Events & Things to Do

More troop activities

(Last updated on 08/9/10)

Check this section of the Web site often for “places to go and things to do”  activity ideas to share with the girls in your troop or group.  Keep in mind that the activities listed in this section are not pre-approved. Troops and groups are responsible for using Girl Scouts of the USA’s Safety Activity Checkpoints and the travel guidelines in Volunteer Essentials as part of their planning process. Some sites, such as stables and adventure course, require council approval. Don't forget to fill out Trip Applications and use Permission Slips and Health History forms as required. Look for “Program Links” at the end of articles to see ways you and the girls might link a trip or activity to a Girl Scout award such a leadership journey, Try-It, badge or interest project.

Welcome…or welcome back…to an exciting year of Girl Scout leadership experiences. 

Girls tell us that their favorite Girl Scout experiences are trips and camping – and that they want to go new places, travel farther, and try more adventurous camping. You can help girls learn and progress in their trip and travel skills by first teaching, then guiding (or coaching) and finally mentoring them as they plan and go on camping and other trips.  We hope you and the girls will continue to find fresh trip and activity ideas here and to share your successes and challenges with other groups by using the Trip Report. (Look for shared ideas in the Leader-to-Leader section of the “Volunteer Zone” on this Web site.)

Girl Scout Tree-Climbing Event

Dunwoody Nature Center announces a Girl Scout Tree Climbing event for Juniors and older on Saturday October 2, 2010. Join Genevieve Summers of “Dancing with Trees” for an unforgettable experience perched in a huge oak tree. Learn the basics of tree climbing, important knot tying maneuvers, and ways to communicate with and about trees. The tree climbing site has been approved by the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta.
Location:     Dunwoody Nature Center
                   5343 Roberts Drive, Dunwoody, GA  30338
                   770-394-3322
Time: 12pm-5pm
Fee: $40/Girl Scout (adults who want to climb should register and pay fee)
Registration deadline: September 24; limited to 30 participants
Register online at www.dunwoodynature.org
Program Links: Girl Scout Juniors have two options—meet a requirement of the Adventure Sports Badge OR satisfy the ENERGIZE segment of the Get Moving Leadership Journey (“It’s Your Planet—Love It”!).
Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors can apply this experience to the High Adventure Interest Project.

Girl Scout Day at Zoo Atlanta, October 9, 2010

Join other Girl Scouts for a special day at the Zoo! Enjoy a self-guided tour, animal SWAP and private animal encounters. Download the Scout Day flyer (PDF).

Groups of 10 or more can pre-register (or call 404.624.WILD) to receive a discounted rate of only $8.00 per person. Don’t have a group of 10? Girl Scouts in full or partial uniform plus up to 3 guests receive $5.00 off regular Zoo admission on the day of the event.

The animal themed SWAP will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 in the ARC. Be sure to bring 10-20 swaps to share to receive a special Zoo Atlanta patch, while supplies last. Explore ideas on animal swaps!

Troop leaders: be sure to check out our field trip guides and other great resources for your troop.

Program Links: Animals Try-It; Earth Connections and Plants and Animals badges.

Mmmm…Chocolate-Making for Girl Scouts

Hi Girl Scouts!

I have been a Chocolatier for 2 years and produce fine Belgian chocolates, truffles and gifts.  Recently I had the pleasure of teaching chocolate making to a Girl Scout Troop in Cumming, and I am not sure who enjoyed the class more, the girls or myself.  They had so much fun and it was a pleasure working with them. If you are working with Girl Scout Juniors and older (the best age for the class is 9 and up) I’d like to invite your troop to sign up for a session as well. The class lasts from 1 1/2 to 2 hours  and includes a handout sheet with interesting facts about chocolate, it's history and how it is made.  I give a demonstration of how truffles are made and then the girls get a hands on experience. They will make a variety of chocolates & lollipops that they will take home with them but usually they eat it all before they get picked up.  The cost for the class is $20.00 per child.

Lydia Olsen
(770) 475-8313
Bonbons Confections, Inc.
www.bonbonsconfections.com

To Respect Myself and Others: Manners and Etiquette Classes for Girl Scouts of all Ages

Girls of all ages who know what to do in social situations from sleepovers to dining out grow in both confidence and respect – for themselves and for others. “Good manners” means respectful behavior at home as well as knowing what to do on a date or a job interview. The Etiquette and Protocol School of Georgia offers classes for Girl Scout Daisies through Ambassadors, including:

Manners
Magic words and when to use them
Making Introductions
Making and keeping friends
Telephone manners
Table manners
How to be a gracious host and gracious guest
How to act at home and away from home
Sleepover etiquette
Dining skills
Self presentation skills
Interviewing skills
Looking your best
Basic dining skills
Formal dining skills
Internet, texting and social media etiquette
Party planning and more

Classes are $12.00 per girl/per class. Call Tiffany Jackson to design a class for your troop today: (770)885-3721 or Tiffany7jackson@aol.com
The class comes to you! For more information, visit www.TheEtiquetteandProtocolSchoolofGeorgia.com.

