Were you a girl scout or brownie leader? Give me your advice...

[Anonymous]

8:47, I specifically said I was NOT blaming leaders for what I see as the overcomplicated Girl Scout program today. (I did mention that our own leader was a control freak--that's just her as a person.) I also mentioned that my DD did in fact not have a great experience; she shed no tears when we stopped.

Being involved in my DD's life does not mean I need to be at every extracurricular activity. Beyond the fact that I have two other children, I want my DD to be able to stand on her own, socialize with other children, and accept direction from (gasp!) a non-parent. My goal, after all, is to raise a capable adult. I'm very close with my own mom and have no regrets about what you characterize as her "drop and go" attitude. Girls Scouts was for ME, not her, and I think some benign neglect in our children's activities would likely be a great relief to them.

That all said, I think we're coming from different perspectives anyway--because to my mind, any girl who is doing competitive dance, Scouts, soccer, etc., is simply overscheduled. Yes, life is filled with great opportunities--but you can't do them all. Downtime is highly underrated, in the D.C. metro area in particular.

[Anonymous]

OK -- 10:08 -- I understand. I think part of what you experienced was related to the age of the girls. The parents tend to tagalong to more events when they are younger. And the younger grades tend to do a lot of crafts (that are mostly foam rubber crap).

However, in the second year of brownies, the parents almost never attent events, partly for the reason you stated (we want the girls to be independent and expand their competence), and largely b/c the parents just want to drop and go (which we leaders would LOVE to do once in awhile --- but that would require other parents to be the charapones and manage the event logistics).

When we do want parental involvement it's hard to find (like finding someone to loan us their kitchen or come to a day camp on the weekend or organize a picnic). They are mainly willing to buy something for the troop or give $ -- they just don't want to give effort. That's what frustrates me b/c the girls have the interest/desire, the parents won't meet them halfway.

I still think that your daughter (or any girl) could get a lot out of GS -- but experiences vary. Sorry it didn't work out for you.

[Anonymous]

We tried Girl Scouts and met with someone in charge of the Council as a group of public school K parents interested in Daisies. We were trying to join for Daisies, and I was amazed at the incredible amount of work it would take to start a troop from scratch. The other issue was the my dh wanted to participate as a co-leader, and they seemed rather hostile to this arrangement. After awhile of all this craziness, we dropped out of Girl Scouts and joined American Heritage Girls. There everything is more consistent, we are part of a big troop with a variety of levels. There are more experienced leaders to lean on. It has been night and day for us, and AHG has been a great experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We tried Girl Scouts and met with someone in charge of the Council as a group of public school K parents interested in Daisies. We were trying to join for Daisies, and I was amazed at the incredible amount of work it would take to start a troop from scratch. The other issue was the my dh wanted to participate as a co-leader, and they seemed rather hostile to this arrangement. After awhile of all this craziness, we dropped out of Girl Scouts and joined American Heritage Girls. There everything is more consistent, we are part of a big troop with a variety of levels. There are more experienced leaders to lean on. It has been night and day for us, and AHG has been a great experience.

Starting a troop is definitely work in the beginning, but once you get a bank account set up and your girls registered, you're all set. As for men being volunteers -- they can be leaders or volunteer in another capacity, it's just that a husband and a wife can't co-lead a troop all by themselves. Two married or otherwise related adults can't be with the girls without another adult to ensure child safety. I think that's perfectly reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Wow. This thread has been extremely helpful. DD joined a new troop this year as a second year daisy. The leaders' kids will continue with Daisies one more year and they need someone(s) to lead the brownies next year.

I'm a very involved parent (only work part time & have 1 child) but next year I'll be going back to school (for my MBA) and am a bit nervous about the amount of work that will be required for girl scouts.

I like the idea of ditching the meetings and journey badges and finding specific badges that are meaningful to the girls.

DD REALLY enjoys girl scouts but I won't be able to do it on my own. Without at least one other reliable person I'll have to walk away from it all.

[Anonymous]

It really helps if you have a reliable co-leader.

Too many more leaders and things get complicated.

[Anonymous]

I agree!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We tried Girl Scouts and met with someone in charge of the Council as a group of public school K parents interested in Daisies. We were trying to join for Daisies, and I was amazed at the incredible amount of work it would take to start a troop from scratch. The other issue was the my dh wanted to participate as a co-leader, and they seemed rather hostile to this arrangement. After awhile of all this craziness, we dropped out of Girl Scouts and joined American Heritage Girls. There everything is more consistent, we are part of a big troop with a variety of levels. There are more experienced leaders to lean on. It has been night and day for us, and AHG has been a great experience.

