A whole bunch of information for you!~

Dear Parents,

We are very excited to begin our 2^nd and last year as  Brownie Troop 41588 here at Ames. Those girls who wish to continue on as Girl Scouts, will have the opportunity to do Bridging activities that will help them next year as Junior Girl Scouts.

We have 11 girls who will be joining us this year.

Cameron, Mia, Claire, Zosia, Quincy, Emily, Amber, Briyana, Tess , Lulu and Mollie

We have a wonderful group of Moms and friends who will take various roles in the troop, all with the goal of making this a memorable year for our Brownies.

Please read over following packet with our Brownie Troop information and feel
free to contact any of the leaders below with any questions you may have.

We have so many exciting things planned…..we hope you can join us as we and our last year of Brownies and prepare our girls to move on to the next step in the Great World of Scouting.

Sincerely,

Brownie Troop Leaders
Wendy Winkler
Joan Kanatas

Information:

In keeping with our paperless pledge, when possible we will Contact parents via email of troop happenings.  A blog has been set up at blogger and parents are encouraged to become followers of the blog.

http://amesbrownies.blogspot.com/

Meeting & Snack Schedule:

2^nd and  4^th  Tuesdays a month……unless otherwise noted below due to school holidays , 3:15 pm – 4:30pm

• Snacks may include finger foods:cheese, crackers, grapes, apples, bananas, granola, yogurt?
• Girls will be required to bring a reusable water bottle to fill with water for snack.
• *Snack girl will also be responsible for starting the Friendship squeeze in the Friendship Circle "see explanation at the end of this letter"

While parents are not required to attend monthly meetings, on occasion they will be asked to participate in various events or outing and are strongly encouraged to volunteer time to at least one meeting. If you can help in any capacity, please contact any one of the Leaders listed above.

Badges:

• Badges will be earned over a period of several meeting.  Badges will be handed out at meetings and the final ceremony at the end of the year.
• Please see below diagram for placement on the vest or contact Wendy

Camp Schedule:

• November 13^th: Day trip TBA
• June 3^rd – 5^th: Weekend trip TBA

Ceremonies

Brownies Bridge to Juniors: TBA

No January Investiture will be done this year as we have no new scouts to our troop.

Membership Dues:
     *   $12 = Girl Scouts of America Membership Fee

*   $12= Adult membership fee: dues will cover the membership into the  GSUSA and will include an automatic insurance coverage from the   GSUSA for all outing, trips and overnighters that the parent goes on.

·         $60= Chapter Dues.   includes all Badges, Patches and pins earned, Crafts, Activity supplies.     

• 2 checks please: *$24  Payable to :      Girl Scouts of America

                                        * $60 Payable to :      Troop 41588.

• No girl should be turned away due to financial reasons. The Girl Scouts have a confidential financial assistance to those who are unable to cover fees.         

Field Trips:

Field trips will be arranged in the community. Transportation is to be arranged by parents. Field trip may require a small fee.

Meetings:

• Start-Up: A simple activity to be done as girls arrive/ allowing the leaders to get set up.
• Opening: Girl Scout Promise, flag ceremony/ Color Guard, and a simple song.
• Brownie Ring: Troop information to be shared with the girls and possible decision making
• Activities: One or more program activities or craft
• Snack: Each meeting a different girls will be asked to bring a healthy snack to share with the troop.   Girls will receive notice prior to their snack date.
• Clean Up: A Girl Scout leaves a place cleaner than she found it.
• Closing a meeting : Closing Song, Good Bye until next time.
  
  

Patrols:
Due to the small group we have, Patrols will be done at camp. Girls will Have individual assignments at meetings. Click on picture below to enlarge.

Job Descriptions:

• American/GS Flags : Take out and set up stands, Participate in Flag Ceremony, Take down and put away stands at the end of the meeting.
• Color Guard: Assist in Set up and take down of Flags, Participate in Flag Ceremony
• Caller: Participate in Flag Ceremony
• Troop Recycler: In charge of collecting all plastic grocery bags at the end of the meeting ,  count and being to Riverside Foods for recycling
• Troop Secretary: take attendance, remind people of their jobs, gather supplies for activities of missing girls and bag them with their name as well as pass out materials as needed.
• Clean Up: Will be required to stay an additional 5 min following the meeting for final clean up, scraps off floor, chairs pushed in, supplies where they belong and lights out.
• Alternate: To take the place of any girl who is absent from doing her job and help out if more materials need to be distributed.

Uniform:
white,  cream or blue shirt and Brown vest. Because our uniform helps the girls identify themselves with the Girl Scouts , please have your Brownie in Uniform on Meeting Days and outside field trips.  

                    

Girl Scout Glossary:
· Girl Scout sign: Hold the middle three fingers up by putting your pinky
and your thumb together.
· Girl Scout handshake: Shake hands with your left hand while making the Girl Scout sign with your right hand.
·Friendship circle: This stands for an unbroken chain of friendship with Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all around the world. Everyone stands in a circle and places their right arm over her left and holds hands. Everyone makes a silent wish as a friendship squeeze is passed from hand to hand.
· Friendship squeeze: After someone shares something in the circle, she squeezes the hand of the person standing next to her, who shares something and then squeeze passes on around the circle.
· Quiet sign: Hold up your right hand. As people in the group see the quiet sign, they stop talking and also raise their hands. Once everyone is silent, the meeting continues.
· Girl Scout motto: “Be prepared!”
· Girl Scout slogan: “Do a good turn daily!”
· Brownie Ring: A circle that the girls can sit in to share ideas.
· Earned recognition: brownie try its

The Girl Scout Promise:

On my honor, I will try:

To serve God and my country,

To help people at all times,

And to live by the Girl Scout Law