Girl Scouts: Hello and Welcome Back!

Hello scouts!

It's been a busy summer, and now we're heading right back into the school year.  I saw a bunch of you last night at Meet Your Teacher Day, and it sounds like the girls are excited about scouts getting going too!

Just a couple quick notes:

1)  For the folks that registered for the Silverbrook/Green Corners Day Camp Sept. 13th:  I'm finishing up our schedule, and ride assignments.  I'll get that information out this weekend. 

2)  The last beach cleanup is Thursday 9/11 from 6:30-8:00 at Bay View Beach.  I can't say enough good about the cleanup as a service project.   It makes a difference, teaches the girls about helping out, is relaxing and refreshing, and comes with free dinner at the end.  (Seriously--I can't think of a service thing I've done that I've enjoyed as much!)   I'd really love to have a bunch of our girls show up.  In August there were a couple Daisy Troops there, and they would have enjoyed seeing our girls there helping out too.  Because soccer season started though, I'll be coaching soccer until 6:45, so I'll need someone to be the point person on the beach cleanup in September--can someone take that on?

3)  September meeting.  Not set yet.  We'll have that schedule soon--I promise!  

4)  One more piece of September fun!  You may have heard about Nickelodeon's "Day of Play" where they shut down programming and tell kids to "Get outside and play!"  Girl Scouts has joined in on that initiative, and are running a free "Day of Play" at camp Alice Chester for Girl Scouts.  Here are the details:

September 20, 2014 10:00 AM-02:00 PM 

Alice Chester Center

East Troy, WI

Girl Scout Registration

Girlsports Day of Play

Grades K-12 and their families

GSWISE is hosting a Girlsports Day of Play in conjunction with Nickelodeon's 10th Annual Worldwide Day of Play.  Enjoy various sports and games as you get active outdoors.  Activities include: archery, tennis, soccer, hula hooping, blow-up obstacle course, bean bag toss, hiking and more.  Water and a snack will be available. You may bring your own picnic lunch.  All for FREE!!

You can register at ebiz here:  https://gsusa.ebiz.uapps.net/vp/Home.aspx  just search for "Day of Play" after clicking on the "Activities" tab.  If your scout needs a ride, let me know and we'll arrange that too!

5)  Have you registered yet?  Some of you haven't!  If you were a scout last year, you can renew your membership online at https://gsusa.ebiz.uapps.net/vp/Home.aspx .  If you're new to the troop this year, and haven't registered yet, I'll send a form home through school on Tuesday.  

6)  Events for the year!  We're also working on the schedule for the year.  If you have ideas of things you think the scouts would like to do this year, let me know.  I've already heard some great ideas from parents that we'll build into this year's calendar.  You know what your girls like to do, and I want to make sure we have activities that will engage and enrich all the girls in our troop!

I think that's it for the moment.  I'm sure I forgot something--but it'll probably last through the weekend.  See you soon, and Happy Scouting!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Beach Cleanup and Rennaissance Faire Scout Day

Hello scouts!

Just a reminder that this Thursday is another Beach Cleanup at Bay View Beach.  6:30-8:00.  It's just south of Oklahoma Ave.  As usual, they provide free pizza at Classic Slice Pizza afterwards.  http://www.bayviewneighborhood.org/clean-ups

And this Sunday we have the Renaissance Faire Scout Day:  

August 17th:  Renaissance Faire Scout Day!  We've gone with scouts the last two years, and the girls have really enjoyed it!  You don't have to dress up like a  princess, but if your scout wants to, she is welcome to.  ANY SCOUT (Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Spiral Scout) is welcome to participate. Leaders and scouts IN uniform receive a discount for their entire party - no coupon needed. Adults $15. Child (age 5-12) $5. (I'll be in uniform, so our whole group will get the discount.)  We'll meet up at our house at 9:00 and plan to leave at 9:15 sharp, in order to be at the Faire for the 10:00 opening. 

If your scout needs a ride on Sunday, please let me know ASAP so I can make sure we have enough space in carpools!

Finally, we're going to put together our schedule for the upcoming school year.  But we don't have it set yet.  We'll still be doing 2 identical meetings per month, but they won't both be on Thursday this year.  If anyone has ideas for events they think would be fun for the girls throughout the year, let me know!

Aleks

 

Girl Scouts: Parade Day Sunday!

Hello everyone!

Just a last reminder about the Village Days parade on Sunday.  We'll meet up in our usual spot in the Southridge parking lot off of Grange (by Macy's).  If you're planning on marching, try to be there between 11:30-11:45.  We'll have the Girl Scout Flags on top of our van so we should be easy to see in the lot!

