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camporee5arch

GSCTX asks troops to host an activity booth for Saturday, April 21st. Planning an activity is easy and fun. Just follow these simple steps below!

Is the activity unique?
Check out what's already been assigned on the troop activity page. Ask yourself if your activity is different enough from what's available. Activity booths will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Things are pretty wide open as registration has just begun.

Is it something my program level girls can do?
If you are a Daisy troop, you might try for a simpler activity (like teaching a dance from India) so your girls can participate in the planning and presenting process. Older girls might try for a more complicated or complex project like teaching knife safety. We need activities for all levels of Girl Scouts. Think about what your own girls would like to see at an event such as this one.

Is it cost-effective?
There will potentially be hundreds of girls wanting to try this activity, so you want to keep costs down. For example, a watercolor painting station would require paints and paper, but those could be purchased cheaply in large quantity and used over and over again. Look over the materials you might need for ways to minimize costs. For example, if you were making mousetrap cars for the girls to race, you could have materials on hand to build 10 of them. Four girls could build and race theirs, and then the next four could go while the first set of four cars is dismantled. Girls would be able to participate, but would not necessarily be bringing anything home.

Does it link to pre-existing Girl Scout activity (Journey Award, Badge etc)?
Great activities can empower girls to reach their own Girl Scouting goals. Even though we are transitioning, girls can still earn any of the older patches, and the badge books are a great source of ideas for booth activities.

Can my girls create/choose something that helps them earn a Journey or other award?
Since the activity booth will be manned for the day Saturday (by shifts of girls and adults), it's an excellent opportunity to get the hours in to complete a journey or other award.

Does it have any special equipment needs?
We will be camping in a rustic setting. If you need access to power, water, etc, please let us know when you submit the activity.

Once you've created a camporee activity idea, email us a copy at KathrynL@gsctx.org.

Please fill out the form completely, including a name for the activity, brief description for posting on the website, area of Girl Scouting it fits within, activity type, and a detailed description of the activity for council use that includes any special needs you might require. Council will review your request and get back to you within a week or two as to whether it is approved or not. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have further questions.

Logistical Details

 

After choosing an activity to host, here are some things to consider when planning.

Manning the booth.
When hosting an activity booth, the troop should plan on having the necessary personnel stationed at their booth location from 9 am to 5 pm Saturday, so that girls can participate. We recommend shifts of adults and girls, so that no one person is overburdened and all can participate. Smaller troops can merge together to create one whole-day booth, or request a half-day.

Changeable weather.
We recommend bringing a pop-up canopy in case of inclement weather. We will be having fun, rain or shine, so an awning that can provide shade and/or dry shelter will be helpful. Barring an activity that needs a larger space, a 10' x 10' or 12' x 12' should be sufficient.

Comfort of workers.
Having folding chairs and other amenities like a water jug for those adults and girls manning the booth makes the times, both busy and quiet, pass more easily.

Materials transport.
Bring along a wagon to get your materials from your vehicle or tent site to your booth and back.

Each troop should bring the following items.

  • Materials for craft/activity completion
  • Tent or awning in case of rain
  • Tables to work at, if necessary and possible.
  • Folding chairs for adults and persons manning the station
  • Each Girl should have (in addition to standard gear needed for weekend):
  • Sit-upon
  • Water bottle
  • Sunscreen
  • Closed-toe shoes
  • Small daypack for carrying above items about the site

Ideas to Get You Started

GREEN

  • Bird calls
  • Recycled art
  • Ecology-based games like Bat and Moth (Blindfolded 'marco polo') or sharks and minnows (tag-based game)
  • Bird or animal track ID coloring pages
  • Planting a bean seed in an egg carton cup
  • Techbridge Make It Green activities (contact EDGE@gsctx.org for more info)

 

TECH

  • Owl pellet dissection
  • Knex robots
  • Coffee-filter butterflies (paper chromatography for older kids)
  • #6 plastic shrink dinks (would need electrical power for toaster oven)
  • Techbridge Power It Up, Design Time or Engineers to the Rescue activities (contact EDGE@gsctx.org for more info)

 

STRONG

  • Knot tying
  • Knife safety
  • Outdoor cooking
  • Pitch-a-tent
  • Orienteering
  • Uniquely Me activities
  • Healthy cooking demos
  • Team building games

CREATIVE

  • Face painting
  • Dance (from different countries or different styles)
  • Painting
  • Friendship Bracelets
  • Weaving
  • Lanyards (plastic)
  • Purler beads (power needed for iron)
  • Cardboard weaving (embroidery floss and cardboard)
  • Beaded necklaces/bracelets
  • Hair Braiding
  • Henna tattoos (with parent permission)
  • Drum circle