Community Cleanup Week

Well, it turns out that Long Valley is pretty clean already so we didn't pick up much garbage, but we had fun!

From the Observer Tribune

Thanks to Kim for her eagle eye and for sending the clipping!

Bridging Ceremony Plans

Thanks to everyone who was able to join us this evening to plan a great Bridging Ceremony for the girls.  We missed those of you who couldn't make it!

Here's the scoop:

• We will hold our Bridging Ceremony on Friday, May 17, 2013 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Schooley's Mountain Park.  We will hold the ceremony at the bridge (not the long floating bridge, the other one near the lodge) and will have a potluck dinner afterwards at the pavilion.
• You should have received an email from Signup Genius.  You can view the Signup here.  Please RSVP with the number of adults and children who will attend (parents and siblings are encouraged to attend!) and what you will bring.  
• Our May 3 meeting will be spent preparing for the ceremony by talking about what it means to bridge and creating some decorations.  We will probably need to meet one more time after that to do some additional decoration creation.
• I will create memory books for each girl as a gift.  We would also like to give them their Brownie vests that evening.  We need to collect an additional $40 per girl (for those who plan to continue with our troop next year) to purchase the vest, patches, and pins so we can have them ready for the ceremony.  This price assumes that you will use your World Association Pin from your Daisy tunic; if you prefer to purchase a new one for $2.25 please let Cassie know ASAP as she will purchase the uniforms on Monday.

In other news...one of our requirements to bridge is to meet with an older troop.  In order to fulfill this requirement while also performing some community service, we will join with Brownie Troop 4092 on Saturday morning, April 27 to participate in Long Valley Community Cleanup Week by cleaning Fairview Avenue between Naughright Road and Patriot's Path.  More details are forthcoming!

Also discussed was the fall Long Valley Girl Scouts Camp Out at Jockey Hollow on September 14-15, 2013.  We have reserved a spot for our troop and need to decide soon whether girls will stay overnight or just for the day.  We are planning to have a couple of campfires and possibly even a campout at Cassie's house over the summer to prepare the girls.  The cost will be $50 for one-day-only and $70 for overnight.  Please consider your calendar and start to discuss with your girl.  The next installments are due on May 7 so we will need a firmer head count by then.

To recap:

• Tomorrow, Friday, April 5 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm at BAC - the girls will create cards to thank Mrs. Penza for the use of her classroom all year and earn their magenta petals (their last ones!)
• Friday, April 19 from 6:45 - 8:30 pm - Healthy Living Workshop at Kossman School
• Friday, April 26 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm - Camping Workshop at Flocktown School
• Saturday, April 27, time and location TBD - Community Cleanup with Brownie Troop 4092
• Friday, May 3 from 3:30 - 5:00 pm at BAC - the girls will prepare for Bridging
• Friday, May 10 from 6:45 - 8:30 pm - My Flower Garden Workshop at Zion Lutheran Church
• Friday, May 17 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm - Bridging Ceremony
• Saturday, September 14 - Sunday, September 15 - Long Valley Girl Scouts Camp Out

Movie event to benefit Mt. Olive cats

This is not a Long Valley Girl Scouts event, but a worthwhile event nevertheless.  A Junior troop is hosting a showing of Homeward Bound at Clearview Cinemas in Mansfield next Monday, 3/25 at 10 am and the price of admission is - cat care supplies!  The girls are collecting donations to support the TNR (Trap - Neuter - Return) project my friend runs in Mt. Olive.  It's a great way to kick off spring break and benefits a great cause!

Earning our red petals for learning to be courageous & strong

Yesterday we earned our red petals (courageous and strong) with a visit to Sensei Carmona at New Jersey Martial Arts Academy in Landing.  We learned about respect, self-defense, and bullying, and had lots of fun doing it!

Getting Ready for Bridging!

Don't forget that we will have a meeting at 4:30-ish at my house, 355 Naughright Road, on Thursday 4/4 to discuss plans for the girls' upcoming Bridging Ceremony when they stop being Daisies and start being Brownies.  *sniff*

In preparation I have started collecting ideas on a Pinterest board created especially for the occasion.  If you are on Pinterest and would like to add to it, you can friend me (I'm "ahimsamama") and I'll add you.  And the url for the board, in case you want to take a peek, is http://pinterest.com/ahimsamama/girl-scout-bridging/.

A few more dates for your calendars

A few exciting opportunities for our troop have come up, so please mark your calendars and let us know if you are able to attend so we can reserve our spots!

1.  Camping Workshop - Friday 4/26, 7 - 9 pm, Flocktown School Multipurpose Room.  Workshop includes the following:  making SWAPS, making sit-upons, singing camp songs, making a troop banner.

2.  My Flower Garden Workshop - Friday 5/10, 6:45 - 8:30 pm, Zion Lutheran Church New Parish Hall.  Workshop includes the following: snack, patch, games, crafts, and Mother's Day gift.

• This is a ways off but please note that the Long Valley Girl Scouts Camp Out will take place on Saturday 9/14 - Sunday 9/15 at Jockey Hollow.  Girls will have the option to stay overnight or just come for the day.  We are reserving a spot for our troop - you do not need to make a commitment now but please keep the date in mind.

• On April 1, I will call the Department of Public Works to sign up our troop to participate in the Long Valley Community Cleanup.  We are assigned a location but we get to pick a date during the week of April 20 - 28.  We had tentatively chosen Monday, April 22 - how does that work for you?

• Lastly, we need to collect more dues in order to cover our expenses for the rest of the year.  We would like to get $40 per girl, which will cover the two workshops above, some outstanding supply reimbursements, and expenses for the upcoming Bridging ceremony.  Please send a check with your Daisy to the next meeting made out to "Troop 95030".  Thank you!