And other dates to remember:

August 14th:  Bay View Beach Cleanup 6:30-8:00.  This is STILL my favorite service project for the girls.  It's relaxing for the grownups (Imagine the sound of the breeze and waves drifting off the lake, just vegging out while you stroll the beach picking up trash.) and the girls have fun searching out trash and cleaning up too.  It's a great way for them to see that a service project can be fun too.  AND, if you're into a late dinner, we swing over to Classic Slice Pizza in Bay View afterwards where beach cleaners all get free (great!) pizza!

August 17th:  Renaissance Faire Scout Day!  We've gone with scouts the last two years, and the girls have really enjoyed it!  You don't have to dress up like a  princess, but if your scout wants to, she is welcome to.  ANY SCOUT (Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Spiral Scout) is welcome to participate. Leaders and scouts IN uniform receive a discount for their entire party - no coupon needed. Adults $15. Child (age 5-12) $5. (I'll be in uniform, so our whole group will get the discount.)  We'll meet up at our house at 9:00 and plan to leave at 9:15 sharp, in order to be at the Faire for the 10:00 opening. 

Girl Scouts: Reminder About Cool Waters

Hello again!

I hope summer's been great.  Our first August event is coming up at Cool Waters (in Greenfield Park http://county.milwaukee.gov/CoolWaters9156.htm .

We'll be going in the doors as a group at 6:30, and it's a hassle to get in without the group. Let's hope today gets all the rain out of the sky so tomorrow will be bright and beautiful!

Aleks

 

Girl Scouts: August Fun!

Hello Girl Scouts!

What a great summer!  We're keeping the fun rolling through August, and here's the schedule. 

As always:

1)  Nothing's mandatory!  Go to what you can/what your scout will enjoy, and never feel bad for missing an event--we do enough that you'll get to one eventually!

2)  If it's a question of logistics/transportation/child care, don't let that stop you.  Let me know and we can work out rides or early pickups or late drop offs, whatever we can to make sure your scout has a ton of fun!

3)  If it's a question of finances, don't let that stop you either.  Let me know, and we'll cover it, and there'll never be any questions or telling.  We're here to give the girls experiences and opportunities.  

On to the schedule (and read past it too for information on a Day Camp in September that as many girls as possible should go to, and that I need to know about ASAP!

August 2:  Cool Waters Pool Party 6:30-8:30 (Regardless of the weather.)  Please show up early, so we can coordinate as a group--we all have to go in together!  If you're not there by 6:30, we're going in without you!  Admission is already covered for the whole troop and accompanying adults, so just show up!

August 10th:  Village Days Parade.  The girls seemed to enjoy the 4th of July Parade a lot, so we'll repeat for Village Days.  There should be more other Girl Scout Troops marching in Village Days too, so we should have a bigger crowd!  I don't have the official timetable yet, but since the parade starts at noon, I anticipate we'll meet up in the Macy's parking lot of Southridge around 10:30-10:45.

August 14th:  Bay View Beach Cleanup 6:30-8:00.  This is STILL my favorite service project for the girls.  It's relaxing for the grownups (Imagine the sound of the breeze and waves drifting off the lake, just vegging out while you stroll the beach picking up trash.) and the girls have fun searching out trash and cleaning up too.  It's a great way for them to see that a service project can be fun too.  AND, if you're into a late dinner, we swing over to Classic Slice Pizza in Bay View afterwards where beach cleaners all get free (great!) pizza!

August 17th:  Renaissance Faire Scout Day!  We've gone with scouts the last two years, and the girls have really enjoyed it!  You don't have to dress up like a  princess, but if your scout wants to, she is welcome to.  ANY SCOUT (Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Spiral Scout) is welcome to participate. Leaders and scouts IN uniform receive a discount for their entire party - no coupon needed. Adults $15. Child (age 5-12) $5. (I'll be in uniform, so our whole group will get the discount.)  We'll meet up at our house at 9:00 and plan to leave at 9:15 sharp, in order to be at the Faire for the 10:00 opening. 

So, that's August!  We have one thing to announce for September though, and I need to know whether you're in or out ASAP:

The Green Corners camp at Silverbrook.  Last year we did this as an overnight, but since we got out troop campout(s) wrapped up in June, we'll do this as a Day Camp, arriving at 9:00 at Silverbrook, (in West Bend) and going home in the evening (time TBD).  It'll be Saturday September 13th.  It will cost $15.00 but that will include a T-shirt, bandana, all the activities (tie-dyeing, games, crafts, swimming, etc.) and lunch and dinner.  I need to know by July 25th!  So hurry!  As I mentioned before, register if your scout is interested--we can arrange rides/special pick ups/dropoffs, etc.

