SPRING 2001
WHY YOU SHOULD DO SUPERTROOP!!
Written by Cadette Girl Scout Troop 2185
Earning Super Troop for the 10th
year!!
There are many reasons to earn the Super Troop patch. For one, you
will never run out of things to do. Being kept busy keeps us motivated
throughout the year. Also, it improves inter-troop relationships and interaction
with the public.
The requirements for attaining Super Troop status actually aren't
as tedious as they seem. Have fun selecting an overnight trip! Go to new
places, meet new people, have a new experience! Or, to meet the "Girl Scout
Holiday" requirement, have a Juliette Low birthday party, complete with
food and games. Involving Girl Scouts in service projects pushes them to
do more community work on their own.
Through striving to be a Super Troop, girls will learn to push themselves
and expand their horizons while learning life skills and (hopefully) having
fun. If they feel up to a challenge and would like to have a broader appreciation
of Girl Scout traditions, then Super Troop is worth it!
NEWS FROM OUR SUPER TROOPS
Cadette Girl Scout Troop #960
Here it is late in the year and we are looking back at what a fun
year it has been. We are currently working hard on planning our Silver
Award project but let's look back.
In October, we went to Navlet's and helped the kids from the local
community carve pumpkins. In November, we made Christmas ornaments, jewelry
and angels with a Junior Girl Scout Troop. In December, we made cookies
for the less fortunate and donated them to "A Christmas for All". We put
them into decorated coffee cans. In January, we put in a lot of hard work
on our Interest Project Patches. In February, we spent our February learning
how to kick butt! We went to "Karate Ways" studio and learned self-defense.
In March, we took a terrific tour of the Concord Police Station. We were
all dressed in green for St Patrick's Day. Teenage girls with green hair
wondering through the station. We wondered if they would invite us to stay
permanently. It has been a TERRIFIC year!
Brownie Girl Scout Troop 328
We spent a wonderful afternoon with some of our countries' Veterans
celebrating Valentine's Day. We wanted to do something special for the
men and women who have protected and served our country.
We decided we would like to take flowers and Valentine's cards to
the Veteran's at the Martinez Veteran's Hospital. Since we needed lots
of cards, we spread the word to our second grade classes as well as our
daycare centers asking other children if they would like to make Valentine's
cards for the Veteran's. Many were thrilled with the idea and had a blast
making them. Their cards, added to our own, gave us over 180 beautiful
cards to distribute.
Two members of the Walnut Creek Elks Lodge who sponsor our troop
assisted us on our trip thru the hospital. The girls had a wonderful time
handing out cards and talking to veterans It was a very moving experience,
as well as educational. We look forward to repeating this next year.
Junior Girl Scout Troop 2188
We had a busy and fun December. We started out walking in the Light
Parade with Brownie Girl Scout Troops 1664 and 1894 from John Muir School
to welcome Santa Claus. We wrapped gifts at Zany Brainy. On December 18,
we met in one of the homes of the girls and baked fresh cookies for "Christmas
for Everyone". We also made fresh evergreen wreaths for our homes, made
Christmas cards, and learned to crochet. During the Christmas break, we
went ice skating. The 4th graders worked on Girl Scouting in the USA badge
while the 5th and 6th graders worked on activities of the Leadership badge.
These girls took on the leadership role for these extra activities.
Junior Girl Scout Troop 1039
This winter our Girl Scout troop took a trip to Sugar Pine Girl
Scout Camp in the Sierra's. We had a great time. The camp is off of Highway
4 just beyond Calaveras Big Trees State Park. There was plenty of snow
to play in. We sledded, built forts and had snow ball fights. We stopped
at Columbia State Park on the way home. It is a gold mining town that has
been preserved. We really enjoyed the experience, it was the first time
many of us had seen snow. We could recommend the trip to other troops!
Junior Girl Scout Troop 1248
This year's service project turned out to be a benefit in many different
ways. We recycled cans (Good for the Environment) to make money for service
projects. The "causes" were discussed and two were selected. Wtih a portion
of the money, wildflower seeds were purchased. The seeds were broadcast
on Lime Ridge for bikers and hikers to enjoy (Good for the Community).
The remainder of the money was used to purchase twenty coats from the local
Salvation Army store (Good for Charity). We got more coats for our money,
and those coats went to "Operation One Warm Coat" (Good for the Homeless).
We learned valuable lessons in money management (Good for Life Skills)
and had a great time shopping (Good for the Girls!!).
Junior Girl Scout Troop 3878
Our troop of Junior Girl Scouts love camping at Twin Canyons so
much that we decided to do our investiture and rededication there this
year. As an added challenge, we decided it was time to try tent camping.
The girls wanted to work on the "Dabbler" badge for the out-of-doors, so
we prepared for our trip by making firestarters, a box oven and coffee
can chimneys for starting fires.
We invited two Brownie Girl Scout troops to join us, and the girls
helped them earn the "Playing Around the World" Try-It by leading games
on the meadow. After dinner we made smores around the campfire ring.
When the younger girls had gone to bed, we stayed up to listen to
the sounds of the night and look at the beautiful stars overhead. The girls
started their year with some wonderful, fun memories.
Cadette/Senior Girl Scout Troop 3941
BAMM! No, we're not getting into trouble, in fact, we're learning
how NOT to get into trouble. Cadette/Senior Girl Scout troop 3941 just
completed the BAMM course, a full contact self-defense class. BAMM stands
for Bay Area Model Mugging, and it's exactly that.
The class is led by two trained instructors, one male and one female.
We learned many different ways to repel assaults from potential muggers
or attackers. We experienced everything full force as we learned how to
combat grabs from behind, attacks from above while on the ground, and how
to respond with speech confidently in uncomfortable situations.
