Obviously, there are many, many, many opportunities for Girl Scouts. There aren't nearly as many for adults, but that's because we're not the scout anymore. However, of the opportunities that are around for us, they are completely and totally AWESOME!
Down here in lil' ole Historic Georgia, we have this lil' thang called LEAP- Leadership Experiences for Adults Pathways. In other words, its a fun weekend where we get to camp out and learn about new things that we can bring back home and teach our girls! Plus, we get be silly and dress up, but more on that part later.
Remember that little Take Action project I brought home from GWF? Well, at LEAP, I was afforded another amazing opportunity to further my work. On Friday evening, I got to facilitate a course all about the MDGs. My time slot was three hours long. The first thing that went through my head was, oh my gosh, that's it?! I need to figure out now how to cram everything in such a short time period! There was just so much I wanted to do, and so much information to be gotten out. After a lot of work, I managed to whittle it down to exactly three hours (and by that I mean we ran over by 5 minutes, but in my defense, we took a break half way). One of the things we did was play several of the games I've been working on for the girls. Here's what we played (we copies in case you want it!):
(will post them later from my desktop)
Saturday was a fun day. I started out the day by facilitating a session on how to cook with the younger girls. For those of you who keep up with my blog, you know that it is totally doable! For the newcomers- it is totally doable! You need to make sure you have clear kitchen rules, and you might want to have an extra set of adult eyes on hand to help out.
Next, I got to take a fun class about games (some I knew, some I didn't, so it was very useful), a class about water conservation, and a fun science class (we made things go BOOM! Ok, not really, we did the Mentos in Coke, but it was still awesome!).
So, about that whole dressing up thing..... LEAP always has a theme. This year our theme was Once Upon A Time. Each Service Unit got to pick a book and decorate a table based on that book. Our SU choose Harry Potter, and our table was rocking! Our table took second place, yay! Plus, during dinner, we all dressed up based on the theme. Our SU decided to dress up at the women up Harry Potter, and as a group, we took first place in the costume contest. The whole evening was amazing though. Some of the tables and costumes were totally over the top awesome! Next year's theme is about holidays (I forget the exact "name").
Sunday I was able to facilitate one more session about home remedies. I had supplies on hand for us to make bug spray, relaxing bath salts and a muscle cream. Everything we learned about it great stuff that you can have your girls make before a big trip, outing or especially before a camping trip.
I got home and was so exhausted! I slept like a log and even had to take a nap on Monday. It was worth it though, and I can't wait until next year!
Showing posts with label GWF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label GWF. Show all posts
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Girl's World Forum... the wrap up
Back at the Atlanta airport, and now back home.... I promised Madison and Sa'Haara that I would try not to cry, but I made no guarantees (they saw how sappy I got at the closing ceremony!). I did good and didn't cry again until later, so at least I was able to spare them that embarrassment.
We were in Chicago for barely a week, but so much had happened in that short time. 308 girl scouts and guides, 219 young adults, facilitators, and staff, 78 council volunteers, 79 countries and 89 councils were there being represented. In other words, over 600 of us came from all around the world to make a change, and we did it!
By the end of the forum, I heard so many people make the same comment. They said that it was amazing how we all felt so close in such a short time. I find that statement to be completely true! I came in knowing two people and came out knowing hundreds, all of whom are amazing ladies. Even my room mate, Emer, has already become a great friend whom I miss dearly!
During our first evening in Chicago, we very briefly met Anna Maria Chavez. I was content to hang back and take pictures of the girls, but Anna Maria very graciously pulled me aside for a quick moment and said thanks for everything you're doing. Puzzled, I simply said thank you, shook her hand and walked away. Once I was back home and sifting through all my patches and SWAPS to show my daughter, I found that she had slipped me one of her own patches.
Knowing that she remembered Sa'Haara, I really shouldn't be surprised, but I am! We've had a few amazing CEOs over the years, but I must admit, Anna Maria is my favorite to date. Oh, and remember how I told you she got down and boogied with the girls during the opening ceremony? According to the WAGGGS GWF blog Madison was one of them!!!
