Fun Activities

**NOTE: Girl Scouts of Frontier Council does not endorse any program, event or commercial enterprise referenced here. Troops, groups and individuals should research and determine which activities they will participate in.

Special Calendar Days

Here are a few day/ dates that might provide inspiration for Troop or Girl Program Ideas.

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Bridging Ideas

Planning a bridging ceremony but don't have a bridge?  Make one. 

Here are some ideas -

http://www.momsminivan.com/extras/bridge.html

http://www.neighborhood13-1.com/pdf/Making%20Meaningful%20Bridges.pdf

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Send Your Troop to the Moon

Submitted by: Lynda Teate, Girl Scout Volunteer

Hey, get your whole troop launched!

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Recycle Old Athletic Shoes...a great environmental service project

First, take your worn out athletic shoe (of any brand) and go to the nearest Reuse-A-Shoe drop-off location (link on Web site). Nike has locations at some Nike Stores, other retail stores, athletic clubs, schools and colleges. In the U.S., Nike also partners with members of the National Recycling Coalition, and we have Reuse-A-Shoe programs and locations around the world, in Canada, the U.K., Netherlands, Germany, Australia, and Japan.

Next, your shoes are shipped to one of our processing facilities – one in Oregon, USA and the other in Belgium – to be ground up into a material called Nike Grind.

Then, working with partner organizations, the Nike Grind is used to make different parts of sport surfaces in communities around the world. For example, some Nike Grind is used to cushion basketball courts, while other Nike Grind is used in synthetic soccer fields.

Our retail partners can accept only small quantities, 10 pairs or less. Please call ahead to inquire regarding a larger donation.

NIKETOWN Las Vegas
THE FORUM SHOPS AT CAESARS3500 LAS VEGAS BLVD S
LAS VEGAS, NV 89109
720.650.8888

Las Vegas South
7400 S LAS VEGAS BLVD BOX 1
LAS VEGAS, NV 89123
702.896.7444
Our retail partners can accept only small quantities, 10 pairs or less. Please call ahead to inquire regarding a larger donation.

You can also send your old shoes to…
Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

* To keep the recycling equipment running smoothly, there are a few guidelines for recycling:

• Athletic shoes only (any brand)
• No shoes containing metal
• No cleats or dress shoes
• No wet or damp shoes

http://www.letmeplay.com/reuseashoe/program

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Fun New Ways to Cook Eggs

Egg in a Cup - You can actually boil an egg in a paper cup!

Eggs (keep in a cooler with plenty of ice)
Wax-covered paper cups
Water
Campfire
Metal Tongs

For this most amazing cooking trick, you will need fresh eggs which have been carefully stored in a cooler or insulated bag with a cold pack. You will also need waxed-covered paper cups just a bit bigger in size than the eggs, and water.

This trick only works with paper cups, so do not try to substitute with anything else!

ampers place their egg in a cup and add enough water so the cup is nearly full. (Larger cups will take much longer to boil.) Then place the cups very near the fire. (Adult supervision required.)

At this point, the tops of the cups may very well catch fire. Although the effect is quite spectacular, the cups are actually perfectly fine. The water keeps the rest of the cup from burning. The paper heats quickly and in turn heats the water very quickly. Within a few minutes, you'll have a boiled egg!

Removing the eggs from the fire is the trick to this adventure. Prepare in advance by packing a set of metal tongs.

Egg In an Orange Recipe 

Knife
Aluminum foil
1 orange
2 eggs
spices

Put the orange in half cross-ways. Scoop out and eat the orange contents. Pull out any left-over orange sections, leaving the peel intact. Place the peel on a sheet of foil. Crack the egg into the peel. Sprinkle with spices. Wrap foil over orange. Place directly in hot coals. Repeat with other orange half. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes.

Bacon and Eggs in a Paper Bag

Two strips bacon (thick)
One paper lunch bag
One egg
One stick

Cut bacon strips in two, place at the bottom of the paper bag, covering the bottom. It is important that you have thick strips of bacon as thin ones will stick and adhere to the paper bag when cooked. Crack egg and put in paper bag on top of the bacon.

Fold lunch bag down three times and poke a hole through it with the stick, so that the bag is hanging on the end of the stick. Hold over charcoal and watch the grease from the bacon protect the bag and cook the meal.

