The First Five Meetings Outline - Junior

Junior Girl Scouts First Five Meetings
A Step by Step Guide to Start Up Your Girl Scout Year
The first five meetings of the Girl Scout year set the stage for new Girl Scout Volunteers and new Girl Scout troops as they begin their Girl Scout
Journey! Meetings typically last 60-90 minutes in length, but depend on your troop or group. The following outlines are samples and should be
adapted to meet the needs of the girls, and may, in fact, be too basic for returning troops. Regardless, this guide can help you to incorporate the
three Girl Scout processes in the First Five Meetings and throughout the Girl Scout year:
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Girl Led: Help girls decide which Journeys or topics they are interested in. Help girls choose goals and activities using Junior level troop
government models.
Cooperative Learning: Girls work together in teams or small groups to meet a goal or objective.
Learning by Doing: Assist girls to create or do something together. Provide resources for them to experience the joy of doing it on their
own!
The suggested outlines will help you begin the process of planning and…
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Give important information in a Parents / Guardian meeting
Help girls decide what they want their meetings to “look like” for their Girl Scout year
Assist girls in choosing their Junior Journey and Badge Activity Set for the year
Help girls choose their troop government style and use leadership skills
Enable the girls to establish and enjoy Girl Scout traditions and ceremonies
Identify resources
Set the foundation for a year of fun and memories!
Resources: Check them out!
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Junior Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting
Junior Journeys: Agent of Change, Get Moving!, Amuse, and corresponding Adult Guides
It’s Your Journey: Customize It!
Your Local Overseas Committee training
Girl Scout University – NEW! Juliette’s List – compilation of resources and ideas for Girl Scout Volunteers
USA Girl Scouts Overseas (USAGSO)
USAGSO Shutterfly site (see also: Volunteer Essentials under the Adult Resources tab)
USAGSO annual volunteer conferences
Meeting 1: Get to Know You and Get to Know Girl Scouting
Date:
Time
Activity
Pre-Meeting
10 – 15 Gathering:
minutes Welcome
Time:
Description
Location:
Supplies
Arrange for a Co-Leader, Committee Member or Older
Girl Scout to work with the Junior Girl Scouts while you
meet with the Parents / Guardians in the Parent /
Guardian Meeting. Ensure proper ratio for the first
Junior meeting, which should be 2 adults to every 25
Juniors! (see Volunteer Essentials, page 9 for
additional details.) One volunteer could meet with the
girls if the Parents / Guardian meeting was held in a
multi-room location.
(Please note: Resources are highlighted
in bold in the Appendix following each
meeting outline.)
Welcome girls to Junior Girl Scouting! Invite them to sit
in a circle.
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Play the popcorn game so girls can share their names
and what they did over the summer.
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Prepare two large poster
boards, “What I Did This Summer” and “What I Want to do in Girl Scouts
this Year”
Prepare reusable
Nametags
Nametags
Popcorn Game
Ball, beanbag, or stuffed
animal
Who will
lead
Leader and
Co-Leader
Circles are a Girl Scout tradition. The Girl Scout Circle
is a special time for Juniors to talk about ideas, sing
songs, plan, and even play games.
Ask: Why are circles a good idea? (Everyone is
equal; you can see everyone; everyone gets a turn; it is
open and welcoming, etc.)
Identify where the restroom is located and reinforce the
Buddy System.
5-10
Opening:
minutes
Divide into two groups: Junior Girl Scouts and Parents
/ Guardians.
With Girls:
Ask girls to read Girl Scout Promise.
Say: Girl Scouts across the United States and around
the world say the Girl Scout Promise. The Promise
has three parts: On my honor, I will try: 1) to serve
God * and my country, 2) to help people at all times,
Girl Scout Promise
Co-leader,
OC
Volunteer,
Or Older
Girl Scout
and 3) to live by the Girl Scout Law.
* When making the Girl Scout Promise, individuals may
make working appropriate to their own spiritual beliefs
for the word God.
Ask: What the sign represents. (3 Fingers represent
the 3 parts of the Promise)
Introduce the Quiet Sign, which is used by Girl Scouts
all over the world. When individuals see the hand
raised, they also raise their hand and the group
becomes quiet.
Ask: How does a quiet sign group agreement help in
group discussions?
Ask: Girls to share one thing they learned from their
partner from the start-up activity.
10-15
Business or
minutes Planning
With Parents / Guardians:
While the girls explore the Girl Scout Promise and Sign
and what they want their Junior year to look like, work
with the Parents / Guardians to get the year going!
 Handout and collect forms (registration, health
history, permission slips)
 Decide on communication – website, blog, email,
newsletter, Facebook, etc.
 Calendaring – decide how often to meet, schedule
meetings and confirm OC event dates
 Discuss uniform (vest or sash) Review uniform
options and insignia (Where to place insignia on
Junior uniform). Order uniform and start-up
insignia after the girls make their uniform decision.
Order Start-up Kit, or individual items (vest or sash,
insignia tab, WAGGGS pin, Girl Scout GS Pin,
Troop Numbers, American Flag, Troop Crest). .
