COUNCIL TRAINER

E-NEWS

March 2009

Progression in Girl Scouts
Did you hear the one about the Girl Scout Daisy Leader who wanted to take her troop to Chicago to visit the American Girl store as a first field trip?  Have you had other well-intentioned, overly exuberant leaders in your trainings that couldn’t wait to take that big trip or try projects that might not be appropriate for that age level?  Well, we have a new word for their vocabulary -  PROGRESSION! 
 
Webster’s Dictionary defines progression as “gradual advancement; continuing development.”   In other words, baby steps before giant leaps!   The Girl Scout Program is meant to be a progression.   How quickly a troop progresses from one activity to another depends on the readiness and developmental stage of the girls.  As leaders and girls work together to plan troop activities, they should keep in mind skills the girls have already mastered and what steps need to be taken to develop those skills further. The goals of progression are to ensure that each girl is ready for the group activity and that girls gradually develop the skills and self-confidence needed to complete the activity.  With warm weather right around the corner, many troops are starting to plan outings, so troop trips is a natural place to review progression. 
 
When planning troop trips, leaders need to be aware of the girls’ personal experiences.  Many younger girls may not have experienced an overnight without a parent or other family member present.  For this age group, short, local day trips are the starting point.  Once girls have experienced several short, day trips, the troop may be ready to advance to longer day trips away from their communities. 
 
The next step would be a one-night trip close to home.  This could be an overnight at a Girl Scout facility, the local YMCA, or even the leader’s home.  If the girls are Girl Scout Daisies or younger Brownies, leaders may want to invite a parent/guardian to join the fun to help ease homesickness.
 
After a successful local overnight, the girls may be ready to spread their wings and plan a trip farther away from home for a longer period of time.  This could be a weekend at their local Girl Scout camp, perhaps leading up to a trip to another region’s camp, or maybe participating in a program opportunity in another city.  
 
After several two night trips, Girl Scout Juniors and Cadettes may be ready for some real adventures!   Now would be the appropriate time to think about planning a trip to Chicago, or even Savannah, Georgia to visit the birthplace of Juliette Low.  
 
Once the girls have become seasoned travelers, with finely honed skills to plan, budget and evaluate trips, they’re ready for those giant leaps!  Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors may decide to do long-range planning to prepare for a trip to Europe or Alaska – the sky’s the limit with these age levels!
 
Remind leaders that it is important at all age levels to help the girls evaluate their travel experiences, reflecting on what part of the trip they enjoyed and what they would do differently next time.  The reflection period is the perfect launch pad to plan future trips!
 
Refer leaders to Girl Scouts of Western Ohio’s appropriate age level home study guide and GSUSA’s Safety-Wise for more information and tips about progression in Girl Scouting.

Questions and Answers about Girl Scouting

Question:   

Where are the journey awards worn on the badge sash or vest?

Answer:  The journey awards are official recognitions and, therefore, are worn on the front of the sash or vest.   Girl Scout Daisies may add the journey awards to the front of their tunics, in a place of their choosing. If the girls chose to wear the new Daisy vest, the journey awards will be worn on one side of the vest with the current Daisy Center and Petals on the other.

Tips and Tools for Trainers!

Click here for this month's Tips & Tools or visit our website and click on "volunteers"/Adult Training/Trainer Tips & Tools

Save the date!

• October 9 – 11:  Fall Volunteer Enrichment Weekend, Camp Libbey, Defiance, Ohio

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION EVENTS

After a long and snowy winter, spring will soon be here, and with it, the annual Volunteer Recognition Events!  Below is a list of dates and locations for each region’s celebration.  Invitations will be mailed to volunteers in March.  Information will also be available at www.GirlScoutsofWesternOhio.org.  Mark your calendars now!!

Adult Development Contact Information

Terri Henson, Training Delivery Specialist (Appleseed Ridge)
Michelle Dilts, Training Delivery Specialist (Buckeye Trails)
Jeanette Smith, Adult Development Manager (Great Rivers)
Lin Okuley, Adult Development Manager (Maumee Valley)