Meeting Recap and Holiday Meeting Planning

What a great meeting we had!  I want to thank all of the parents that helped us out last night.  Thank you also to Isabella for the snack!!!

We worked a little more on our Journey badges.  A part of the Between Earth and Sky Journey is using our senses to really experience the things around us.  Last night we talked about our favorite colors.  Once everyone shared their favorite color, we made a list of those colors and split into 4 groups.  Each of the groups had to decide on a name for their group.  For some of the groups this was easy, but others had to work on compromising with the others in their group to agree upon a name.  Once everyone decided on this, the girls took a walk through the halls to find an object for each color listed.  As lame as this sounds, the girls loved this. 

Holiday Meeting Plans
Santa Pals - The girls drew names to discover their Santa Pals.  They loved that this was a secret. The girls are to bring something that they made for their Santa Pal.  No money is to be spent.  This can be a picture that they have colored or a craft that they have made from things already at home. 

Ice Cream - Last year at our holiday meeting we had an ice cream party.  The girls remembered this and requested it again this year.  So we will have ice cream and a few toppings at the next meeting.  I would be happy to bring the ice cream, spoons and bowls, but if anyone would like to bring a topping that would be great.  Thanks!!!

Nail Painting - One of the activities that the girls LOVED this summer at Troop Round Up was manicures.  So, I gave this as an option for our holiday meeting. It was the overwhelming choice.
This is where I will need a little help.  I will need a few adults to help me paint nails on the girls.  I asked them to come to the next meeting with clean nails, but I will bring polish remover just in case.  I also told the girls that they can bring nail polish if they are willing to share and if it labeled with their name. 

A huge thanks to all who sold Fall Products!!!  We made $188.40.  Also, cookies are coming soon!

I will start to research options for a January/February Field Trip where we can spend our money.  If anyone has any ideas on field trip ideas, I would happily explore them. 

As always, if you have any questions/concerns/suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me!

Early December Meeting

Just a reminder that our December meetings will be on the first and third Mondays. This means that we will meet this Monday, December 6th. Isabella has snack.

Also, ALL MONEY from fall product sales IS DUE to Ms. Joan on SUNDAY, Dec. 5.  Please get the money to her so she doesn't have to spend her day tracking you down. 

I hope everyone enjoyed their pinecone turkeys. The acorns were actually from the MANY that we collected on our hike.

Speaking of our hike, I have a few pictures and Ms. Margie sent me a few pictures. I am going to post them, but if you have any pictures that you would like to have included, just email them to me. I promise I will get them up this weekend.

One of our mom's shared this with me, and I thought it was super cute so I wanted to pass along the info/email that she shared with me.

Hello Everyone,
I have just received this email from the organization that has helped us so much since the death of Jeff and continues to help us through this difficult journey.  All funds raised will benefit the children and families of Annie's Hope.   Also, if you would like some additional information regarding Annie's Hope please visit the website at annieshope.org.  You will see on the right hand  side Camp Erin - St. Louis is featured on ESPN's E:60, this is a great video which will give you some insight on children and grieving and a little about what they do.  I know that I have missed people in this email and I am sorry.  Please feel free to pass this along to family and friends. 
Thank you,
Debbie Wampler
Bring a Smile to your Child's Face!  Have Santa Write a Letter Straight from the North Pole!
Santa Claus wants to handwrite a customized, personalized letter to your child or children...or grandkids, students, baby-to-be, neighbors, spouses, or anyone else special to you - young or old.  All Santa asks is that you make a donation to his favorite charity...
Annie's Hope - The Bereavement Center for Kids (you can click for more info)
Annie's Hope provides comprehensive support services to children, teens and their families who are grieving the death of someone significant. You can help the kids of Annie's Hope while brightening the Christmas holiday for your own children.
To help Santa with this writing task, please provide him with a bit of information about the good little boy or girl who will receive a memorable, keepsake letter - With Love, From Santa.  Donation $15 for the first letter, $10 for each additional letter.
Complete an informational form for each letter requested, send in your donation, and ZING, Santa writes the letter. Go to http://www.annieshope.org/documents/2010CoverLtrandInfoForm.pdf 
for the form.  Last order date to guarantee Santa's letter reaches anywhere in the world before he delivers the gifts is Friday, December 10th.

