Girl Scout Kaper Chart Ideas and Resources

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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.

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.

Trifold from Amazon

The Steps for Making Your Chart

The kinds of jobs your troop will do will largely depend on these factors:

• 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 Girl Scout Kaper Chart Pinterest Board

My Pinterest board for all things Kaper chart! Many leaders of all levels have graciously shared their ideas for you to use.

Leaders Share

On the Babycenter.com Girl Scout Moms forum, leaders share what they do that works for them.

Kaper Chart Swap

Cute idea for older scouts!

Quick and Easy Girl Scout Kaper Chart for Back to Troop

A Girl Scout Kaper Charts gives each girl in your troop a sense of responsibility at each meeting. It does not need to be difficult or expensive to put together. Here are some quick, inexpensive and easy ideas for you to use.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Updated August 2021

Having a Kaper Chart is one thing that leaders use to assign jobs to girls and begin their journey to owning their meetings. By the time girls are Cadettes, they should not just be selecting which badges they wish to earn, but also leading their troopmates at the meeting in which they are earning it.

But don't worry...your little Daisy Scouts are not there yet!

Image created by the author on Canva

Young children love to help and take turns doing different jobs. In this blog post, I discussed the benefits of having a Kaper Chart and what kinds of jobs you can assign each girl.

Last year, I shared with leaders a list of resources that can be used for Kaper Charts.  You can read it here.

Your co-leader and you will have to decide how often to rotate jobs. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

Easiest Girl Scout Kaper Chart of All

                           Available on Teachers Pay Teachers

Using my 13 years of Girl Scout leadership experience, I have opened a Teachers Pay Teachers store to create materials I wish I had when my troop was younger.

These Girl Scout Daisy Kaper Chart Job Cards are so simple to use. Just print, cut them out, and put on your poster board. They are colorful and feature Daisy Scouts! There are also blanks for you to fill in as well.

You can find them here, as well as many other things for Daisy leaders.

Materials to Make a Kaper Chart

You do not have to get all Pinteresty with this. A few simple flourishes on white poster board on a trifold is a good base to get started.

One of the easiest and versatile things to use are library pockets. These are a staple item for teachers since they are so functional. All you need is for each girl to decorate an index card that has her name on it and that is her name card for the kaper chart for the year.

Another fun accent that is inexpensive and will save you time are another teacher staple, bulletin board letters.

This bulletin board set and more available on Amazon

You have your letters and troop numbers, you might want to add a few personal accents.

First, there are flower cut outs. The girls can write their name on these and you can place them around the border of the chart.

Available on Amazon

These retro looking cutouts can also be laid out around the border to make it more colorful. You can write each girls name on it as well.

Available on Amazon

These blank daisy shaped cut outs can be used for many things, including your troop Kaper Chart.

Available on Amazon

These are just a few things you can use for your Girl Scout Daisy Kaper Chart.

The Easiest Girl Scout Kaper Chart Ever (and it’s not a chart!)

Giving girls jobs keep them actively involved with every troop meeting. Here is the easiest Girl Scout Kaper chart that leaders will use for years!

*This post contains affiliate links.

Over the years, I have written extensively about Girl Scout Kaper charts (you can check out those posts here).

Recently, a leader in a Girl Scout Facebook group recently shared her version of a kaper chart, and it is mic drop genius!

I remember schlepping my large poster board kaper chart in from Daisies until 5th grade Juniors. In bad weather, I had to put it in a black garbage bag so it would not get ruined. It was one more large thing to juggle, along with my leader bag and bags of craft, cooking, or other materials for the meeting. Since we met after school, my daughter could not help me and my co-leader was coming straight from work.

This Girl Scout Kaper chart is not a chart, is easy to carry into each meeting, and is a low out of pocket (and reimbursable) expense.

Girl Scout Kaper Chart (that is not a chart)

These are wrist keychain key tags with a stretchy coil and they come in 10 assorted colors. Write the kaper on each tag and that scout wears that tag during the meeting.

