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Below
are some ideas of things to do with your troop:
Activities
Cookie
Sale
Fall
Product Sale
Program
Center Guide (pdf file)
Troop/Group
Camping
New
Participation Patch for Junior Girl Scouts
Activities
People
often talk about the importance of having high
self-esteem/image? But exactly what are they talking
about? Is it simply being able to think that you are a
good person or that you can accomplish your goals? Or is
it something much deeper? Is self-esteem/image something
that is formed when we are children and does this process
continue throughout life?
Self-esteem
focuses on how you feel about yourself, and self-image
focuses on how you see yourself. Self-esteem/image
is also how you see yourself in relation to others. This
may be how you see yourself physically or simply the idea
you have of yourself.
We
frequently hear about the negative effects of having low
self-esteem/image; however, it is important to concentrate
on preventing low self-esteem/image. Your
self-esteem/image, which means your feelings about
yourself, affects every moment of your life, either
consciously or subconsciously. Even if everything is going
well outwardly, you will be unable to experience real
happiness if you are thinking that you are not lovable,
not worthy, incompetent, or sub-standard.
We
all battle against periods of low self-esteem. Here are
some tips to strengthen your own self-esteem/image:
-
DO
NOT indulge in self criticism. Low self-esteem feeds
on negative messages and thoughts. Silence your inner
judge.
-
DO
NOT always try to please others. It is okay to be
considerate of others and their feelings, but your
feeling and needs are just as important.
-
DO
NOT try to be like someone else. This leads to a lack
of self worth and confidence. You are unique, and you
can not be someone else. Strive to be better, but
enjoy who you are.
-
DO
NOT take life or yourself so seriously. Failure is a
growth opportunity. Look at each opportunity as a
chance to learn. Problems can make you stronger if you
strive to overcome them.
-
DO
speak positively about yourself and others. Stop the
negativity. Take it out of your vocabulary.
-
DO
focus on you achievements. Remember the truly
successful things you have done in your life, and
reward yourself.
-
DO
set reasonable goals for yourself.
-
DO
your best at everything you try.
-
DO
surround yourself with positive people. Remember,
misery loves company.
-
DO
read inspiring books.
-
DO
appreciate everyday and be thankful.
Be a Self-Esteem Builder!
Psychologists
say that you need
four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and
12 for growth. Remember, the actions and words you use
can help girls develop positive self-esteem. Always try to
create an atmosphere of encouragement and
acceptance.
Appreciate
children. A child’s self-esteem/image will suffer if
he or she is not appreciated. Children know if you are
sincere or not. Tell your children thank you when they do
something good.
Encourage
children. Promote decision making. This will lead to a
feeling of confidence and independence. Don’t always
make them feel that they have to go above and beyond for
your approval.
Praise
children. Commend even the smallest accomplishments.
This will encourage children to attempt greater challenges
later.
Mutually
respect children. It promotes positive relationships.
A child who is belittled, patronized, or put down will
lack self confidence. Respect fosters trust.
Believe
in children. Even if your child fails, she must not
feel like a failure. Teach your child that each
opportunity is a chance to learn and grow. Help your child
believe in her ability to succeed no matter how long it
takes.
The
following activity can help build self esteem/image in
girls:
What
are your talents and strengths? You definitely have
bragging rights.
-
I am
good at……
-
What
makes me special is…...
-
Ask a
friend or relative to name the things that he/she
thinks you are good at or that makes you special……
-
Did
your friend or relative list the same things you did?
Do you agree? Did the person say anything that
surprised you?
-
One
thing people may not know about me is…..
-
One
way I could let people see that part of me is to….
-
One
of my proudest achievements was………
-
How
do you feel about this exercise…..
Leaders,
you should also complete this exercise. It will help the
girls open up and share their ideas and feelings more
openly. You can adapt this activity to fit your group.
Work on one idea per meeting, or use one or two questions
as an icebreaker. This activity can be used for ages 8-17.
To find more resources visit our Council Shop at the Girl
Scout Service Center, and ask about the Uniquely Me
booklets. They are available for check out in the resource
library or for sale.
Council-Sponsored
Product Sales
Product sales
are a valuable component of the Girl Scout program.
Participation is voluntary. All Brownie, Junior, Cadette,
and Senior Girl Scouts may participate with written
permission from their parents or guardian. Daisy
Girl Scouts do not participate in product sales.
Troop/Group
Camping
(return
to top)
How
about spending a brisk winter weekend or overnight at one
of our four winterized outdoor program facilities or at
the Girl Scout Program/Training Center in Memphis. What a
great way to enjoy the outdoors, do troop activities, plan
for springtime, or just relax around a campfire.
Come
see the improvements at our sites - fresh coat of paint on
outside of the lodge and expanded parking area at Girl
Scout Camp Annemeekee, and new roofs on buildings in Unit
6 and 2 at Girl Scout Kamp Kiwani. The Girl Scout
Program/Training Center is new and well equipped.
Our
four campsites, Girl Scout camps Annemeekee, Fisherville,
Yataka, and Kiwani, which each have a winterized lodge,
have weekends available January through March. Beginning
in April, Girl Scout Kamp Kiwani is mostly booked for
camporees and Horselover's Weekends; however, there may be
a few spots open.
Facilities
may be reserved up to four months before the intended
trip. Fees for each site are listed on the Site
Reservation Request form. To get the best choice of dates,
reserve your site as soon as allowed. Contact Ruth Allen
at the Girl Scout Service Center to reserve a site or get
more information about a particular site. A site is not
reserved until the site fee has been paid.
We
now have Campsite Hosts who will greet you at Girl Scout
camps Annemeekee, Fisherville, Yataka, and the Girl Scout
Program/Training Center. Just check the appropriate box on
the Site Reservation Request form if you would like to
take advantage of this service.
While
your troop/group is at camp, how about doing a service
project for our sites? We have several projects that
troops/groups could do. If your troop is interested in a
service project while camping or just for a day-only
project, please call Mary McHugh at the Girl Scout Service
Center.
New
Participation Patch for Junior Girl Scouts
(return to top)
"Our
Rights, Our Responsibilities," a new participation
patch for Junior Girl Scouts launched in February.
Through
the activities, girls join with Girl Scouts and Girl
Guides internationally to gain a greater awareness of
human rights and why they are essential for children
worldwide. The activities in this patch encourage girls to
take constructive responsibility for claiming basic rights
for theirselves and for others. In the process, girls will
be empowered to become effective citizens in their local
and global communities.
The
name of this initiative, "Our Rights, Our
Responsibilities," comes from the current triennial
theme of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl
Scouts (WAGGGS). The initiative is based on the United
Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, a human
rights treaty adopted in September 1990.
This
participation patch, which will be in effect through 2005,
can be earned by completing at least one activity from
each of the six theme areas:
·
The right to be me
·
The right to learn
·
The right to be heard
·
The right to live in peace
·
The right to be happy
·
The right to work together
For
more information, visit Girl Scouts of the USA’s Web
site, "Just for Girls," (www.jfg.girlscouts.org)
and click on "badges." Or, contact the Council
Shop at the Girl Scout Service Center.
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