FIELD TRIP: Girl Scout Museum in Waltham

Fifteen Brownies from Troop 2082 toured the Girl Scout Museum at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham this afternoon. (Thanks to Ayushi's and Sagan's mom for driving!)The girls viewed uniforms for all Scout levels dating back to the early 1920s.
They saw a painting of Girl Scout Founder Juliette Gordon Low, who began Girl Scouts in 1912. They learned about Girl Guides all over the world.
The Brownies tried on different scout hats and posed for a Troop photograph.
The girls had the opportunity to check our pins from all over the world and badges through the years.
The field trip today was lead by volunteer Janet Coombs, who showed the girls her Brownie pin when she was about their age. (She told the Troop that when she was Brownie you had to be a third grader.) Brownies used to be first-second-third graders. Starting next year, Brownies will only be second and third graders.
Coombs told the girls that as a Brownie she didn't have uniform options. She had to wear a dress. pants were not allowed in school or at a Troop meeting.
The Girls learned why there was a pocket on the Brownie dress and why the pocket was not straight (Ask your daughter why. Hint: she can sing a song about it.)
The Brownies sang that song at the Museum.
Coombs showed girls a Brownie Beanie (hat). The girls had the opportunity to try on a Beanie.
The Brownies also had the opportunity to see what they would look like in a old-fashioned Brownie and Girl Scout uniform. (See some of the photographs below of them...)
The girls learned about the Cedar Hill site. They learned about Cornelia Warren, who lived on the site in a mansion, which was her summer home. The mansion does not exist anymore. In her will, she left the land to the community and in 1923 it was given to the Girl Scouts.
The Brownies had the opportunity to build a world trefoil using blue and gold felt. They also read about the symbolism in the World Trefoil Pin.
The girls had the opportunity to see pictures and miniatures of the camp site at Cedar Hill.
The Brownies had the opportunity to make a craft and play a memory game, using Brownie and Scout memorabilia.
Afterwards the Troop came together in a Brownie Circle and let Coombs start the Friendship Squeeze after singing Make New Friends. Coombs taught the Troop how to turn the circle inside out and showed us a new way to end our meetings with a Brownie Tunnel.
Girls line up in two rows, holding hands across the space between the rows. The pair at one
end of the “tunnel” walk under the raised arms of the girls. Each pair of girls follows as they become the first in line.
* The Troop had a fun time and we actually stayed longer than our hour.
Below are a few photos from the field trip outing:

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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.

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.