We completed a nine hour course in three one-hour sessions. At the
last class, our parents came to see what we had learned. While not all
of us did not necessarily enjoy the experience, we all got some valuable
training in how to protect ourselves. I highly recommend this course, especially
for Cadette Girl Scouts and Senior Girl Scouts. It gave us all a sense
of confidence and security and was a terrific experience!
:::Submitted by Katie Thornbury, Cadette Girl Scout
Brownie Girl Scout Troop 2183
To celebrate Juliette Low's birthday, we joined Brownie Girl Scout
Troop 2156 in a "Manners" Try-it Birthday Tea Party. We used a great Try-It
activity kit put together by two Cadette Girl Scouts from Girl Scout Troop
3941, for their Silver Award. The girls practiced phone manners and introductions.
It was fun being introduced as doctors, judges, Girl Scout leaders and
teachers! After, we had tea and apple cider served to us in our own china
tea cups.
Brownie Girl Scout Troop 950
We hosted a coat drive at our school, Gregory Gardens Elementary
School in Pleasant Hill, along with Brownie Girl Scout troops 280 and 1999.
We collected over 240 coats and jackets. We donated them to Christmas for
Everyone in time for distribution at Christmas.
Daisy Girl Scout Troop 43
At our investiture, a picture was taken of each girl, wearing a
daisy petal headpiece. We made double prints. One photo was placed on a
certificate and laminated as a memento of the event. The girls made daisy
tree ornaments from frozen juice lids with the second photo in the center,
with foam petals, and felt and ribbon.
Brownie Girl Scout Troop 2156
Junior Girl Scout troops are often asked to help a Brownie Girl
Scout troop with their bridging activities.
The Brownie Girl Scouts in our troop will be bridging to Junior Girl
Scouts this spring, thanks to our bridging buddies in Junior Girl Scout
troop 3878. One of our favorite bridging activities was playing a game
Junior Girl Scouts made up. It was a "Girl Scout Trivial Pursuit" game
we played at a Junior Girl Scout troop meeting To celebrate their accomplishment
and to celebrate Girl Scout Birthday, we had an all around birthday party
for everyone at a local Pizza Parlor.
Junior Girl Scout Troop 2161
We have made service a priority for the 2000-2001 year. We began
the year by participating in the Contra Costa Times project Ready to Learn.
We put together five school supply boxes for children who could not afford
to begin the school year with new supplies. The girls brought along their
own school supply list as well as the one for the underprivileged children.
We all had fun purchasing school supplies for ourselves and others! We
finished up by putting the new pencil boxes together and taking a trip
to the Contra Costa Times headquarters to deliver the donations. Parents
liked this project as well as we helped our own girls get ready and focused
for school. This just may become an annual event for our troop!
During our school's Winter Festival, we publicized and set up a booth
to collect coats for Operation One Warm Coat. Seventy five coats were collected
at the event and the festival director requested that we participate again
next year!
Brownie Girl Scout Troop 196
Inspired by the Thinking Day Songfest, Troop #196 Brownies are planning
a songfest for the Strandwood Daisy Girl Scouts. The Brownie Girl Scouts
have planned the songfest entirely, including the program, refreshments,
and patch. During this event the Brownie Girl Scouts will help the Daisy
Girl Scouts meet their bridging requirements as well, explaining the meaning
of their uniform, pins, recognitions, and sharing fun times they have had
as a troop. Thanks to our songfest Cadette Girl Scouts for the inspiration!
Cadette Girl Scout Troop 255
Cadette Girl Scout Troop #255 earned leadership hours helping at
the Pleasant Hill Association Thinking Day Songfest. We created decorations
and made paper dolls that represented world wide girl scouts and girl guides.
We also hosted the service project which was a food drive that benefitted
the Contra Costa Food Bank. Thanks to all troops that participated as we
were able to donate over 100 pounds of food! In follow-up to the food collections
we toured the Contra Costa Food Bank and learned that the food we collected
assisted many families within Contra Costa County.
Message from the Association Chair
Adult Recognitions Awarded
This year, seven adults from our area were recognized by Girl Scouts
of San Francisco Bay Area and the Pleasant Hill Girl Scout Association.
At the Council Recognition Dinner on March 31, Cathy L was
awarded the Appreciation Pin for her contributions to Girl Scouting throughout
the association. She is currently the leader of four Girl Scout troops,
the association treasurer, and was the event director for our Sweetheart
Ball this year.
The Outstanding Volunteer pin was awarded to Cheri C, Mike L,
and Laurie W at our Association Meeting on April 11. At the same
meeting, the Outstanding Leader pin was awarded to Susan K, Debbie M,
and Rebecca S. These six people were nominated by their Girl Scout
troops. Please extend your congratulations to these outstanding volunteers
and leaders.
Message from the Coordinator
YEAR OF THE VOLUNTEER: LEADER APPRECIATION
Did you know that April 22 was Leader Appreciation Day?? Have you recently
told your daughter's leader how much you appreciate her? That you know
it takes a LOT of time and energy to lead a Girl Scout troop; to be trained,
to plan meetings and outings, to fill out forms, to spend time with your
girls, to teach them and laugh with them and occasionally comfort them
and bandage them, to work with all those wonderful energetic young bodies
and teach them to achieve goals by planning and learning to work together??
Our leaders are caring wonderful VOLUNTEERS. Make a phone call, write a
note, send an e-mail, give them hugs -- just make sure they know that YOU
appreciate them.
Do you have questions about the Association? Contact our Coordinator,
Lisa Chrisman at ttoes@home.com .