Time Capsules & Scrapbooking

Tonight we finished up the Art Production Badge by making Paper Bag Scrapbooks and Time Capsules! We started out with our usual opening, followed by Four Corners. 

The first activity was to assemble the scrapbooks (see the link at the bottom for complete instructions). Each girl had 3 paper bags and we trimmed the bases off before stapling them into booklets. The open ends of the bags form pockets where the girls can put more pictures. We had prepared a 4-page file for each girl - 1 page of GGC clip art, 1 page with the new GGC logo, her Patrol Emblem and images of badges she had earned this year, and 2 pages of photographs. The contents of our cupboard also came out for decorating purposes - stickers, construction paper, markers, ribbon, etc.


We had also printed out an "All About Me" sheet for each girl to fill out about her favourites right now as it will be interesting to see how things change when they reopen their time capsules! The time capsules themselves were simply large coffee cans - 1 per girl. Some girls had also brought items to put in their time capsules as we had talked about making them at a previous meeting.

Links and Downloads:

• All About Me Sheet (external link) 
• Paper Bag Scrapbook Instructions from Owl and Toadstool (external link)

Art-tastic!

Tonight we took part in our third Girls First activity by getting creative. The activities were all centered around visual arts and we were able to pick and choose which ones to take part in. Some of our feedback included the mess factor on certain activities, the cost of materials for others, and how much our girls enjoyed the activities they did take part in!

We opened with our usual ceremony followed by an active game. Three stations were set up, and the girls were able to choose which they wanted to work on, and the order they would try the activities. Most girls completed all three projects, while a few chose to focus on only one or two.

Activity A - Salty Art
Here the girls painted with watercolours, then sprinkled salt on top of the wet paint. When the paint dries, the salt is brushed off leaving unique patterns on the page. 

Activity B - Fabric Art
For this activity, each girl had a white canvas bag and free reign over a variety of craft supplies. We provided felt, pompoms, ribbon, cloth and felt flowers, feathers, twigs, and appliques. 

Activity C - Tape Painting
Each girl had a flat canvas to work with and a supply of masking tape and paint. First, they had to create a pattern or design on the canvas using the masking tape, then the areas of canvas still showing were painted. When the paint dried, the tape was removed to reveal a pattern in white amongst the colour.

We ended with evaluating the activities, reminders for next week and Taps. 

Fun with the Promise & Law

This week we focused on learning about the Promise and Law and worked on the Understanding the Promise, Law and Motto section of the program.

As the girls arrived, anyone we distributed uniform orders and had everyone try on their shirts so that any exchanges that are needed can be done quickly. The girls then worked on creating displays for the artwork they created at our "Arts in the Outdoors" meeting.

We had a brief opening and talked a bit about what we were going to be doing during the meeting, followed by an active game.

Our first activity was to talk about Patrols and Patrol Leaders. After a short discussion, each girl was given a ballot where she could vote for 4 girls to become Patrol Leaders, indicate who she would like to be in a patrol with, indicate if there was anyone she would rather not be in a patrol with (we don't promise to make this one happen), and also say who she would like for her Patrol Second if she was elected as a Patrol Leader. As there wasn't time to go through all the ballots at the meeting, the girls will find out about their new Patrols next week!

One of the Guides had requested a hat craft for her new camp hat, so that became our next activity. Each girl coloured and folded a mini-booklet of the Promise and Law (adapted from the 2nd Kingsbridge Guides Tiny Guide Promise Book). The booklets were then put into a craft baggie. We then had plastic lacing, which was folded in half and a knot tied to make a loop at the end. The girls then strung on beads to represent the Promise (a special bead), and each law: Be honest and trustworthy (orange), Use my resources wisely (yellow), Respect myself and others (pink), Recognize and use my talents and abilities (light blue), Protect our common environment (green), Live with courage and strength (red), and Share in the sisterhood of Guiding (dark blue). This pieces was then attached to the baggie with a safety pin.

We then had an active game to get everyone moving again. To work on remembering the Guide Sign and Handshake, we played freeze tag, where in order to be 'unfrozen', someone had to come and do the proper sign and handshake with you.

After the game, we had a bit of extra time where the girls could choose to continue working on their artwork, play another game, or just talk.

Our final activity was Law skits. To prevent arguments about who would work with who, we put numbered slips into a bowl and each girl drew a slip. They then had to find the other girl with the same number (we had 14 girls present, so there were 7 pairs). The girls with #1 did a skit on Be honest and trustworthy, those with #2 did Use my resources wisely, and so on.

After the girls had presented their skit, one girl led 'Herman the Worm' and another led 'My Aunt Hoover'. We closed with details about next week's Hallowe'en Party and Taps.

Arts in the Outdoors

This week we took advantage of the good weather to explore the arts in the outdoors. As the girls arrived, they played tag in the hall.