I know, I know, now I'm just bragging, but I gotta! These girls kicked some butt!
Remember how the ladies from Africa came together?
If that's not enough to inspire you, then maybe this will.....
The amazing Helen, the adult delegate from UK, shared a poem with us. Oh, but her words were not the end of the inspiration that was all around us the entire time.
Remembering our closing ceremony and what Dr. Terarai Trent said to us, there were a few things that stuck in my head.
At the end of her speech, she said something that nearly shocked me. She said this was the first time she had ever been around this many empowered young women at once. I simply assumed that being a woman of her caliber, she had been around groups like us before. Still, it was comforting to hear from an outsider that they thought we were doing good things.
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So, here we are, back at home. I know some of you are dying to know what the girls take action projects are. I have to warn you all, you are about to read about some serious awesomeness!
Sa'Haara was inspired by MDG 3 (promote gender equality and empowering women). She has decided to start her project out by creating a workshop at her school about teen pregnancy prevention and self-esteem, with the possibilities of expanding to a local shelter or church.
Madison was not only inspired by MDG 7 (environmental sustainability), but she was also inspired by our take action day. She has chosen to help establish a similar urban garden within her community.
As for me, I accidentally came home with a take action project too. The baby steps would be to advocate for the Global Action Award within my council. The marathon would be to create a series pathway that not only allows girls to earn the Global Action Award, but also earns them the WAGGGS Global Action Theme badge and empowers them to do similar take action projects (which could have potential for being a Bronze, Silver or even Gold Award).
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Now, for the million dollar question- did we really make a difference? YEAH WE DID! I know, it might be too early to tell how much of a difference we made, but I think the proof is evident from our take action day. Even looking at photos from friends in what their groups did during their take action day, I know that everyone left their foot print in Chicago in a profound way, and in due time, we'll have our foot prints left all around the world.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Girl's World Forum: Day 5, the full run down
You would think that in such a short amount of time, very little could be accomplished. The fact is, Girl Scouts and Guides are efficient, and we pretty much conquered the world in five days!
At breakfast on day 5, the ladies from the Cook Islands treated us to a lovely dance and thanked everyone at GWF, especially a big thanks to the planning (they earned it!). Several other scouts and guides got up during breakfast to reflect on the past few days by sharing some songs and words of wisdom.
Our last day was on the low key side, but still very beneficial. A number of great organizations came in for a networking session in the morning. That list includes the Peace Corps, Care, Forever Green (yes, the GSUSA project was out there being represented!), Care, Heifer International and a number of other wonderful organizations. Each stop offered a number of amazing materials that could benefit all of the scouts and guides in any of the take action projects they were already formulating.
From there, we split up for one last session. For the adults, it was a chance to learn about a number of projects already going on within GSUSA and WAGGGS and do some last minute networking. At the end of our session, we had the opportunity to make a commitment and add our "leaf" to the "tree." I made two commitments on my leaf, but more about that in my wrap up post later!
The real work began after that. A few nights before, I had given Sa'Haara and Madison a homework assignment to help them start thinking about what they wanted to do for their projects. I was very glad I asked that, because we were then tasked to sit down and finalize their projects. That too I will save for my wrap up, since I happen to think they chose very ambitious, amazing projects!
We were treated to one last joint session before the closing ceremony. During this session, a panel of girls were assembled to talk about what guiding and scouting has done for them. I think the best way to sum up that panel is that each girl sitting in that chair is already setting the world on fire!
Guess who came to speak at our closing ceremony. No, really, guess!
Such a crack up they were!
The declaration was re-presented, to affirm our commitments to the work we have been doing. We are committed to making the Millennium Development Goals a reality!
Ok, confession time.... when the girls began thanking the adult members who helped them plan GWF, I started crying. Then, the crying turned into bawling, and let's just leave it at that mmk?
Up, up and away we went! The elevator we rode in took exactly 40 seconds to climb 94 floors!
And, what's a good party without some dancing?!
The next morning, we headed out bright and early.
