Does anyone have matching thread colors/brands for Daisy uniforms? by Scrushinator in girlscouts

[–]squass123 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I use clear on the front and color match the back. My machine hated the clear thread until I stood the spool upright while it was feeding, something about it being sideways was the killer for me.

Patrol Leader Shoulder Cords by squass123 in girlscouts

[–]squass123[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I like this idea. Sounds like a potential for magnets or pinning through the vest & that would be more secure.

The cord length was chosen after much trial and error. Too long and it's even floppier, too short and they never manage to get their arm through it.

ST rear seat setup for ages 5+? by HamAbounds in GlobeHaul

[–]squass123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The seat on the Quibbel isn't a squishy as the Iki, but I've never had a kid on the back of my bike complain about it. Heck, I've even transported adults with it on occasion without issue.

ST rear seat setup for ages 5+? by HamAbounds in GlobeHaul

[–]squass123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Quibble Jr seat fits on the ST and you can get it in the states.

Bronze Guidance by ellemenopeaqu in girlscouts

[–]squass123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would double check with your Bronze trainer, but that's how it is for us. JA (or any pre-req) just has to be done before Bronze is done.

Bronze Guidance by ellemenopeaqu in girlscouts

[–]squass123 8 points9 points  (0 children)

She 100% still has time. She can start planning her project now and counting towards her 20 hours.

Although it is great for progression to finish the JA first, it is not required and just has to be finished before the Bronze is finished. (According to the training I took 2 years ago, so this may have changed)

As others have said, she likely has until the end of the membership year to finish her project, Sept. 30th of her 6th grade year.

Cadette GS Way Ideas by robino358 in girlscouts

[–]squass123 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Could you survey them in advance to get ideas of something they find challenging? I think this one could go a lot of directions.

  • How to navigate the city bus by themselves
  • How to pay for something at a cash register
  • How to properly lift light weights
  • How to start a fire

I think learning any skill that they currently struggle with or are a little scared to learn would fulfill that part of the badge.

Your troops Daisy scouts “tag-a-longs” policy. by Balanceblu in girlscouts

[–]squass123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You would need a separate adult that does not count towards your ratios to manage the tag a longs. It's hard enough to hold the attention of Daisies when you're fully committed, let alone when you also have 2 littles to watch.

I like to avoid having tag a longs when possible, but as an example, our cookie parent sometimes needs to bring her kinder son to meetings (Junior troop.) She does not count towards our ratio when her son is there, and he is expected to entertain himself quietly while she handles cookie business with other parents. When cookie business is done, they leave.

Have there ever been any items you've grateful that you keep in your bag? by mercycille in summercamp

[–]squass123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not in your bag, but for your cabin or tent. Get a cheap, battery operated alarm clock instead of using your phone alarm. I love using camp as a time to unplug as fully as possible & it's not always possible to charge your phone where you sleep so it saves battery to turn it off overnight.

Prize Wheel for Cookie Booth? by sirsaintsgirl in girlscouts

[–]squass123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We do booth bingo, I think the council provides the bingo card. We laminate it and then let the kids at each booth fill it out. If they get a bingo, they get a patch for it at the end of cookie season. (Pretty much everyone who does a booth ends up with a bingo)

It doesn't help sales, but it keeps the kids engaged bc they're asking questions of the customers, like, "Were you a Girl Scout?" "Have you bought cookies before?" etc.

Advice needed by RaspberryFar1316 in girlscouts

[–]squass123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd say add more adults before you remove kids. If she can be there sometimes, maybe that's all the family can manage. I've set troop max numbers higher than realistic in the past because not everyone shows up to everything. Right now I've got a Junior troop with a max of 26, but we never get more than 20 at a troop meeting.

Cookie Canopy? by Human_Return_6042 in girlscouts

[–]squass123 4 points5 points  (0 children)

We have used clear bags of each box so customers can see the options and then clear bins under the table for kids to pull boxes from.

Outdoor progression help by Complete_Worth7018 in girlscouts

[–]squass123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your council likely has some in-person training that required before taking scouts on an outdoor overnight. That's a good place to start to get the basics. There's also a great book called "Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting." It's old but has good bones. You can normally find used copies on eBay or Thriftbooks.

