How to Throw an Unforgettable SWAP Party with Your Girl Scout Troop

June 8, 2025

Time to read 4 min

Are you looking for a fun, creative, and memorable activity that embodies the spirit of sisterhood and sharing? Look no further than a SWAP party! SWAPs, which stands for "Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere," are a beloved Girl Scout tradition. They are small, handmade crafts exchanged with other Girl Scouts as a symbol of friendship and connection.

Hosting a SWAP party is an excellent way to get your troop's creative juices flowing, practice their crafting skills, and experience the joy of giving and receiving. Plus, it's a fantastic opportunity for girls to meet other troops and expand their Girl Scout horizons.

Ready to throw a SWAP-tastic party? Let's dive in!

Planning Your Perfect SWAP Party

1. Set the Date and Time: Choose a date and time that works for your troop and any other troops you might be inviting. Weekends often work best for a party atmosphere.

2. Choose Your Venue: A troop meeting space, a community center, or even a leader's backyard can all make great venues. Ensure there's enough space for crafting and mingling.

3. Decide on Your Guest List: Are you keeping it within your own troop, or are you inviting other troops from your service unit or even beyond? The more, the merrier when it comes to SWAPs! Just be sure to communicate the number of SWAPs each girl should bring (usually 15-20 per person for a good exchange).

4. The SWAP-Making Phase: This is where the magic happens! Encourage your troop members to start brainstorming and making their SWAPs well in advance of the party. Provide a dedicated meeting or two for crafting, or send ideas home for girls to work on with their families.

5. Gather Your Supplies: Even though girls will bring their own SWAPs to exchange, it's a good idea to have some basic craft supplies on hand for last-minute additions or if someone forgot a few. Think safety pins, glue, scissors, markers, and a few basic craft materials.

6. Food and Drinks (Optional, but Fun!): No party is complete without some treats! Keep it simple with snacks and drinks, or turn it into a potluck where each girl brings something to share.

7. Decorations: Get festive! You can decorate with Girl Scout colors, banners, or even display some of the SWAPs as part of the decor.

Party Time! SWAP Exchange Ideas

Once your guests arrive with their amazing SWAPs, here are a few ways to organize the exchange:

Free Exchange: Let girls wander around and exchange SWAPs with whomever they choose. This is great for smaller groups and encourages natural conversation.
Rotation Stations: If you have a larger group, set up designated "stations" where girls can rotate and exchange SWAPs with a different group of people at each station.
"Speed SWAP-ping": Similar to speed dating, have girls sit across from each other and exchange SWAPs for a set amount of time before rotating to a new partner. This ensures everyone gets to exchange with lots of different people.
SWAP Showcase: Before the exchange, have each girl briefly present their SWAP, explaining what it is and why they made it. This adds a personal touch and sparks interest.

Terrific SWAP Ideas to Inspire Your Troop!

The best SWAPs are creative, relatively inexpensive, and represent the troop or an experience. Here are some fantastic ideas to get your troop inspired:

Friendship Bracelet SWAPs: Tiny bracelets made with embroidery floss are classic and always appreciated.

Mini "Sit-Upons": Recreate miniature versions of sit-upons using felt or foam, complete with a tiny handle.

Crayon Bit Campfires: Melt down old crayon bits in a mini muffin tin to create colorful "campfires" that represent the warmth of friendship. Add a tiny twig for a log!

Safety Pin Critters: Bend safety pins into shapes and add small beads or googly eyes to create tiny animals or insects.

Nature SWAPs: Small pinecones, acorns, or pressed leaves decorated with glitter or paint. Attach a small tag with your troop number.

"Troop Number" Keychains: Use pony beads or Shrinky Dinks to create small keychains with your troop number.

Mini "Thinking Day" Flags: If you're celebrating World Thinking Day, create tiny flags of different countries

Felt Patches: Cut out small shapes from felt (like stars, hearts, or trefoils) and decorate them with fabric markers or glitter glue.

Recycled Material SWAPs: Get creative with bottle caps, bread tags, or other small recycled items. Turn bottle caps into tiny picture frames or decorate bread tags.

Storytelling SWAPs: Each SWAP tells a tiny story or represents a troop memory. For example, a tiny marshmallow on a stick for a camping trip.

Pro-Tip: Remind your troop to attach a small tag to each SWAP with their troop number and location. This helps other Girl Scouts remember who they exchanged with!

The Benefits of a SWAP Party

Beyond the fun and creativity, a SWAP party offers numerous benefits:

Builds Confidence: Girls gain confidence in their crafting skills and in interacting with others.
Fosters Friendship: It's a wonderful way to make new friends and strengthen bonds within the troop.
Encourages Creativity: Girls are challenged to think outside the box and design unique items.
Promotes Sharing and Giving: The essence of SWAPs is giving a piece of yourself to someone else.
Celebrates Girl Scout Spirit: It's a cherished tradition that connects girls to the broader Girl Scout community.

So, gather your troop, unleash your creativity, and get ready to host an unforgettable SWAP party! It's an experience your Girl Scouts will treasure, and their SWAP collections will be a wonderful reminder of the friendships they've made along the way.

Happy SWAP-ping!