Free Girl Scout meeting planning templates will help simplify organizing your troop meetings.
Are you ready to make planning each Girl Scout meeting easier?
Most of you reading this are probably thinking, What did I get myself into? Didn’t I just plan a meeting?
I know the feeling.
I have planned lessons for children since 1987. I have always considered each meeting I created like a lesson. There was always an objective, whether it was doing a badge, a service project or even, in our older scouting years, a Journey.
While this is intuitive for me, for many leaders, it is not.
This is why I am offering you two FREE troop meeting planning templates.
Template 1 is a pre-planning template. Get yourself organized before you get into the nitty gritty details.
Template 2 lays out exactly what you planned in an easy to use format. it comes in two versions-color and black and white.
You can get your free Girl Scout meeting planning templates here.
Cookie season is one of the busiest times for a Girl Scout leader, especially if it is your first or even you second year participating.
You will still be running meetings alongside cookie sales, so you time to plan has been stretched even further. Many leaders want their girls to earn one of the cookie badges since it is relevant during cookie season.
In order to save you time, I have created meeting plans for all of the badges.
Which Girl Scout Daisy Badges Do Troops Earn First?
The four badges are structured so that you earn one cookie badge and one financial badge each year. These badges are replacing the leaves that were once part of the daisy.
Do You Have to Earn the Girl Scout Daisy Cookie Badges in Order?
There is no hard and fast rule for badge earning at any level. While the GSUSA has made it easier for leaders by assigning badges to specific years, you can mix it up if you want. The only thing I will warn is that the set of Year Two badges is a bit more advanced, so you may need to adapt the activities for kindergarteners.
What Badges Should Second Year Daisies Do if This is Their First Year Selling Girl Scout Cookies?
My suggestion to you is to earn the Year One badges for this troop of girls. It is really as basic as it gets and the girls will find the activities easier.
Can a Second Year Daisy Troop Earn All Four Badges in One Year?
While the simple answer is yes, you can earn all four in one year, I want you to think about why you want to do this. The badges are very repetitive. The reason for this is just like school...you build on what you learned the previous year. You don't start doing long division in first grade, you learn your math facts and build up to long division.
Because the activities are repetitive, you might want to "double dip", ie, use one activity for two badges. That is not allowed. Each badge has three steps and you need to do all three in order to earn the badge. Badge earning is not a competition to see who can fill up their uniform the fastest. It is a learning experience.
Girl Scout Daisy Print and Go Booth Decor
In the early 2010's, the GSUSA promoted "Blinging Your Booth", aka, decorating it to attract customers. It is one more layer to cookie sales that leaders may not have time to do.
Congratulations, Delayna, on earning your Gold Award. GSSEM is proud of you and your dedication to making a positive impact on your community and beyond. Project: FreshFoods4Faith Delayna’s Gold Award...
“Gold Pumpkins for the Cure” is Making a Difference with Troop Pumpkin Painting Activities Help Fight Childhood Cancer with This Free Program “Gold Pumpkins for the Cure” is a fun way to make a difference with a troop pumpkin painting activities this Fall. Scouts can [...]
One of the most popular fun patches for Daisies and Brownies is the Girl Scout Barbie Be Anything, Do Everything patch. Now this rare item is available to leaders!
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The Girl Scout Barbie "I Can Be..." Program came out in 2013. There was a booklet and a patch that Daisies and Brownies could earn.
Image created on Canva by the author
While long discontinued, the program remains a favorite for leaders to do with their younger girls. This is a fun program to do with your girls during the busy cookie season, as everything has been laid out for you to do in the booklet.
You do not have to run off every page. Print one copy of what you need and then take it to Staples or OfficeMax to run off so you save on your own personal ink. Give your receipt to your treasurer so you can be reimbursed.
In 1984, the GSUSA created Girl Scout Daisies. Until that time, girls had to wait until they were in first grade to join a Brownie troop.