Ask for adult volunteer to coordinate and submit
orders for Girl Scout uniforms, insignia, books, etc.
NOTE: Uniforms are not mandatory, but do build
unity and identity. The only required part of the
uniform it is a vest or sash for ceremonies or when

See your local Overseas
Committee for the
following three forms:
1. GS Registration Forms
2. Health History Forms
3. GS Permission Forms
 School Calendar
 National Program Portfolio:
 How the National
Program Portfolio
Works
 What Juniors Do
Junior Journey books:
1. Agent of Change
2. Get Moving
3. aMuse
Or if the books are
unavailable, use the 3
Junior Journeys visual
 Journey Map
 Ladder of Leadership
 Where to place insignia
on Junior uniform
Leader
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we represent Girl Scouting. Girls should choose
uniform components either individually or as a
troop.
The Junior uniform is important and simple: either a
sash or vest worn with a white shirt and khaki pants,
shorts or a skirt. The girls can wear any white shirt
and khakis. Junior insignia is worn by Junior Girl
Scouts around the world. Insignia have a
placement on the sash or vest as shown in the
handout. (Where to place insignia on the Junior
uniform)
Discuss and collect dues. See Volunteer
Essentials, “Managing Group Finances, pages 5659¸for details. Overseas Committees may have
guidelines for your locale as well.
(Review the Junior program with the Parents /
Guardians.)
The Junior program, or National Program Portfolio,
(How the National Program Portfolio Works) has two
parts: the National Leadership Journeys and the Girls
Guide to Girl Scouting. Girl Scouting is designed to
help girls become strong leaders and explore new
skills. What Juniors Do shows these resources used
in the Junior program. Take a look at the Junior
Journey Map shows the program as a Journey or
adventure with many side trips. What side trips do you
see? ( badges, traditions, trips, USAGSO awards,
outdoor) The girls will receive their Journey map next
week for an activity.
There are 3 different Leadership Journeys for Junior
Girl Scouts:
1. It’s Your World, Change It! - Agent of Change
2. It’s Your Planet –Love It! – Get Moving!
3. It’s Your World, Change It! - Amuse
Each is unique and has awards the girls can earn. The
Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting has fun information about
the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting, Girl Scout
traditions, bridging to Cadette Girl Scouts and more!
The National Program Portfolio builds from Daisies,
through Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes to Seniors
and Ambassadors. (Ladder of Leadership) leading to
the Bronze, Silver and Gold, the highest awards in Girl
Scouting. Juniors can learn and practice leadership
skills and earn the Bronze Award!
15
Exploration
minutes
With girls:
 Girls decide on communication – website, blog,
email, newsletter, Facebook, etc. Explain that they
need to cc parents / guardians to help them stay
informed and involved so they can support them!
 Girls plan their calendar – decide how often to
meet, schedule meetings and confirm OC event
dates.
 Discuss uniform (vest or sash). NOTE: Uniforms
are not mandatory, but do build unity and identity.
Girls should choose uniform components either
individually or as a troop. Review uniform options
and insignia. (Where to Place Insignia on
Ambassador Uniform) The only required part of
the uniform it is a vest or sash for ceremonies or
when we represent Girl Scouting.
With Parents / Guardians:
Ask: What kind of women do you want the girls to
become? What do you want her to learn? What
dreams and ideas would you want her and her troop to
explore? Is there something special that you could
share?
Distribute Parents / Guardian Interest Survey. Girl
Scouting only works with the help of quality women role
models. No one knows the girls better than they do
and no one can provide a more valuable, strong
example than strong role models.
With Girls:
Ask: What do you want to do in Junior Girl Scouts this
year? What do you want Girl Scouts to “look like”? Draw or write your ideas on separate pieces of paper.
Set two activity sheets on a table or around the circle.
Girls work with a partner and each write comments on
For working with the Parents /
Guardians:
Parents / Guardian Interest
Survey
Pens
For working with the girls:
Think Big – 2 pages
Leader and
Co-leader /
OC
Volunteer or
Older Girl
Scout
each sheet. Tell them to “Think big!” 1. What do you want your Girl Scout year to look
like?
2. Make a list of snacks.
Ask: Now that you have your lists, prioritize your ideas
for Junior Girl Scouts this year. Estimate how much
activities may cost and how much time will be needed.
Say to the entire group: It’s time to share! Get together in one, big Girl Scout Circle. Invite girls to
tell the parents / guardians about the Popcorn Game
and ask the Parents / Guardians to throw them the ball
/ beanbag to learn about what they want their Girl Scout
year to look like.
Then switch roles and have the girls toss the ball /
beanbag to their Parents / Guardians to share about
their hopes for their daughters this year, and how they
can contribute or help with the goals for the year.
10
Snack
minutes
10
Clean Up
minutes
10
Closing
minutes
Ask: How were your answers similar?
What are the things you most want to do in Girl Scouts
this year?
Snack time. Please write any allergies or diet
considerations, or any additional cultural or faith
considerations on the Girl Scout Health Form. I will
share the information with everyone so everyone will
have a fun snack!
Ask: What kind of snacks do you think we should have
this year? (Encourage healthy snacks!) Girls, sign up
for a turn to bring snacks to a meeting!