Our last day was on the low key side, but still very beneficial. A number of great organizations came in for a networking session in the morning. That list includes the Peace Corps, Care, Forever Green (yes, the GSUSA project was out there being represented!), Care, Heifer International and a number of other wonderful organizations. Each stop offered a number of amazing materials that could benefit all of the scouts and guides in any of the take action projects they were already formulating.
From there, we split up for one last session. For the adults, it was a chance to learn about a number of projects already going on within GSUSA and WAGGGS and do some last minute networking. At the end of our session, we had the opportunity to make a commitment and add our "leaf" to the "tree." I made two commitments on my leaf, but more about that in my wrap up post later!
The real work began after that. A few nights before, I had given Sa'Haara and Madison a homework assignment to help them start thinking about what they wanted to do for their projects. I was very glad I asked that, because we were then tasked to sit down and finalize their projects. That too I will save for my wrap up, since I happen to think they chose very ambitious, amazing projects!
Dr. Tererai Trent the same lady who was also featured on Oprah for the work she has done. Her educational background was not a traditional one, but was inspiring because she overcame some of the harshest of realities to get to where she is today. More so, she is proof that if you put your mind to it, you can do anything. At the end of her speech, she told us that to see this many empowered young women together was an inspiration to her, and for me, that reinforced all of our hard work.
Such a crack up they were!
The declaration was re-presented, to affirm our commitments to the work we have been doing. We are committed to making the Millennium Development Goals a reality!
Ok, confession time.... when the girls began thanking the adult members who helped them plan GWF, I started crying. Then, the crying turned into bawling, and let's just leave it at that mmk?
We had just barely one hour before dinner and a last hurrah, so what did we do? Went to the John Hancock building with the Irish!
Up, up and away we went! The elevator we rode in took exactly 40 seconds to climb 94 floors!
I have to tell you about one amazing Irish Guide who nearly made me cry again! The Guide in the middle is named Lauren, and she's a bright young woman! Lauren is not a fan of heights, but didn't want to let every down and miss out on this experience, so came with us. She was very unsure the entire time, but made it through. I am so, immensely proud of her!
Interesting photo above- I took this photo while in the John Hancock building. The tall, silver building on the left is Trump Tower, and the tall, black building in the right is the Sears Tower (I know it has a new name, and I do not remember what it is, sorry!).
We headed back to the hotel for one last hurrah. We were in for a real treat too! A group of salsa dancers came to give us a lesson, and they had giant summo suits out for us to play in! I got some great photos of Heather and Jannelle going at it.
And, what's a good party without some dancing?!
The next morning, we headed out bright and early.
Even the Irish were sad to go! We were all sad to leave, but we made it home, safe and sound.
**********
Yup, those are my smelly feet again (and yeah, my $1 nail polish survived the week!). My feet took me all over Chicago, and they took me on great adventure. I admit, it's nice to be home, but what I came back with is literally invaluable.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Girl's World Forum: Day 4, the full rundown
I'll be 29 this September. In the grand scheme of things, that doesn't even begin to touch old (The Queen of England and my own Grandmother are well into their 80s and still going strong!). I've been to college, I've done my time as a Girl Scout too. So, what more is there for me to learn? A lot actually!
On day four, the adults spent most of the day in sessions that were created to assist us in assisting our girls. We were given a number of options to choose from. With our focus MDGs being 1, 3 and 7, there were classes about them. I opted not to take them as I had already done extensive research on the subjects. I felt that for me, taking the skills based sessions would be more beneficial.
My first session was all about leadership development. What is leadership development? It's exactly that. It's understanding what leadership styles best suit the group/situation, how to use your skill set as a leader, how to effectively problem solve, how to accomplish your goals, how to be an effective communicator and listener and how we can bring/share these skills to our girls.
At the end of our session, each table was asked to draw how they saw a good leader. We came up with 19 qualities, and heard a lot of other great ones from the other groups too.
