Girl Scouts Breaking for the Summer?

I was in girl scouts from 1st grade all the way through high school (sometimes reluctantly). I'm also a lifetime member and spent one summer working at Our Cabana (Girl Scout World Centre in Mexico) back in 2002. I think breaking for the summer is one reason why older girls typically drop out - they lose that connection with each other for the summer and then it can be very awkward when the year starts back up. Summer is a great time to go to camps or do interest projects that involve summer activities, like swimming, camping, etc. You don't have to meet every week, but once a month or at least once during the summer to keep everyone connected. It's too late for this summer but I would suggest that you start planning now for next summer. Make some sort of plan (whether it's a lock-in at the Y or museum or some such event) and set the date early in the new school year. That way, it will be on people's calendars very early and encourage parents to make vacation plans around this date. Plus, this gives the girls something to look forward to all year round and raise money for it (if necessary) through cookie sales and other things. I think the same is true of brownies, although I wouldn't plan any summer activity that's too intense for these girls - something age appropriate is better.

Girl Scouting in other countries really flourishes, but it just kind of fizzles in the US and I think this is one reason. Scouting is a lifestyle, not just a once a week or once a month activity.

Hello I am a leader of a daisy troop and Brownies this year. YES Girl Scouts are during the school year. Most all troops take the summer off. They can do a few activities, but usually all Girl scout troops are OFF in the summer. Remember Girl Scout leaders are volunteers so like teachers we enjoy breaks to be home for a couple months with our families, as well as attend trainings for Girl scouts so we can better ourselves as a leader to the troop. Thanks

I am a Cub Scout leader and we do take a break from weekly meetings in the summer as well due to family vacations and such. We try to meet at least once a month during the summer though so the scouts can keep in touch with each and parents can plan out for the upcoming school year.

J.

It is a normal thing for the scouts to break for the summer; but my daughter's troop (6 years together), gets together once a month (at least) for specially planned activities. This is provided by a portion of their cookie money they've earned. So, they might spend a Saturday going horseback riding, skating, bowling, riding the train to downtown Dallas and exploring, etc. They never lose touch with each other. They might visit a bakery and decorate their own individual cakes, etc. They've been busy with Day Camp this week and just a couple of weeks back, they camped out at Texas Stadium. They might spend an overnight camp out on some property owned by a grandfather who allows them to fish on one of his ponds. They just don't have their weekly (bi-weekly as they become juniors) meetings.

Girl Scouting has had a tremendous impact on my daughter's (she's the troop leader since Daisies) and my granddaughter's lives; as has Boy Scouting on my son-in-law's and grandson's lives. Some of *their* Troop members will be going to SeaBase next month. The boys have at least one big activity in the summer months. Last summer they spent a week in Washington, D.C., exploring the White House and other National Monuments. Both groups participate in the 4th of July parade and Christmas parade.

In my opinion, Scouting should be approached as important as Church participation....not doled out as an activity that is removed as punishment for misbehavior, as I've seen some parents do. It is a life-changing behavior that is supported by the entire family. The individual troops are only as good as the leaders and participating parents allow it to be.

Now your Daisies might feel differently. They've not earned cookie moneys and they bridge over to actual girl scouts. They don't remain a troop as Daisies. The girls can find a new troop at this stage or filter into a designated troop.

http://www.missbrenda.com

If you can, see about getting the girls together during the summer for a party/get-together. This will help to keep the excitement about the group and probably help bring them back for next year. Find things to do that are FREE. Or see if one of the parents has a POOL and have each girl bring a food item.

Have a fun summer!

P. <><

My daughter has been in GS for five years and yes they do take a break in the summer. There are occasional summer get togethers but only one or two. It's so hard getting everyone on the same schedule since everyone travels for vacations or camps and stuff. Plus, the leaders need a little break, too :-)

I am a troop leader for Daisys, and we continue meeting in the summer....we took a vote with the parents and decided we wanted to continue, but we are the only troop in town who still meets.