Egg In The Hole

Eggs
Slices of bread
1 tsp. butter

In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Tear a 1 1/2" hole out of the center of each piece of bread. Tilt the skillet so the melted butter covers the surface of the pan. Place each slice of bread next to each other in the skillet. Crack eggs, one at a time, into the hole in the center of the bread.

After about 3 minutes, flip the bread and cook on the other side until the egg has set. Slide onto a plate and serve.

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Campfire Recipes

Try some of these goodies at your next campout. Of course, with any cooking for a group, check for food allergies first.

Cinnamon Apple

Use an apple core remover, knife, or the end of a potato peeler to remove the core of an apple but with the apple still intact!  You want to make a hole big enough to put in some brown sugar and cinnamon.  You can also use those small red hearts Valentine candies since they are cinnamony. 

Wrap the apple in a couple of layers of foil and put in the fire, on the coals for 3-5 minutes.  Take it out, peel back the foil and enjoy!  CAUTION:  It’s Hot!  Use tongs to pull it out of the coals and to peel back the foil.

Sticky Buns by the Campfire

For 6 to 8 servings, you will need:
2 packages refrigerated biscuits
5 tbsp butter
3 tbsp corn syrup
1/3 cup brown sugar
½ cup pecans, halved
Cinnamon
Sugar

In a pie pan, heat 3 tbsp of the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup over hot coals until bubbly.  Add pecans to mixture.  In a separate bowl, melt remaining 2 tbsp of butter and dip one side of each biscuit into the butter.  Sprinkle biscuit with cinnamon and sugar and press two biscuits together.  Repeat with remaining biscuits and layer them over the syrup and pecan mixture in the pie pan.  Cover with another pie pan and secure with aluminum foil.  Cook over coals for 30 minutes, turning halfway through. CAUTION:  It’s Hot!  Use tongs to pull it out of the coals and to peel back the foil. 

Campfire Cupcakes

For 6 servings, you will need:
3 oranges
1 box cake mix

Cut the oranges in half.  Remove the insides and save for a healthy snack.  Prepare the cake mix according to package cupcake directions.  Fill each hollow orange cup about halfway with the cake batter and cover loosely with aluminum foil.  Cook batter side up in hot coals for 5 to 10 minutes or until done.  This is also a great way to cook muffins while your camping. CAUTION:  They are Hot!  Use tongs to pull them out of the coals and to peel back the foil. 

Campfire Cinnamon Toast Treats

1/4 cup(s) , Sugar
1 teaspoon(s) , Ground Cinnamon
8 whole , Brown and Serve Rolls cut into quarters
4 tablespoon(s) , Butter melted
1 pint(s) , Strawberries hulled and halved if large
2 large , Bananas peeled and sliced

Soak the wooden skewers in water so they don't burn. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a medium-size bowl. Brush the rolls with the butter, then toss in the bowl with the cinnamon and sugar. Thread the bread onto skewers, alternating with the strawberries and bananas. Grill the kabobs over hot coals, turning occasionally, until the bread is browned and toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve hot.

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Build a Solar Oven

Build one or more solar ovens with the girls...have fun cooking with the sun....a great activity to do for Earth Day.

http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/default.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2083_make-solar-oven.html

http://www.solarnow.org/pizzabx.htm

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/solarcookers.html

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Dutch Oven Cooking

If you have never cooked in a Dutch oven, you have not experienced the wonderful blending of tastes that slow cooking achieves.  It's also a great way to simplify food preparation...one pot meals are so good.  Buy a new one or, better yet, see if you can buy/get donated a used one...it will be seasoned and ready to go.  Check out e-Bay, consignment shops, Freecycle (on-line), second-hand stores, etc.

For lots of tips on how to buy and care for one, go to:
http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/
http://www.superior-cast-iron-cookware.com/dutch_oven.html
http://www.freetechsupport.com/csr/dutchoven.html

Recipes:
http://www.dutchovencookware.com/dutch-oven-recipes.html
http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/cowboy_chuckwagon.htm

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Polar Explorer Booklet

Information and ideas for activities, crafts and things to investigate - all with a Polar theme.
http://www.guidesaus.org.au/attach/Purple_Page_Polar_Explorer.pdf

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Create-A-Butterfly Kit

National Gardening Association Exclusive! Butterfly wings are captivating things. Collaborating with staff from the U.S. Botanic Garden, we've developed a kit that provides educators and students with a terrific activity that draws kids' attention to butterflies' varied wing shapes, patterns, and colors and the purposes they serve. Students can each create a unique butterfly with wings, antennae, legs, and proboscis, then may practice "pollinating" flowers by blowing out the proboscis in their outdoor classroom.

