May the Fourth Be With You!

Girl Scout Fun Ideas - May Edition

I've worked with Girl Scouts for nearly two decades (it really doesn't feel like that long!) and one of the things I loved most about having a Girl Scout troop was our holiday and seasonal activities. The ideas I share in these monthly posts are from a New Leader Booklet that was shared with me when I started leading Girl Scout troops in the early 2000s. Since our council (and as far as I know any other) no longer shares this information, I want to make it accessible on the internet. Enjoy!

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Have a piñta. Make tortillas. Mix approximately 2 teaspoons of Masa Harina with about 2 teaspoons water in a ziploc bag. When it is well mixed, make patties and cook on a griddle.

Plan menus for Camporee and make Kaper Charts.

Go shopping for Camporee food according to menus and shopping lists prepared by the girls.

Make SWAPS for Camporee if that is being planned this year. SWAPS are small items that can be pinned to a hat. Each girl should make about 10 to 12 to share.

Have balloon rocket races and make different kinds of gliders. Cut a piece of yarn or string to about six feet in length. Insert the string through the drinking straw. Attach ends of string to stable objects such as chair backs, etc. Push the straw to one end of the string. Roll a small piece of masking tape, sticky side out. Attach one side of tape to the straw. Have a girl blow up a balloon. While holding the closed end, have the girl attach the balloon to the tape with the open end toward her. She then lets go of the end and the other end will propel itself to the end of the straw.

Make Air pictures. Place a small amount of poster paint on a piece of paper and blow the paint with a drinking straw.

Practice singing camp songs.

Go to Camporee! Camping is a highlight for the girls, and there is no easier way for the leaders to do it all than Camporee. Don't forget that at least one adult must attend Outdoor Skills Training.

Walk to a local park and play some rowdy outdoor games. Or, go to where there is a par course and do those activities. Get silly and loud.

Make your own puzzles by drawing a on a piece of poster board or card stock. Cut it up into small shapes (specify the number of pieces based on age and ability). Trade puzzles and try to put them back together.

Have a Bike Rally. You might be able to arrange for the Juvenile Officer from your local police department to come and talk to the girls about the rules of the road and safety rules. Decorate the bikes with crepe paper streamers. Set up some cones to ride in and out of. Practice hand signals.

Plan a Court of Awards ceremony and some entertainment. Remember that the ceremony doesn't have to be fancy or elaborate. The most meaningful ceremonies are planned by the girls!

May 1 is May Day in England. Celebrate with any kind of flower craft or activity, or have a May Pole.

Memorial Day is celebrated in May. Take part in decorating veteran graves with flags.

Learn about flower arranging and have a troop display for parents or another troop (or use to decorate your Court of Awards ceremony).

Make a troop banner with the girls' handprints and signatures. Bring to Camporee.

Blow Bubbles! Just use the store bought kind or make your own: 3 tablespoons glycerin, 3 tablespoons Dawn dish soap, 1 cup warm water, a pinch of sugar. Mix everything together with an egg beater or whisk. Use the store bubble wands or make some with thin wire. Try differently shaped wands or cut slits about 1/2 inch long into the end of a drinking straw.

Have a magic show! There are books at the library or check out kids' magic kits at toy stores (or Amazon). Let each girl perform a trick, and take your show on the road to a preschool, a children's hospital, or a children's shelter.

Hello May!

All roads may meet at the world's end,
But hey, for the heart of May!
Come, choose your road and away, dear lad,
Come and choose your road and away.

 - from "The Call of the Spring" by Alyfred Noyes

Monthly Celebrations
Motorcycle Awareness Month
National Hamburger Month
National Bike Month
National Strawberry Month

Weekly Celebrations
Be Kind to Animals Week (first full week)
Teacher Appreciation Week (first full week)
Postcard Week (second full week)
National Backyard Games Week (last full week)

Daily Celebrations
May 01: May Day
May 01: National Mother Goose Day
May 02: National Astronomy Day
May 03: National Two Different Colored Shoes Day
May 04: International Fire Fighters Day
May 04: National Star Wars Day
May 05: Cinco de Mayo
May 05: Children's Day in Japan
May 05: National Teacher Day
May 06: National Nurses Day
May 08: Have a Coke Day
May 08: National Public Gardens Day
May 09: National Miniature Golf Day
May 09: National Train Day
May 10: Mother's Day
May 11: Twilight Zone Day
May 12: Limerick Day
May 13: National Apple Pie Day
May 14: National Dance Like a Chicken Day
May 14: Hummus Day
May 14: Underground America Day
May 15: International Day of Families
May 15: National Pizza Party Day
May 15: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
May 15: Endangered Species Day
May 15: Frank L. Baum's Birthday
May 16: Armed Forces Day
May 16: Love a Tree Day
May 18: Visit Your Relatives Day
May 18: International Museum Day
May 23: World Turtle Day
May 24: Brooklyn Bridge Day
May 25: Memorial Day
May 26: Sally Ride Day
May 26: World Dracula Day
May 27: Sunscreen Day
May 28: National Hamburger Day
May 30: National Creativity Day
May 30: International Jazz Day
May 31: National Meditation Day

National Unicorn Day

National Unicorn Day is a new holiday this year and is set to happen every April 9. Growing up I was not a "horse" girl but I was most definitely a "unicorn" girl. One of my absolute favorite movies as a child was The Last Unicorn. With most holiday celebrations, the first thing we think of is a big party. However, this year instead of having a unicorn party I'm sharing ways to celebrate while practicing the social distancing that we all need to do to stay safe.

