Daisy leaders step in

My DD will be starting K next year & I'd really like to be involved w/ Daisies w/ her. Scouting was a big part of my youth.

I just want to know outside of the meeting, how much time typically is involved per week (researching, planning, organizing, etc.)

Is it something you could do w/ a full time job. (Not sure if I'll be back at work yet next year).

Do they always assign a leader & a co-leader?

Is it tricky to figure out (how to plan out the meetings, work the badges, trips, fundraising, etc.) I'm a teacher by trade, but just curious.

Also is there a max number of girls they allow?

Thx so much.

Re: Daisy leaders step in

I'm a Daisy leader this year. I don't have a co-leader, but I do have parents that help out at each meeting.

There are plenty of resources online that can help you plan your meetings. We typically have snack, do a craft, and then have some sort of learning experience to get across one of the daisy principals (sometimes the craft incorporates the lesson, sometimes its a petal story). As a teacher you probably have an advantage there in coming up with activities.

You schedule the frequency of your meetings. We meet every other week, but I know of troops that meet monthly. I tend to wait until the last minute, and then do all my planning/shopping the day of the meeting. So I'd say on weeks when I have meetings, its a few hours of effort. I imagine you could do it while working, but it would limit when you have the meetings (we meet directly after dismissal at the school).

I have 9 girls in my troop. (we have two daisy troops for K at the school - the other troop has about the same #). As new girls get added to the wait list, we're contacted by the organizer to ask if we can take on any more. So you can determine your max number. (I haven't had to say no to anyone yet).

I know there are differences between how Nassau & Suffolk are run, and then additional differences among the school districts service units. But I've found I'm really left on my own to do whatever I want with my troop.

Re: Daisy leaders step in

Hey --- you sent me an FM and I apologize that I haven't responded to it yet. It's been a busy couple of days!

I just want to know outside of the meeting, how much time typically is involved per week (researching, planning, organizing, etc.) I would say that I spend a few hours a week doing planning and prep for our meetings. That might mean planning out our activity, shopping for snack/craft supplies, banking, etc. I do most of my communication via email to my troop which is awesome because it would be way worse if I had to call everyone!

Is it something you could do w/ a full time job. (Not sure if I'll be back at work yet next year).
I do think you can do it with a full-time job. My co-leader works full time. I honestly do more then she does when it comes to planning but she was also "new" to scouting and I had been a scout for many years growing up so I had more experience with it.

Do they always assign a leader & a co-leader? Yes, you have to have 2 adults for safety reasons at all times so that is why! If ever my coleader can't make it or I can't make it, we have to ask another parent to step in and stay!

Is it tricky to figure out (how to plan out the meetings, work the badges, trips, fundraising, etc.) I'm a teacher by trade, but just curious. If you are a teacher I think you will have no probelm with it. The books are great and I have found so many ideas and crafts online. And if all else fails ask us here :P~

Also is there a max number of girls they allow? In Nassau County (not sure if suffolk is the same or different) we can ahve 12 girls to our 2 adults. If we had more then 12 girls we'd have to have another adult present, but that adult doesn't need to be a trained leader.

Re: Daisy leaders step in

Thank you ladies for your help; I'll definitely be filling out my application.

I'm surprised that some troops only meet once/twice a month.

Does the school generally work with you re: obtaining the classroom, etc.

I guess I was also surprised that some schools have more than 1 troop in the school.

How does the banking work?

Re: Daisy leaders step in

My troop meets every single week. From what it sounds like most other daisy-brownie troops meet about every other week. My co-leader and I liked the idea though of every week and so that's what we did.

As far as applying for space, in the Spring I go to building & maintenance and put in my application. We don't find out until September but I like being one of the first people to submit it since they do approve it on a first come first serve basis. They are usually very good about giving you the day/time you need. In my school district though depending on what else is going on in the appropriate elementary school, you can get booted. PTA and board meetings get preference. So last year we met in the Middle School which worked out fine. This year we changed our day and so we are in the Elementary School again.

As far as the banking, I had to open an account and my co-leader as well as one of the people in our Association (such as the treasurer) had to cosign it. We first had an account with TD bank and it was free checking, but then the changed and started charging ridiculous fees so we just switched to Astoria and it's all free banking. They even gave us an ATM/Debit card which we didn't have with TD bank so we can buy things online such as from Oriental Trading.

Twice a year we have to submit our financial records over to the Treasurer of our Assciation -- In January and June.

We charge $5/girl a month for dues, which covers the costs of snacks and crafts, and most badges that we earn. The girls paid for hteir initial uniforms/pins at the start of daisies. Any other pins/badges that they've earned we've paid for out of troop funds.

Re: Daisy leaders step in

I'm in Suffolk. We have 12 girls in our troop with 2 leaders. I would say I invest at least 2 hours a week in Daisy prep. I handle the finances, trips, patches etc and my co-leader does the crafts and meeting prep. At first I signed up and had no co-leader and then I sent out a mass email to the girls interested in joining a troop(17at the time) and got 1 response for a volunteer. My co-leader and myself work very PT during the week. Most of our moms work FT. I m finding most moms are willing to help as much as they can. Don't be shy and delegate! Our cookie mom took a lot of pressure off of us during cookie sales. Ask for a volunteer to stay at each meeting and help with bathroom runs etc. We meet every other week at another elementary school because our school already had troops meeting at the time slots we wanted. Many schools won't let you in while aftercare is there(ours do) so we are limited having our meetings 6pm and after. am SOOOOO happy I decided to do this. I have made wonderful friends and so has my daughter. There are great websites out there like makingfriends that will help you plan your meetings. Good luck!

Re: Daisy leaders step in

Fieldtrip.com is great for planning field trips too

Re: Daisy leaders step in

I am a brownie leader, our girls have been together since kindergarten. I would say attend your association leader meeting this year to see what it's all about. Our association does the room bookings for all the troops at one time. Also, we have learned to include the parents from the beginning of the year. we set out a snack sign up and help sign up at the first meeting. We ask for help with things like planning an activity for the kids or making the banner for the parade. I do work with a coleader and we divide and conquer, she handles the banking I'll plan activities and trips and work with the cookie mom....it works for us. You can go online and take a look at what's available Nassau county is gsnc.org. feel free to fm with any questions