Leadership of Girl Scout Troops: Intermediate Program

1943, Hard cover

In Youth Lies the Future

Deep interest in the growing up of young people is as old as history. Every tribe, community, or nation has realized that youth was a valuable asset for its own future. Parents, religious leaders, and the community were all concernedwhether the youth was coming of age in Samoa, preparing for life in a Spartan state, or growing up in a community that is feeling its way toward world citizenship. Whatever methods were used to educate and develop the character of boys and girls, there were certain common elements, such as: The desire to hand on to the next generation what the wise men had found to be true. Skills that were necessary for survival. The feeling of pride in and loyalty to ones own clan, state, or nation. Those of us living in this twentieth century have recent evidence of how the education of young people in one country can affect the entire world. We do not need an excursion into ancient history to understand that what happens to youth in one nation can inuence all nations; that what happens to youth in one community can become nation-wide. Everything we plan these days must t into a world picture frame. Therefore, it seems essential that each of us has a share in seeing that the boys and girls of our community get the kind of citizenship training that will make a better world for all youth.

Series A
First Meeting Game (about 15 minutes) Choose any lively game with simple rules that can be easily explained. Example: Relays, Dodge Ball, Going to Jerusalem. Refer to Girl Scout Handbook for suggestions on how to choose and teach games. Talk About Girl Scouting (not over 10 minutes) Tell about some of the things Girl Scouts do, such as hiking, dramatics, crafts, community service. Explain that Girl Scouts the world over subscribe to the same code and repeat the Girl Scout Promise and Laws. Make it clear that knowing these Laws and wanting to live up to the Promise is the most important part of Girl Scouting. Typical Scout Activities (about 30 minutes) Choose one or more according to the time it takes. a. Singing Either an action or hiking song, a simple folk song or round, or a patriotic song suitable for using with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States. Refer to Girl Scout Handbook for points on how to choose and teach a song and to one of the songbooks in the Publications Catalog. b. Outdoor Activity A brief treasure hunt or nature observation trail around the block or to the nearest open space, using some of the Girl Scout trail signs. See Tenderfoot requirements in Girl Scout Handbook. c. Simple Dramatics Such as those suggested in Troop Dramatics badge activities numbered 1-5 in the Girl Scout Handbook. d. First Aid How to use a triangular bandage and how to tie a square knot. See other suggestions in the Girl Scout Handbook. e. Crafts Using material at hand or scraps. See section on Arts and Crafts in Girl Scout Handbook. Make something useful for the home. Troop Government (about 20 minutes) Explain how to join the troop and the membership requirements. Give out the parent consent forms that are obtained free from the national or local headquarters. Ask girls to bring to the next meeting the forms lled out and signed, together with the national membership dues of one dollar. Explain that a girl may get her Handbook immediately, but that she cannot be invested as a Girl Scout or purchase her uniform and insignia until(a) she has completed the membership requirements, and (b) the troop is officially registered. Ask the girls if they have any suggestions for the next meeting or any questions. Discuss any preliminary steps in troop organization that might be taken next week, such as troop dues or election or appointment of temporary troop officers. Closing (5-10 minutes) Girls standing in circle formation so that all may see, hear, and take part. Reminder of what they are to bring next week. Repeat the Girl Scout Promise slowly (girls do not officially take the Promise until they are invested). Suggest that girls learn Promise and Laws by next week and be ready to give examples from their own everyday living of at least one Law. Sing a patriotic song. If there is a Flag of the United States available, give the Pledge of Allegiance.

Second Meeting Game (about 15 minutes) Same type of game as for rst meeting or one suggested by the girls. A dramatic or singing game is also good for letting off steam. Troop Government (about 25 minuets) Collect parent consent forms and membership dues. Discuss weekly troop dues. Appoint or elect temporary treasurer. Discuss regular and prompt attendance at meeting. Decide at what hour meeting shall officially begin and end. Appoint or elect a temporary troop secretary or scribe. Encourage questions and ideas. Scout Activities (about 35 minutes) Choose one from the list given in First Meeting or one of the Tenderfoot homemaking requirements. Closing (about 15 minutes) Tell how Girl Scouting got started and something about Juliette Low. Explain Girl Scout Motto and Slogan. Repeat Girl Scout Laws and ask for examples of observance.