And lastly, someone dropped there Journey Patch on the way out after last meeting.  I have it in my bag, so ask me for it, otherwise I will forget.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Monday!

Powder Valley Hike

It looks like the rain is going to hold off for our hike in the morning. Please dress the girls weather appropriate in tennis shoes with sock that cover ankles.  Don't forget to pack a lunch. 

We will meet at Powder Valley at 9:30 a.m.  (if you click on the colored letters there is a link with directions to Powder Valley).  We will meet in the courtyard area near the entrance to the building.  I plan on leaving on our walk at 9:45 a.m.  If you are running late, just call my cell phone.  I don't mind waiting, but don't want to wait if no one else is coming. We will walk a trail and then go inside the building to see the exhibits.  At approximately 11-11:30 a.m. we will load up and head over to Emmenegger Park (also a link for directions) for a picnic lunch.  We will be done no later than 12:15 p.m.  Tag-a-longs are welcome on this field trip, the trails at Powder Valley are paved so you can use strollers.

Any questions, don't hesitate to call me/email me.  My email comes straight to my phone, so I get them all.

Meeting Recap and Hike Reminder

Thank you to Sydney for bringing snack!  The Cheez-It's were a hit. 

This week we started our "Journey".  I will pick up the "road map" patches that start the journey and distribute them.  The journey involves reading a story and also doing an activity that is usually related to the story.  This week, we did some role playing.  We talked about "compromise".  Hopefully after a few weeks of reviewing this, the girls will begin to understand it.  It is a very important, but difficult concept for 6-7 year olds to grasp. 

For our craft, we made luggage tags.  Throughout our journey we will learn how to say "Have a nice trip" in several languages.  We will past our phrases onto our luggage tags each time we learn one.  So, I have held onto them at this point. 

Field Trip
I am still planning on going to Powder Valley for our hike on Saturday.  If the weather is bad, I will cancel.  Check your email and/or the blog for a definite decision on Saturday morning.  I don't want to cancel because the girls are excited and I hate to disappoint, but if it is raining we will reschedule, probably in the spring. 

Candy Donation Final Count

The candy has been weighed and delivered.  I have talked to a couple of moms and all have said how willing and eager these girls were to donate their candy.  I am so proud of them and each of you should be proud of your daughters as well!

Our Daisy Troop donated a total of 33 pounds of candy.  Can you believe that!  That is Hailey laying on the floor with the candy piled in front of her...as you can see it stretched from her toes to elbow and was about 3 or 4 inches deep in the middle of the candy pile.

Ms. Margie bagged up the candy and took it to the Saline Valley Fire Department. 

She also delivered to the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department at the High Ridge Substation. 

Per Ms. Margie, "Our girls did great and both the Police and Firefighters were very happy with the "Boo Bags".  WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!!

Meeting Recap

We had an awesome meeting last night!  Thank you to Ms. Margie for putting together our craft and also to Ms. Joan for taking care of all of our Fall Product Sales stuff.  The girls had a LOT of "business-y" stuff to take care of so we spent a lot of time in our circle.  Here is the run down of what you need to know.

Field Trip
Mark your calendars, we will be going on a field trip to Powder Valley for a hike on Saturday, November 13.  We will meet at Powder Valley at 9:30 a.m.  We will walk a trail (to be determined) and then go inside the building to see the exhibits.  At approximately 11:30 a.m. we will load up and head over to Emmenegger Park for a picnic lunch.  We will be done no later than 12:15 p.m.  Tag-a-longs are welcome on this field trip, the trails at Powder Valley are paved so you can use strollers.   I will update the blog with more details as the date gets closer.

