Never Struggle Planning Activities Again
Easy to use activity booklets for your troop meeting.|
Time to read 3 min
Over the years I have run dozens of recruitment events in my area. Every year it was the same story lots of girls wanting to join Scouts, and only a few parents willing or having the desire to become a Leader.
Which meant the troops that were already formed were growing bigger and bigger, and no new troops were being formed. I listened to parents concerns and tried to ease their fear with examples and showing them pictures but many always said no to being a leader.
Today I want to share with you probably the top 3 concerns/ myths I have heard at these recruitment’s. My hope is you can take these myths and share with your prospected leaders.
These 3 things may be holding you back as a leader, don’t let it follow my tips to change that belief.
Now this one is the biggest reason people walk away from being a leader. I am here to tell you that everyone has time to be a Leader. There is no one troop set up that fits all.
I have seen troops that meet weekly for an hour, troops that meet bi-weekly for 2 hours, and troops like mine that would meet once a month for 3 hours, and then do some type of monthly outing.
You can spend hours planning your own custom program for each badge, or you can get online and find a program already created for you from other leaders. And my number 1 tip is don’t do this alone, you may be the leader – who sets the time for meeting that works best for your schedule, and you are the head leader of troop, but no team has a I in it. Recruit parents to help, delegate different task to each person. Many of the parents who have started troops in my area I have found are the ones working full time with 1 to 2 other kids who are not in Scouts. I am not sure why but when your already short on time we as working moms seem to know how to really utilize are time wisely.
Speaking of planned programs, browse the Leader Connecting Leader Shop for many planned badge activity booklets that have everything you need to earn the badges.
Be sure to save whatever you do. If you end up like me 25 years later still involved in Scouts you can recycle activities because new girls are in your troop.
Everyone has some type of skill, believe it or not if you do something daily you can teach your girls something.
The list goes on. You can put together workshops, each week at a meeting a different parent shares one of their talents or skills with the girls. Not only do they learn something new, they get to know the parents of the other girls in troop. I have done this before and the girls loved it, almost like show and tell my mom.
Many times over the years of being a leader, people ask me why would you want to be a Girl Scout leader all you do is push girls to sell cookies. Sadly that is a perception that so many people see.
Even at yearly recruitment’s parents are reluctant to step up to be a leader because they do not want to be pushed to sell cookies, tell others to sell cookies, and spend half the year selling cookies. I am here to tell each and every one of you that Scouts is so much more than cookies.
During cookie selling season, sure they sell cookies, but they learn leadership skills, communication skills, money counting skills, get creative have girls create a business out of cookie sales, have them figure out how much they need to sell to go on a certain trip, have a cookie making party trying different recipes. You don’t have to focus on sell sell sell, just have fun and the selling comes naturally because everyone loves cookies.
Try a drive thru cookie booth – I shared what we did as a troop here: Cookie Drive Thru
If you are interested in saving a lot of time planning your Daisy troop meetings and looking for a fun new way to help your Daisies earn their petals and promise center, check out the PETAL FAIRIES: GARDEN ADVENTURE Leader guide and Sticker Book Kit.
Enjoy every minute being a leader and continue to inspire your girls!
