Conference moira::parenting

    In the crafts notes file there is a topic going on now about the
    Brownies and crafts they could do...you can get ideas there and 
    maybe ask them what their opinion of your daughters group is.  It's 
    been a long time....but I remember we were always busy making things 
    in Camp Fire Girls.  
     
    

    It's been a while since I was in Girl Scouts, so you'll have to bear
    with my shaky memory...
    
    Brownies is slightly different than Girl Scouts because the girls are 
    younger.  Juniors and Cadets earn badges, so that's how their
    time is usually spent.  The older girls also go on camping trips, which
    means planning, shopping, and so on.  The meetings for Juniors (and up), 
    consequently, last over an hour (I think they're an hour and a half).
    
    Brownies is kind of a warm-up to Juniors, Juniors is a warm-up to
    Cadets, and so on.  The abilities and responsibilities increase as 
    the girls age.
    
    Anyway, I think dancing and playing are acceptable Brownie activities,
    just as there are dancing and sports-related badges in Juniors (I think
    there are, anyway).  I'm not saying that's all they should do every 
    week, though.  They should also do crafts, sing songs, salute the flag
    (Now this I remember was a *big* deal, because the four girls
    involved-- one for the US flag, one for the GS flag, and two guards-- 
    got to wear white gloves and stand up in front of anyone.  *Big*
    prestige.), do some cooking, some sewing, and so on. Community was also
    stressed, and I can remember making little gifties for people in the 
    local nursing home.  (One particular craft was for Easter.  We saved 
    broken, clean egg shells, dyed them, glued a Lifesaver candy to the
    bottom (for stability), filled them with candies, and put one of those
    little chenille chicks on the top.  The people in the nursing home loved
    them!).  They could also sing or dance for the people in the nursing
    home, who were *very* happy for the company.  I'm sure the same would
    be true today.
    
    Anyway, an hour is not a long time, especially for young girls.  You've
    gotta figure 5 minutes for setting up the craft, 5-10 minutes for
    cleanup, 5 minutes or so for instructions, agenda, etc-- that leaves
    half an hour to 40 minutes for the actual crafting.  And, "in my day",
    we girls chatted *quite* a bit, which made our little hands go even 
    slower...
    
    
    Pam
    (ex first-class Scout ;-) ) 

I don't have daughters, but my son's been in Cub Scouts since Tiger Cubs
(first grade).  Their activities (badges, etc) are outlined in the Cubscout
Handbook for each level of scout (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, WEBELOS).  Each den
meeting was spent working toward badges which are presented at monthly pack
meetings.  The pack meetings often had organized games, especially while
waiting for everyone to get there, but den meetings all centered around a
specific badge-earning activity.

Perhaps there are equivalent books available through Girl Scouts.  Look in
your phone book (white pages) under Girl Scouts and give the office a call
- I'm sure they can give you the info you're looking for!

Good luck with your Brownies!

~Caryn

    My sister just recently became a leader for her daughter's Daisy
    troop (which is for the very young girls).  She had to attend
    several training sessions and said that the whole Girl Scout
    organization is extremely structured.  But, she also said that
    it's up to each individual troop to establish their own goals
    and decide for themselves what it will take to reach those
    goals.  I called her today after reading your note and she said
    perhaps your daughters troop is working on a badge that has
    something to do with sports (kickball?) or dance.  In any case,
    she suggested that you do talk with the leaders and ask them
    spcifically what goals their troop are working towards.  This
    might explain some of the activities they do that don't 
    necessarily seem like "brownie activities"!  I always thought
    they did alot of crafts and song singing (like we did in 
    Camp Fire girls), but my sister said that's only a small
    portion of what they do.   I'll be reading this note with
    interest since my neice will probably be a Brownie next year!
    

    I was a brownie and also a girl scout.  There was a handbook for
    each.  I think my mother bought my handbooks at the local Sears. 
    Perhaps you could go to Sears, ask for the department where they sell
    the brownie uniforms, and see if they have the handbook.  The handbook
    should give you some idea of the kinds of things the brownies normally
    do.  
    
    As I recall, though, brownies was a lot less structured than girl
    scouts.  At the beginning of each meeting we had the salute to the
    flag, the brownie pledge, and a brownie song, but after that, the rest
    of the meeting was sometimes just fun and games. Maybe every other
    meeting would have a planned activity, usually a craft.  I don't
    remember having badges to earn in brownies, the way we did in girl
    scouts.  
    
    For what it's worth, I absolutely LOVED brownies, and still look back
    on that time with happy memories.  My memories of girl scouts are not
    quite as nice, since I often felt very pressured to earn lots of
    badges, sell lots of cookies, etc. while in girl scouts.
    
    Jane
    

    There is a SCOUTS notesfile.  I'm sorry I can't remember the details,
    but I believe a DIR/TIT=SCOUT in easynotes will get you there.
    
    -sandy
    

    
    I would not "confront" the leaders, they are giving their time for your
    children.  My wife is a leader and they want her to take on another 5
    girls beacuse they don't have enough volunteers to help out.  Unless
    you volunteer your time and lend a hand, I don't believe that you have
    a right to intervene.  I know this may sound harsh, but I have been
    ivolved in children's activities and it really gets my goat when a
    parent tells me I am not meeting their expectations.  I'm volunteering,
    you are not.  You want to help out, fine come on and we'll see what we
    can do better.  You don't have the time, fine, I've made the time and I
    am doing the best I can.  (hope this doesn't come out as too negative)
    
    
    Mike

    
    The notesfile for Scouting is NOTED::SCOUTING

    My daughter was in Brownies last year and she did alot of things. First
    of all we had to get her a Brownie book, there is a Girl Scout store in
    Manchester NH that sells them, and I believe JCPenney. This book had
    many activities that the girls could do and yes they did earn badges.
    I believe at the end of the year last year she had earned at least 12
    to 15 badges for the year. The troup leader did most of the activities
    with them to help them earn badges, once in a while we had to help out
    but that was not problem. They also did Aerobics, Christmas Carolling,
    visited a animal hospital and hospital, Yogurt Shoppe and alot more
    from baking Christmas cookies at the leaders house. At the end of the
    year they had a badge ceremony, pizza party and gave awards to all the
    mothers who had helped out throughout the year. I give these 2 woman
    credit for a job well done. 
    
    Most of the other Brownie troups that I know about do alot of the same.
    
    I believe alot of it is up to the troup leader and the help and support
    they get from the parents.
    
    P.S.
    

    
    Thanks for the replies. I happened to clean out the toybox the other
    day(after writing .0) and came across a memo from the brownie leaders
    stating that the Brownies will be "earning badges" for upcoming
    activites ie:aroebic dancing and kickball(dance & sports). This memo
    helped alleviate a lot of my concern. Reply .7(was not too harsh and
    right on the money) as I coach soccer for 5-7 year olds and realize
    the effort that is needed in being a volunteer. Thanks for the replies
    and I will still monitor the activities but feel a lot better about the
    situation. And for those volunteers(past-present-future)that are
    involved in Childrens activities, I THANK YOU.
    
    
    Randy

    
    Glad you were able to ease your concerns.  Like your name as well, it
    happens to be my sons name. :')
    
    
    Mike