Starting a troop is definitely work in the beginning, but once you get a bank account set up and your girls registered, you're all set. As for men being volunteers -- they can be leaders or volunteer in another capacity, it's just that a husband and a wife can't co-lead a troop all by themselves. Two married or otherwise related adults can't be with the girls without another adult to ensure child safety. I think that's perfectly reasonable.

It was not going to be a husband and wife as co-leaders, but my dh volunteered to be a co-leader with another volunteer who was a woman. The interpersonal relationship there and with the council was bad. It soured my dh so much that he is still frightened of volunteering with AHG even though the people at AHG are much nicer than at GS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- thanks for all the great ideas and advice. Please keep it coming!

truthfully if you really want to do it, then be my guest. I personally hate girl scouts, they never do anything exept dainty tea parties and selling smelly cookies! I also hate the nasty girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -- thanks for all the great ideas and advice. Please keep it coming!

truthfully if you really want to do it, then be my guest. I personally hate girl scouts, they never do anything exept dainty tea parties and selling smelly cookies! I also hate the nasty girls.

Where did this come from PP? You bumped uo an old thread to post some random complaint against Girl Scouts?

[Anonymous]

I have to teach the "brownies" girl scouts first aid and my best self. Anyone have any ideas on things I can do?

[Anonymous]

I had a brownie troop and a Daisy troop simultaneously, was involved in council leadership. They were some of the best memories I have of my girls when they were little. For me, the number one rule to live by is to not take any crap from the other parents. The way to keep people from taking advantage of you is just to put together a schedule at the beginning of the year -- tell each mom which meeting they are assigned to, which activity they will be coordinating. Have a meeting at your house which is mandatory and make them sit there and squirm until someone volunteers for each of the activities.

The next rule is -- do things that you yourself think are fun. (If you're always wanted to go into the kitchen in your favorite pizza restaurant, figure out what badge that lines up with. Get that lady from church who sells Avon to come over and do some kind of beauty/makeup thing with the girls. Visit that organic farm which always has that cool stand at the farmer's market, etc. Go see the Nutcracker. Learn how to twerk -- get someone's teenaged sister to come to that session and teach everybody. Pay her with a Starbucks gift card.)

Don't do things that you don't want to do and which will make you feel resentful. I loved crafts and camping, hate organized sports. It worked out great -- the moms who like to coach soccer did any badgework that involved athletics. There's usually someone in the group who is a former accountant, etc. who likes to do budget, cookie sales, etc.

Don't let conflicts fester. If there's a mom who really pisses you off, yes you need to sit down with them.

Make friends with people whose kids are older and borrow stuff like crazy. Find out what their troop did and steal all the ideas -- and the leftover supplies!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have to teach the "brownies" girl scouts first aid and my best self. Anyone have any ideas on things I can do?

Do you have the badge guide? That would be the place to start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a brownie troop and a Daisy troop simultaneously, was involved in council leadership. They were some of the best memories I have of my girls when they were little. For me, the number one rule to live by is to not take any crap from the other parents. The way to keep people from taking advantage of you is just to put together a schedule at the beginning of the year -- tell each mom which meeting they are assigned to, which activity they will be coordinating. Have a meeting at your house which is mandatory and make them sit there and squirm until someone volunteers for each of the activities.

The next rule is -- do things that you yourself think are fun. (If you're always wanted to go into the kitchen in your favorite pizza restaurant, figure out what badge that lines up with. Get that lady from church who sells Avon to come over and do some kind of beauty/makeup thing with the girls. Visit that organic farm which always has that cool stand at the farmer's market, etc. Go see the Nutcracker. Learn how to twerk -- get someone's teenaged sister to come to that session and teach everybody. Pay her with a Starbucks gift card.)

Don't do things that you don't want to do and which will make you feel resentful. I loved crafts and camping, hate organized sports. It worked out great -- the moms who like to coach soccer did any badgework that involved athletics. There's usually someone in the group who is a former accountant, etc. who likes to do budget, cookie sales, etc.

Don't let conflicts fester. If there's a mom who really pisses you off, yes you need to sit down with them.

Make friends with people whose kids are older and borrow stuff like crazy. Find out what their troop did and steal all the ideas -- and the leftover supplies!

Bold #1 -- that is not typical. Usually the LEADERS lead or they teach the girls to lead (as they get older).

Bold #2 -- ???!!! If "twerking" is part of your programming in GS, you may not be suitable to be a leader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have to teach the "brownies" girl scouts first aid and my best self. Anyone have any ideas on things I can do?

Do you have the badge guide? That would be the place to start.

FIRST AID: We had the school nurse visit and make a presentation; then the girls assembled personal first-aid kids in Ziploc bags they decorated.