Trick or Treat Candy Donation
WOW did these girls impress me last night!  Their kindness and generosity exceeded my expectations and nearly brought tears to my eyes.  We discussed all the candy they get at Halloween and that it is not healthy for them to eat every piece of candy that they get.  I then opened a discussion for the girls to tell one another about some of the things they could do with that candy.  Donating and giving it away was a given in their minds.  I asked if they would be willing to donate HALF of the candy that they received in trick or treating, and they agreed.  They came up with SEVERAL ideas which we narrowed into four groups of places/people to donate to: 1)hospitals (nurses/doctors who treat patients)/Ronald McDonald House, 2)Shelter/Food Pantry, 3.) Police Department/Firefighters, 4.) Military .  I am not kidding when I tell you that these girls came up with these ideas on their own.   Everyone of them, even the quietest had fantastic ideas.  After a vote, the girls decided they would donate to the Police Department and Firefighters. 

For our craft, we decorated "you've been boo'ed bags". 

Ms. Margie will collect the candy from the girls and weigh it.  She will then separate it into the bags and we will take it to the Police Department/Firefighters. 

We are asking that the girls put the candy that they wish to donate in a closable bag (ziplock) and bring it to school with them on Tuesday, Nov. 2.  They are to look for Ms. Margie in the commons area as they arrive at school and go to their classrooms.  All the girls that donate candy will receive the Trick or Treat Patch.

Fall Product Sales
Girls can begin selling nuts/candy magazines on October 30, 2010.  If you have out of town family friends that might be interested in purchasing, you can set up at website at http://www.nutsforknowledge.com/ . 

All forms must be turned into Ms. Joan on November 7.  I will email you with her address and reminders.  She will leave a cooler on her porch where you can leave your order forms.  I will update more dates like when to pick up your products and when money needs to be turned in, as they are scheduled.

Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder that we have a meeting on Monday, October 24.  Norah will be bringing a snack.  I will need just a couple of minutes of parents time either at the beginning or the end of the meeting for you to sign a permission slip in order for the girls to receive their Nut Sales Order Card. GO Day is October 30, which means that even though the girls will have their order forms, they cannot take orders before October 30.  If we anyone does, GSEM can take away our entire troops portion of funds raised.  I will write a completely separate blog regarding nut sales probably Monday night/Tuesday afternoon.  If you aren't dropping off or picking up on Monday, let me know so that I can work out a way to get that permission slip signed.  Thanks and I will see everyone on Monday!

American Veterans Traveling Tribute Balloon Release

Tonight was the Girl Scouts Neighborhood meeting.  An awesome opportunity came up that is pretty immediate and for the girls.  

I am assuming that many of you have heard about the American Veterans Traveling Tribute that is on the football field at Fox High School.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, here  is a link to the website.  It is completely free.  Girl Scouts are participating in the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, October 16 at 6:30 p.m.  by releasing balloons. 

This is something you can do as a family, I do not have to be there. If you plan to go, have the girls wear their vest and head to the stage just before 6:30 p.m. They will be able to participate in the balloon release. 

We have family coming in town this weekend, so I am not sure if I will be there or not, but I thought it was definitely worth passing on.  Let me know if you go.  Email me pictures and I will post them on the blog!

Sit-Upons and other stuff

We had a great meeting on Monday night.  I had a BIG craft planned, and the girls sailed through it.  I seriously thought it would take us two weeks to get through, but the girls sewed up the sides like champs.  I was very impressed!  Thank you so much to Ms. Joan, Ms. Margie, Ms. Debbie B. and Mr. Matt for helping with the re-threading and re-threading of needles.  You guys ROCK!  I think the girls favorite part was seeing how many bags they could stuff into the sit-upons.  I will also have to keep an eye on the "pillow" fights.  I'll lay out a few boundaries next time and the girls will be fine.  We reviewed the fact that THEY are responsible for bringing their sit-upons to each meeting.  Actually, I pretty much pounded that into their heads.  We will see how many girls actually remember.  I know that it will be difficult for them, but they have to start learning somewhere right.  

This summer we went to a day camp and I had the girls carry their own water bottles.  It was hot and we did lose a few water bottles, but overall they did good.  There were 3 adults to 9 girls and if the adults would have carried all of that water in our backpacks with everyones lunch, the kids would have been fine, the adults however would not have made it.  Not to mention how often we would have had to stop, dig through bags to find the right water bottle, etc. 