Remember that Girl Scouts always leave a space better
than they found it.
Say: Another Girl Scout tradition is the Friendship
Circle and Squeeze. Let’s all stand up in our circle. Put your right hand in the air. Take the right hand of the
person next to you, reaching across your chest. Now
take the left hand of the person next to you, crossing
your arms. When you receive the Friendship Squeeze,
pass the squeeze along and put your left foot into the
Countdown clean-up
Make New Friends song
circle. The Friendship Circle is a time to think about
how much fun we had, sing songs, and make plans.
Let’s sing a song! (Sing the Make New Friends song.)
Wow, you were wonderful!
Ask: Parents / Guardians, when is our next meeting?
Ask: Who will bring the snack next time?
Say: It’s time to say good bye Girl Scouts! Raise your hands above your head and turn around and say, See
you next time Junior Girl Scouts! Are you ready? Let’s try it! (Help girls finish their Friendship Circle.) See you
on (date and time of next meeting).
Popcorn Game!
Toss the ball / beanbag to each
other.
Share your name!
Share something fun that you
did last summer whenever you
catch it!
Think Big!
What do we want Girl Scouts to look like this year?
Make your “dream list”! Make a list of your favorite snacks…
What about snacks for troop meetings this year?
Where to Place Junior Insignia on the Uniform
PARENT / GUARDIAN INTEREST SURVEY
Our troop/group family will serve as our best resource in developing meaningful pro- gram activities for our girls. Please share a little about your interests, hobbies,
or profession so that we may know a little about you!
Name:_
Phone #: ____________________
E-mail Address: ______________________________________
My job (past or present), business or profession would i nteres t girls to d is c ove r: ____________________________________________
I am affiliated with the following community groups: _________________________________________________
List other ways you could help:
Lend a yard, playroom
Provide
or kitchen for an occasional meeting
a place to store troop/group equipment
Other ways I would
like to help: ___________________________________________
Special Interests:
Cooking/Nutrition
Human Relations Skills
Woodworking
G.S. Core Leadership,
Architecture
Dental Health
Knitting/Crocheting
Women's Issues
Training, Experience
Arts & crafts
Dramatics
Literacy - helping
Other talents, hobbies,
G.S. Troop Camping
Astronomy
Drawing, Painting
others to read
or skills:
Certification
Audio Visual
Ecology
Mathematics
Auto Maintenance
Environmental Issues
Music
Certifications:
Other:
Bicycling
First Aid, Health &
Photography
Standard First Aid
Boating
Safety
Sciences
CPR for:
Bookkeeping
Games
Sculpting
__ Infant / Child
Camping
Gardening
Sewing
__ Community
Career Planning
Global Issues
Singing
__ Basic Life Support
Chemistry
Health & Fitness
Special Needs Issues
Lifeguard
Child Care
Hiking
Sports
Water Safety
Community Service
Homemaking
Storytelling
Instructor
Computers
Horseback Riding
Swimming
Licensed Driver
Archery Instructor
Other:
Other:
Other:
Song: Make New Friends
Make new friends but keep the old;
One is silver and the other gold.
A circle’s round, it has no end,
That’s how long I want to be your friend.
I have a hand, and you have another,
Put them together and we have each other
Meeting 2: Exploring the Junior Journey Map and junior “agent
of change” Journey.
Date:
Time
Activity
Pre-Meeting
10 – 15 Gathering:
minutes Welcome
5-10
Opening:
minutes
Time:
Description
Location:
Supplies
Set our crayons, pencils and Junior Journey Map
photocopies
(Please note: Resources are highlighted
in bold in the Appendix following each
meeting outline.)
Junior Journey Map exploration. Invite girls to explore
the interactive maps online OR explore the hardcopy
maps together with a partner.
Girl should write down as many ideas for each
destination on the map to share with the group.
(Give the Girl Scout pins / picture of the pins to a helper
to show everyone.) This is the Girl Scout pin. There
are two styles, traditional and contemporary. Which
one do you like? Both have the trefoil shape.
Ask: What do you think the three leaves of the trefoil
represent? (the 3 parts of the promise)
Play “Junior to Junior” game to get to know each other. Caller shouts out, “Junior to Junior”, girls run and
stands next to a new partner. The odd person out
become the new caller. The caller can call out different
body parts, such as hand to hand, foot to foot, head to
head, back to back, and then girls run for a new partner
and touch foot to foot, or whatever body part the caller
indicates.
Invite girls to share their destination ideas about the
Journey map. Use their “Big Ideas” paper from the
Confirm with the Adult
Volunteer that the Girl Scout
Pins and uniforms order will
arrive in time for the fifth
meeting and the Investiture /
Rededication Ceremony!
If you have access to
computers and the internet,
have girls explore the
interactive Junior Journey
map.
If not, make copies of the
Junior Journey Map for each
girl or pair of girls.
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Nametags
2 Girl Scout pins or
picture of them.
Big Ideas paper from
previous meeting
Samples of the three Junior
Journey books or picture of 3
Junior Journeys.
