How to be a Daisy Girl Scout Leader

Each area of the country is organized a little different but once you get through the initial introduction of becoming a leader, it is very easy to plan and run your year!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Notebook
• Craft supplies
• Container for the supplies
• Enthusiasm
• Patience
• FUN!

1. After you are signed up and have your training done, you are ready for the girls! Usually, the Service Unit registrar will have registrations for you but you can always recruit some girls of your own. Start with your daughter's friends and girls that you know get along well together. After you have the girls (usually 6-8 for Daisies), decide how you want to run the year and where you will meet. Many churches will allow you to meet there and not charge a fee. Also, do you want to meet every week or every other week? Most Daisy troops meet every other week for 1 hour. Do you want the parents to pay a yearly fee (I have parents give $50) to cover the Pins, Petals and craft supplies or will you have everyone get their own items. Go to your Service Unit meetings and get to know other leaders to get their ideas.
2. Plan a parents meeting. At this meeting have something that the Daisy Girl Scouts can be doing while you talk to the parents. This is a great time to enlist the help of another, older troop to play a game or help them with a craft. At this meeting, you will discuss with the parents a little about yourself and your expectations for the year. These can include if you plan to do field trips, have the parents stay for meetings or have them sign up for snacks. Write out a list of expected fees including the Daisy smock, petal pack, pins and any craft supplies you want to purchase. Every girl will need to register and I encourage every parent (usually just the moms) to also register. It is a small fee and then they can be chaperones for field trips.
3. Review the petal topics. Each Daisy Petal stands for a different part of the Girl Scout Promise. Generally, it will take one meeting to meet the requirements for one petal. It doesn't matter where you start or in what order. Also, you may want to only plan one or two meetings ahead as you see what your girls want to do. Put together a notebook with ideas that you gather from the internet and from the Service Unit meetings.
4. Get ready to go! Before the meeting, have a coloring sheet that the girls can work on as everyone arrives. Each meeting should start with the girls reciting the Girl Scout Promise. At this age they will want to share something, so give them time to share. Tell them what you will cover that night and ask for their ideas and input. Usually, you will do a craft, game and/or an activity. At the end of the meeting, gather for a "friendship circle" or some other type of closure as well as passing out the petal that the girls earned.

Tips & Warnings

• Always plan extra activities. You never know when one activity will "bomb" and you will need something else.
• Get a plastic rolling tool kit (available at Wal Mart) to keep the craft supplies in. Portable and has a lot of small compartments.
• Take lots of pictures!
• Ask for help from the parents!
• Many Service Units are lead by volunteers who have full or part time jobs. You may need to be persistent when asking for help or assistance.