How can you celebrate National Unicorn Day? Well first of all, by watching one of the best movies ever. Have you seen The Last Unicorn (I'm honestly surprised at how many people haven't). Here's a clip and trailer from the movie.

If you would like to watch the movie but don't have a copy, you can rent or buy a digital copy through Amazon video.

Maybe you would like a snack while watching the movie. In that case, you might like to make some yummy Unicorn Dip like this that I found over at Simplistic Living.

Now that you've had your snack and watched your movie, are you looking for something else to keep you busy? You could make this toilet paper tube unicorn from Meraki Mother. It's super cute!

Another great craft that you can do at home that uses household items is this mixed media Unicorn Craft from Arty Crafty Kids.

However you decide to celebrate National Unicorn Day, you should definitely take some pictures and share with your friends. Even if we can't all be together, we can still interact virtually and share the holiday fun!

Girl Scout Fun Ideas - April Edition

I've worked with Girl Scouts for nearly two decades (it really doesn't feel like that long!) and one of the things I loved most about having a Girl Scout troop was our holiday and seasonal activities. The ideas I share in these monthly posts are from a New Leader Booklet that was shared with me when I started leading Girl Scout troops in the early 2000s. Since our council (and as far as I know any other) no longer shares this information, I want to make it accessible on the internet. Enjoy!

Have a "Silly Party" to celebrate April Fools Day. Call the girls prior to the party and tell them to wear whatever they have on at the moment (a "come as you are" idea). Have everyone bring something "different" to share as the food part of the party. Then, exchange presents - a totally useless/tacky item from around the house, wrapped beautifully. Play goofy games and sign silly songs.

Talk a walk and notice all the spring time changes. Don't forget to take a trash bag with you to pick up any trash you find along the way.

Celebrate Earth Day. Talk about recycling, cutting up six-pack rings, waste from fast food, etc. Bury different waste products (lettuce, apple, plastic, paper, Styrofoam). Plan to dig them up in six weeks and then again in six months.

Make recycled paper. Tear up paper and put in water in a bowl to soften. (You can add a small amount of colored paper to color your finished product). Put softened paper in blend, pour out onto an open section of newspaper. Place a piece of window screen over it and squeeze out excess water with a board. Let dry for several hours. Make invitations to the Court of Awards ceremony on the recycled paper.

Make "food chain" - paper chains starting with one thing and each ring is something that east that thing. Play some nature games. Another activity that would go with the food chain is to watch The Magic School Bus Gets Eaten (it's on Netflix and SchoolTube). 

Make travel sit-upons for bringing to Camporee. Decorate a square of fabric with markers and laminate with clear contact paper. The sit-upon can be folded and carried in a pocket.

Talk about fire safety and practice fire building with edible camp fires. Have the girls tie back hair and check for clothing that might dangle into the fire. Give out paper napkins (fire circle) and clear clear with a fork (rake). Make woodpile by stacking wood according to size (coconut - tinder, pretzels - kindling, and tootsie rolls -fuel). Fill cup with beverage (water bucket) and have a straw (poker). Check for wind direction (back should be to wind). Add two "mini-handfuls" of coconut tinder. Make an "A" with kindling in center of fire circle. Place red-hot (fire starter) under top bar of "A". Put candy corn (match) on fire starter to light. Add more candy corn (flames) and add more kindling and tootsie rolls (fuel). Put flames out by sprinkling from fire bucket (sip). Eat everything so you leave a clean fire circle.

April 6 is North Pole Day - a celebration of Arctic wilderness. Do some activities with magnets, discovering polarity. Learn how to use a compass.

April 7 is World Health Day. Is there a service project your troop could become involved with that promotes good health? Perhaps you could hold a drive to collect hygiene products to send to people in need. Tuck toiletries such as soaps, shampoos, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, face cloths, etc into a pair of new socks and tie with a ribbon. Perhaps you could even include gift cards for fast food chains as well. Donate to a homeless shelter.

April 14 is National Dolphin Day, to remember all sea creatures. Take part in a beach clean up or learn about sea creatures. Eat goldfish crackers and do a craft with fish.

Celebrate Spring! Decorate a pot with rubber stamps paint and plant a pretty flower.

Make butterflies with tissue paper twisted in the middle with a pipe cleaner or a clothespin.

Have a She and Me game day at a local park. You could have teams of girls and their adults taking part in different activities like three-legged races, egg toss, etc.

Initiate a book swap. 

Learn some simple facts about women scientists, Then put the name of one scientist on the back of each girl and let her go ask yes/no questions to figure out who she is. Only one question asked of each person!

Plant trees for Arbor Day!

Make a collection of tree leaves. Arrange the leaves carefully between sheets of newspaper or blotting paper and press them under bricks or books for several days. Mount the leaves neatly on sheets of poster board or drawing paper. Label each leaf with the name of the tree. Make sets to show which are deciduous and which are conifers or make plaster casts of leaves.