Who will
lead
previous meeting, circling ideas that are the same /
similar and write new ideas onto the paper.
10-15
Business or
minutes Planning
Explain the Junior Journey can be anything they want it
to be, including “side trips” or destinations they want to include. There are three Junior Journeys to choose
from:
1. It’s Your World, Change It! Agent of Change
2. It’s Your Planet – Love It! Get Moving!
3. It’s Your Story – Tell It! aMUSE
Girls will choose which Journey to use this year by
“sampling” an activity from each book for the next three meetings.
Junior Girl Scouts have more choice in how to run their
meetings, called troop government. Juniors have
more responsibility than Brownies and establish their
own rules for the troop meeting with guidance from
leaders. Divide into four groups and have each group
share the pro’s and con’s for each type in 5 minutes. Ask: Now that you have learned about the different
types of troop government, which one do you want to
use for our troop? You can choose to change again if
needed.
15
Exploration
minutes
Show Parts of a Meeting paper strips. Explain each
one. Ask girls to work together in a group to arrange
the strips in the order they want to for their troop
meetings. They can use all or some of the paper strips
and can change the order if needed in the future.
This activity is from the Junior Agent of Change
Journey:
Lead discussion with the girls and record responses on
a large paper or white board.
Ask:
 Who can be a leader? (anyone, anywhere,
coach, teacher, friend, Parents / Guardian, on
the other side of the room or across the globe)
 What does a good leader do? (inspire others to
do their best, appreciates working with others, is
a good listener, strive for group’s success) 
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Troop Government
handouts
Parts of a Meeting paper
strips and paper / poster
board to post them on for
future meetings.
Tape
Markers and large paper,
individual paper for each
girl
Agent of Change girls book
or picture of the book.
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Write down the names of your favorite leaders.
Go beyond the obvious answers and think of
less-recognized leaders.
What does it mean to lead? Is it an individual
activity? Why is listening well a good sign of a
leader?
Does the leader have to be the only authority
and make all the decisions?
Invite girls to think about Superheroes in comic books
or movies, or heroes and heroines in books. Girls
create the name and draw their own superhero, such
as “mega-super-ultra-smarty-pants” etc. 10
Snack
minutes
10
Clean Up
minutes
10
Closing
minutes
This is just one activity from the Junior Agent of
Change Journey. Next week we will do a different
activity from another Journey!
Snack time should be a short, relaxing time to eat a
snack, or if close to mealtime, have a juice drink, etc.
Ask: Would you like to learn a song? It’s called the Bazooka Bubblegum song.
Say: Girl Scouts always leave a place better then they
found it! Let’s clean up so our meeting area looks better than it did before we came here!
Invite the helper to lead the Friendship Circle and
Squeeze, and lead the reminders about the next
meeting.
Bazooka Bubblegum Song
IMPORTANT: Permission
Slips for offsite field trip need
to be sent home TODAY and
returned at the next meeting
so girls can go on the nature
walk.
Girl Scout pin
Or
Traditional
Contemporary
Troop Government
Model
Type
Town Meeting
In a Town Meeting, the entire troop makes its decisions together. A Moderator is generally needed to lead group
discussions. Officers such as Secretary and Treasurer may be elected if the troop feels that there is a need. This
generally only works well in small groups but can work in large groups if the girls can stay on task.
Executive Board
The Executive Board consists of the "officers" of the troop. They generally include a President, Vice-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer. Job descriptions should be agreed upon as well as the duration of office. It is important,
especially at the
beginning of self-government, that everyone has the opportunity to participate at some time throughout the year.
These "board" members meet on a regular basis to decide matters for the troop. Some method needs to be devised
for the troop members to give input to the Executive Board. This could be a simple suggestion box at a troop meeting.
This system tends to work well with smaller troops.
Patrol System
The Patrol System is the most versatile of the systems of government. The troop is divided into smaller units called
patrols. The ideal patrol size is about 5-8 girls. Each Patrol elects a Patrol Leader responsible for running their patrol
meetings. An Assistant Patrol Leader is also a good idea in the event that the Patrol Leader cannot make a meeting.
All troop business can be handled in these patrols. Attendance and dues can be recorded by the patrols. For any
given outing, chores may be divided up with each patrol responsible for its own task.
In order for the troop to run smoothly and as a group, Patrol Leaders should come together periodically (at least once
a month) to discuss troop issues and make group decisions. This is called the "Court of Honor". Each patrol gives
their input to the Patrol Leader who presents their viewpoint at the Court of Honor. Also included in the Court of Honor
are any other troop officers such as Secretary and Treasurer. The Patrol System can be very successful, but only if
the girls are given skills with which to succeed.
Court of Honor
Generally consisting of the Troop Officers and the Patrol Leaders, the Court of Honor meets on a regular basis to
plan troop activities. Monthly meetings can be used to plan events to occur the following month. A long meeting once
or twice a year can be used for long-term planning of troop events and planning the troop yearly calendar. If you have
a troop Moderator or President, this person generally presides over the Court of Honor meetings.
