Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well you’ve convinced me to never buy Girl Scout cookies again.

Yep. I stopped when my kids were Scouts and I was involved in leadership roles.

We had a troop of girls whose families were all middle and upper middle class. They did not need to have their activities paid for because their parents could all afford most of the activities we were considering. Some of the girls suggested that we could donate to a group that helped the unhoused or even donate to a Girl Scout troop with less well off girls, but we were told that donating the money was not allowed and that it needed to be spent on this troop. The girls were all excited about the idea of donating to those less well off, but we had to tell them that was not allowed. That was the end of buying GS cookies for me.

We definitely made charitable donations to other groups when I was money manager of my girls 2 troops. We gave a nice donation to the church who allowed us to hold our meetings and events and also to other charities that the girls decided on. Have the rules changed? As money manager I definitely put these items on our end of year report.

It was lovely to see the girls choose to donate instead of a movie or outing. They did fun stuff too, but giving part was awesome.

We also bought them their next vest for the bridging ceremony some years, if girls were moving away we made them a Shutterfly book the girls signed.

We are in a different city but our MLB team does Scout Night. The kids run bases and there are other events before the game and during.

We bought kids and parents really good seats, got a “party bus” to drive us all there/back. Everyone got food and drinks, plus a treat and souvenir. It ate up our funds and was a really decent activity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth wouldn't they pay for renewals, new vests, and planned badges? That is what we use excess money on.

In terms of parties - any birthday party activity - water park, rent a movie theater, mini golfing, bowling, iFly, laser tag, etc.

This. The renewals aren’t inexpensive and the kids earned it. Reinvesting into the troop through dues can help build its longevity.

Not every kid returns to troop the following year especially in this area that is so transient.

Plus, membership renewal is abstract and not really a fun way to spend the hard-earned money when youre a kid.

It sounds like OP has hundreds of dollars to spend. She sounds like a horrible troop leader, frankly. At this age, the money belongs to the troop and not each individual girl. The troop (and for younger kids, the parents) should be helping to decide what they do with it. The one year we had a family's employer donate to our troop and had a ton of money at the end of the year. We used it to:

1. Donate to the GS Share fund - this fund helps to fund lower income families and troops at Title I schools. That girl that can't afford a vest can buy one now.

2. Fund a service project (we made period kits for homeless shelters)

3. Buy everyone's vests and pre-bought some badges for the next year, and paid everyone's renewal fees

4. Took the girls to Philadelphia for a day trip

I think the general context of being a Girl Scout is to do good for the community as a whole so instead of spending the $$ on themselves - - it would be a better idea for the troop to give back.

Maybe deliver books 📚 or toys 🧸 to a children’s hospital.

Or even bring crafts to a Senior Citizen’s center.

Both of these activities would be in keeping with the spirit of traditional Girl Scouts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth wouldn't they pay for renewals, new vests, and planned badges? That is what we use excess money on.

In terms of parties - any birthday party activity - water park, rent a movie theater, mini golfing, bowling, iFly, laser tag, etc.

This. The renewals aren’t inexpensive and the kids earned it. Reinvesting into the troop through dues can help build its longevity.

Not every kid returns to troop the following year especially in this area that is so transient.

Plus, membership renewal is abstract and not really a fun way to spend the hard-earned money when youre a kid.

It sounds like OP has hundreds of dollars to spend. She sounds like a horrible troop leader, frankly. At this age, the money belongs to the troop and not each individual girl. The troop (and for younger kids, the parents) should be helping to decide what they do with it. The one year we had a family's employer donate to our troop and had a ton of money at the end of the year. We used it to:

1. Donate to the GS Share fund - this fund helps to fund lower income families and troops at Title I schools. That girl that can't afford a vest can buy one now.

2. Fund a service project (we made period kits for homeless shelters)

3. Buy everyone's vests and pre-bought some badges for the next year, and paid everyone's renewal fees

4. Took the girls to Philadelphia for a day trip

Anonymous wrote:Cosmos and devil wears Prada 2

For first graders?

We did a spa day around that age, where they pick you up in a pink limo, but I don't think that particular place survived COVID.

Anonymous wrote:Any fieldtrip to a museum, landmark, historical or geological site, with IMAX, interactive features, activities and learning opportunity. Make this a trip to remember with pictures, good transportation (AC bus?), and good place to eat.

This should not be hard in DMV and close by places at all.

This is a great idea. At those ages my girls loved the Maryland Science Center. It would make a great field trip.

Also like the ideas of pottery painting or an indoor obstacle course place. Once it’s summer you could do the Reston Water Mine waterpark.

I would split it up into at least 2 events so it covers a variety of interests.

I would come up with 3-5 ideas and have the girls vote on it in order of top 2 choices

Anonymous wrote:Horseback riding
Paint ceramics place
Ropes course

Girls scouts doesn’t allow horseback riding for daisies, which is what I think she said.
But lots of other great ideas on this thread. Ignore the pissy lady who had a bad experience during the Clinton administration….

My daughter’s troop has done so much over the years, and it’s probably the reason the majority of the girls are still active in the troop in middle school. My dd is not outdoorsy, but she has come to enjoy camping and other outdoor activities because of her experiences with GS. She has gotten out of her comfort zone and tried things because of the group dynamic. Her troop has always used available funds to renew membership but asks in advance if anyone is planning to leave.

Some ways they have used funds over the years include:
-horseback riding
-Hershey as a group. GS has cabins near the park where our group stayed overnight.
-Busch gardens has a GS event where they keep the park open after hours for the girls and provide a space for camping
-rock climbing at a gym
-camping
-snow tubing
-attending a dance party led by an older troop (now her troop is leading the party)
-going on field trips to the White House, Supreme Court, etc. (funds cover lunch for the girls at a local restaurant)
-water park

We’ve also carried a largish balance a few times to save up for a more expensive event (such as Hershey or Busch gardens). Something was said to our troop leaders, but they just had to give an explanation.

Agree that riding horses is one of the more expensive activities the girls usually like. And, agree that if you come up with a written plan you can usually keep as much money as you can justify.

Horseback riding
Paint ceramics place
Ropes course

Any fieldtrip to a museum, landmark, historical or geological site, with IMAX, interactive features, activities and learning opportunity. Make this a trip to remember with pictures, good transportation (AC bus?), and good place to eat.

This should not be hard in DMV and close by places at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some girls are not outdoorsy, so no camping and we already did build a bear.

If they’re not “outdoorsy,” why did they join the Girl Scouts?

It’s not like you’re asking them to go backcountry camping. But maybe a local hike (Sugarloaf?) with lunch afterwards? Or a trail ride? Search for fossils at Calvert Cliffs.

Go to Jamestown/Williamsburg and learn how colonial people lived. Go up to Fort McHenry and learn about the Star Spangled Banner for the America 250 celebrations.

You don’t have to go off the grid, but surely you can do something better than stuffed animals in the mall.

There are many ways to be a Girl Scout. The four pillars are STEM, Outdoors, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship. Camping is just one of very many options. You can be a successful Girl Scout and never camp, and be a successful Girl Scout and camp every weekend. The flexibility and Girl Led nature of GSUSA is one of the foundational aspects of it.