Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Sunday, May 4: Brownie Troop 2082's Frozen Ropes & Pizza Party

Sunday May 4: Field Trip/Special Event: Frozen Ropes & Pizza Party in Natick 4 to 5:30 p.m.

(The Brownies will be working on their Girls Sports Try-It badge and having pizza after the one-hour physical fitness program.) The troop will be supplying the pizza and drinks.

To learn more about Frozen Ropes, visit www.frozenropes.com/trainingcenters/default.asp?location=Natick

PLEASE RSVP BY Saturday morning, so we can estimate the # of pizzas to order

The girls in Troop 2082 voted on this event, as a a special event for selling cookies.
The girls SHOULD NOT wear their uniforms. They should wear comfortable clothes and sneakers.


DIRECTION TO FROZEN ROPES:
From Route 9 Eastbound (map):
Route 9 East to Oak Street (Scrub-A-Dub Car Wash on right)
Bear right into circle and follow around to cross Route 9
Continue onto Oak Street for approx. one mile (Westgate Christian Academy School on left)
Take right on Tech Circle (after Longfellow Health Club)
Frozen Ropes is #14 (on the left)
From Route 9 Westbound (map):
Route 9 West to Oak Street (Scrub-A-Dub Car Wash on left)
Turn right onto Oak Street for approx. one mile(Westgate Christian Academy School on left)
Take right on Tech Circle (after Longfellow Health Club)
Frozen Ropes is #14 (on the left)

Medieval Maiden's Try-It Offered on Saturday, June 14

The Girl Scout Council of Central & Western Massachusetts has created a Try-It.
They are offering a Medieval Maidens Try It for Brownie scouts who register and attend an event at the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester on Saturday, June 14 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The cost is $17 per Brownie and $8 per leader or adult.
The last day to register is Thursday, May 8.
If you are interested in attending your child -- this is an optional event -- e-mail one of the leaders and they can help you with registration or visit http://www.gscwm.org/pdfs/Program_RegForm.pdf

EVENT Description: Middle Ages was an era of knights, fair ladies, princesses and castles. Girls will learn about medieval times beyond the tales of adventure and make-believe and find out about the lives of girls and women during this time in history.
Brownies will take a tour, do a craft and have fun earning Central & Western Massachusetts Council’s Own “Medieval Maidens” Try-It (included in the price).

Sunday, June 8: Special Spirit of Boston Girl Scout Cruise

The Spirit of Boston is hosting a special Girl Scout cruise on Sunday, June 8.
The event features a buffet lunch & dancing, along with a cruise around Boston harbor.

Boarding begins at 11:30 a.m.
Cruising from noon to 2 p.m.
Cost: $25.90 per person plus tax

GIRL SCOUT CRUISE MENU
• Fresh Garden Salad • Chicken Fingers • Homemade Macaroni & Cheese • Double Cheese Pizza • Celery & Carrot Sticks with Veggie Dip • Apples and Oranges • Ice Cream Sandwiches • Complimentary Juice & Soda

This is not a Troop 2082 event, but any Girl Scout is welcome to attend with their family.
For more information or to make reservations:
Groups 1-19 please call 866.310.2469
Groups of 20 or more please call Brionne Racicot at 617-654.9708.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

EARLY MEETING & NEW LOCATION TOMORROW

Just a reminder that tomorrow's Brownie meeting is at an earlier time and at a different location.

See the schedule below for what time to drop you child off at the Learning Center for the Deaf in Framingham.
As the weather forecasters are saying rain, it will also likely mean an early pick up for your child too; as we likely won't be able to continue the meeting after the visit with the deaf students outside in the playground.

Troop 2082 is going on a field trip to:The Learning Center for the Deaf - 848 Central Street in Framingham.

Brownies should wear their full uniform -- white or cream top, brown skirt or pants and their Brownie vest to this field trip.

Arrival times are staggered for this event:
McCarthy Brownies arrive by 3:10 p.m.
Group A) Bella, Charlotte & Madison

Brophy Brownies arrive before 3:15 p.m. as much as you can
Group B) Kelly, Talia, Hailey, Emily, Sydney

MetroWest Jewish & Barbieri Brownies arrive no later than 3:30 p.m.
Group C) Amy, Eliana, Emily, Jessica & Sarah

Parents please go to the school’s front office (The office is a big white house on the left when you pull into the driveway. It is located across from the elementary building) and check in with a leader. One of the leaders will take Group A & Group B to the BARN BASEMENT, where the Community Service After School Program meets. That group starts its meetings at 2:45 p.m. and has agreed to allow our Brownie Troop to participate as part of out Senses Try-It badge.