Was Leading a Daisy Troop Different in 1984?
Forty years ago, leading Daisies looked different.
First of all, this level was only for kindergarteners. (Brownies were from first to third grade). This first year was simply a gentle introduction to being a Girl Scout.
Leaders focused on creating sisterhood and having meetings that centered around the Girl Scout Law. There were no badges to earn and leaders were not allowed to sell cookies or do any other fundraising.
Daisies could join older scouts at events and spend the day at camp. This way, they could learn the traditions and get ready for their own overnight camping experiences ahead.
Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday Celebration Ideas
Since 2024 is the 40th birthday of the Daisy level, you can celebrate any time this year. Here are some things that you can use for your celebratory meeting.
Note-Oriental Trading has coupons and free shipping all the time. Be on the lookout for promo codes. You can also get things for future meetings and save money. Everything you buy for your meetings is reimbursable, so save your receipt.
This Daisy themed table covering is made of thin, disposable plastic, making cleanup easy when the meeting is over. It is slightly transparent. 54" x 108"
Ask the girls what they think being a Daisy Scout was like forty years ago. They may not have a concept of how much time that actually is, but I am sure the responses will be interesting!
You may want to have some items that show the number 40-a bag of Legos, cereal, buttons-a visual so the girls can conceptualize what this number is.
Once that discussion is over, have the girl play some 80s games.
1980s Outdoor Games
If you have some outdoor space or have a large indoor space, here are some 1980s games that Daisies would have played. These are sure to get the wiggles out. You can find a complete description on how to play these games in this blog post.
S.P.U.D.
Red Light, Green Light
Four Square
Red Rover
Chinese Jump Rope (this was my troop's favorite game to play)
1980s Indoor Activities
You can teach the girls hand claps from this era. There are many on YouTube that you can view and learn.
Another fun indoor activity you can do is to teach the girls some of the dances from the 80s, like the Electric Slide, the Sprinkler, the Running Man, the Cabbage Patch and the Pendulum. Play some 80s music while you dance. If you are not familiar with these move, you can watch a YouTube video.
Crafts for the Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday
Once you have done some big energy activities, it is time for a quieter one. This Beaded Butterfly & Daisy Charm Bracelet Craft Kit makes 12.
This set comes with 12 individually packaged, easy-to-assemble kits. Each kit includes colorful and faceted plastic beads, enamel charms, stretchy cord, extra pieces and instructions.
Another thing you can do for your craft is have the girls decorate their own cupcake. Your local supermarket, if asked in advance, can make unfrosted cupcakes for you if you do not have the time to bake them yourself. Have some white frosting, some blue and white sprinkles, and some mini chocolate chips for topping.
Fun Girl Scout Daisy 40th Birthday Favors
Here are some things your girls might like as a party favor.
Daisy Silly Straws
These come five to a package and are something the girls can use at home to remember this fun day.
If you’re anything like me, you get the gardening fever whenever the weather gets warm! With the warm weather and smell of spring in the air, it’s the perfect time…
Limited-Edition Native Collection Inspired By Girl Scout Cookies® Inspired By Some Of The Most Popular Girl Scout Cookies®, Native Announces New Limited-Edition Collection Native’s latest limited-edition collection energizes you to take on the day—in and out of the shower. Photo: [...]
If you want to take a break from regular badge work, here is a once every four years Girl Scout Leap Year meeting.
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For many leaders who are in the cookie zone, the end of February may seem like a long way off. Booth sales, cookie meetings, and cookie cupboard pickups are front and center right now. Even though it is a few weeks away, it isn’t too soon to start planning your upcoming meetings.
This year, in 2024, leaders have the once every four years opportunity to celebrate Leap Year with their troop. Daisies don’t remember what a Leap Year is, as they were toddlers the last time one occurred in 2020.
Leaders, here is an opportunity for your troop to celebrate February 29th, 2024 with this Girl Scout Leap Year Meeting resource.
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