Meeting Notes ~ September 4, 2013

Yesterday we had our first meeting of the new year!

We started out by decorating trefoils for our new troop banner and introducing our new Kaper Chart which will give our meetings a little more structure.  Each girl has a job to do for each meeting, and the jobs will rotate from meeting to meeting so each girl will have a chance to do each job.

They had fun looking at their Popsicle Stick People and did a great job of figuring out who was who without even looking at the names!  Can you?

Mckayla led us through the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law, and then since this meeting was all about preparing for our upcoming campout, we read a couple of books about camping.

Then we had a snack of popcorn and S'mores cookies before we got down to business!

Our two main tasks for the meeting were to select a skit for our troop to perform for the campout, and to make some SWAPS to trade with other girls while we are camping.  We gave the girls three skit ideas to choose from, and with some discussion they settled on "Two Voices in a Tent at Night" by Kristine O'Connell George.  We rehearsed it a couple of times, and put together a list of props that we could use to make it more fun!  Our Executive Assistant for the day, Elizabeth, wrote them all down in our meeting notes.

After that, we spent time making some SWAPS, or "Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere", to share with our new scouting friends next weekend.  SWAPS are a great way to break the ice when meeting new people, and give the girls a collection inexpensive and thoughtful souvenirs.  We made several together, but if the girls want to make some more on their own it would be great, because there will be an awful lot of potential new friends to meet at the campout!

We finished up with a Friendship Squeeze led by Mia, and Photo Journalist Allyson took some photos of the group

and I took some too, so all the girls could be included!

Troop Business

• Don't forget that we will have a meeting tomorrow - Wednesday, September 4 at my house from 4:30 - 6:30 pm (or whenever everyone is done with their ice cream socializing).  We will be working on our skit for the campout and on our SWAPS.  Extra hands will be helpful, so if a couple of moms can stay to help that would be fabulous.  Also, if you have a Rainbow Loom, please bring it.
• I would like to have a moms' meeting soon so that we can discuss some of the logistics for the year.  Would Friday, September 27 at 6:00 pm at my house work for everyone?  All the girls could come, and maybe we could do a potluck?
• I sent each girl some paperwork, you may have already received it.  Please get it back to me ASAP, especially for those of you who are attending the campout.  
• Two upcoming events:  on Wednesday, September 19 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm, there is a workshop called Proud to be an American Girl Scout that I would like our troop to attend.  Please let me know ASAP if your girl will attend as there is a charge for this workshop and I need to reserve our spots.  Also, on Saturday, September 21 at 4:00 pm our troop will be marching in the Long Valley 275th Anniversary Parade.  We will march from Old Farmer's School to LVMS, where there will be a big celebration including fireworks.  Please let me know if your girl plans to attend.

Looking forward to kicking off our first Brownie year together!!!

Planning for 2013-2014

Hello all!

Your fearless leaders have been hard at work planning for the coming year for our brownies!

Please be sure to check the troop calendar for our updated schedule:

• Within the next few weeks you will receive a packet of paperwork.  It will include campout information and permission slip, medical forms, a child release permit, general permission slip, and a girl needs assessment.  Once you get it please be sure to return it promptly so we can get organized.
• We have added a few summer meetings so the girls can prepare for the upcoming campout and do some general "troopkeeping" such as creating a banner and choosing a troop crest.  
• There are a couple of special events on the calendar for September in addition to the campout, including a Girl Scout Pride workshop and the celebration of Long Valley's 275th anniversary!  If you plan to have your girl attend the workshop on 9/19, please let Kelly know ASAP so we can register.
• Because we will be meeting later on Friday evenings (5:30 - 7:00 pm), we will not be able to use Cucinella as a meeting location.  We will therefore be using members' homes for our meetings.  Please let Kelly know if you are willing to offer your home!
• We have put some events on the calendar that are part of our badge work but are outside of our normal meeting schedule.  As our planning continues, we will add more special events.  Some things that are on the docket but not yet locked in on the calendar include a day of horse care at a local stable and attending a dance performance.
• We have also put a Troop 5030 Moms' Night Out on the calendar so we can have a chance to get together and chat!

Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Summer Camps

Register for summer camp here.

Gold Award Track Camp

Long Valley Girl Scouts Pool Party!

More LV Girl Scouts in the News!

If you were wondering where the new puppet theater at the public library came from...

Washington Township Junior Girl Scout Troop 1231 presented three funny and engaging puppet shows for young children at the Washington Township Public Library on Wednesday, May 29^th.  In order to earn their Bronze Award, the six young ladies – Emily Wu, Lizzie Lyzenga, Madison Kalmus, Mia Herring, Kaitlyn Gleason and Katie Van Woert and their leader, Christina Van Woert - earned money to purchase and donate a puppet theater to the Children’s Section of the public library under the direction of Children’s Librarian Maria Birch.  The girls then wrote and performed three puppet shows called Animal Idol, A Cow Jumped Over the Moon, and The Thanksgiving Chicken.  Over twenty people were in attendance and the show led to many laughs from the children in audience.  They thoroughly enjoyed it!  Children’s Librarian, Maria Birch thanked the girls and said that “It was really a lot of fun and the kids started with the theater right away!  It's beautiful - we really appreciate it.” 

In other news, there was a story about the road dedication at Rock Spring Park in the Observer-Tribune, as well as a story about the recent Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Adult Recognition Program where our own CASSIE ANDERSON was honored as one of the Rookies of the Year!  Go Cassie!