We started out by having another go at forming a horseshoe - much better this time! The girls who went to Fall Frolic on the weekend then shared what they enjoyed about the event, and the Guiders explained the plan for the evening. Outside, the Guides had a choice of a variety of different activities:

Leaf & Bark Rubbings
We provided paper and crayons and let the girls explore the different textures found in nature - leaves, bark, acorns, stones, etc.

Sketching
This was the most popular activity! We had pre-cut paper from a sketch pad into quarters and provided sharpened pencils, erasers, and clipboards as the girls went out to draw what they could see in nature.




Watercolour Painting
Painting proved a hit and we have some talented painters in our Unit! We pre-cut white cardstock into quarters and provided watercolour palettes, water, brushes and clipboards for the girls to create nature-inspired paintings.

Drama & Dance
For those girls looking for a more active way to express their creativity, we offered the option of creating nature inspired dances, using creative movement to recreate nature, or

Music & Creative Writing
Three groups wrote original songs about nature and one girl wrote a poem - and all were brave enough to perform them for the Unit!

Shortly before 8pm, we cleaned up and moved back indoors. One of the Guides led a game of Blob Tag and then the girls had an opportunity to share what they had been working on. We have some talented artists, singers, songwriters and poets!


To end the meeting, we learned two songs - Five Green and Speckled Frogs and Land of the Silver Birch - before closing with Taps.

Bits & Pieces

To end off March, we had a meeting where girls could catch up on pieces of badge work they missed earlier in the year and work on indoor clauses for some outdoor badges.

We held our usual opening followed by an active game. The girls were then told they could choose any of the activities provided to work on. Each activity was written on an index card and these were placed around the room. Girls chose activities that interested them or that would help them complete badges.

Resources and materials were provided for the following activities:

Arts

• Create a work of art based on a dream or fantasy. (Art Production #1)
• Experiment with colour; mix colours and use them in a picture. (Art Production #3)
• Design a package for a product (i.e. a cereal box, DVD cover, toy package) (Art Production #5)
• Write a song or make up new lyrics to a well-known song. (Campfire Leading #4)
• Make a list of ideas for skits, mime, campfire games, etc. that you could use in a campfire program. Perform at least one of them. (Campfire Leading #5)
• Plan and lead a 15 minute campfire. (Campfire Leading #6 & 7)

Outdoors

• Share about a hike you have taken - when, where, why, with whom. (Hiking #2)
• Make a kit list of what to bring for a day spent in the outdoors, including cooking lunch. (Exploring #2)
• Use a street map to give directions. (Exploring #4)
• Design a simple first aid kit for a Guide to bring to an outdoor event. Explain why you have chosen each item. (Outdoor Adventures #2)

Personal Growth

•  Make a list of things you would like to do in Guiding. (One-By-One-By-One Challenge #9)
• Write a short formal letter. (Business Communications #2)
• Make a poster showing different types of communications (Business Communications #8)
• Create a flyer to advertise a Guide event. (Business Communications #4)
• Write a short news story about a Guide activity. (Business Communications #5)

STEM

• Make a Pinwheel. (Engineering Challenge) 
• Build a Raft using the materials provided. (Engineering Challenge)
• Make and fly a Hoop Glider. Make adjustments to your design as needed. (Engineering Challenge)

We ended with a 15 minute campfire planned and lead by two of the Guides to finish off their Campfire Leading Badge.

Arts & Crafts & Scrapbooking

Our last meeting in April and last meeting in May before Advancement were spend working

on the UK Guide Craft Badge, the Art Production Badge, and making Paper Bag Scrapbooks as a memory of the year.

April 29th
After our opening and an active game, we moved onto stamping, calligraphy and scrapbooking.

For stamping, the girls made their own stamps using fun foam and bottle lids. Each girl was given a foam trefoil to make a stamp, and then created their own - including hearts, stars, swirls, paw prints, and diamonds. Different coloured ink pads were provided so they could decorate their scrapbooks.

For calligraphy, we had samples of alphabets in different lettering styles and the girls choose a style and wrote their name on a card. Some of the girls took this further and used the lettering for titles and descriptions in their scrapbooks.

The majority of the meeting was spend working on the paper bag scrapbooks we started back in September. Each girl was given pages of printed photographs and clipart, and we had stickers, markers, coloured paper, etc. for them to use.

For instructions on making a paper bag scrapbook, visit the Owl & Toadstool Blog.

May 20th
Most of the meeting was spent working on the paper bag scrapbooks and making SWAPS for Rally Day.

As the girls finished, they were given a choice of activities:

• Making Friendship Bracelets
• Creating a work of art based on a dream or something from their imagination
• Mixing colours to make new colours and shades
• Designing a new box for Girl Guide Cookies or packaging for another product