Troop Government
Parts of a Meeting
The Girl Scout Circle is just one element of a successful troop meeting. Meetings often include the following parts (order may vary):
Ceremony
Business
Opening or closing ceremonies, such as the Friendship Squeeze or Flag Ceremonies. Troop business is conducted in the Girl Scout Circle. Business might include making announcements, taking attendance, making formal decisions about activities or trips, or evaluating previous activities. (15 min.)
Major
Activity
The project for the day may be an activity which relates to the Leadership Journey books, Activity Badge Sets, Take Action project, or learning new songs, games, or activities. (20 - 30 min.)
Snack
Girls enjoy a simple snack in a relaxed setting. (10 min.)
Clean-Up
The girls, not the leaders, are responsible for cleaning up after activities and snack. (5 min.)
Closing
The closing is a brief time to review meeting accomplishments, give reminders, hand out papers, and end with a simple closing activity such as a friendship circle or a song. (5 min.)
Sharing
Time
Time for each girl to share something fun from their week. Mix it up by sharing in one breath, share about a topic, share in singing voice, etc. 3 Junior girl scout Journeys
Bazooka Bubblegum Song
Lyrics
My momma gave me a penny
My momma gave me a quarter
She told me to buy a henny
She told me to buy some water
But I didn’t buy no henny
But I didn’t buy no water
(Chorus)
(Chorus)
Instead, I bought bubblegum.
Bazooka-zooka bubblegum
My momma gave me a dollar
Bazooka-zooka bubblegum
She told me to buy a collar
But I didn’t buy no collar
My momma gave me a nickel
She told me to buy a pickle
(Chorus)
But I didn’t buy no pickle
My momma gave me a five
(Chorus)
She told me to stay alive
But I didn’t stay alive
My momma gave me a dime
She told me to buy a lime
Instead, I choked on bubblegum.
But I didn’t buy no lime
Bazooka-zooka bubblegum
Bazooka-zooka bubblegum
(Chorus)
Meeting 3: Troop Government and Exploring the Junior “Get
Moving!” Journey
Date:
Time
Activity
Pre-Meeting
10 – 15 Gathering:
minutes Welcome
5-10
Opening:
minutes
10-15
Business or
minutes Planning
15
Exploration
minutes
Time:
Description
Location:
Supplies
Prepare a Kaper Chart using the examples as a guide.
Provide markers, crayons, stickers, etc. for decoration.
Girls design and make a kaper chart. Kaper Charts
(see handout) help girls experience management and
order. Have your Junior Girl Scouts brainstorm the
kapers for meetings or each activity and let them
design the kaper chart.
(Please note: Resources are highlighted
in bold in the Appendix following each
meeting outline.)
Girl Scouts have a tradition to “Leave No Trace” when
we go out in nature. Do not pluck or pick, or otherwise
Choose an area outside in
nature where the girls can
IMPORTANT: Collect
Permission Slips before hike,
and if anyone forgot it, call
parent! Every girl MUST have
a permission slip to leave the
meeting place for the nature
walk.
 Kaper Charts
 Supplies as needed to
make a kaper chart (Poster
Board, flowers, popsicle
sticks, etc.)
 Crayons and / or markers
 Glue
Promise and Law Relay. Divide the girls into two
 Nametags
teams. Give each team their set of cards. Teams will
 Words of the Girl Scout
mix up the cards and place them face up, about ten feet
Promise and Law printed
from each team. The team must race to put the words
on cards, one word per
and lines in order, one at a time, in relay fashion. If a
card, one set per team.
word is wrong, the next girl must correct it. The relays
can be done back to back or simultaneously.
Today we are going to do an activity from the Junior
Get Moving! girl’s book or
Journey book, Get Moving! Remember, you are going picture of the book.
to choose which Journey you want to do this year! Last
meeting we did an activity from the Junior Journey
Agent of Change about leaders and superheroes!
Today we are going to do an activity about our planet!
“Leave No Trace” This activity is from the Junior Get Moving! Journey:
Who will
lead
disturb living things. That means not disturbing any
plants or wildlife, including homes, such as nests or
burrows; even if they might appear to be abandoned.
After the girls have finished their allotted time observing
animals, lead a discussion about what they have seen.
Some possible questions might be:
 What sort of animal energy and movement did
you see?
 How is movement necessary to animal survival?
 How do animals use sound energy?
 How do humans use the energy of animals?
 Why do we like certain animals enough to try
and protect them?
 Do cats and dogs or other pets get as much
chance as deer or prairie dogs or other wild
animals to run around and move freely?
 What happens when pets don’t get to use their
energy properly?
 How can people make sure pets get enough
exercise?
 Do you notice how exercising a pet gets you
some exercise too?
10
Snack
minutes
10
Clean Up
Give the girls paper and pencils / markers and
transition the girls to creating images or poems inspired
by what they’ve observed or talked about during their outing. Encourage them to share what they’ve created with the group. Some suggestions could be:
 Write a haiku (a poem with three lines of 5, 7, 5
syllables based on imagery from nature
 Compose a rhyming chant or rap, or silly song
about how an animal looks, moves, or sounds.
 Sketch a picture of an animal using or creating
energy.
Thank the girl and her family for bringing the snack and
encourage positive conversation about the nature walk
and what the girls drew on their papers.
