This was a BIG HUGE meeting for the girls. They were going to get their first taste of being a Cadette and what that means to how GS was going to change for them. Big changes for "Older Girls." Wow, Older Girls. I know that bridging is always a nice (way too long with this many girls in our troop) ceremony and it is touching for the parents-but we as leaders, we are running our behinds off trying to make things go smoothly, help the girls with the show, etc. and don't really get to enjoy the ceremony so this was the moment for me-the gushy happy feeling came as I was so proud of them for growing so much both individually and as a group. How did these little adorable Brownies that I started with get to be so grown up??!!??
They were into discussing the things they want to do as Cadettes. And not quite realizing that now, Gloria, Patti, and I can only suggest to them activities, we don't choose them, plan them, run them, or clean up after an activity anymore! It's all on the girls, they "run their own show" now. As leaders, we are stepping in for things they can not yet accomplish-advanced logistics, watching them, answering questions, chauffeuring them around, approving activities for safety and age appropriateness, those kind of things. But not planning them, or executing them. The girls have to do that. We are there for the 30% they can't yet accomplish and they have to figure out the 70% that they can-no matter how tough that is going to be! (We expect a few not-so-progressive meetings early on until they really get it! Ha Ha)
I looked around the room. Oh boy! How are these kids, my little ones, Our little ones, going to be able to do that? They aren't ready! They are still so young! Exit over-protective Julie-they HAVE to do it, and possibly fail a few times, in order to learn the skills. The feeling usually passes quickly but it's there. I love the girls so much-every one of them-and it's just me wanting the best for them and then I remind myself that the "best" sometimes is having a below than average experience but learning how to make it better next time. Failure is not failure if you have learned something to carry forward. They CAN be leaders peer-to-peer. They might stumble along the way but they CAN do this! And they were, they were each picking the activities that they wanted to do this year from the GS activities catalog (if they lose it, click here for a copy). Gloria must have said fifteen times, you can pick to suggest activities NOT on this list too-I don't think they were getting that-parents, you can help them make suggestions if they try to stick to the list. If they suggest something NOT on the list, they need to put their NAME on the post-its that they got. If they want to do a beach clean up, go to Disneyland, do service projects, they can, they just need to suggest it to the group for approval and begin to plan it.
After that we talked about Mariner Scouts, what they are, what they do, and how the girls can start the process to become a mariner troop. They got invited to Camp Lakota at the beginning of October to attend the first mariner competition of the year, Tambu. We also talked about Sharpeez and how that teaches excellent advanced camping skills to the girls. Sharpeez is an invitation only campout-open to girls who demonstrate the necessary skills.
Then it was on to Troop Government. We went over each type and told the girls to think about it and come back next meeting with what they would like to use as troop government.
And finally we broke into patrols for the Cadette Patrol Challenge. Parents CAN'T help! The girls are competing against other troops and against Each Other. We want to keep it Fair and Friendly and can't do that if one patrol is getting adult help-its CHEATING. Ask them leading questions to have them figure out the answer, don't tell them anything-they have to figure it out and act on it alone as a patrol. This is part of the growing-up-failure/success thing! We as leaders need them to do this on their own so that they gain confidence and a can-do-it attitude so that they can start to take over 70% of their troop. By the way, the Cadette Patrol Challenge is going to be so much fun and the girls are really excited!
After that, clean up and pick up. Whew. So much in one meeting, but it's out of the way and now the girls take over! No more planning for meetings, no more having the girls "get things done," no more urging them along because we are running out of time. It's going to be an interesting (slow to start year). The Leaders will be pushing and keeping girls on tack for the Silver Award. It's up to the girls this time though. Once they vote on if it is going to be a Troop Activity where all of them get it or an on-you-own activity we as leaders will be able to plan our portion of the Award. Since it is so important for college scholarships, we are stepping in as our 30% role to get them going and really press them along on it.
Homework was:
-Pick activities they want to do this year and write each on a post it note-with their name if it is not on the GS list.
-Think about what kind of Troop Government they want to have, be ready to propose it and support why they chose it.
-Practice using Google and Google Maps to locate things, do searches, etc. This is critical for success of the Patrol Challenge as WE CANT HELP THEM!!
-Design a flag/banner for their Patrol.
See you next time!
♥♥ Julie
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