of the world" out of the try it book) and ice skating- again from virginia skyline.

I'm looking for ideas. Also do you do stuff over the summer?

ballerina try it requirements

2009-01-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

In an effort to really make this blog more helpful to other leaders here are the requirements for the ballerina try it.

Brownie Ballerina Try-It
Girls must complete four of the six requirements to earn this try-it.
1. Take a beginning ballet class – learn how to warm up your muscles and do some simple movements.
2. Find out about dancewear – tights, leotards, character skirts, legwarmers, etc. What is the difference between soft-shoes and pointe shoes and why do dancers need each kind?
3. Learn the five placement positions for your feet in ballet.
4. Learn how dancers come to "attention" (bras bas), and how to hold your hands gracefully when doing ballet.
5. Many ballet terms are French. Learn what to do when someone asks you to plié, relevé, tendu, and cambér.
6. Talk with someone who has taken ballet for a while. What does she enjoy about it? Have her demonstrate some things she has learned. Maybe she can help you earn this try-it.

then to order it call Girl Scouts of Middle Tennesse at (615) 460-0222

I honestly just asked the kids dance teacher if she would do it or if she had an older student/friend who wouldn't mind. She said yes and while she's not requiring a payment I will be paying her because she's taking off work early to come and do this.

ok just to give a little heads up

2009-01-27T09:49:00.000-08:00

try its are expensive when you do a bunch of them! LOL yesturday in an effort to catch up on getting try its together and caught up... I got on the phone ordered a total of 36 try its from 4 different councils and the total came to 67.62 yikes ...of course that makes each try it a value of 1.89 which isn't much more then what they cost if I have to drive to the council shop. Where they are 1.25 each plus tax and I don't get reimbursed for travel. So really now that I break that down for me and such its easier and cost effective for me as leader LOL.

I still have 240 + more to order. Today's meeting will add a ballerina one to be ordered. Which really this total isn't bad because we have 21 girls in our troop alone. And then our sub/small group was 4 girls and sometimes when Bella says "I'm bored" on days off I reach into the search engine to find her a try it to earn. Our troop also has decided to focus more on try its rather then fun patches. Though I would like to track down a few fun patches for them.

fyi gymnastics try it requirements

2009-01-27T06:05:00.000-08:00

Complete 4 activities

1. Learn the basic safety rules of gymnastics.

a. Be sure to discuss the importance of mats, standard equipment, and spotters.

b. Talk about the importance of working with a trained gymnast or instructor when trying something new.

c. Learn what the proper clothing and footwear are for a gymnast. Consider the dangers of long hair and jewelry when tumbling.

2. Learn about the four gymnastic events used in competition and try a basic move in at least two different areas with the help of a gymnast or coach.

a. Floor Exercise
b. Vault
c. Balance Beam
d. Uneven Bars

3. A gymnast must take care of her body. Discuss the following:

a. Warm up and cool down before and after strenuous exercise.

b. What kind of exercises would help you get into shape?

c. What should she eat and drink?

d. How much rest is important?

4. Make up a short routine, dance or game using music or rhythmic moves. You may create your movements by yourself or with a group.

5. Visit a gymnastic center or school or attend a class, workshop, or gymnastic event. Talk to a gymnastics coach or teacher about why they think gymnastics is a good sport for girls. Talk to girls your age about why they are involved in a class or a gym team.

6. Observe, in person or on television, a gymnastic event. Think about what performance you enjoyed most and why. How did watching the event make you feel? What new things did you learn about gymnastics?

to order this call the Beaver Shop at 724-774-3553 ext. 1504
They also have the Junior badge and Interest patch available. Call and they will email you the requirements.

thought you might like to see Bella's try its on her vest.

2009-01-24T15:58:00.000-08:00

Now the issue is that not all of them have been ordered and therefore not recieved and sewn on. So when that happens the front will be completely filled and the back will have them on there as well. Our troop sews fun patches and earned patches onto their tote bags because of space issues.

If you start with the first picture top row, left to right then you will see: cookies count, outdoor adventurer, numbers and shapes, ready, set, go camping, travel right, friends are fun, Michigan
bottom row: bowling, animals, computer smarts, making music, point, click and go, water everywhere, write away, and art to wear.
In picture 2 top row is: my neighborhood, giddy up, 10th Mountain Division and Fort Drum, wave the flag, girl scout ways
second row: let's pretend, manners, climbing fun, colors and shapes, penny power, around the world, earth is our home
bottom row: make it eat it, eco-explorer, earth and sky, dancercize, caring and sharing, senses, healthy habits.

so as you can see we are still waiting on several dozen try its.

Today my troop (plus a few siblings and a friend)

2009-01-24T14:43:00.000-08:00

went to the local gymnastics training center! We earned a council's own gymnastics try it and the girls had a great time! The center was really nice and didn't smell like old gym socks! My camera batteries died not long after we got their however =(

So we went

2009-01-23T14:46:00.000-08:00

4 girls, 2 boys and 4 parents. It was a bit crazy and I take the blame there for most of it. I should have gone to cranbrook ahead of time, by myself and mapped out the plan of attack. My lack of familiarity with the exhibits caused a bit of chaos and I'm sorry for that. Part of it is just the nature of things when you have kids and even more with kids who have some special needs.

All in all we had a good time I think. I'm going to sit down and figure out exactly what we earned. There were a few exhibits I didn't expect but because I knew different try its out there that I wanted to do at one point or another I did wing it. So I'll edit this when I figure it out for you all to see.