* Two groups (McCarthy & Brophy Brownies) will join the After School Program at 3:15 to 4 p.m.
* Brownies from MetroWest & Barbieri will have a program period from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

At 4 p.m., there will be a 15-minute question & answer period.Because time is limited, we have asked the Brownies to prepare questions ahead of time – they did that during today’s meeting.
During the sessions the After School Program plans to teach some ASL signs to the Brownies

We have asked the school to be able to stay after 4:15 p.m. and conduct Brownie business and snack time in the background, weather permitting.

They gave the okay but if the weather continue to be rain -- please pick up your child at 4:30 p.m. back at the White house you dropped them off.

If for some reason it is sunny at 4:30 p.m. -- you can pick you Brownie up at the normal 5:15 p.m. time.
Thanks

Monday, April 14, 2008

Brownie Vest Issues & Try-Its and Patricipation Patches

During today's meeting, while the girls were stretching and playing games, many of the Brownies took off their vests.
Afterwards, we discovered that many do not have their names inside the vest.
Please write your child's name on the tag OR somewhere inside the vest.

Also many of the girls were losing Try-its (triangle badges that go on the front) and participation patches (which go on the back of the vest only).
If you used the patch glue, the badges and patches will adhere better if you apply a hot iron for a few (10 to 30) seconds to the front and about 30-seconds to 1-minute to the back of the patch or badge from the inside of the vest. The steam liquefies the glue and allows the patch to or badge to stick better.
If you are still having trouble or have other Brownie vest questions, don't hesitate to contact one of us.


One other item in regards to the vest, some Brownies have a few more participation patches than the rest of the troop.
That is because some of the girls have attended Framingham-wide events, Council events, other council events, or received patches by attending Girl Scout camp (either one-day camps or a summer camp program.)

If you want information on the special April Vacation camps, visit: http://brownie2082.blogspot.com/2008/04/school-vacation-week-girl-scout-camp.html

There are 3 girls from Troop 2082 attending Girl Scout summer camp. If you want more information on summer camp programs visit: http://registration.ptgirlscouts.org/cgi-bin/browse.cgi

All Framingham-wide events are posted on this Web site. Examples, include the fall rollerskating party and the spring bowling event.

We also try to post as many of the Eastern Massachusetts Council events on this site too.
With these events, one of the leaders from Troop 2082 may attend or may not attend, but any member of troop 2082 may attend, sometimes with or without a parent. If a leader is attending, typically we will post that information on this Web site, too.

Current Eastern Massachusetts Council Events can be found at: http://brownie2082.blogspot.com/search/label/Eastern%20Massachusetts%20Council%20Event Some events involve a participation patch and some don't.

If you have any questions about the vest or any programs mentioned above, please e-mail one of us.

Troop 2082 Schedule (Through June)

This was passed out today's Brownie meeting, but just in case someone didn't get a copy or misplaced their copy:

Brownie Troop 2082 Schedule


April 28: Field Trip to The Learning Center for the Deaf
(Visit http://brownie2082.blogspot.com/2008/04/april-28-field-trip-info.html for details)

May 4: Field Trip/Special Event: Frozen Ropes & Pizza Party in Natick 4 to 5:30 p.m.
(Girls will be working on their Girls Sports Try-It badge and having pizza after the one-hour physical fitness program.)
To learn more about Frozen Ropes, visit www.frozenropes.com/trainingcenters/default.asp?location=Natick
Thanks to Hailey's parents for offering us Frozen Ropes for 90-minutes FREE. The troop is supplying the pizza and juice.
The girls in Troop 2082 voted on this event as a bonus event for selling cookies earlier this year.)

May 12: Field Trip: Nature Outing to Breakneck Hill in Southborough.
Meet at 3:45 p.m. Details to come. (Rain date: May 19)

May 19: Brownie Meeting – 3:45 p.m. – St. Andrew’s Church

June 2: Field Trip & Year-End Party: Fairy & Ice Cream Party at Garden in the Woods.
Meet at 3:30 p.m. at Garden in the Woods in Framingham. More details to come


As we finalize more details for each of these events, we will e-mail each of you and post the info on the Brownie Troop 2082 Web site at http://brownie2082.blogspot.com/
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to e-mail or call one of us:

April 28 FIELD TRIP INFO

Troop 2082 is going on a field trip to:
The Learning Center for the Deaf - 848 Central Street in Framingham.

Brownies should wear their full uniform -- white or cream top, brown skirt or pants and their Brownie vest to this field trip.