My next session was about how to mentor our girls for a healthy self esteem. This was a great class for me (and not just because my friend Heather was one of the facilitators, though it was a major bonus). I look in the mirror daily and can point out many flaws, but the thing is, they don't bother me. I know I'm quirky and occasionally loud mouthed, have frizzy hair, a crooked nose and love off beat things, but, that's part of what makes me, me. It's easy for me to forget that not everyone is as accepting of themselves as I am of myself. We talked about some of the common causes of low self esteem and did some very useful exercises on to help combat this.
The third session of the day was about fund development (and the awesome Janelle was one of the facilitators, so major bonus there too), and it put me out of my comfort zone, but in a good way. When we filled out our applications for GWF, we were asked what languages we spoke. I did not put French on my form because, lets face it, I barely passed French when I was forced to take it in school and my French is just down right atrocious. I sat down at a table in the front of the class and was engaged in deep conversation with Janelle before the session started. When she got up, I looked around and noticed that I was sitting at the same table with all the ladies from Africa who spoke French. Not wanting to offend them, I stayed put. Of course, like the two sessions before, we had an activity to work on. Thankfully, we had several wonderful and very patient translators on hand, and I had Google Translate on my phone! Even better was the fact that the seven ladies at the table were so unbelievably kind to me, and it in turn was a great learning experience for us all. In our activity, we were asked to list things that we would potentially ask for in a grant/fund proposal letter. I think that because we were from such different cultures, it got all of us thinking a little outside the box. I definitely benefited from doing this exercise with these ladies, and am so thankful that they embraced me and my terrible French! Oh, and the session was very helpful too as I needed a refresher on the subject matter.
My last session of the day was about community partnerships. This was another great session because we got to hear from people all around the class, and we started out the session with a little game! The game was welcomed because all of us adults were dragging a little by then (we were so tired!). I got sit next to and talk to a lady from Osaka! We had the chance to "interview" each other about a past experience we had with working with a local organization. Hey, guess what? People in other countries have a lot of the same experiences that we do in this country! Seriously! Talking to this woman, we realized this. Though we related our "interview" back to two different experiences, we realized that we had many of the same outcomes.
Our night was finished off by something VERY fun.... a scavenger hunt! We had the perfect group for this too! We did not get into any trouble, but we did cause a little bit of a raucous, but the good kind of course!
The officers did not mind taking a photo with us lovely ladies! I think they felt good knowing that we appreciated the help they provided us, and we went out of our way to thank them.
Our thanks did not stop with the police officers. We walked right past a fire station and decided to show our appreciation there as well! The men at the fire department thought we were a novelty, and let the awesome Lisa try on their stuff!
This all happened just after our first stop, so you imagine the fun that our group had during our scavenger hunt!
Funny story behind this photo.... being the adult on duty, I knew I had to take photos. I might have gone a little overboard, but it was worth it. My girls were teasing me and asked if I would make them take a photo with the hot dog vendor. It was just their luck that the Good Humor man was just around the corner, so I made them pose just to remind them that all these photos were for a good reason!
Oh, and we got a personal escort across a busy street from another amazing Chicago Police officer. Seriously, I'm beginning to think that they were loving having us scouts and guides in town! Even when we accosted another group of officers for directions, they were very friendly and helped us out.
I would just like to point out that we did NOT actually lick the bean, it just looks like we were being silly and licking it. You gotta have fun sometimes!
Art providing more art, kind of nifty if you ask me!
See that funky looking sculpture in the background? That was something that Picasso made, and something that gave us another little fun opportunity.... a slide!
Ok, confession time.... we didn't actually finish the scavenger hunt. We were having too much fun! We only missed the last two spots, but it was more important that we head back and into bed. It was worth it though.
On day four, the adults spent most of the day in sessions that were created to assist us in assisting our girls. We were given a number of options to choose from. With our focus MDGs being 1, 3 and 7, there were classes about them. I opted not to take them as I had already done extensive research on the subjects. I felt that for me, taking the skills based sessions would be more beneficial.
At the end of our session, each table was asked to draw how they saw a good leader. We came up with 19 qualities, and heard a lot of other great ones from the other groups too.
