BRASSTACKS FOR OLDER GIRLS

An approach to help Cadettes/Seniors (or last year Juniors) look at themselves and GS - and at how GS troop activities can help meet their specific needs.  This is especially helpful for first year C/S.

This is meant to be used only with the new Cadettes or Seniors or old Juniors.  Meet with them separately.  Discussion of this inventory can help focus activities that will encourage girls to stay in GS.

I. INTRODUCE THE INVENTORY.  Say something like this:  
"Here is a page of unfinished statements.  Just finish each one however you want.  Then we will discuss some of your ideas.  This is not a test.  What you write down are your own opinions and ideas.  Yours may be different from anyone else's.  You don't need to sign your paper.  Please be honest and truthful."

II. GIVE EACH GIRL AN "INVENTORY SHEET":  Allow about 15 min. for completion.

III. HELP THE GIRLS SHARE THEIR IDEAS.  Allow about 20 mins.

Move on quickly.  Try to get to as many of the girls' ideas as you can.  Try to help the girls see ways their needs and interests can be met through GS.  ("How might we begin on something like that?")

IV. CLOSE THE DISCUSSION WHILE INTEREST IS STILL HIGH.  With the girls, follow up on ways troop program / activities can best be geared to what they want or need to do.


THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS
 I HAVE DONE SO FAR IN GS ARE:
1)____________________________________
2)____________________________________
3)____________________________________


WHY I LIKE DOING THIS:
1)____________________________________
2)____________________________________
3)____________________________________

MY PARENTS THINK GIRL SCOUTING IS _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

MY FRIENDS THINK GIRL SCOUTING IS _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________


I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN MY LIFE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO WILL
BE________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

SOME WAYS GS COULD HELP ME MOST IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO ARE ________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

I.   IF I COULD PLAN THE NEXT MEETING / MONTH FOR OUR TROOP, I WOULD PLAN ________
    _______________________________________________________________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________________

    I THINK THE OLDEST GIRLS IN A TROOP SHOULD_____________________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________________

    I THINK GS HAS HELPED ME TO ___________________________________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________________

    SOME THINGS I REALLY WONDER ABOUT GS ARE ___________________________________

II.   JUST ABOUT ME

    I COULD TEACH SOMEONE ELSE HOW TO _________________________________________
    ______________________________________________________________________________

    I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO HELP ME LEARN HOW TO _______________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________________

    THE HARDEST THING I HAD TO DO IN THE LAST YEAR WAS____________________________ 
    _______________________________________________________________________________

    SOME THINGS I WONDER ABOUT A LOT ARE_________________________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________________