Etiquette Atlanta Offers Manners and Etiquette Classes for Girl Scouts of all Ages

Girl scouts will learn that manners are an expression of the heart and practicing good manners should be a way of life.  Etiquette Atlanta blends contemporary manners with traditional etiquette, to help girls develop the poise and self-confidence that will help them be at ease with adults, peers, and most importantly, with themselves.  The child with a healthy self-esteem becomes the adult with a positive sense of self.

Training Description: 
Etiquette classes for Girl Scouts will consist of a one hour instructional class held at the troop’s usual meeting place.  The etiquette class will be an interactive class; Girl Scout Brownies will be able to complete activities from the Manners Try-It. Topics to be covered are:

• Introductions
• Telephone Manners
• Dinning Etiquette
• Respecting Others

Etiquette Atlanta Rate: $10 per girl ($100 minimum)

Add-Ons:

• Tea Party for Girls:  $4 per girl
• Mother/Daughter Tea:  $7 per girl

Contact Information:
Carla W. Kooistra
678.200.4778
c.kooistra@etiquetteatlanta.com
         www.EtiquetteAtlanta.com

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s 2010/2011 Kids’ Concert Series

The ASO cordially invites Girl Scouts of all ages to join them for:

HALLOWEEN
October 24, 2010 1:30 & 3:30pm
Jere Flint, conductor

Costumes adorn Symphony Hall as musicians and audience wear their most frightful garb and try to guess Jere Flint’s surprise costume. The music is wicked good, and theatrical surprises keep the kids on the edge of their seats.

ALADDIN AND THE ARABIAN NIGHTS
February 13, 2011 1:30 & 3:30pm
Jere Flint, conductor
Enchantment Theatre Co.
Larger than life puppets vividly recreate the fantastic tales of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade (based on Arabian Nights).

LEMONY SNICKET’S The Composer is Dead
May 15, 2011 1:30 & 3:30pm
Jere Flint, conductor
The persnickety Snicket introduces young audiences to the instruments in the orchestra in the vein of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Britten’s A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra. An enthralling premiere.

Cost:
$15 for Floor and Loge Sections
$10 for Front/Rear Balcony Sections

To order tickets:
Contact Shelby Moody at (404)733-4958 or by e-mail at shelby.moody@woodruffcenter.org

A Walk in The Forest for Scouts

Who: The Chattahoochee Chapter of the Society of American Foresters and Stone Mountain Memorial Association are hosting a one-day event for metro-Atlanta Girl and Boy Scouts to help them earn the Earth Connections Badge (Juniors) and a portion of the 'Breathe' Leadership Journey (Cadettes) or Wildlife IPA (Cadettes, Seniors, Ambassadors); or the Boy Scout Forestry Merit Badge or Webelos Forester Activity Pin. Scouts will work with local foresters to learn about the benefits of trees and forests and the forestry profession. Younger Cub Scouts and Girl Scout Brownies and Daisies are not eligible to participate.

What: A Walk in the Forest will include nature walks and educational stations on Tree Identification, Trees and Wildlife, Watersheds, Forest Fire and Safety, Forest Products and Wood Samples, Forest Insects and Diseases, Urban Forestry and How to Plant a Tree. Clipboards, lunch and event day patches are included. This event is free. Registration is required. RSVP to Alina Ruiz at a.ruiz@stonemountainpark.org or 770-498-5629 by Oct. 1, 2010.  Please have the following information ready when you register your group by email or phone:

Troop Number…Troop Leader…Address…Phone…Cell phone for day of event…
E-mail…Number of Scouts attending: Girl Scout Junior ___  Cadette___ Senior ___ Ambassador ___

Where: Confederate Hall Historical and Environmental Education Center,
Stone Mountain Park. Vehicles without an annual pass will be required to pay the entrance fee at the Park Gate.

When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, November 13, 2010 Rain or Shine! You must register in advance. Event day registration is not available. Once full, all requests will be placed on a waiting list for next year.

