I've been a GS leader for 6 years. When the girls were in K and 2nd grade, the girls had fun, bit it wasn't all that "exciting." Lots of arts and crafts, simple hikes around the neighborhood park looking at squirrels and bugs and pointing out landmarks, very simple food projects like making GORP, etc. They key thing is that I always asked the girls what THEY wanted to do. Obviously, I gave them suggestions and different options for activities, but I feel strongly about the "Girl Led" aspect of Girl Scouts so we always have had the girls' buy in for the stuff we do. Now that they are in 5th grade, they really do take an active lead in planning events and activities. They plan the menus for camp outs, decided they wanted to spend cookie money on a horse backing riding trip (definitely not my first choice, but whatever), and have picked the badges they want to work on (Junior Detective, Geocaching, Simple Meals). Stuff moves a bit more slowly than if I chose everything to do, but I'm happy with what the girls are doing. And some stuff might not get done -- like the Bronze Award because they are just not into the planning of it and I'm OK with that. When one girl wants to do something, I always tell her to encourage her fellow troop members to get on board and if there is interest, I try to make it happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is very active and not an indoor arts and crafts girl at all. The troop that she was in was dull to her. So I stepped up and became a leader.

When I held the parents meeting I made it clear that the focus of our troop would be outdoor and STEM activities. To make this happen, I had to become the camp certified adult, the first aided, and the troop leader. Basically I can fulfil any role that is needed in the troop.

The girls in our troop like the activities we do. We do some hiking and cookouts now. Next year they will bridge to Juniors and they've requested to go kayaking, camping, archery, ropes course and an overnight at a museum. They've also figured out that many girls don't get a chance to be in the outdoors so we are starting to think of a service project that they can do either with Daisys or Brownies to introduce them to the outdoors.

Girl Scouts is what you make of it. If you don't like what's offered, change it.

+1. I'm a GS leader. Our troop is very limited by what the parents are willing to do. If I organize a hike, but no one else is willing to go (or even RSVP), then we can't do it. I'd love to do more active stuff, but it's hard to organize without parent involvement, and I unfortunately don't really have the skills. I would be beyond thrilled if a parent volunteered to get the GS camping training and then help lead some camping outings -- our girls would love that also. You can start your own troop, or you can talk to the leaders of the one that already exists at your school and find out what their goals are -- if you offered to run a couple of more active meetings or outings, I bet they would be jumping up and down with joy. The Council does have a lot of active and STEM stuff available -- we do some of it, but I'd love to do more.

In my daughters old troop--the one that didn't do any outdoor activities, I just emailed the girls in the troop and said...hey we are going to go on a hike on Sunday morning....anyone want to come? Not a GS event, just a playdate type activity. Some of the girls liked the idea, many didn't. Occasionally, I would get 1 or 2 girls to come along. My daughter just wanted to get outside and do something with her friends. I would also sign her up for the various activities put on by other troops and council and email out that we were going if anyone else wanted to come. That's how she got involved in the STEM activities.

You can get the skills. GS has lots of training. They really want to help you succeed. And the first time you take the troop camping, don't go by yourself. Do one of the Core Camps. Get your feet wet first. It's lots of fun.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is very active and not an indoor arts and crafts girl at all. The troop that she was in was dull to her. So I stepped up and became a leader.

When I held the parents meeting I made it clear that the focus of our troop would be outdoor and STEM activities. To make this happen, I had to become the camp certified adult, the first aided, and the troop leader. Basically I can fulfil any role that is needed in the troop.

The girls in our troop like the activities we do. We do some hiking and cookouts now. Next year they will bridge to Juniors and they've requested to go kayaking, camping, archery, ropes course and an overnight at a museum. They've also figured out that many girls don't get a chance to be in the outdoors so we are starting to think of a service project that they can do either with Daisys or Brownies to introduce them to the outdoors.

Girl Scouts is what you make of it. If you don't like what's offered, change it.

fyi -- for camping, you can't be the camp cert. person AND the first aider. But good for you for stepping up. (I did the same).

PP here...yes I know I can't fulfil both roles simultaneously. But we can do things like go to SU Encampment if I have FA and I don't have to be the Camp person.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is very active and not an indoor arts and crafts girl at all. The troop that she was in was dull to her. So I stepped up and became a leader.