A big thanks to Debbie W. and Abby for bringing the snack.  The girls enjoyed the pumpkin cookies and some leftover pretzels from the week before.  They really thought they were getting a treat.  I heard someone say "We get 2 snacks?!" 

I am of planning a short-medium outdoor hike for the girls.  I am looking at the first weekend in November.  The girls were given several options.  They said they wanted to do a LONG hike on dirt, and definitely not a sidewalk.  I am sure that the long hike they have in their minds is what I would consider a short hike.  Anyway, I am totally open to suggestions of nearby places where we could take them hiking.  

Finally, I changed the comments setting on the blog so that anyone can comment.  Sorry I didn't realize what was going on there. Thanks Joan for mentioning it.  I am going to the GSEM Neighborhood Meeting and Fall Product Sales Training tomorrow evening, so I will update after that.

Meeting Reminders - 10/11/10

Plastic Grocery Bags Needed
For our craft this week we are going to start working on "sit-upons".  For those of you who have no idea what that might be...it is a girl scout "seat", usually made of something light, waterproof and with a little bit of cushion.  The idea is that when the girls go to camp and are sitting on the ground, they have something to keep their bottoms dry and cushioned.  While we may use them for day camps, our primary use for them is keeping the girls in a circle during circle time.  It gives them a place to sit on their bottoms and not wiggle around/lay down, etc. 
We are making them out of vinyl backed tablecloths, but I need your help with the "stuffing".  If you could please bring any old plastic grocery bags that you have on hand to the meeting.

Snack
This weeks snack will be provided by Abby Wampler. I have water and pretzels left over from last meeting that I will also bring, so the girls will have a choice. 

Girl Member Registration Form
I have not yet received a girl member registration form for the following girls:  Bria Mental.  If I don't receive that form by Thursday afternoon, I will assume you do not wish to participate in Daisy's at this point.  I am turning in all of my registration papers on Thursday evening.

Adult Member Registration Forms
I have not yet received an adult member registration form for the following adults:  Michelle Mental, Nhu Phan, Erica Stevens, Debbie Wampler, Jen Wibbenmeyer.   If you wish to be a registered adult, I need to receive a copy of the adult member registration form by Thursday.  This is not something you have to do.  Any adult that stays for meetings must be a registered adult, pay $12 and undergo a background check.  If I don't receive paperwork by Thursday, I will assume that you don't want to be a registered adult. 
Dues/Registration
I still need to collect dues ($30) for the following girls: Sophie ($30), Annhien ($30), Emilee ($30), Bria? ($42) and Maddie? ($42). Please make checks out to GSEM Troop 1980.

Health History Forms
I need to get updated/current health history forms for the following girls: Amber, Sydney, Emilee, Abby, Amelia, Hailey.  I will have blank forms with me at the meeting on Monday.  

I think that is all for now.  I will update on Tuesday after our meeting. 

A New Year Has Begun

I thought that by doing our newsletter as a blog, I would be able to communicate with parents easier. I also might save a tree or two in the process.

We had an awesome first meeting. The girls were all excited to be there and to be together again. I love seeing all of their smiles. We did get bumped into the Commons Area, but I don't even think the girls realized that we weren't in the cafeteria. We started out by talking about all of the traditional Girl Scout "stuff". We learned the Girl Scout Promise. The girls made the decision to say the Girl Scout Promise at the end of our meetings. We made a craft that says the Girl Scout Promise. We learned the quiet sign, the Girl Scout Sign, and how to do the friendship squeeze.

A few of you have asked so I am going to post the schedule for the year here. As a general rule, we will meet on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6:30-7:45 p.m. in the cafeteria. But there are exceptions...

October 11 - Abby has snack.
October 25 - Norah has snack
November 8 - Sydney has snack
November 22 - Sophie has snack
December 6 (1st Monday) - Isabella has snack
December 20 (3rd Monday) - Madison has snack
January 10 - Emilee has snack
January 24 - Hailey has snack
February 14 - Lexi has snack
February 28 - Madison has snack
March 14 - Annhein has snack
March 28
April 4 (1st Monday)
April 18 (3rd Monday)
May 9

Just a reminder that simple snacks work best.

I hope this blog will help out. Let me know if you have any questions.