This event is sponsored by: Georgia Forestry Commission and various corporations.

Society of American Foresters, Chattahoochee Chapter

Stone Mountain Memorial Association

Environmental Service Two for One Deal!

Participate in BOTH World Water Monitoring Day (September 18) and National Public Lands Day (September 25) and Get a FREE Test Kit, as long as supplies last.

World Water Monitoring Day is partnering for the second year with National Public Lands Day to offer 100 free water test kits.  National Public Lands Day 2010 -  the U.S.'s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance America’s public lands—will focus on climate change, which can alter many aspects of water.

To receive a free water monitoring kit, troops/groups must register with WWMD at http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/ and indicate that they are affiliated with NPLD, or register with NPLD at http://www.publiclandsday.org/pre_reg.htm(look for Scouts Registration.) and indicate that they are affiliated with WWMD. Registration is free through both programs.  Participation in the WWMD program can help Girl Scouts earn credit toward the Get With the Land or Water Drop patches (online only at http://www.girlscouts.org/program/gs_central/insignia/online/.)   Kits will be shipped between now and September as long as supplies last. Please contact wwmd@wef.org with questions.

World Water Monitoring Day™ (WWMD) is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies.

In 2006, the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) developed a partnership with World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD).  Through the WWMD program, Girl Scouts learn about the quality of their local waters by testing for dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature and turbidity (or clarity). These parameters represent basic elements that help determine water quality.  Girl Scouts then submit their data into the worldwide database, where it is included in the annual WWMD report produced at the end of monitoring activities performed each year. 

World Water Monitoring Day is officially celebrated on September 18; however, the monitoring window was extended for the first time in 2009 from March 22 (World Water Day) until December 31. Participants are encouraged to celebrate with WEF and IWA in September or to observe their own WWMD anytime during the extended window. The deadline for submitting data to the WWMD database is December 31.

Free Resources for WWMD Event Organizers
Are you organizing a monitoring event? Don't forget to visit the 'Resources' section of the WWMD website for items such as the Planner's Guide, the Protect Our Waterways brochure and supplemental Observation Guide, puzzles, templates for news releases, giveaways, and more. Many materials are available free-of-charge in hard copy. Please see the Materials Request Form to review the list or place an order. If you have questions about available resources, artwork, or translations, please contact us.

Resources
Resource materials for WWMD can be downloaded at http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/Resources/Resources_Main.html, and include:

Guides & Lesson Plans (a comprehensive guide to event planning, as well as lesson plans on water quality.)

Handouts (monitoring safety precautions and what the various water quality indicators mean, and several student worksheets, including a crossword puzzle and Internet scavenger hunt.)

Event Resources (items are designed to enhance the planner and participant experience during the WWMD event.)

Get Outdoors Georgia . . . Get Out. Get Dirty. Get Fit.

Learn more about Georgia’s State Parks and Historic Sites at www.gastateparks.org.  Watch Park Videos on You Tube at
 www.youtube.com/gastateparks and www.youtube.com/familyonthego

Geocachers, Take Our New Geo-Challenge!
Grab your GPS and join one of the biggest treasure hunts in the state. We now have 42 hidden caches in our state parks. (Go to http://www.gastateparks.org/GeoCacheParks.)  Find coordinates on www.Geocaching.com. 

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment. Girl Scout Program Links:  Orienteering Interest Project; Hi-Tech Hide and Seek Interest Project (online at www.girlscouts.org.)

Panola Mountain State Park, Stockbridge, GA

1. Lost Person Prevention: 2nd Saturday of month, 10 am, until Dec 11, 2010. Learn simple techniques for not getting lost and keeping track of your family (or troop!) when venturing into the great outdoors of Georgia. Search and Rescue Dog Team will be joining the class unless a SAR activity is occurring. Designed for children ages 5-10. $5 parking.
2. Tree Top Excursions: Introduction Climb - 3rd Saturday of month, 1 PM - 4 PM until Dec 18, 2010.  Join us "on rope" for an adventure exploring the canopy above. This is an introductory climb to Canopy-Adventure-Research-Educational Technical Tree Climbing (CARE TTC). Participants will use rope and harness for this moderately strenuous activity. We recommend arriving 30 minutes before each program. Register in advance; ask if this class is accessible to climbers with mobility disabilities.  $15 plus $5 parking.. Girl Scout Program Links:  Adventure Sports Junior badge; High Adventure interest project.
3. Frog Slog: Tuesdays 6 PM until Aug 31, 2010. Investigate wetlands and streams in search of frogs and salamanders. Be prepared to get wet, muddy, and bring a flashlight or headlamp, nets, seines and buckets.. Register in advance. $7 plus $5 parking.Girl Scout Program Links: Wetlands enrichment patch; Water Everywhere Brownie Try-It; Water Wonders and Water Fun Junior badges.
4. Twilight Hike: Thursdays, 7 PM until Aug 26, 2010. Join a park ranger on this guided hike when the days are long, and the temperatures cool just before sunset. This is the time when wildlife is most active. $7 plus $5 parking.
5. Introduction to Backpacking: Saturday, Aug 14, 2010 2 PM.
   This beginner's class will take place in an outdoor classroom. This is a great introduction on how to prepare for backcountry hiking; what is essential, how to save weight, and what to leave at home. $7 plus $5 parking. 770-389-7801. Program Links: Hiker badge; Backpacking Interest Project.