When I held the parents meeting I made it clear that the focus of our troop would be outdoor and STEM activities. To make this happen, I had to become the camp certified adult, the first aided, and the troop leader. Basically I can fulfil any role that is needed in the troop.

The girls in our troop like the activities we do. We do some hiking and cookouts now. Next year they will bridge to Juniors and they've requested to go kayaking, camping, archery, ropes course and an overnight at a museum. They've also figured out that many girls don't get a chance to be in the outdoors so we are starting to think of a service project that they can do either with Daisys or Brownies to introduce them to the outdoors.

Girl Scouts is what you make of it. If you don't like what's offered, change it.

fyi -- for camping, you can't be the camp cert. person AND the first aider. But good for you for stepping up. (I did the same).

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is very active and not an indoor arts and crafts girl at all. The troop that she was in was dull to her. So I stepped up and became a leader.

When I held the parents meeting I made it clear that the focus of our troop would be outdoor and STEM activities. To make this happen, I had to become the camp certified adult, the first aided, and the troop leader. Basically I can fulfil any role that is needed in the troop.

The girls in our troop like the activities we do. We do some hiking and cookouts now. Next year they will bridge to Juniors and they've requested to go kayaking, camping, archery, ropes course and an overnight at a museum. They've also figured out that many girls don't get a chance to be in the outdoors so we are starting to think of a service project that they can do either with Daisys or Brownies to introduce them to the outdoors.

Girl Scouts is what you make of it. If you don't like what's offered, change it.

+1. I'm a GS leader. Our troop is very limited by what the parents are willing to do. If I organize a hike, but no one else is willing to go (or even RSVP), then we can't do it. I'd love to do more active stuff, but it's hard to organize without parent involvement, and I unfortunately don't really have the skills. I would be beyond thrilled if a parent volunteered to get the GS camping training and then help lead some camping outings -- our girls would love that also. You can start your own troop, or you can talk to the leaders of the one that already exists at your school and find out what their goals are -- if you offered to run a couple of more active meetings or outings, I bet they would be jumping up and down with joy. The Council does have a lot of active and STEM stuff available -- we do some of it, but I'd love to do more.

Anonymous wrote:For all the people who want an active troop for their daughters to join, please step up and help out. I have had a troop that I have lead and carried for 5 years and frankly I am just burned out. I get lots of nice compliments but parents don't want to go out of their way.

+1. I am a co-leader for my daughter's Junior Troop and I'm always looking for fun activities to take the girls. There are so many fantastic field trips in this area!

The girls really wanted to go camping but none of the parents were camp certified. Thankfully, one parent finally stepped up but he has to wait until May to go to the training so who knows when we can go camping. So please step up and volunteer to be the camp parent if camping is important to your daughter. Sometimes it really is just a matter of none of the parents volunteering.

For all the people who want an active troop for their daughters to join, please step up and help out. I have had a troop that I have lead and carried for 5 years and frankly I am just burned out. I get lots of nice compliments but parents don't want to go out of their way.

I'm the OP and I'm confused as to why the thread is now in the Teens & Tweens forum. I posted it to the General Parenting Forum. For context my kids are K & 2.

Also, thanks for the tip about shopping around for an adventurous troop. I was thinking very narrowly and was just thinking of our school group.

Anonymous wrote:Why was this discussion moved to teens and Tweens? Most Girl Scouts I know start in Kindergarten.

I thought that too. Very odd.

Why was this discussion moved to teens and Tweens? Most Girl Scouts I know start in Kindergarten.

I think it depends on the troop and troop leaders. My DD's 2nd grade girl scout troop does TONS of stuff, I am so impressed with all the different things they do. And the camps are great. I believe it is owed mostly to the fantastic mom that is the troop leader. She goes above and beyond to find awesome camping trips, field trips, outings, speakers, volunteering, etc things for them. Have you checked out what troop would be your daughter's if she joined?

We belong to American Heritage Girls which is like Girl Scouts but with a Christian focus. In our troop, we go camping once or twice a year, and do lots of fun boy scout like activities - canoeing, knife skills, outdoor cooking, etc.. It may not be your cup of tea if you're not a Christian, but I just want to throw that out there. I don't even go to Church, but we have a great time with our troop. My dd's are 8 and 10 and have been going for 3 years.

http://www.americanheritagegirls.org/