We've included a sheet of fun butterfly facts and educational explorations along with illustrated instructions. The kit also includes 25 blow-outs, 75 pipe cleaners, and butterfly wing templates (monarch, buckeye, swallowtail, and 1 blank). Finished butterflies measure approximately 10"x14"w. This is a great way for kids to learn about butterflies while having a ton of fun! Makes 25 butterflies.

15-1010Price: $24.95Sale: $21.95
http://www.kidsgardeningstore.com/15-1010.html

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Creation Nation Creativity Awards

Deadline: May 23, 2008
Source: LEGO
Web Site:  http://www.legocreationnation.com/

The Second Annual LEGO Creativity Awards will give $5,000 to five children between 6 and 13 years old who are budding inventors, explorers, creators, and dreamers. The money may go towards guitar lessons, art supplies, a personal invention, or finding an innovative solution to a community problem. Applicants may apply by writing an essay that describes a time when they were creative at home, school, or in their community.

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Who is Healthy Kids Challenge?
The Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC) is a national nonprofit organization leading a movement that's changing how schools, programs, and communities support kids and families in making healthy eating and physical activity choices. Led by registered, licensed dietitians whose career paths are dedicated to guiding healthy change, HKC is a leader in offering sustainable, real life solutions for healthy eating and an active lifestyle.

Healthy Kids Challenge is proud to partner with Field Trip Factory to combine our message, resources, and efforts to help kids and families. We're excited to share a vision where kids, schools, business, and communities work together in an effort to make healthy living a habit.

What they do:
HKC's signature in the field of health and wellness is their appealing, fun, and simple strategies that guide KidLinks™, those adult influencers who have opportunity to influence choices and decisions kids make. HKC strategies are focused on identifying SOLUTIONS to support healthy change across environments from schools to the home and across the community – everywhere kids and families live, learn, work, and play.

How They Can Help:
FREE resources located on the HKC web site including:

• Downloadable tip sheets to use as parent handouts, at health fairs, PTA meetings, and for staff development
• Take the Challenge of the Month - an e-mail healthy challenge great for kids, families, educators to get everyone on board with one simple healthy change per month
• Wednesday WOWS - FREE weekly e-newsletter with a hear, see, and do message for creating awareness, increasing knowledge, and practicing skills with fun activities for healthy eating and physical activity. Great for sharing with school or youth program staff, cut and paste for newsletters, and program planning. Also includes grant opportunities, new resources, and current best practice ideas
• Educational materials at low costs - supplemental materials for curriculums, youth programs, and engaging kids in fun healthy activities focusing on food and fitness

See also: http://www.healthyk idschallenge. com/

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Games Kids Play

Looking for kids games?  How about rules for playground games, verses for jump-rope rhymes, and much more???  Then this is the right place!  This site could bring back lots of happy memories.   http://www.gameskidsplay.net/

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President's Challenge

If you're active less than 30 minutes a day/5 days a week (or 60 minutes a day for youths under 18), this program is for you.

The Active Lifestyle program shows you how to make a commitment to staying active and how to stick to it. The program helps you set realistic goals to encourage fitness for a lifetime. The rules are simple. You can choose from all kinds of activities. We'll also give you a personal activity log to guide you every step of the way.

Because your hard work shouldn't go unrecognized, you can also earn awards. You can earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) by performing regular activity beyond your daily activity goal of (30 minutes a day for adults/60 minutes a day for youths under 18) at least 5 days per week, for a total of 6 weeks. As an alternative you can count your daily activity steps using a pedometer.

That means if you stick with the program, you can earn an award in a little over a month.
http://www.presidentschallenge.org/the_challenge/active_lifestyle.aspx

If you're already active and want a new challenge, this program is for you.

The Presidential Champions program challenges you to see just how high you can raise your activity level. The guidelines are simple. You can choose from a variety of activities. We'll give you a personal activity log to help track your progress along the way. There's even a special option for performance athletes and others who train at more advanced levels.

Your goal is to see how many points you can earn by being active. You'll earn points for every activity you log. Points are based on the amount of energy each activity burns. So the more active you are, the more points you'll get.