Sweetwater Creek State Park, Lithia Springs, GA
(770)-732-5871; www.gastateparks.org/info/sweetwater/

1. New Manchester History Hike - Saturdays 10 AM - 12 PM until Sep 25, 2010. This mile-long hike (easy to moderate) will lead us to the five story ruins of the Civil War-era New Manchester textile mill and focus on the history of the Sweetwater Creek Valley. This Historian or Ranger-led hike will include going inside the impressive mill ruins and seeing the lovely whitewater rapids (both providing great photo opportunities). $2-$3 plus $5 parking. Program Links: Outdoor Fun badge; Science Discovery badge
2. Geology Hike – Sat., July 10 and Sat., Aug 14, 2010, 9 AM to 11.  Geologist and "Friends of Sweetwater Creek State Park" member John Johnston will lead a moderate 2-mile hike identifying rock types and explaining how they formed. There will also be a visit inside the ruins of the Civil War era New Manchester Mill alongside the beautiful rapids of Sweetwater Creek. $5 plus $5 parking.  Prograqm Links:  Rocks Rock! Badge; Science Discovery badge; Science in Everyday Life badge.

Smithgall Woods Conservation Park - Helen, GA

(706) 878-3087; www.gastateparks.org/Smithgall

1. Youth Fishing Days at Buck Shoals – Sat., July 17, and Sat., Aug 21, 2010, 8:30 AM to 4 PM. Children and their special "big person" can fish in a lake stocked with catfish, bass, and bream. Fish caught can be kept. Bring your own bait and rods. Some rods are available for loan. Call for directions to "Buck Shoals." $5 parking.  Program Link:  Our Own Council’s “Gone Fishin’” badge.
2. Gold Fever – Sat., Aug 21, 2010, 9 AM to 12 PM. Gold mining is a fascinating part of the history of Smithgall Woods and the surrounding area. Hear more about the history of gold mining with a local historian as well as the geology of the area, then hike the Martin Mine Trail. Register in advance. $5 plus $5 parking. Program Link:  Science in Everyday Life badge.

Chief Vann House Historic Site, Chatsworth, GA

Chief Vann House Days - Saturday, Jul 24, 2010 10 AM to 4 PM
Watch 1800s crafts demonstrations at the 1804 mansion of Cherokee Indian plantation owner James Vann. Cherokee tribal members along with local demonstrators show the art of blacksmithing, soap making, weaving, spinning, quilting, doll making, chair and basket weaving, pottery, and much more.  $3.50-$5 (706) 695-259. Program Links:  Our Own Council’s “Georgia’s Native People” Try-It and badge.

Fort Mountain State Park - Chatsworth, GA

Bat Blitz - Sunday, Jul 25, 2010 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Kids of all ages can learn about these aerobatic mammals that eat mosquitoes and other insects. Watch biologists as they net bats and teach about their fascinating wings and ears. Browse bat displays and make bat crafts. $5 parking. (770) 918-6792.

Volunteer: Rivers Alive Stream Cleanup

It’s Your Planet – Love It! Join two of Georgia’s state parks for Rivers Alive, Georgia's annual volunteer waterway cleanup:

Saturday, Jun 19, 2010 9 AM to 12 PM - Sweetwater Creek State Park. Join us as we clean the post-flood banks and trails of beautiful Sweetwater Creek. Register in advance. (770)732-5871. $5 parking

Saturday, Jun 26, 2010 9 AM to 12 PM – Panola Mountain State Park. We will be cleaning up and removing invasive species along the Panola Mountain South River corridor. Register in advance. Call the park office for more details. (770) 389-7801.  $5 parking