Service - Coupons To Troops

With Veteran's Day coming next month consider a service project that will benefit our military families. Check out ::Coupons To Troops::. Military commissaries will accept coupons that are up to 6 months expired.  Sign your troop up and get assigned a family to send too.

Troop Leader Inspiration

:Deep Space Sparkle: created this really inspiring letter to first year art teachers and as I was reading it I thought it sounded like something the first time and returning troop leaders might find uplifting as well. Pop on over to the blog as there are many great lessons and ideas that can be adapted for a troop.

Getting To Know You - People Hunt

Mrs. Russ over at :Mrs.Russ' - Russ' Rockets: has a really great section of her site dedicated to getting to know you activities. When we open our first meeting this year we will be using the People Hunt form featured on her site. Be sure to check out her other great ideas for a whole years worth of getting to know you activities 

Inside Outside Circle, Linkages, Turn Toss, Where Do I Stand, The Name Game, Two Truths and A  Lie, Line Up, Name Toss, Commons, Mystery Person, Squiggles, and more...

PVC Bow and Arrow

::Life Sprinkled With Glitter:: has a really awesome post about how to create a bow and arrow set made out of PVC pipe and doweling. This could be a really fun camp out project. Be sure to hope over to the blog to see many more pictures and instructions. The site features both boy and girl decorated versions of this project.

Election Year - Get Out And Vote

The election year makes a great backdrop for teaching lessons of citizenry. Take a look through your badge work for activities that may work well this fall. If you are really interested and you have a Girl Scout troop consider looking into the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts badge program called "I Promised A Girl Scout I'd Vote" - the patch can be ordered through their online shop. For more ideas check out the badge work for the Election Connection and the Right To Vote programs.

Consider contacting the local brand of your states League of Woman Voters and have a guest speaker.

Also check out how Girl Scout Troop 2447 incorporated voting into their meetings. They learned about elections, set out to make voting booths and ballot boxes to voice their opinion on their holiday party.

Brainstorming A Flying Frenzy

Here is a clever spin on group brainstorming and decision making. ::Little Brownie Bakers:: has posted this Flying Frenzy plate idea. Write the ideas being brainstormed on the center of paper plates. Have the scouts spread out and give them each some markers. Set a time frame and let the plates fly. When one lands nearby,  the scout then write their solution or thoughts on the plate. At the end of the time frame review all the ideas and work on a vote.

Journal Page

How cute is this free printable? Betsy from ::bnute productions:: created this awesome journal page. This would be a nice piece to use in a scout binder to record details of field trips and camp outs. Her site is also full of great party ideas.