Arrival times are staggered for this event:

McCarthy Brownies arrive by 3:10 p.m.
Group A) Bella, Charlotte & Madison

Brophy Brownies arrive before 3:15 p.m. as much as you can
Group B) Kelly, Thalia, Hailey, Emily, Sydney

MetroWest Jewish & Barbieri Brownies arrive no later than 3:30 p.m.

Group C) Amy, Eliana, Emily, Jessica & Sarah

Parents please go to the school’s front office (The office is a big white house on the left when you pull into the driveway. It is located across from the elementary building) and check in with a leader. The secretary will direct you to where the Community Service After School Program meets. That group starts its meetings at 2:45 p.m. and has agreed to allow our Brownie Troop to participate as part of out Senses Try-It badge.

* Two groups (McCarthy & Brophy Brownies) will join the After School Program at 3:15 to 4 p.m.
* Brownies from MetroWest & Barbieri will have a program period from 3:30 to 4 p.m.

At 4 p.m., there will be a 15-minute question & answer period.
Because time is limited, we have asked the Brownies to prepare questions ahead of time – they did that during today’s meeting.
During the sessions the After School Program plans to teach some ASL signs to the Brownies

We have asked the school to be able to stay after 4:15 p.m. and conduct Brownie business and snack time in the background, weather permitting. If they give the okay, you can pick up the girls at 5;15 p.m
When we know more details we will e-mail you and post the info on the Brownie Troop 2082 Web site at
http://brownie2082.blogspot.com/

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to e-mail or call one of us.

.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Girl Scouts Reorganize - Brownies Now Grades 2 & 3 only!

Here is some news from the national level of Girl Scouts. It will only have a slight impact on our Brownie troop:

As many of you know, earlier this year, the former Patriots Trail, Southeastern Massachusetts and Star & Spindle councils combined to form the Eastern Massachusetts Council of Girl Scouts.
The new Eastern Massachusetts Council is divided into three regions:
North region - former Star & Spindle Council
Central region - former Patriots Trail Council
South region - former Southeastern Mass Council.

Now comes word that after an 18-months open discussion about Girl Scout membership levels and its level names, all across the country, Girl Scouts USA is reorganizing all the levels, including Brownies.
Beginning Oct 2008, Membership groups for Girl Scouts will be:
Grades K-1: Girl Scout Daisy
Grades 2-3: Girl Scout Brownie
Grades 4-5: Girl Scout Junior
Grades 6-8: Girl Scout Cadette
Grades 9-10: Girl Scout Senior
Grades 11-12: Girl Scout Ambassador

We anticipate no changes to Troop 2082 as the girls enrolled are currently first and second graders and will be second and third graders come October 2008.

We anticipate receiving membership forms for the Fall 2008 season of Brownies in May. Typically, if girls register in the spring, as opposed to the fall, they receive an early bird patch for the back of their Brownie vest. We are awaiting word on if an early bird patch will be offered this year..

UNIFORM CHANGES EFFECTIVE October 2008:
Girl Scouts at each level will have one official uniform item (tunic, vest, sash) for the display of official pins and awards. This uniform item and the new dress code described below will be required when girls participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement.
According to the National Girl Scouts leadership, "an official dress code will unite us and identify us all as Girl Scouts."
*** Girls will wear solid white shirts and khaki pants or skirts with their official uniform item.
(Keep in mind that traditionally in Girl Scouts, as uniform changes occur, old uniforms have still been acceptable. We anticipate that the Brown skirts and bottoms for Brownies will still be acceptable. See the national level Q&A below and check this Brownie Troop 2082 Web Site as we will post new information here as it is received.)
*** Adults will wear a scarf with the membership pins and navy attire.

Below is a short Q&A from the national Girl Scouts on the program and uniform changes:

Will girls change troops to conform to new levels?
The transition to new levels begins in Oct 2008 and will be a progression over time, rather than a sharp cutoff date. This is in the best interests of the girls.

Do adults wear a white blouses and shirts? Will old uniforms (including Brown skirts and brown pants for Brownies) still be valid?
Girl Scouts USA will issue more detailed guidelines when the new uniform requirements take effect in Oct 2008. Historically, previous uniforms have been considered appropriate after uniform changes.

Why not start the Girl Scout year in Sept., instead of October?
Girl Scouts USA recommends that all councils start Oct 1, the beginning of GSUSA's fiscal year.

What will happen if our school's grades don't correspond to Girl Scouts USA's new program levels?
Girl Scouts USA intention is to group girls as they identify themselves socially. If they identify with a slightly different grade grouping than is in the new levels, we will be able to make exceptions.


Will girls with special needs be grouped by their ages or by their grades?
Girl Scouts USA based the new levels on grades, as the best indicator of a girl's social development. We expect to place girls with special needs in their grade level.