Ask: How about another song? It’s called Chicka
Chicka Boom Boom!
Say: It’s time to clean up! (Girl’s name), how can you observe animals. Ideas
include: local museum, park,
animal shelter, zoo, butterfly
park, horse stable, etc.
OR
Arrange for the girls to watch a
nature movie or nature show
on TV.
Arrange a way for the girls to
jot down their thoughts, notes
or drawings of all that they
see, hear and smell. Ideas
include: paper, small
notepads, recycled cardboard,
rubber bands with paper and
pencil, markers, etc.
Paper and pencils / markers
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!
minutes
10
Closing
minutes
help lead the clean-up time? (For example, hold a
garbage bag; lead the girls in a race to pick up items,
etc.) Let’s remember to Leave No Trace that our troop was here and clean everything up!
Close meeting. Please join together in the friendship
circle. Think of the animals we saw and share one
thing that you liked or were surprised by. Do you
remember the name of the Journey that our nature walk
came from? (Get Moving) Next week we’ll do one more Journey activity and you will get to choose which
Journey you want to do this year! Yea!
(Girl’s name), can you please start the friendship squeeze, and when it has gone all the way around, say
“Good Bye Girl Scouts”? Girl Scout helper hands out
the girls’ nature pictures to take home.
The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law. The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout. Leave No Trace !
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!
Boom chicka boom (crowd repeats)
I said a boom chicka-boom! (crowd repeats)
I said a boom-chicka-rocka-chicka-rocka-chicka-boom! (crowd repeats)
Uh huh! (crowd repeats)
Oh yeah! (crowd repeats)
One more time... (crowd repeats)
Repeat verse in a different style. Shout out the style! Choices could be:
faster,
accent,
slower,
whisper,
Southern accent,
English
janitor style: broom-chicka-broom... then broom-chicka-
sweepa-chicka-sweepa-chicka-broom,
valley girl style,
photographer style,
baby style,
underwater style (finger over lips
while saying words),
motorcycle style (vrooom chicka vroom)
Kaper Charts
Kaper Charts are a way to organize small jobs or activities for the troop and encourage Girl Led leadership skills. It is a tool that helps distribute
tasks equally among the group, and can be used for any number of tasks, such as troop meeting tasks, small jobs at camp, even household chores!
There are so many ways to make a Kaper Chart. Here are a few examples:
DO It – Done It Jars:
Using craft sticks, each girl can decorate her stick with her name. Have two jars, “Do It” and “Done It” (or other names chosen by the
girls). When a job needs to be done, a girl pulls out a stick from the “Do It” jar, and when done, puts the stick in the “Done It” jar. Make sure to consider the following when developing a Troop Kaper Chart:
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Make a fun, colorful Kaper Chart.
Involve everyone in the planning of the Kaper Chart.
Have enough jobs so that everyone can have turns doing the tasks.
Decide how to choose who does the jobs.
Decide how to rotate jobs so everyone gets a turn at some point.
List of possible jobs or create your own:
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Help Set Up
Lead Pledge of Allegiance
Lead Girl Scout Promise
Handle supplies
Help assign Kapers
Collect Dues
Hand out or collect paperwork
Lead an activity
Choose or Lead a song / Song Leader
Choose a game
Hostess
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Get Flag
Take Pictures
Bring snack
Hand out Snack
Clean-up captain
Clean-up after snack
Bathroom buddy
Lead good bye game
Flag Bearer
Friendship Squeeze Starter
Attendance Taker
Meeting 4: Exploring the Junior “amuse” Journey and Choosing
the Journey for the Year
Date:
Time
Activity
Time:
Description
Location:
Supplies
Pre-Meeting
Set out the Junior Kaper Chart.
(Please note: Resources are highlighted
in bold in the Appendix following each
meeting outline.)
Ask: How did you decide to choose who does the
kapers for each meeting? Who is doing what today?
(Insure to honor each girl and her kaper during the
meeting!)
Write the date, time, place for
the ceremony on the white
board or paper for the girls to
copy.
Supplies to make invitations
(paper, markers, stickers, glue,
etc.)
10 – 15 Gathering:
minutes Welcome
5-10
Opening:
minutes
10-15
Business or
minutes Planning
Each girl creates her own invitation for their Investiture /
Rededication ceremony that she will take home. Girls
who finish early can finish decorating the Kaper Chart.
Hold a Flag Ceremony and include the Girl Scout
Promise and Law. Stand in a horseshoe and have one
girl holding the American flag at the front of the
horseshoe. Ask the girls if they would like to sing a
song. Girls say the Girl Scout Promise. Try having
each line of the Girl Scout Law read by a different girl,
and then all of them end the last line together.
Tell girls that they need to plan their Investiture or
Rededication for the next meeting using the Ceremony
Planner. With the girls, determine how they would like
to celebrate the completion of the first leg of their
Journey. You may want to break them up into smaller
groups, and then come back together and make a total
group plan. Get them to plan any prep work, such as
decorations, print words of songs on a poster, etc.
