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Although meetings vary from age level to age level on length and activities, many times the basic meeting structure is the same. Following are the basic parts of a meeting (that can be used at all levels), which can be moved around and adjusted for your own troop's needs. As the girls get older, they can plan more and more components of the basic meeting until at the Older Girl level (Cadettes/Seniors), they should be able to plan an entire meeting themselves.
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Early Bird or Pre-Opening: Something for the girls to do when they arrive with little leader direction. Girls seldom arrive all at the same time to meetings and many times the leader is busy setting up the final touches for the meeting. This activity gives them something positive to do with their energy rather than run around. Some examples might be:
- Jump rope
- Puzzles
- Word Games
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Opening: Something to officially start the meeting. Some examples might be:
- Flag Ceremony
- Game
- Song
- Recite Promise & Law
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Business: Take attendance, collect dues, brainstorm ideas, make plans, vote on decisions. |
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Activity: The project for the day whether it is doing a service project, making a craft, working on a recognition or??? |
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Snack: Sometimes younger troops like to use their snack as their early-bird activity, especially if the girls meet right after school and are hungry. |
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Clean-Up: Remember, Girl Scouts leave a place better than they found it and it is the responsibility of the girls, not the leaders, to clean up after themselves. |
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Announcements: Reminders of upcoming activities, permission slips due, hand out newsletter (if any). |
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Closing: Something to officially signal that the meeting is over.
Some suggestions might be:
- Friendship Circle
- Song
- Magic Tunnel
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Emergency Activities: It is always a good idea to have 2-3 extra activities (songs or games) waiting in the wings in case the planned activities go faster than planned.
10 minute games |
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Remember that meetings do not always fit into this plan and the girls and leaders may need to be flexible in their implementation of the planned program.
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