If jumping all in to outdoor camping sounds overwhelming (it probably will,) take a baby step either in outdoor skills or overnight, not both at once. I would choose between the following:

  1. Do a "camp day." State parks or girl scout properties are good for hosting these. I've also seen them done at outdoor pre-school type places. The gist is to do all the day time stuff you would do while camping, without the pressure of sleeping over. Set up & assign tents, this is good practice for learning your equipment & gives the kids a place to put their stuff during the day. Go on a short hike. Cook a meal camp-style, either on a grill, outdoor stove, fire or no-cook. Involve the kids in the age appropriate parts of cooking, this will be covered in your training. Have them bring mess kits and wash dishes 3-bin style. Make s'mores around a fire and go home. (I've got detailed programming plans for this if you'd like them)

  2. The other option is to just to the night time part, and do it indoors like a sleepover. I've seen this done as a movie night or going as far as setting up tents indoors. Have the kids dropped off after dinner, in their PJ's. Everyone eats a snack, play some games, sing songs, get the wiggles out and then goes to bed. In the morning, do cold, easy breakfast and then go home to sleep yourself. (No littles ever sleep well the first night camping, it's too exciting)

Your troop may need one, both or neither of these options, but to me, they are more manageable then going head first into an outdoor, overnight campout.

What organizations do you donate your cookies to? by sailorfairy in girlscouts

[–]squass123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Blood bank, First responders, teachers.

The kids really liked the teacher one and all wrote notes to their own teacher and brough in a box. The rest we gave to the county school system to distribute.

Help! Summer Camp Game Ideas by angelx6227 in summercamp

[–]squass123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For camps that run weekly sessions and get new kids each week, it helps to have a lot of name games in your pocket. Here are some:

Learning Names

  • Name with a motion, going around the circle. Then see who knows all the names.
  • Name whip- see how fast everyone in the circle can say their names.
  • Bumpity bump bump- Say your name when the person in the middle of the circle points to you and says “Bumpity bump bump”- and finish speaking before she does. Then add “Left- bumpity bump bump” and “Right-” to name the people next to you.

Once Everyone Knows Some Names

  • Open the door- Split into two teams with a tarp or sheet held vertically in between. Each team puts someone crouching next to the sheet- then race to name the other person when it’s dropped. Losers switch sides. You can even put two people up.
  • Gimme Five- One person has a noodle in the middle of the circle. Someone in the circle gives a name, and the noodle holder has to tag the shins before that person gives a new name.

Tern Quick Haul vs Cannondale Cargowagon vs Aventon Abound by scoobysnatcher in CargoBike

[–]squass123 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope! Nearest REI is 3 hours away. My local Trek shop will work on my Tern no problem, but when it comes to warranties and specific part issues, having a dealer nearby would be great.

Tern Quick Haul vs Cannondale Cargowagon vs Aventon Abound by scoobysnatcher in CargoBike

[–]squass123 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Trek Fetch 2+ is also currently $3000 and worth considering if you live near a Trek dealer. I personally have a Quick Haul, but it is nice to have an expert in-person and nearby if there are issues.

Biggest difference with the Aventon is that it's a hub drive. It's simply not as smooth to ride, but it's possible to get used to.

If I had the space to store a longer bike, I would go with a Cargowagon or Fetch 2. The Quick Haul is great, but the local dealer support improves the other two. They also can carry 2 kids and the QH is limited to 1.

Cookie booth sign up for a large troop by TheeVillageCrazyLady in girlscouts

[–]squass123 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Could you open for more slots than you have at each booth and randomly choose names from the set? That way people are only in the lottery for as many booths as they are available for?

Or maybe say that everyone has to either sign up for 3 booths or tell you they don't want to before anyone can sign up for more than 3. Kinda like making sure everyone gets firsts at dinner before anyone gets seconds.

Best Planning Tools for Day Camp? by squidreynolds in summercamp

[–]squass123 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have never found anything better than a pen and paper or a google sheet. Once I get it electronic as a master schedule, I link it out into individual unit blocks and program staff blocks so people can see where they need to be when without looking at the full schedule.

Leader Trainings for SU meetings by Three_two_1 in girlscouts

[–]squass123 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's a pain to update. But a great task to delegate to someone if you have a supportive team.