New Brownie Pack

[Platespinner]

Hi - I'm starting up a new Brownie pack in a week's time and am dithering about a good activity to start us off, not knowing what the girls will be like. Anyone got any good ideas? Perhaps something about what it means to be a Brownie? Thanks. P.S. I am petrified.

[jostar]

What about a halloween activity like making a pumpkin lantern or something similar - pom-pom spiders etc.

Good luck!!

[curiosity]

If it's a new group of kids, and you feel a bit anxious I think a prepared before game will be best. A good one that's easy to prepare is Autograph bingo. Basically after welcoming the group explain that you are doing a quick warm up/get to know you game. Give each person a sheet of paper titled Autograph bingo and underneath the instructions: Get the autograph of: then a list of as many questions as you want: e.g Someone who Is wearing Brown. Someone who has seen Toy Story. Someone who can name a Bratz doll etc etc. You can even fix this and set up specific things if you know something about any of them. It basically gets them mingling, and usually excited/interested, and can be done in pairs or teams if there are some kids who on their own would die at the thought. That way they can be as quiet or as involved as they want, but they will carryout the activity walking around etc. Have aprize for the first to get all. All you need is preprepared sheets either handwritten or printed it's up to you. Good Luck

[curiosity]

Sorry, forgotton how old Brownies are? but I'm sure most can read able enough to do this.

[xanderma]

I'm assuming you've tried the Girl Guiding website? If not, its here...

http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/new/members/

I'm a Rainbow Guider and although our girls are obviously younger, the same principles can apply. We always start the evening with a game to break the ice - Jumping Beans or parachute games or similar. We then move onto a group chat where the girls pass a doll around (could be a Brownie doll in your case?) and only the holder can speak(!) ; they tell us a piece of news each (you could use this to introduce yourselves). We then start our activity for the evening, which may be a craft, working through the Rainbow handbook, meeting a visitor such as a Firefighter, Hearing Dog etc. or a visit somewhere local. By the time we've sung our song, said our prayer and our goodbyes, the hour is done!

Don't be petrified!

[Platespinner]

thanks, guys - appreciate the advice! (six days and counting...)