The first goal to aim for is a Bronze award. Then you can keep going for a Silver or Gold.

http://www.presidentschallenge.org/the_challenge/presidential_champions.aspx

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Braided Clothes Hanger using Recycled Plastic Bags

by Jane Lake

Cut plastic bags into loops, join the loops and use to braid around a plastic clothes hanger. The resulting braided clothes hanger looks attractive - and clothes won't slip off!

Braided Clothes Hanger
Supplies:

• plastic clothes hanger
• approximately four plastic shopping bags
• scissors

Braided Clothes Hanger Project Instructions:

1. Prepare a supply of plastic loops. Cut the bottom off the first bag and discard this piece. Cut straight across, two inches from the new bottom edge, to make your first loop. Repeat until you get to the top area of the bag. Discard the part with handles.

2. Join five loops together to make the first plastic string. This is done in the same way that children make strings of elastic bands. To join loops, thread the top of one loop through the bottom of another loop. Catch the bottom of the loop being attached and thread it back through the top of the same loop, pulling the resulting knot together. Make two strings of contrasting colors, each five loops long. You will add more loops as the work proceeds, as required.

3. To begin braiding, use two plastic strings which, for this project, we will call white and yellow. Find the middle of both strings and place one string across the other one at the center so that, if the strings were stretched out, they would make a cross shape overlapping in the middle. Pinch the overlapping center of the strings between your fingers.

4. Hold the clothes hanger with your knees, with the hook pointing away from you. Hold the overlapping center of the strings firmly against the tip of the hook, so that two white strings fall on the left of the hanger and two yellow strings fall on the right.

5. Push the top right yellow string under the hanger so that it goes between the two white strings on the left. Bring this yellow string over the top of the hanger to the right, so it is now the bottom right string. Take the top left white string and pass it under the hanger so that it goes between the two yellow strings on the right. Bring this white string over the hanger and back to the left, so it is now the bottom left string. Repeat this pattern all the way around the hanger, adding loops to your strings as needed.

6. Braiding around the curves may be easier if you temporarily push the braided part back a little, continuing the braid until it can be pushed around the curve.

7. When you get back to the base of the hook, knot off the strings. If desired, embellish the hanger with a ribbon or sachet.

Suggestions:

To use wire coat hangers instead of plastic, simply tape two wire coat hangers together and use as one hanger.

You can substitute panty hose, or lengths of non-fraying fabric, for the plastic strings.

Get different effects by varying the colors of the strings. Two-tone braids are interesting, but so is a single color, although single colors are harder to do when you are first learning this technique.

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DITTY BAG

1 large bandana (12 inch by 12 inch or larger)
needle (sewing or needlework)
thread or yarn
2 small cafe curtain rings
shower curtain hooks (metal variety)
fabric paint (optional)

Lay bandana flat and fold in half lengthwise so you end up with a  rectangle.

Sew (with either thread or yarn) on 1 edge from bottom corner where  folded to top corner and then over about 1/3 of the way.  Repeat on the other edge. 

You should end up with something like  this:
x – represents sewn edge
o - represents fold

xxxxxxxxx             xxxxxxxxx
x                                   x
x                                   x
x                                   x
x                                   x
x                                   x
ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Pull bandana through café curtain ring(s) and clip metal shower curtain  hook to both curtain rings.  You can  then hook this to your belt or belt loop on jeans.  To use, unhook metal shower curtain hook  from curtain rings, slide curtain rings in either direction to open bandana  opening enough to put in whatever you want to carry. It can make 3 different  “pouches”.  Attach metal shower hook  back to curtain rings and hook to belt.  You can use thread, yarn or fabric paint to write girl’s name on it if you wish.

When you do these for a troop, try and get different bandanas so each  girl can recognize her own by the design on the bandana.

**************************************************

Plastic Jug Ditty Bag

Materials:

• Plastic gallon bleach jug, cut off top where it begins to curve in toward spout.
• Length of 10 inch wide fabric, cotton/poly is good - enough to go around circumference of jug, plus seam allowance.
• Twice length of sturdy cording, circumference of jug, plus a foot or so.