Explain that the Girl Scout Handshake is a special
tradition that Girl Scouts everywhere use in special
ceremonies like investiture (or rededication), awards
ceremonies and other special occasions. Review how
to do the handshake. Have the girls practice with a
partner.
Flag Ceremony handout
American Flag and flag stand
handout
Girl Scout Promise and Law
(from previous meeting)
Poster boards
How to make the Girl Scout
handshake: take your left
hand and shake your partner’s left hand while both making
the Girl Scout Sign with your
right hands.
Who will
lead
15
Exploration
minutes
Ask: Do you want to use the Girl Scout handshake for
investiture (or rededication)?
This activity is from the aMUSE Journey:
Let the girls know that confidence can be like a
protective cloak that shelters them when someone says
or does something that hurts them in some way. You
might say something like, With this cloak around you,
it’s easier to stay true to your own thoughts and feelings
and not be influenced by pressures or unkind acts or
words of others.
Ceremony Planner worksheet
aMUSE girls book or picture
of the book.
Cloak handout
Crayons or markers
Real, fabric cloak if possible
Invite girls to think about some of the pressures they
might be experiencing at school, with friends, at home,
or elsewhere in their life (such as pressure to fit in or
not be different or to do something you don’t want
to do). If you like, write your own personal pressures
outside your cloak.
Ask girls to think about what keeps them feeling good
and strong, no matter what they might be facing (things
like talking about your feelings, learning about yourself,
trying new activities, knowing everyone is different). Tell
them to put all of these things on your cloak. (see
handout)
Once the girls have covered their cloaks, ask them to
talk about what they put inside and outside the cloaks.
Acknowledge that everyone feels pressure but its how
we handle that pressure that keeps us strong.
10
Snack
minutes
Ask: Do others have something on their cloaks that
might keep you strong, too? Add it to your cloak! You
might say: The more we remember these feelings,
qualities, and actions, the easier it is for our confidence
to shine! Feel free to take this cloak home and hang
where it will most inspire you.
The Summit Song
Ask the helper to set up the snack.
Ask: There is a great new song about a new Girl Scout (for all grade levels)
Summit Award
award for girls who complete all three Journeys. It’s called the Summit Song. Do you know what a summit
is? (It’s the highest point on the mountain, where only a 10
Clean Up
minutes
10
Closing
minutes
few brave women make it all way to the top!) The
Summit Award is a special award for girls who achieve
this great goal.
Ask the helper to set up the snack.
Ask: what is a fun way that we can all clean up today
and Leave No Trace?
Ask the Helper to help everyone get in the Friendship
Circle for closing, and pass out pencil and slips of
paper for each girl. Ask the helper to announce that it
is time to choose which Journey to use this year by
writing the name of the Journey they want to do on their
slip of paper. Review the 3 Junior Journeys or show
the 3 books. Count up the votes to see which has the
most votes.
Ask the helper to start the Friendship Circle, make
announcements and begin the Friendship Squeeze.
Remind: decorations, candles, snacks, etc.
Three Junior Journey books:
 Agent of Change
 Get Moving!
 aMUSE
or 3 Junior Journeys
Remind girls to take home
their invitations and cloak
pictures.
Flag Ceremonies (see Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting handbook) Honoring the American Flag A flag ceremony is a way of showing love and respect for one's country. Flag ceremonies may be used for: 
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Opening or closing meetings Opening or closing special events Beginning or closing a day Honoring a special occasion or special person Retiring a worn flag Flag ceremonies may take place in meeting rooms, in outdoor settings, in large auditoriums, on stage, even on horseback. All flag ceremonies share one thing in common—respect for the flag. Flag Ceremony Guidelines Keep it simple. Emphasis should be on respect for the flag rather than on the commands or techniques. Ask these questions when planning: 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Who will carry the flag? Who will be the color guards? Who will give the directions for the ceremony? What song will be sung? Who will sound the pitch and start the song? Will a poem or quotation be included? Who will say or read it? After the Pledge of Allegiance, will the Promise and the Law be said? In what order will the parts of the ceremony take place? When will the group practice? Where will the flags be placed at the end of the ceremony? Terms Used in a Flag Ceremony The color bearer (or flag bearer) is the person who carries the flag. There is one color bearer for each flag used in the ceremony. The color guard is a team that guards the flags. Any even number of guards may be used, but usually four or six girls are sufficient. The Girl Scout in­charge (or caller) is a designated Girl Scout who announces or calls each part of the ceremony. Possible Commands for a Flag Ceremony "Girl Scouts, attention." Used to announce that the flag ceremony is to begin. "Color guard advance." This signals the color guard to advance with the flags, or advance to pick up the flags. "Color Guard, post the colors." This directs the color guard to place the flag in flag standards, or to attach the grommets to a flag pole rope. "Color guard, honor your flag." The color guard salutes the American flag. "Please join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance." (Followed by an appropriate song, quotation or poem, if so desired.) OR "Color guard, honor your flag." The color guard salutes the American flag. "Color guard, retire the colors." This asks the color guard to remove the flag from standards, or to lower the flag, detach from the rope, and fold prior to being dismissed. "Color guard, dismissed." The color guard leaves in formation, with or without the flag. "Girl Scouts dismissed." Girls may leave in formation or be at ease where they have been standing. Handling the American Flag The display of the American Flag is governed by law to ensure that it will be treated with the respect due the flag of a great nation. This is known as the Flag Code. Some of the rules most useful for Girl Scouts are: 
