Girl Scout Troop 4601
August 2014
First Troop Meeting
WHEN
Wednesday, Aug 20, 3:15-4:30 pm
WHERE
The Roberts Academy- Cafeteria
MORE INFORMATION
Girls should bring their completed and signed Health Form, Permission Form, registration fee ($15), and dues (see below for dues information). Checks can be made out to "Girl Scout Troop 4601". Please RSVP to trish.goodwin@Hotmail.com if your daughter is going to attend. Parents are welcome, but not required, to come.
Troop Leaders
Trish Goodwin
Mrs. Goodwin is a Registered Nurse, and Mom to Allison (9) and Lindsey (6). trish.goodwin@hotmail.com
863-701-3336 (call or text)
Tekla Ericson
Mrs. Ericson has a professional background in Horticulture Science, and is Mom to Astrid (12) and Kenna (9).
863-559-4174 (call or text)
Troop Leaders have been background checked and received special training from Girl Scouts. Both leaders have extensive camping experience and enjoy spending time in the outdoors. Some activities we would like to pursue this year are overnight camping, archery, rocketry, geocaching, and canoeing. We can't wait to hear what activities the girls would like to try!
Troop Information
Our troop is part of the Lakeland Guiding Lights (LGL) Community, and Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF) Council, which is based in Tampa. GSWCF has a fantastic network of camps and programs they sponsor throughout the region.
Meetings
Troop meetings will be held at The Roberts Academy on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, immediately after school, from 3:15-4:30 pm, during the school year. On early release days (Nov 19 & Feb 18), we will meet from 12:45-2:00 pm. Please pick up your Girl Scout promptly at the end of meetings, unless she is already registered for after care with The Roberts Academy.
Since meetings are held immediately after school, girls should bring an extra snack that day to eat at the beginning of the troop meeting.
Health Form and Permission Form
All girls must have signed Permission Form and Health Form to participate in Girl Scouts. Parents should inform the troop leaders if any information on the forms changes during the year.
Troop Finances & Dues
Troop activities and supplies are funded through troop dues and fundraisers. The majority of our troop earnings will come from cookie sales (Jan-Mar), which we can put toward a group outing in spring. As much as possible, girls will play an active role in budgeting and financing all troop activities.
As this troop is brand new, and we do not have much money in reserve yet, we are asking girls to contribute troop dues. A suggested amount for dues is $1.50 per meeting, or $28.50 for the year. Dues can be paid per meeting, per month, per semester, or upfront for the whole year.
The troop maintains a bank account at BB&T Bank. Parents can request to see troop financial statements at any time.
Registration in GSWCF
Girls are required to be registered with GSWCF/GSUSA annually ($15). This registration fee covers supplemental medical insurance for troop members during scouting activities. Girls can be registered online or through your troop leader. If you register online, please make sure you register for the 2014-2015 year.
Parental Involvement
Each troop needs the help of parents and adults to provide a quality Girl Scout experience. Please complete our “Ways Adults Can Help” form and return to the troop leaders. There are a lot of things you can do to help!
Lead a troop meeting or help with troop meetings
Help with the cookie sale or fundraisers
Donate craft supplies, special snacks, paper goods, or first aid kit supplies
Chaperone and/or drive girls on events and field trips
Teach girls your hobby, such as sewing, pottery, painting, photography, dance, yoga, music, woodworking, camping skills, or games
Perhaps you belong to, or work at, an organization that could host a girl experience, such as a community garden, fire or police station, senior living center, animal shelter, theater, nature center, charity, etc.
Adult registration ($15) and background check are required to participate in the troop as a leader, official chaperone, when driving girls in your vehicle for Girl Scout functions, overnight camping, cookie booth sales, etc. Approved adult volunteers receive a “blue card” which is good for three years. Dads can be troop leaders and volunteer too, as long as an unrelated adult female is present at all times. Also, Dads sleep in separate areas on any overnight trips. Please consider registering as an adult member of the troop to help with our activities. Many activities can only be done if we have enough registered adults to meet safety ratios.
To register as an adult member of the troop and complete the background check, please click here.
Uniforms
All girls are encouraged to have a Girl Scout uniform, however this is not mandatory. Uniforms consist of a vest or sash, with official Girl Scout insignia (US Flag patch, Troop numbers 4601, GSWCF Council ID patch, Insignia tab, membership pin, trefoil pin). Uniforms are worn at Girl Scout ceremonies, and when representing Girl Scouts in public (such as when selling cookies). For official functions, the vest or sash is worn over a white shirt or blouse, with khaki bottoms. Any patches a girl earns for service projects, fun activities, or Girl Scout Journeys goes on the uniform. Girls love earning patches! Girl Scout items can be purchased online or at the Girl Scout store in Tampa. For questions on uniform insignia and placement, please click here.
Daisy (grade K-1) blue
Brownie (grade 2-3) brown
Junior (grade 4-5) green
Cadette (grade 6-8) tan
Senior (grade 9-10) tan
Ambassador (grade 11-12) tan
Upcoming Dates
August 18- First Day of School
August 20- First Troop Meeting
September 3- Troop Meeting
September 17- Troop Meeting