Procedure:

• Using a paper punch, make holes around top (the cut off end) of jug spaced about 1/2 inch apart.
• Fold & sew a hem on one side of the fabric - leaving a 1 inch opening
• Fold a sew a narrower hem on the bottom of fabric
• Sew both short ends of fabric together to make a cylinder
• Using cord threaded in large size needle, attach fabric to jug. Be sure that the side with the opening is on top...you will be threading the cord through it.
• Run cord through top hem so the it can be pulled shut.
• Tie the cord ends in a square knot to close.

Besides recycling the plastic jug, this is an easy "craft" or gadget for the girls to make. The plastic is great on wet sink counters and protects other things in the girl's pack if something spills. If your bathrooms have hooks for towels, the ditty bag can be hung up.

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Calculate Fuel Costs

Planning a big road trip with the girls and are at a loss for trying to calculate the fuel cost?  Check out these sites...

http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/

http://www.roadtripamerica.com/roadtripamerica_cfmfiles/calculator.cfm

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Diversity Calendar

Check out this site for a diversity calendar.  You might find a special day from somewhere in the world to celebrate with the girls.

http://diversity.walgreens.com/ourcommunity/diversity_calendar0408.html

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Youth Photo Contest

Deadline: July 1, 2008
Source: Olympus and the Tool Factory
http://www.toolfact ory.com/olympus_ contest/olympus_ student.htm

Youth (ages 4-18) are eligible to submit their favorite photograph online and become eligible to win their share of $4,000 in prizes. Photographs will be judged based on: composition and arrangement, brilliant color, focus and sharpness, and creativity and emotion. Five winners will be awarded this year. Winners will receive an Olympus 8.0 megapixel digital camera, Tool Factory Software, and a Digital Camera Basics Book.

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Home Spa Ideas

The influence of scents is real and in many cases scents can alter your mood or emotion — it's a science called aromatherapy. Scientists have been able to connect specific scents to particular emotions. Essential oils are highly concentrated oils extracted from plants and flowers. It takes about 250 pounds of rose petals to produce just one ounce of oil. Essential oils can be found at most natural food stores and co-ops, and cost anywhere from $4 to $10 a bottle. The price is high, but the drops are so concentrated you only need a few to get the effect.

To be sure you're getting what you pay for; avoid oils stored in clear glass. Heat and sun exposure can ruin the oils. Also, make sure to read the label. Some aromatherapy oils have been mixed with carrier oils, which reduce the concentration of the essential oil. Look for pure essential oils; that way you control any blending.

Common essential oils

Essential oils should not be used directly on the skin as they are too potent at full strength and tend to evaporate quickly. Essential oils should be mixed with a “carrier oil” such as sweet almond, grape seed, jojoba, olive, or sunflower. All these oils condition the skin and assist in absorption of the essential oil. (If you are pregnant, have high blood pressure, or diabetes check with your doctor before using essential oils.) Typically you should use a ratio of one-drop essential oil to 10 drops carrier oil.

Relaxing: Bergamot, chamomile, citronella, clary sage, eucalyptus, jasmine, lavender, lemon balm, lemon grass, marjoram, neroli, orange, rose, and tangerine.

Revitalizing: Cinnamon, geranium, grapefruit, juniper (also has antiseptic properties), rosemary, and vanilla. Lemon essential oil also can revitalize but use sparingly as it may irritate the skin, especially when exposed to the sun.

Stimulating: Cinnamon, clove, oregano, and thyme. Peppermint and eucalyptus, both stimulating essential oils, act as a decongestant when inhaled, but can be irritating when used directly on the skin.

Making Your Own

Massage Oils

Create a 1-ounce bottle of your own massage oil by mixing ½ teaspoon of an essential oil with five teaspoons of your preferred carrier oil. Use a funnel to fill a small bottle with the carrier oil. Add the essential oil and shake vigorously. Keep adding essential oils until you achieve the desired aroma. Keep the bottle capped when not in use.

Stress-Reducing Mixture: Mix together four tablespoons of a carrier oil such as jojoba, eight drops of lavender, four drops of ylang ylang, and eight drops of petit grain oil. Gently stir or shake together. (Makes approximately 2 ounces.)

Spirit-Boosting Mixture: Add two drops of geranium oil, two drops of rosewood oil, and two drops of bergamot oil to six teaspoons of a carrier oil. Massage into the skin or inhale from a bottle. (Makes approximately 1 ounce.)

