Updated August 2021
Girl Scout Kaper charts give the girls jobs that teach responsibility, promote teamwork and sisterhood, and keep the meetings flowing.
Kaper Charts Help Your Girl Scout Meetings Run Smoothly
No matter how old the girls in your troop are, from the youngest Daisy Scouts to the oldest Ambassadors, every person needs to have a part in running the meeting. While young girls will not participate in planning the activities you will be doing, they can help out in other ways.A guide for this is a Girl Scout kaper chart.A kaper is a chore that is assigned to each girl. This is one way for leaders to have decisions already made and not assign an arbitrary job to a scout. Can you actually remember who helped to pass out the papers two weeks ago or who was assigned to clean up duty? This takes the guesswork out of who has to do lead the Pledge of Allegiance and who leads the Friendship Song at the end of the meeting.
Why Should Leaders Use Kaper Charts?
The Benefits of Everyone Pitching In
There are many benefits for leaders who use this system of assigning chores. First of all, it keeps things organized and equal. A kaper chart prevents whining and cries of "It's not fair! I don't want to do that!". Assigning tasks is not arbitrary, but done on a scheduled rotation. Kapers are not punishments, they are expectations. If a girl is assigned a job that she does not like one week, the next time you are together she can look forward to having a different job to do, as kapers rotate. Everyone has to pitch in, as there are no excuses when it comes to doing a chore.
It is also a valuable life lesson as each day passes, there may be things that we don't want to do, but we must for the betterment of everyone. Sure, I don't like to empty the dishwasher, but if I don't, then dirty dishes will pile in the sink and create a mess, bring bugs, and have odors from food that is not washed away. So, I empty the dishwasher to prevent all of these things from happening!
Also, having jobs at each meeting teaches the girls patience. Sometimes, we actually have to wait to have a turn at a job. Another benefit is that girls have a sense ownership of the tasks they are assigned to do and a sense of pride when they complete the job.
Also, having jobs at each meeting teaches the girls patience. Sometimes, we actually have to wait to have a turn at a job. Another benefit is that girls have a sense ownership of the tasks they are assigned to do and a sense of pride when they complete the job.
Materials for Creating Your Charts
Kaper charts can be made simple or elaborate-it depends on the leader and how crafty she is and how much time she wants to devote to making her chart. One thing to bare in mind is that over the years, girls will come into your troop and others will leave. Make sure whatever you create can easily be changed.
Therefore, it is important to create a kaper chart that can adjust for the natural ebb and flow of attrition that is a part of scouting. If you don't do this, then you will need to make a new chart every year. Whatever you make, be sure to save your receipts so you can be reimbursed with your troop dues.
Girl Scout Kaper Chart Job Cards
These cards and more items for Daisy leaders available on Teachers Pay Teachers
In my Teachers Pay Teachers shop, I created colorful Girl Scout Kaper Chart job cards for each level. These are both colorful and inexpensive. Simply print, cut them out, and adhere to your poster board!
You can find them here.
Amazon has a variety of library pocket cards.
Use hook and loop circles to put on the chart and
on the backs of cards for easy removal. Place them on the trifold.
The Steps for Making Your Chart
The kinds of jobs your troop will do will largely depend on these factors:
Since troop size varies, so will the jobs that are given. It is imperative that every girl gets something to do, that everyone matters and is needed. Therefore, no job is too big or too small.
- The age of the scouts
- How many girls are in your troop (Smaller troops need fewer jobs and younger troops need simpler jobs)
Since troop size varies, so will the jobs that are given. It is imperative that every girl gets something to do, that everyone matters and is needed. Therefore, no job is too big or too small.
By yourself or with your co-leader, brainstorm the kinds of jobs your girls can handle. See which ones can be done solo and which need a patrol or group to complete. When your girls are older, then they can assign the jobs to each other.
Here are just a few examples of jobs that girls can do at each meeting:
- Lead the Pledge of Allegiance
- Lead the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law
- Take attendance
- Set up craft stations
- Pass out papers
- Bathroom buddy
- Clean up crew
- Lead songs
- Lead a game
- Lead goodbye
Kaper Chart Ideas and Leader Resources
Daisy Girl Scouts are in kindergarten and first grade, and at the beginning of the year, only a handful can red. Kaper charts need to use pictures as guides for each assignment. Using the girls' photograph is also a helpful visual clue for what job she is assigned to do at the meeting.Brownie Girl Scouts and older can help make the chart at their first meeting and help contribute to creating new jobs.
My Pinterest board for all things Kaper chart! Many leaders of all levels have graciously shared their ideas for you to use.
On the Babycenter.com Girl Scout Moms forum, leaders share what they do that works for them.
Cute idea for older scouts!
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