Girl Scout Christmas Party Ideas

A fun and engaging Girl Scout Christmas party does not have to be elaborate or cost a lot of money; consider simple, yet meaningful party ideas for holiday celebrations. The Girl Scout motto of being responsible, getting involved with the community and giving back to charity reflects the spirit of the Christmas season.

Have a blast baking and decorating tons of Christmas cookies. Have different groups mixing batter, rolling out dough and cutting the shapes, and overseeing the ovens and cooling cookies. Then, set up a kind of decorating buffet with tubes of frosting, candies, sprinkles, etc., and let the girls express their Christmas creativity. Send each girl home with a plate of cookies and donate any leftovers to a soup kitchen or nursing home.

Go caroling at local businesses, hospitals or nursing homes, senior centers, day care centers, or just around the neighborhood. Afterward, serve up warm apple cider and hot chocolate, peppermint sticks and other Christmas treats. Be sure to take pictures for your troop scrapbook.

Rent an ice skating rink or take advantage of local ponds that have been deemed safe by authorities for an ice-skating party. Bring a battery-powered portable stereo -- or hire a DJ if your budget allows -- and play Christmas music. Set up a treat station with warm drinks and goodies and start a bonfire close by.

Host a "Christmas Around the World" party. Ask the girls to bring a traditional holiday dish and tell about a particular tradition, such as a game or activity, from their culture, religion, country or family; try to plan for something from all the major cultures and religions of the world, filling in the gaps depending on the make-up of your group.

You could make your Christmas party part of a charitable activity. For example, have girls collect non-food essential items like toilet paper, laundry soap and personal hygiene items that many families need -- but cannot buy with food stamps or get from food banks -- and bring them to the party. Package the items in care packages and make handmade Christmas cards to go with them, then drop them off at a local agency that helps needy families.

Alternatively, if you participate in a Christmas toy drive, turn your Christmas party into a gift-wrapping event. Provide lots of paper and bows and let the girls make homemade tags that say "To a special boy/girl from Girl Scout Troop #." Of course, you should absolutely play Christmas music and serve up lots of Christmas goodies. It goes without saying that Scout Christmas party games are a must.

Turn a traditional Christmas party into an especially memorable event by playing games in between the cookie munching and hot chocolate drinking. Scoutingweb.com has a number of Christmas and holiday games specifically designed for Girl Scout troops. Offer small prizes for winners and take lots of pictures for parents and the troop scrapbook.