 

Thanks, and see you soon!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Tonight and Saturday

Hello everyone!

1)  Just a reminder that the Bay View Beach Cleanup for July is tonight.  We'll be meeting up at the beach at 6:30.  It's across the street from the Marian Center, just south of Oklahoma on Superior.  Classic Slice Pizza offers free pizza for cleaners afterwards, so no need to make dinner!  (If the whole family cleans, the whole family gets pizza too, so feel free to join us and bring brothers and sisters!)  If your scout wants to go, but needs a ride, we have a couple spots open in our van--meet up at our house at 6:00--but let me know  so I don't overbook seats!  Directions are here:  http://www.bayviewneighborhood.org/event-917159?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=7/2/2014

2)  We'll be doing the Laura Ingalls Wilder Days at Old World Wisconsin on July 12th (a Saturday).  Scouts that want to go will meet up at our house at 9:00, and we'll carpool out there.  We will aim to be back between 3:30-3:45.  

I've only heard from a couple of you, but we'll be going no matter how few (or many!) scouts join us, so don't worry.  If you are going, make sure to pack a lunch, since we'll eat lunch picnic-style while we're out there.

Admission is: Adults $16; 

children (5-17) $9 (children under 5 are free); 

students and senior citizens (65 and over) $14;

or family (two adults and two or more dependent children 5-17) $43. 

If your scout (or you, if you want to come!) dress as a Little House character, you get an additional $2 off.  Fees include an all-day tram transportation pass.  

As always:  A)  There's room in carpools to send your scout if she needs a ride.  BUT, be sure to let me know if you need a ride so I don't overbook!  And B)  If you'd like the troop to cover your scout's admission, just let me know, and there'll be no questions asked or tales told.  

In addition to the various activities--churning butter, doing Laura-like chores, playing games--and the chance to get right inside houses, buildings, farms, and businesses from Laura's days, there'll be a historic baseball game at 1:30, featuring the rules of the game as they would have been in the 1860's.

Girl Scouts: 4th of July and old World Wisconsin "Little House Days"

Hello again everyone!

1)  Just a last reminder that we're meeting up in the Macy's parking lot of Southridge for the 4th of July Parade Friday at 9:30.  I know some folks will be out of town for the 4th, but if you're here, the parade's always a lot of fun for the girls, and I think this year we won't be battling 100 degree heat!  (And of course there's a patch involved too!)  We have a bunch of candy to hand out, but if anyone wants to bring more (not chocolate or melty stuff!) anything will help it last longer!  We'll have the big banner flying from our van to help find us in the parking lot.

2)  We'll be doing the Laura Ingalls Wilder Days at Old World Wisconsin on July 12th (a Saturday).  Scouts that want to go will meet up at our house at 9:00, and we'll carpool out there.  We will aim to be back between 3:30-3:45.  

Admission is: Adults $16; 

children (5-17) $9 (children under 5 are free); 

students and senior citizens (65 and over) $14;

or family (two adults and two or more dependent children 5-17) $43. 

If your scout (or you, if you want to come!) dress as a Little House character, you get an additional $2 off.  Fees include an all-day tram transportation pass.  

As always:  A)  There's room in carpools to send your scout if she needs a ride.  And B)  If you'd like the troop to cover your scout's admission, just let me know, and there'll be no questions asked or tales told.  

In addition to the various activities--churning butter, doing Laura-like chores, playing games--and the chance to get right inside houses, buildings, farms, and businesses from Laura's days, there'll be a historic baseball game at 1:30, featuring the rules of the game as they would have been in the 1860's.

http://oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org/pdfs/2014-world-of-little-house.pdf

If your scout is really interested, but just can't make it to join us on the 12th, and if there is enough interest, we can add a weekday trip out there during the following Wednesday, leaving from Greendale Middle School at 12:00, and getting back to Greendale High School at 4:30.  That'll be a bit shorter of a trip, but it can still be awesome!

3)  Don't forget the beach cleanup at Bay View Park on July 10th, 6:30-8:00.  We had a bunch of scouts there for June, and the organizers really appreciated our help.  You can skip planning for dinner that night too, as Classic Slice Pizza invites all the beach cleaners over for free pizza afterward!  The beach entrance is just south of Oklahoma on Superior, across from the Marian Center. 

http://www.bayviewneighborhood.org/event-917159?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=7/2/2014

See you soon!  I hope you're all having a great summer!

Aleks