Available on Amazon

Another Version of the Keyring

Available on Amazon

These are wrist keychain key tags with a stretchy coil and they come in 10 assorted colors. Write the kaper on each tag and that scout wears that tag during the meeting.

One way to keep it "fair" with assigning jobs (you know how young children stand on that hill), put the wristlets into a gift bag or lunch bag. As part of you opening, have each girl turn her head and reach into the bag. That is her kaper for that meeting.

If you want, on a simple chart, your co-leader can keep track of who does each job at the meeting.

Need Ideas for Girl Scout Kaper Chart Jobs?

In order for this to work, each scout needs a job. Here are some ideas:

• Lead the Pledge of Allegiance
• Flag Holder
• Lead the Girl Scout Promise and Girl Scout Law
• Take attendance
• Set up craft stations
• Pass out papers or craft supplies
• Bathroom buddy
• Floater (substitute if someone is absent)
• Push in chairs
• Clean up crew
• Game leader (selects the game your troop will play)
• Lead songs
• Lead a game
• Lead goodbye

What do you think about this kind of Girl Scout kaper chart?

Girl Scout Kaper Chart Resources

*This post contains affiliate links.

UPDATED AUGUST 2019

A Girl Scout Kaper Chart is one way for leaders to get the girls working together as a troop and develop positive self-help skills. When the girls are younger they will only be able to do certain tasks, but as the reigns of leadership get passed onto them year after year, they will be in charge of organizing the jobs they are required to do at each meeting.

(If you want to read about the different kinds of jobs girls can have, please read this blog post about Girl Scout Kaper charts)

Whether you are a new Daisy leader or are entering your second year, you will want to have a portable and easy to use and maintain chore chart. In fact, creating a Kaper chart makes an excellent first meeting idea, and you can read about it in this blog post.

Image created by the author in Canva

If you do not want to spend time and effort creating the perfect kaper chart, you can buy a ready made chart and have it laminated. This way, you can change the jobs every meeting or two and use it year after year.

Helper Chart from Amazon

This Helper Chart comes with everything you need for troops with 12 or fewer girls. You can use the back of the card and a graphic that you print out yourself for jobs that are not listed here.

Bear Chart from Amazon

Another option is to buy a job poster like this one. Cover the word "Class" with the words "Girl Scout" and then have it laminated. Use a dry erase marker to write the jobs and the names of the girls.

Owl Chart Pieces from Amazon

Purchase a large piece of poster board and decorate it with these adorable owls. This set comes with 34 owls and 10 moon pieces. Laminate them so that the jobs can be changed as the girls get older.

A Kaper chart is a Girl Scout tradition and a good way to start having the girls be responsible.

10 Tips for Starting a Daisy Girl Scout Troop

*This post contains affiliate links.

Updated October 2019

Are you a brand new Daisy Girl Scout leader getting ready for her very first troop meeting? Are you feeling a bit nervous about how you are going to handle and prepare for it?

Take a breath! Every single leader has been there before. Even I get butterflies when it is time for my first meeting of the year, because as the girls mature, I have to make sure that our meetings are as girl led as possible (which is hard for me!), as well as ensure that they are all “considerate and caring” as well as “friendly and helpful” to each other. Group dynamics change as girls get older.

As a veteran Girl Scout leader since 2008, I have been there and done that. Here is some advice taken from my own experience, to help you as you establish your very own troop.

And when you are done reading this, head over to my blog post, Daisy Meeting Ideas for September to December, which is a guide for your first eight meetings.

1. Relax

Your audience is only 5 or 6 years old. They are much easier to please than a room full of adults. These little girls are very excited to begin their Girl Scout experience, so just about anything you do is going to go over well.

Just be firm and consistent with the rules, and things should be fine.

2. Be Prepared

This motto is one that I live by as a teacher, a leader and as a mother. Even this week, as I prepared for my very first Senior Girl Scout meeting of the year, I made sure that I had extra activities planned in case things take a shorter amount of time than I anticipated.

Have a few Daisy Girl Scout coloring pages or games as back up. When they were younger, my troop loved to play Chinese jump rope, and it is always in my leader bag if we have a few extra minutes before our meeting ends. It also helps get their energy out if you have been sitting around too long, and it makes clean up go faster. The girls want to play!