Here's the list and the council we are getting the try its from:
Dinosaurs- Girl Scouts of DuPage County Council
Climate Change- Virginia Skyline
watersheds and me- Virginia Skyline
cosmic adventurer-Girl Scouts of Rolling Hills
archaeology- Girl Scouts of Central Indiana
let's get diggin'- Girl Scouts of Black Hawk
fossil safari- Girl Scouts of Black Hawk
Our Feathered Friends- Girl Scouts of Black Hawk
Rock On- girl Scouts of Middle Tennesse

I think if we have a follow up meeting with the girls to make a couple of crafts and a building project and eat a few treats then we can add to the list:
Creepy Crawlers- Rolling Hills
Engineering- Girl Scouts of Columbia River
Native American- Girl Scouts of San Diego-Imperial council

So now I will plan out the few odd activities and set a date for them.

I have to say also that I'm all about maximizing events. I figure if I can go the same place and earn more than 1 try it with my daughter then that's great. And a better use of our limited time at this point. There are other occassions when I want to really really focus in on something special for us and that's good to. I am also trying to focus our "small group" on council's own try its rather then the book. While I'm my daughter's troop leader and its easy for me to plan different try its for the girls so there is a variety I dont' want to make it harder for other leaders or on the girls. Afterall how "boring" would it be to earn the same try it on a field trip with our group and also in a meeting. Of course it depends on the try it and again the activites wouldn't necessarily be the same but still... that's like doing 8 things then for each try it and they are kinda little work that hard for those little things. My theory is expose them to TONS of stuff at this stage of life.

the prayers worked...

2009-01-23T11:01:00.003-08:00

I got the passes! So in just a little bit we will be heading to the muesum to earn a series of try its. I'll keep you posted on what we actually get done.

The goal is to earn the following:
cosmic adventures
fossil safari
dinosaurs
archaeology
let's get diggin'
watersheds and me
climate change

but that's being really hopeful. This is the first time we are getting this group going so it maybe a little slow going today...but it should be fun. I also haven't taken a tour of the science center in a long time and don't recall exactly what is there... so these were planned by memory and based on what was on their website.

2009-01-23T05:54:00.000-08:00

ok say a fast prayer that I can get passes to cranbrook for this afternoon! IF I can and take the "zoo crew" then we are going ot work on some try its and some cub scout stuff for William.

Today brings progress

2009-01-16T17:24:00.001-08:00

thanks to our friend Carol making a stop for us... the scouts in my house will be starting their "God and Me" award. Monday I think a few of us are getting together to do some try related work as well ...and then again on Friday afternoon. Seems like alot but Monday the one mom is a nurse and she's going to do some fun first aid- wrap your friend in a bandage type stuff with the gang and then Friday is a trip to Cranbrook Science Center which the kids like. I think the best advice to doing try its on your own wtih your scout is to incorporate them into things you're already doing.

So my advice go to your local science muesum... earn some council's own like "dinosaurs" and "fossil safari". Even better if you live in my area because our local libraries (I don't know about other areas) have a program where you can check out passes to alot of great local muesums.

so as a leader

2009-01-11T17:34:00.000-08:00

I'm a little frustrated with one mom in our troop. Its so hard to be a good leader and do something that challanges all the girls but also so that they enjoy it and have fun. I spend TONS of hours finding new and exciting things for the girls to do and learn. And its really frustrating when one person is so vocal about her dislike/distain for everything we do in our group. Do people not realize that I'm a volunteer and I have other things I could be doing with the hours I spend working on scouts and programming. I have a large troop of now 21 girls and this year we've done a few field trips, camping and alot of meetings. We've done community service projects, fall sales (magazines, nuts and calanders) which I ended up being the product manager for and now we are doing cookies for which I'm the cookie mom. I'm tired! My son wants me to do stuff with him! And I have a life. This same mom has failed to do anything she has said she would do which is making me even more angry about it. There is nothing more irritating (or at least things rank up there with it) then me having to run around at the last minute picking up balls other people drop. So now I have to figure out how to handle this ..especially since her daughter is such a sweetheart and we love having her in the group. Anyone got any hints/suggestions?

Another link to share

2009-01-07T14:32:00.000-08:00

This is the Black Diamond Council in West Virgina! They have some really interesting try its and have been wonderful on the phone to ask questions of. http://www.bdgsc.org/program_resources/councilsown/

Some good links

2009-01-06T16:32:00.001-08:00

A few people have been asking me lately for this info.

Here are just 2 of the various councils that I check out their council's own try its/patch programs. They have alot to offer and that's why they are a great place to get started.
Girl Scouts of Virgina Skyline Council http://www.gsvsc.org/ooc_tryits.htm

Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey http://store.gscsnj.org/store/category/54/196/COUNCIL'S-OWN-EARNED-AWARDS/

things to realize

2008-12-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

This is Bella's second year in brownies. We have 21 girls in our troop for which I am the leader. What that means is that for our troop its easiest to manage if at each meeting we break the girls down into smaller groups/stations and then switch every so often. If you do this and have 4 stations then at each meeting you can achieve at least one try it. We meet usually twice a month so that's at least 2 try its each month that the girls earned. My girls also decided to do some things over the summer so that added a few here and there as well. I also believe that if a girl is doing something with her family already and with maybe doing one extra step or something there is a try to be had then go ahead and earn it. Hence Bella earning the ones for things like climbing and flight.

We have also realized that some council's have amazing opportunities to do things out of the book and really build on what your girls might like. (hence bowling, bats, etc) As I build this site I will share some of our favorite council's own program sites with you all as well.

in the beginning

2008-12-26T05:52:00.000-08:00

I thought it would make my blog a bit cleaner if I moved the brownie stuff to a seperate space. Here Bella and I could share her progress in scouts and also ideas we have for different projects. Bella loves brownies (so does William actually)...so there you have it