How to Run a Meeting

The Basics:

The meeting is 2 hours long (6:00-8:00PM).

We are in the mission house, which may limit space and access to equipment. (For example: there is no stove.)

Bring snack and drinks. The snack can go along with the night’s theme but doesn’t need to.No tree nuts or foods with red dye.

If possible, your parent should stay to assist.

You are responsible for all clean up. This doesn’t mean you need to do the cleaning, but you must get it organized and done. (Including taking the trash out.)

There will be no reimbursement for costs. Try to organize a cheap meeting. Use your imagination instead of your dollars.

General Flow:

1.       Opening Activity. This is usually a worksheet or simple craft the girls can do as they arrive. It should require little to no instruction so the girls may work alone. Girls arrive at different times and this keeps everyone occupied until it’s time to start.

2.       Introduction to the Night’s Activity/Badge. Simply tell the troop what we will be doing and why it appeals to you. (You may do a flag ceremony or song if desired.)

3.       2-3 Activities. Choose from the badge book or, if you are creating your own activities, make them up. Try to pick a combination of sitting and moving around activities. Everyone has been in school all day and they get easily bored.

4.       Snack. No tree nuts or foods with red dye.

5.       Final Activity. You will probably have time for one last activity from the badge book or from your own collection.

6.       Homework. (For badge work only. )You need to tell the girls specifically what they need to do to finish earning the badge. Please also send the details in an e-mail when you get home.

7.       Clean Up. You don’t want to be doing this alone so get the girls to help before parents start showing up.

8.       Closing Circle. If time allows.

Helpful Tips:

When working on a badge, you need to select one activity under each step. There are usually 3 choices. Feel free to tweak these activities. If the book says to create an animal habitat, you can change it so we create a replica animal habitat out of construction paper and pics cut from a magazine. Or if the instructions say to perform a play in front of your class, we can instead play charades at Girl Scouts. Use your imagination and capture the intent.

What to bring? I always bring our Girl Scout box. It has pens, pencils, crayons, markers, glue, and scissors. I also have additional supplies at home like yarn, beads, boxes, scrapbook paper and more. Before you buy anything send me an e-mail and see if the troop already has what you need.

It is OK to ask the girls to do so pre-work or to bring in items. Do you need the girls to dress up? Do you need them to write up a family tree? Do they need to wear grungy clothes because we will be getting messy? Just send an e-mail at least a week before your meeting.

Have fun! This is your chance to shine. I’m sure you will all do great.