1. Girl Led Program Planning
Kate Knight
GSGLA Volunteer Conference
August 6, 2016

2. Leadership is Taught
Adults tend to take experience and knowledge for granted
Failure is a VERY good teacher
There is usually not one “RIGHT” way to do something
Good idea for the girls to know that the Leader can fail
Bridges a gap
Knocks the leader off the “perfection pedestal”

3. Why won’t leaders let the girls LEAD?
Adult is used to leading
Girls make unreasonable choices
Girls choose to do things the adults don’t like/don’t want to do
Girls aren’t sure HOW to lead
Girls take too long
Adult is afraid to let the girls fail

4. Girl Led Programming Progression
Younger girls start with limited choices
Choice between 2 items (red/blue, carrots/chips)
Girls make suggestions
Leader can offer some options
Encourage girls to chime in
Girls make decisions
Leader can offer guidance
Leader can play “devil’s advocate”
Girls Lead

5. Leadership Progression at the Troop Level
Choose Badges
Lead a meeting/Journey
Plan a day trip/camping trip
Put on an event
Badge workshop
2 – 3 troop camping trip
Put on a LARGE event
Camporee
Money-Earning Sleepover
Highest Awards
Bronze
Silver
Gold

6. Helping your Girls to LEAD
Blank Meeting Agenda
Adult Journey Book
Girls’ Guide to Girl Scouting
Budgeting Template
Trip Planning Checklist
Event Planning Checklist
Notebooks/3 ring binders

7. Basic Steps to Program Planning
Brainstorming
Separation of Duties
List of Requirements
Creation of Timeline and Agenda
Paperwork! Paperwork! Paperwork!
Day-Of Event Management
Evaluation

8. Brainstorming Why do we want to do this? What do we want to do?
Fundraising
Badge Earning
Take Action Project
What do we want to do?
Where do we find the requirements?
When are we going to do this?
Who is managing what?

9. What do we want to do? Earn a Badge Go on a Journey Plan a Trip
Day trip (Field Trip)
Camping Event
Put on an Event for younger Girl Scouts
Put on an Event for non-scouts

10. Separation of Duties
Based on what type of event you’re doing, the Girls need to figure out what needs to be done and who is going to do it
Badge work – 5 steps, 3 requirements
Journey – 8 to 10 “sessions”
Camping Trip – Cooking/Cleaning/Events
Program Event
Each Girl takes a creative task
Adult to co-manage sign-ups and money
Take Action Project
Research
Contribution to the Project

11. List of Requirements
What physical items do you need to make your event happen
Location for the event
Checklist of items each girl needs to bring
Do you need a patch or t-shirts?
Girls’ Guide to Girl Scouting
Journey Books
Speakers (the human kind, not the electronic kind)
Flier/ /Facebook/Instagram Posting

12. Timeline and Agenda
Once you know what you’re doing and information about attendees you can create an agenda or a Timeline
Start and End Time
Include an opening and closing ceremony
What type of Agenda Do you need?
For Camping – Camp Clock
For Events – Regular agenda broken down by times
For Badges/Journeys – Timeline – how many meetings?

13. Paperwork! List of forms you might need for an event
List of Trainings that Leader might need for an event
Creating a Flier based on Council Requirements
Renting a location – Scouts vs. Non-Scouts
Ordering a Patch/T-Shirt
Signing off on events – task for Leaders

14. Day-Of Event Management for Events
Binder with all paperwork
Checklist of Attendees sorted by troop # and Names
Cashbox/Change if you accept payments day-of
Agenda for Leaders
Schedule of Events (color coded)
Nametags
Contact numbers for EVERYONE!

15. Two Types of Evaluations
For Attendees – Day of Event
For Girls – Day of Event
What was your favorite part
Did you learn something
Would you attend another event put on by our troop
What can we do better next time
Would you like more information out helping out
What was your favorite part
What could we have done better
What did we learn from this
What do we want to do next time
What do we NOT want to do next time

16. Tips for Program Event Planning
Always have one take-away (or more)
Plan on a snack – as an activity
Active and Passive learning
Some sit-down type crafts
Some active participation like a song or dance
Everyone wants a Patch
Time EVERYONE’s activity – keep times similar
If you’re breaking up girls – touch base with the leader first