Available on Amazon

This book is filled with classic game for your troop and it is for all levels. There are games for small groups, large groups, indoor activities and outdoors. too. It is also a resource for international games as well.

3. Create a Kaper Chart

Little girls love to help, and a Girl Scout Kaper chart is a great way to have girls participate in their own meeting.  Give a girl a job or have two girls share one. It teaches them to be “responsible for what I day and do”.

While there are many wonderful Kaper Chart ideas on the internet, keep it simple for your first year. Think about where you want to invest your energy...making a chart that is used for a few minutes at each meeting or planning for each meeting. I love Pinterest...but it is not necessary to get carried away and spend hours and a lot of money on a Kaper Chart.

I have written several blog posts over the years about creating a simple Kaper Chart with inexpensive ready made items. You can find them here...just keep scrolling for each article.

4. Make Sure Each Meeting Has a Routine

School teachers know that routine is a way to give young children a sense of security and to help them stay on task. Young children need to know what to expect next. For example, each meeting should begin with the Pledge of Allegiance, the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law.

Then you do your planned activities. Have a signal for the final five minutes before it is time to clean up. Close your meetings with the Make New Friends song and the Friendship Squeeze (you can find a video tutorial on each in this blog post).

There is no right or wrong way to have a meeting-do what works for your co-leader and you. Just be sure you keep to your schedule so you can complete the activities that you have planned.

5. Have Two Co-Leaders Instead of One

(and make sure your other parents are registered volunteers)

I have seen this time and again on the Girl Scout forums and Facebook groups that I read. There is occasional drama between leaders and co-leaders, and in the end, someone leaves. If you have at least two co-leaders, if someone decides this is not for her or you have some mama drama, your troop can still continue without disruption.

If you think getting parent permission forms on time is difficult, try finding another mom to step up and help you!

An extra co-leader right from the start also makes it easier to delegate tasks and leading meetings. One person can be in charge of field trips, another can be the treasurer, another in charge of buying the craft materials…why have it all of the planning responsibilities on your shoulders?

Available on Amazon

My book has chapters about how to get organized, launch your troop, and how to keep things going. There are also many useful resources for new leaders to use to help them get on their way to a fun filled year. 

6. Have Girls Bring Their Own Snack

Should Girl Scout meeting have snack time is an issue that comes up on leader forums at least once a month.

I have had different experiences with snack time. When my older daughter was a scout, her leaders requested that one girl bring it in for everybody, as they met directly after school. We had one parent who always forgot, and the leader had to bring it in for the girls. It really wasn’t fair to anybody involved.

That is why I decided that when my troop met after school, girls would bring their own snacks. That way, everyone gets to eat a treat that she likes and I do not have to worry about anybody’s food allergies. I did have a bag of pretzels or a granola bar in my bag because there is usually one child who forgets.

A note about food allergies…if you are meeting in a facility that is not your home, do not permit peanut products as snacks. Many schools and places of worship are peanut-free environments, and parents who have children with food allergies count on those places as being safe for their child.

7. Bring a Camera

My troop has been creating a perpetual Girl Scout scrapbook since their second year of Daisies. It is nice to have some photos of their time together as a troop. These can be shared on a private Shutterfly site or you can use them for your own scrapbooks.

If you decide to print the pictures, save your receipt so you can be reimbursed.

8. Network With Other Daisy Leaders

It is a good idea to attend your monthly Service Unit Meetings. Not only will you get the information you need about what is going on in your local council, you can talk to other leaders on your level. This is how I learned about a few free field trips in my area.

You can also ask Brownie leaders for assistance, as more than likely they were newbies just like you not that long ago. Ask your Service Unit to set time aside for networking at some of your meetings.

9. Don’t Do a Girl Scout Journey Your First Year

Many brand new Daisy leaders do not realize that they do not have to do a Girl Scout Journey until they are Juniors and want to earn the Bronze Award. Before 2008, Daisy Scouts was a one year program for kindergarteners. It was a year based on earning Daisy petals and getting familiar with the Girl Scout Law and Promise.