Bath Salts

Place salt in a glass or metal bowl. Shake on about 10 drops of essential oil. Toss. Add additional drops until you achieve the desired aroma. Fill jars or bags with salt.

Add approximately 1 cup of salts to running bath water. Enjoy!

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Youth Garden Grants Program

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Check out these neat science Web sites!

Thinking Fountain: Here are books, activities and experiments about many subjects.

Exploratorium: These pages are full of Snacks...but they're not the kind you eat. They're the kind you can learn from and have fun with. Exploratorium Science Snacks are miniature versions of some of the most popular exhibits at the Exploratorium.

Dragonfly SciGirls: Throughout its six seasons, DragonflyTV has become a unique showcase for girls in science. SciGirls will empower your girls to ask questions, communicate, and encourage one another.

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FreeRice

About FreeRice
FreeRice is a sister site of the world poverty site, Poverty.com.

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free. (This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site.)

Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.

Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide. Thank you.

Who distributes the donated rice?
The rice is distributed by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). The World Food Program is the world’s largest food aid agency, working with over 1,000 other organizations in over 75 countries. In addition to providing food, the World Food Program helps hungry people to become self-reliant so that they escape hunger for good. Wherever possible, the World Food Program buys food locally to support local farmers and the local economy. We encourage you to visit the United Nations World Food Program to learn more about their successful approach to ending hunger.

How does the FreeRice vocabulary program work?
FreeRice has a custom database containing thousands of words at varying degrees of difficulty. There are words appropriate for people just learning English and words that will challenge the most scholarly professors. In between are thousands of words for students, business people, homemakers, doctors, truck drivers, retired people… everyone!

FreeRice automatically adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, assigns you an approximate starting level. You then determine a more exact level for yourself as you play. When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level. This one-to-three ratio is best for keeping you at the “outer fringe” of your vocabulary, where learning can take place.

To add your rice, please visit: http://freerice.com/index.php.

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Project Linus

Be a Blanketeer -- How You Can Help

It's easy to help Project Linus. Simply make a blanket and donate it to your local chapter of Project Linus. Your blanket will be given to a child in need.

Our volunteers, known as "blanketeers," provide new, handmade, washable blankets to be given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. It is Project Linus' policy to accept blankets of all sizes, depending on the needs of the local chapters. All styles of blankets are welcome, including quilts, tied comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors.

How to make a knotted fleece blanket:

Materials needed:
Less than a yard blanket would be nice to donate to the local animal shelters.
1 yard of polar fleece (for infants)
1 1/2 yard piece of polar fleece ( elementary school children)
2 yards of polar fleece (for teens)

Fleece is usually about 55” wide.

Directions:
When purchased, sides of polar fleece have a rolled edge or a selvage.
Please trim this edge off prior to creating the blanket.
If you need a cutting guide place a piece of masking tape 5” in from the edge on top and bottom of blanket to be used as a cutting guide.
Cut top and bottom sides into 1” x 6” strips (cut toward center of blanket to make fringe). Eventually, you will cut out a square in the corners by creating your fringes. Remove masking tape. Tie overhand knot at the top of each strip to create a finished fringe edge.

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Hats

There are many organizations that provide support and HATS to children with cancer. Below are just a few organizations that you might consider:

Sites for collecting hats and donating them:

http://www.hatsoffforcancer.org

http://www.heavenlyhats.com

http://www.glorieshappyhats.org

http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us/3312.htm 

Sites with directions for creating easy fleece:

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10034

http://www.makingfriends.com/winter/fleece_hat.htm

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Home Depot "How-To" Workshops

Kids Workshops are free "How-To Clinics" designed for children ages 5-12. The workshops are offered on the first Saturday of each month between 9:00 a.m. and noon at all The Home Depot stores. Children accompanied by an adult construct projects from pre-fabricated kits. The kits are designed to be both educational and practical.

The Home Depot's Kids Workshops offer useful projects including the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit.

The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.

In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin. http://snipurl.com/1tl3o

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Project Wet

http://www.projectwet.org/usa/index.html

Why is it important to teach children about water resources? One of the core beliefs of Project WET is that that wise water management is crucial for providing tomorrow's children with social and economic stability in a healthy environment. We also believe that awareness of and respect for water resources can encourage a personal, lifelong commitment of responsibility and positive community participation.