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The American Flag should be placed in the center, and higher, when displayed with a group of state, local, or organizational flags flown from staffs. It may also be positioned to the right of other flags (if you were to hold the flag while facing your audience, your right side would be the flag's own right). "When displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker or to the right of the audience." * The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered slowly with dignity. The flag should never be allowed to touch anything beneath it, nor should it ever be carried flat or horizontally—always aloft and free. Never use the flag as a cover or place anything on top of it. No disrespect of any kind should be shown to the flag of the United States. It should be kept clean. The flag, when carried in a procession with other flags, should be either on the marching right or, if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line. When you display the flag on a wall or in a window where people see it from the street, it should be displayed flat with the blue part at the top and on the flag's own right (which is the observer's left). When displayed after dark, the flag should be illuminated. Retiring a Worn American Flag Retiring an American Flag is a special ceremony that ends with burning the flag and disposing of the ashes in a respectful manner. For further information, check with Let's Celebrate! Girl Scout Ceremonies or your council training or program staff. * From the U.S. Flag Code. Basic Opening Flag Ceremony "Girl Scouts, attention." Used to announce that the flag ceremony is to begin. "Color guard advance." This signals the color guard to advance with the flags, or advance to pick up the flags. "Color Guard, post the colors." This directs the color guard to place the flag in flag standards, or to attach the grommets to a flag pole rope "Color guard, honor your flag." The color guard salutes the American flag. "Please join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance." Followed by Song and/or Announcements "Girl Scouts dismissed." Girls may leave in formation or be at ease where they have been standing. Basic Closing Flag Ceremony "Color guard, honor your flag." The color guard salutes the American flag. "Color guard, retire the colors." This asks the color guard to remove the flag from standards, or to lower the flag, detach from the rope, and fold prior to being dismissed. "Color guard, dismissed." The color guard leaves in formation, with or without the flag. Followed by Song and/or Announcements "Girl Scouts dismissed." Girls may leave in formation or be at ease where they have been standing. Ceremony Planner
What kind of ceremony?
Do we want to include songs? Poems? Quotations?
Who will do it?
What is the purpose or theme?
When and where will the ceremony occur?
Will we have decorations or props? Who will do it?
What is the set-up for the ceremony?
Will we have refreshments?
What will be the opening? Who will do it?
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What kind?
What quantity?
Who will do it?
What is our budget for this event?
What will be the main part of the ceremony?
Who will we be honoring?
When will we practice the ceremony?
Who will clean up after the ceremony?
And afterwards, when will we evaluate the ceremony?
How will it end? Who will do it?
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What went well?
What can we do better next time?
What did we learn from planning this ceremony?
For example: Share what you have learned about being a Junior Girl Scout. As a troop, you are ready to make the Girl Scout Promise and
receive your Girl Scout Membership pins (for bridging Brownies, the Membership pin replaces the Brownie Girl Scout pin). This is traditionally done
at a special ceremony the girls plan. Here is one way to shape the ceremony: Have three candles of one color for the three parts of the Promise
and ten candles of one color for the ten parts of the Law. Divide the Promise and the Law amongst the girls and have them pass the "light of Girl
Scouting" as they read their section. Finish with "Whene'er You Make a Promise" or other appropriate song. If possible, have second and third year
girls pin the first year Juniors with their Girl Scout membership pin.
Junior Summit Award
Meeting 5: Investiture and / or Rededication
Date:
Time
Activity
Pre-Meeting
10 – 15 Gathering:
minutes Welcome
5-10
Opening:
minutes
10-15
minutes
15
minutes
10
minutes
10
minutes
10
minutes
Time:
Description
Location:
Supplies
Girls set up decorations and preparations for the
ceremony. Girls should use their Ceremony Planner
to help them keep on track and have a memorable,
successful ceremony.
(Please note: Resources are highlighted in bold in
the Appendix following each meeting outline.)
As girls and guests arrive, say: Thank you so much
for coming to the Junior Investiture ceremony! Today is
a day that the girls have been working towards and
looking forward to for weeks!
Assist the girls with the ceremony as needed. Praise
the girls for their hard work and preparation.
Business or
Planning
Exploration
Assist as needed.
Snack
Assist as needed.
Clean Up
Assist as needed.
Closing
Friendship Circle!
 Invite everyone to participate.
 The girls should announce the name of the Journey
that they selected.
 Ask everyone bring their calendars and ideas to the
next meeting to plan out their Junior Journey!
Assist as needed.
Supplies needed for the ceremony:
 Girls’ completed Ceremony
Planner
 One Girl Scout Pin for each girl
 American Flag and Stand
 Troop or Girl Scout Flag and
 Flag stand if available
 Beginning Junior Certificate (if
desired)
Ceremony Planner
Words of the song the girls chose on a
poster or handouts for the Parents /
Guardians.
Who will
lead
The Girls