Cracks, Crevices and Crawlways

That sounds like it might be a bit treacherous, but it was a day of fun.  I was able to chaperone with Hannah's Girl Scout troop on a trip to the local camp.  The camp offers a caving program for girls who are at least twelve years old.  Each year they put together a day of activities to simulate what the girls might learn or experience when they are old enough to go caving.

Many of the activities start with a cardboard box and black tarps to simulate a cave.  The first one allowed the girls to experience what it is like to army crawl through a tight space in the dark.

Then they were told they might find a cave where they had to navigate over and under things, so ropes were added.

Then they had to work their way around stalagmites and stalactites
. 

 

This poster listed some of the equipment used in caving.

 And, of course, the girls were able to try on headlamps and see what it is like to crawl through a dark cave wearing one.

 

There were several activities that stressed the importance of communication and teamwork in caving.

 

The girls had a great day and they are all certain they will try real caving the first chance they get!



Bronze

Hannah earned her Girl Scout Bronze award this year and her troop had a ceremony this evening.  To earn the Bronze Award, each girl must complete at least fifteen hours of community service.  The troop decided to help a local pet adoption agency.  They earned hours by volunteering at pet adoption days and making toys, beds, blankets and treats for the dogs.  Of course, this project was right up Hannah's alley.



 

Reciting the Girl Scout Law

 

 

Hannah with her fellow Girl Scout and neighbor, Emily

 

 

 

Hannah also earned the Junior Aide Award and was presented with several other patches and badges the girls had worked on together.  She is determined to stick with Girl Scouts long enough to earn both her Silver and Gold Awards.

Bridging

Hannah bridged from Brownies to Junior Girl Scouts.

 

Before

 



 

Hannah's good friend, Libby, was able to come along.

 

One of Hannah's leaders putting her Junior vest on

 



The girls made stepping stones.  Each one had one of the Girl Scout Laws written on it.

 



 

After



Serendipity

That is the title of the Mother Daughter Girl Scout camping weekend at Camp Meriweather.  Both girls and I went for the weekend.  It was so nice to get away with them.  Rachel was the only Cadette from our troop to attend.  It worked out well because Hannah was really more into doing things with her Brownie friends, so I had some quality time with Rachel.

Here Rachel and I are playing Nertz!  Rachel was so relaxed.  I think it was because her friends weren't around and she could just be herself.  Even her mom making silly faces didn't embarrass her.

The girls also got to make their own clay beads, try basket weaving, make survival bracelets and of course make smores.  One of their troop specific activities is doing Who-hair.  The girls take all kinds of hair ties, flowers and pipe cleaners and try to make the best Who-hair...think Dr. Seuss.  Rachel was so sweet with the younger Scouts.  She helped them fix their hair and then graciously let them fix her hair. 

One Is Silver

Rachel is finishing up her eighth year of Girl Scouts.  All six of the girls in her Cadette troop earned the Silver Award this year.  The next big step is the Gold! 

Rachel and Ms. Maria.  Maria has been her leader since we moved to Marietta.  Maria had brain surgery last year so I jumped in to keep her troop going.  I was the co-leader this year, but will be stepping back into just being a parent next year.

Ms. Maria pinning on the Silver Award

All the Cadettes (minus one) and Ms. Maria



Another Year of Scouting

The girls had their Girl Scout Investiture. Rachel is a Cadette and in her eighth year of scouting. Hannah is a Brownie and in her third year.

The Cadettes wanted to do a skit for the Investiture.  They wrote one about a troop of Girl Scouts who talk a girl at their school into joining their troop.  The girl at first thinks Girl Scouts is just selling cookies and camping, but the girls explain that they also support the community through service projects and learn life skills.  They do a great job at writing and performing the skits.  They are practicing the skit in this picture.

More practicing.

This a good picture of all the Cadettes...Paola, Maggie, Maria, Rachel, Olivia and Brooke.

Rachel and a few other scouts leading the troop in a song to keep them busy before the ceremony began.

Our favorite and cutest Brownie, Hannah.

The Brownies were also doing a skit and Hannah is showing her script.

She is wearing the scarf in this picture.  She was a little old lady.

The Cadettes performing their skit.

The Brownies singing a song.  Hannah is in about the middle in an off white shirt and sash.

The girls really enjoying Girl Scouts.  When the entire troop is together, I can tell how much the Cadettes have learned through the years.  I am so proud of my Girl Scouts!

Tacos In a Bag

I was able to go camping with the girls' scout troop. It was tons of fun!!

The particular campground we went to had platform tents. Those were a first for me. I would much rather set up a traditional tent. The platform tents don't secure at the bottom. Anything can crawl in. I told more than one Girl Scout to suck it up.

We got to participate in archery. The adults got to have a try, too. I took an archery class in high school, but don't remember a whole lot about it. Rachel made two bullseyes! I was so glad I was along to see it. It would have been fun and exciting to hear her tell me about it, but it was even better witnessing it. My archery skills weren't as good as Rachel's, but it was fun.

We hiked down to a creek the girls were able to wade in. The younger girls learned how to build a fire. All the girls were able to make smores each night.

For dinner one night, we had Tacos in a Bag. That was another first for me. Each person got an individual bag of Doritoes and added the taco toppings to the bag. The idea was to eat it out of the bag. Of course, everything tastes better after a day of hiking.

Tacos in a Bag were such a big hit, Hannah (with a bit of adult supervision) made it for the family when we got home. We just bought a big bag of Doritoes and portioned them into baggies.

Girl Scout Cookies

I'm not talking about Thin Mints here. Rachel's Cadette troop was over last night just to have fun and decorate Christmas cookies. I present a sample of the finished product.

A bonus...they even appreciated the homemade buttercream frosting. Now I have to figure out what to do with the leftover frosting. The kids and I may have to make some more cookies. There is absolutely no reason to waste homemade buttercream frosting, EVER!