The Project WET program consists of water educators in each state who administer and deliver Project WET. State Project WET coordinators deliver informative, interactive, and fun Project WET professional development workshops to a variety of educators. The Project WET Curriculum and Activity Guide can only be obtained by attending a Project WET educator workshop led by a trained facilitator. Project WET State Coordinators also offer advanced thematic and investigative workshops exploring wetlands, ground water, water conservation, watersheds, water monitoring, water history and other water resource topics.

Project WET is a network of state coordinators who provide educators with the materials and skills they need to teach about water through professional development workshops.

Contact your state coordinator to request a Project WET workshop in your school or community or learn about already scheduled workshops near you.

http://www.projectwet.org/usa/statecontacts.php

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Girl Scout Participation Patch Program: The Art of Opera

Girl Scouts explore and learn the exciting world of opera by earning an Art of Opera Patch.  Troops can earn their patch through hands-on activities that focus on the different responsibilities and jobs in opera production. Learn about costume and set design, writing your own opera, and singing techniques.  Patches can be earned at the Washington National Opera Studio or anywhere in the world!  This program is available to troops of all age groups, interests, and experiences and fulfills a variety of different Try-It and Badge requirements. Troops can earn the patch at any time.

Application/Registration Form and Patch Activity Guide, go to:

http://www.dcopera.org/experience/education/
educationcommunityprograms/communityoutreach.asp

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Girl Scout Weekend Cultural Kitchen Programs

Another exciting year for the Girl Scout Weekend Cultural Kitchen program is just around the corner! As a partner in education, the Los Angeles Council of Hostelling International USA is looking forward to working with you, your troop leaders, and your girls.

Last year ~ troops from as far away as Cactus Pines GS Council in Arizona, to a troop from Reno, Nevada joined us for the program! We also had troops from the Angeles, Joshua Tree, Mt. Wilson Vista, San Fernando, Spanish Trails, and San Gorgonio Girl Scout Councils who came together for a weekend of culture.

Girl Scout Weekend Cultural Kitchen Program dates for this next year have been set. We will learn about India, Korea, Chile, Greece, Egypt, and Japan while experiencing the cuisine and having a ton of fun. The following dates and focus countries are:

May 17 & 18, 2008 ~ Japan

The program cost is $50 per person and includes an overnight stay at the HI-LA Southbay Hostel, the Cultural Kitchen Program, Saturday night dinner, Sunday morning breakfast and your Girl Scouts Go Hostelling Patch. To reserve space for your troop a $10 non-refundable deposit for each person attending the program is required. Full payment is due 30 days prior to each program and is non-refundable. Girl Scout Weekends are open to all Junior, Cadette, Senior and Ambassador girls. Each weekend program requires a minimum of 20 participants or it will be canceled. For an additional $25 per person you can come a day early or stay a day longer.

Troops also have the option to attend a Program Orientation, have a tour of the HI-Santa Monica Hostel, and participate in the first session of the Cultural Kitchen Program at the HI-Santa Monica Hostel. The Orientation Programs take place on selected Saturday's at 1:30 p.m. Troops need to call ahead and reserve space.

Please forward this email flyer to your troop leaders or include it in with your fall mailing. Thanks again for all your support this past year and I look forward to working with you this next year.

Best regards,
Stephanie Rizzi
Deputy Executive Director
HI-USA/Los Angeles
(310) 393-3413 x. 23
www.lahostels.org

January 2008 through May 2008

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Happy Socks

Operation Happy Sock is a fun, easy way to help homeless cats in your local animal shelter. Volunteers make simple toys, called "Happy Socks," by stuffing catnip and polyester fiberfill in the toe of a sock and tying a knot at the ankle. Simple, but a GREAT catnip toy!

Happy Sock volunteers usually visit their local shelter to give the toys to the cats themselves. A big, fluffy, soft Happy Sock is the feline equivalent of a cuddly teddy bear, a warm companion in the often stark confines of a shelter cage. You'll see that the cats have their own way of saying "THANK YOU!"

You can easily launch Operation Happy Sock for your own local animal shelter. It’s a fun project for kids and can be done any time of year. Your friends and neighbors will be glad to donate their unwanted socks.

Just email us and ask for your FREE INFO KIT. You'll receive a Word document with all the facts and photos you need to get started soon!

Contact Information: Martha Powers, Founder, Operation Happy Sock, Fairfax, VA, USA
email: Martha Powers.

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