All that changed with the advent of the Journeys program. You can do it if you want, but my advice would be to wait until the second year and you have earned your Daisy petals. That way you are not trying to do both petals and Journeys at once. Focus on one aspect of the scouting program at a time.

10. You Do Not Have to Sell Cookies

Years ago, selling Girl Scout cookies was only for older girls-Daisies were not permitted to sell them. It gave new leaders a chance to breathe and to get to know how the other aspects of Girl Scout worked.

Now they can.

Selling cookies is an optional activity. I could not imagine selling them my very first year, on top of learning the ropes.

The tips for starting your Daisy Girl Scout troop are meant to help and guide you as you discover the joys of being a leader. Good luck!

Daisy Girl Scout Meeting Idea-Girls Make the Kaper Chart

Planning Your first few Girl Scout Daisy meetings does not have to be hard. Here is an easy idea to make a Girl Scout kaper chart to do with your girls that gives them a sense of responsibility. 

*This post contains affiliate links.

Updated August 2021

Planning your first Daisy meeting will fill you with excitement-and to be honest, a bit of nerves. Even though I have been teaching since 1987, even now as I begin a new school year, I get butterflies. I want to be able to connect with my students so we all can get the best from our time together.

One of the things I do to alleviate those nerves is to plan. Being organized has been key to my success as a teacher and as a leader. Think about it…if you have no idea what you are doing or are running around at the very last minute trying to put your meeting together, the stress will be evident to the girls. Having all of your ideas, materials and thoughts organized will make your meeting go smoother and it will soothe your nerves as well.

If you are planning on using a kaper chart right away, then you will want to discuss what this is and why you have one at your first meeting. 

If you like this idea, email the girls' parents before you meet to bring in a face picture of their daughter that you will be using for this craft activity. They can also email a picture for you to print out.

Materials for This Craft

Wooden craft stick dolls

Markers

Glue

Picture of each girl-face only

Available on Amazon

This set of wooden stick people has 50 to a package, leaving you many extra to use for other projects to use as new girls are added to your troop. It would even be fun to collect these at the end of the year and store in a box, and then make a new one at the beginning of the next scouting year. When the girls are older, you can give them as a gift in a decorated jar when they bridge. 

Or you can have the girls place them on the first page of their Girl Scout scrapbook as the start page for the new year.

First have the girls color in the body. They can write their name on the bottom of the stick, as well as the year. Once all of the coloring is done, glue the face on.

Keep these in a plastic baggie that you can attach to the kaper chart or keep in your leader bag.

What are you doing for your first Daisy meeting of the year?

Fun Daisy Shapes for Girl Scout Crafts

*This post contains affiliate links.

One thing that I loved about being a Daisy leader was doing crafts. While have done the occasional craft while doing a Girl Scout Journey, nowadays my troop of 11th grade Ambassadors like to go camping and go on outings. 

Image created by the author in Canva

Since you are a leader of Daisies for two years, investing in Daisy shaped items for crafts is a fun idea. Flowers can decorate cards for holidays, Birthday in a Bag projects, scrapbooking, and community service project collection boxes.

Crafting is perfect for those long indoor months when it is a challenge to go outside and earn a badge or go on a field trip. Most little girls like to create things, and using the shape that represents their level of scouting is one way to have them represent!

Available on Amazon

This item contains 120 felt flowers in a variety of colors. They can be glued to many different surfaces for your crafting needs.

Available on Amazon

This package of 196 Peel and stick foam flower stickers for Daisy Girl Scout crafts. It has a lot of variety so no two crafts will look the same.

Available on Amazon

This is a set of 350 stickers for various crafting needs. They have cute smiling faces!

Available on Amazon

This set come with three rolls of stickers-300 in total. They are about 1.5 inches in diameter and are bright and colorful.

Available on Amazon

This large Daisy foam shape can be used for Kaper charts and other Girl Scout Daisy crafts. It comes in a package of 36 in three different colors.