FREE COUNCIL EVENT: Trashy Art Show on Sunday, May 18

One woman's trash is another's treasure - and we're proving it at this spectacular celebration of recyclable art!
Drop in to see exhibits of Junk Jewelry made by Junior Girl Scouts, Salvaged Sculptures created by Brownie troops, and stay for the main event: A "Project Runway" - style fashion show where Teens will strut their stuff in GARB-age they've designed themselves.
"Scrap Stations" throughout the event will give everyone -- Brownies & their families -- a chance to make their own recycled art creations.
Whether you come for an hour or stay the entire time, you'll be sure to appreciate this unique gallery of terrific trash.
This is a free family event on Saturday, May 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Waltham Service Center.
While all are welcome to attend the Trashy Art Show as this is a Family Event, please note to be eligible to exhibit pieces in the Trashy Art show, leaders must contact Joanna Lenahan, jlenahan@ptgirlscouts.org, to sign up for table space.
Each age level has been assigned a topic:
Brownies - Recycled Sculptures
Juniors - Recycled Fashion Accessories
Teens - Fashion Design.

If your daughter is interested in participating in the recycled sculptures part of the free event, please contact one of Troop 2082 leaders ASAP.

SPECIAL COUNCIL-SPONSORED EVENT: Paint For Freedom

On May 17, the former Patriots Trail Council, now part of the Eastern Massachusetts Girl Scout Council is hosting a Paint for Freedom event from 2 to 5 p.m. at the First Congregational Church in Hopkinton.
The cost is $7 per Brownie.
To register, go online at:http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/programs/mtCpaintforfreedom.htm

EVENT DESCRIPTION:
* Come with your mom or other significant adult female in your life to learn about decorative painting from members of the Society of Decorative Painters.
* Learn how to mix paint, how to create a stencil, and how to paint on wood.
* Girl Scouts and their pals will paint a card of encouragement and sign the back, and Girl Scouts will present it to a member of the military who has served and needs a lift. When the recipient is feeling better, they will sign the back and pass it on to someone else to give them an emotional boost. This is a great way for girls and their gals to give back to their communities!

If your daughter is interested in attending, let one of the Troop 2082 leaders know and register your daughter online at: http://www.girlscoutseasternmass.org/programs/mtCpaintforfreedom.htm

School Vacation Week Girl Scout Camp Options - Two days are already FULL

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is offering -one-day camps at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham for April vacation!
Camp is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Each day will be new and exciting - with programs specifically designed for each age level. Girls will be able to work on requirements towards badges and TRY-ITs and will have a chance to see what camp is all about.
If you are considering Girl Scout camp for the first time for your Brownie, this is a great way to try it out for a day or a short week!
Girls will need to bring a lunch, snack, and water bottle daily.

Bus transportation is available from FRAMINGHAM - there are 2 stops.

* Barbieri School Parking Lot, 100 Dudley Rd (Pickup: 8:05 p.m. and drop-off: 4:55 p.m.)

* Juniper Hill School Parking Lot, 29 Upper Joclyn Ave (Pickup: 8: 20 a.m. and drop-off: 4:40 p.m.)


The cost for camp (and transportation) is $25 per day.

These are the daily camp offerings:
Tuesday, April 22: The Amazing Quest - FULL
Wednesday, April 23: Girl Scout Musical - FULL
Thursday, April 24: Blast Through the Decades:
Come explore Girl Scouting from Juliette Low to the first troop on the moon!
On Friday, April 25: Olympics 2008: Show off your Olympic spirit and challenge yourself mentally, physically, and culturally!

To register online visit: http://registration.ptgirlscouts.org/cgi-bin/browse.cgi?campID=18

NOTE: Unpaid online registrations will be cancelled if payment is not received within 10 days of registration
.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Next Brownie Meeting: Monday, April 14

Just a reminder that the next Brownie meeting is Monday, April 14 at 3:45 p.m.

The girls will be working on a Try-it badge and we will be telling the girls about the three upcoming field trips we have planned for:
Monday, April 28 to the School for the Deaf in Framingham
Sunday, May 4 at Frozen Ropes in Natick
Monday, May 12 in Southborough (Rain date: May 19th).

We will also be talking to the Brownies about the end of the year event - on either June 2 or June 16th.

If you have not signed permission slips for these 3 field trip events, please see one of the leaders during drop off or pick up time on Monday.

Also we are looking for a mom or two for each event to stay and help out.
Let one of the leaders know if you are interested.


There will be a handout with details of all 3 field trips for each Brownie at the end of the meeting
Have a great weekend!
Susan