Third Meeting Demonstration and Practice with the Flag of the United States (about 20 minutes) Show girls how to act as Color guard and discuss respect due the ag. Practice the horseshoe formation as found in the Girl Scout Handbook. Conduct the Flag Ceremony (about 10 minutes) Pledge of Allegiance. Star-Spangled Banner. Repeat Girl Scout Laws. Let one or two girls tell about a Law well carried out, preferably by someone else. Lively Recreation (about 15 minutes) Games, action song, or folk dance. Troop Government (about 20 minutes) Collect any parent consent forms and membership dues that were forgotten last week. Have treasurer collect weekly troop dues. Have secretary take attendance and enter each girls full name and attendance in troop record book. Discuss form of government troop will use to stat with. Possibly a direct form, if a small group (town meeting); if over twelve girls, a representative form (patrol method). See Chapter Five. Girl Scout Quiz Game (about 20 minutes) Divide into two teams or use the temporary patrol groups for a competitive review testing game. The spelling bee, radio quiz, or relay race form might be used for questions that you have prepared in advance. Questions on respect due the Flag, the Girl Scout Laws, the history of Girl Scouting, or those suggested by other Tenderfoot requirements could be used. Closing Song (about 5 minutes)

Fourth Meeting Lively Game (about 15 minutes) Troop Government (about 20 minutes) Patrol meetings or general business meeting to attend to following matters: Dues Attendance Check on Tenderfoot requirements. Discuss time, place, and program for rst hike or outdoor meeting. See Girl Scout Handbook and section on Begin Early in the Out-of-Doors in this chapter. Scout Activities (about 30 minutes) Any of the Tenderfoot or Second Class activities in the Out-of-Doors eld would be appropriate here. Closing (about 20 minutes) Circle formation. Discuss what it means to be a Girl Scout. Point out actual examples of how Laws have been applied (or forgotten) in troop activities of past three weeks. Learn one or two songs appropriate for the hike, perhaps a marching song, and one to sing around a campre.

Fifth Meeting Lively Song or Folk Dance (about 15 minutes) Tenderfoot Activities (30 minutes) a. Final check-up on membership requirements. You, as leader, talk to individual girls to make sure they understand the Girl Scout Promise and Laws. b. The rest of the group can practice games and songs that might be used on the hike, rehearse a ceremony, or review any Girl Scout activity under the direction of your assistant leader or troop committee member or troop officer. Troop Government (about 25 minutes) General assembly or patrol meetings: Dues and attendance. Assignment of specic jobs and responsibilities for hike. Collecting ideas for the investiture ceremony. Closing Ceremony (15 minutes) This might be the Flag ceremony or the rehearsal of some part of the investiture.

Sixth to Eighth Meetings These meetings should include: 1. A hike or outdoor expedition of some kind. 2. Preparation for the investiture ceremony. This investiture should be held as soon as possible after you have received your troop certicate and the individual membership cards. 3. Plans for future programs, community service, or badge activities. See chapters on Girls Interests and Needs and Leader-Girl Program Planning.

Eleven Program Fields

Agriculture Arts and Crafts Community Life Health and Safety Homemaking International Friendships Literature and Dramatics Music and Dancing Nature Out-of-Doors Sports and Games

Under each of the eleven program elds there are two Second Class activitiesand several prociency badges. Second Class A girl must complete one of the Second Class activities in each of the eleven elds. First Class A girl must complete Second Class and earn at least twelve prociency badges, as follows: 1. Four to six badges in one eld. (This may be her major.) 2. The remainder from any other elds.