My next session was about how to mentor our girls for a healthy self esteem. This was a great class for me (and not just because my friend Heather was one of the facilitators, though it was a major bonus). I look in the mirror daily and can point out many flaws, but the thing is, they don't bother me. I know I'm quirky and occasionally loud mouthed, have frizzy hair, a crooked nose and love off beat things, but, that's part of what makes me, me. It's easy for me to forget that not everyone is as accepting of themselves as I am of myself. We talked about some of the common causes of low self esteem and did some very useful exercises on to help combat this.
The third session of the day was about fund development (and the awesome Janelle was one of the facilitators, so major bonus there too), and it put me out of my comfort zone, but in a good way. When we filled out our applications for GWF, we were asked what languages we spoke. I did not put French on my form because, lets face it, I barely passed French when I was forced to take it in school and my French is just down right atrocious. I sat down at a table in the front of the class and was engaged in deep conversation with Janelle before the session started. When she got up, I looked around and noticed that I was sitting at the same table with all the ladies from Africa who spoke French. Not wanting to offend them, I stayed put. Of course, like the two sessions before, we had an activity to work on. Thankfully, we had several wonderful and very patient translators on hand, and I had Google Translate on my phone! Even better was the fact that the seven ladies at the table were so unbelievably kind to me, and it in turn was a great learning experience for us all. In our activity, we were asked to list things that we would potentially ask for in a grant/fund proposal letter. I think that because we were from such different cultures, it got all of us thinking a little outside the box. I definitely benefited from doing this exercise with these ladies, and am so thankful that they embraced me and my terrible French! Oh, and the session was very helpful too as I needed a refresher on the subject matter.
My last session of the day was about community partnerships. This was another great session because we got to hear from people all around the class, and we started out the session with a little game! The game was welcomed because all of us adults were dragging a little by then (we were so tired!). I got sit next to and talk to a lady from Osaka! We had the chance to "interview" each other about a past experience we had with working with a local organization. Hey, guess what? People in other countries have a lot of the same experiences that we do in this country! Seriously! Talking to this woman, we realized this. Though we related our "interview" back to two different experiences, we realized that we had many of the same outcomes.
Our night was finished off by something VERY fun.... a scavenger hunt! We had the perfect group for this too! We did not get into any trouble, but we did cause a little bit of a raucous, but the good kind of course!
Our scavenger hunt brought us to several interesting spots in Chicago (not that far from our hotel). The fascinating part about the hunt was what we were given at each spot- a card that was related to what we were doing, and had photos on it that were taken by a scout (and the photos rocked!).
So, what's the difference between a Boy Scout and Girl Scout? After we ask for directions, we ask for a photo!
The officers did not mind taking a photo with us lovely ladies! I think they felt good knowing that we appreciated the help they provided us, and we went out of our way to thank them.
Our thanks did not stop with the police officers. We walked right past a fire station and decided to show our appreciation there as well! The men at the fire department thought we were a novelty, and let the awesome Lisa try on their stuff!
This all happened just after our first stop, so you imagine the fun that our group had during our scavenger hunt!
We had to stop and show we cared for those who were sick too, and also the kids.
Funny story behind this photo.... being the adult on duty, I knew I had to take photos. I might have gone a little overboard, but it was worth it. My girls were teasing me and asked if I would make them take a photo with the hot dog vendor. It was just their luck that the Good Humor man was just around the corner, so I made them pose just to remind them that all these photos were for a good reason!
Oh, and we got a personal escort across a busy street from another amazing Chicago Police officer. Seriously, I'm beginning to think that they were loving having us scouts and guides in town! Even when we accosted another group of officers for directions, they were very friendly and helped us out.
I would just like to point out that we did NOT actually lick the bean, it just looks like we were being silly and licking it. You gotta have fun sometimes!
Art providing more art, kind of nifty if you ask me!
See that funky looking sculpture in the background? That was something that Picasso made, and something that gave us another little fun opportunity.... a slide!
Ok, confession time.... we didn't actually finish the scavenger hunt. We were having too much fun! We only missed the last two spots, but it was more important that we head back and into bed. It was worth it though.
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