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.
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?
*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!
One of the things in life that gets to people is the fairness and unfairness of things that happen. To little girls, being fair means being equal with others, whether it is a level playing field (everyone having the same equipment) or having the same amount of an object. There are many great ideas on how to earn the light blue Daisy petal, Honest and Fair. You may want to start the meeting with examples of situations that are fair and not fair. Girls can stand up if it is fair or stay seated if it is unfair. This will help keep the girls actively engaged. After they decided what the answer is, ask them why they chose the answer they did.
Image from Pixabay and altered by the author in Canva
Here are some examples of fair and unfair situations. You may also want to point out that fair does not always mean equal. The older you become the more privileges kids have. -Your brother/sister gets two scoops of ice cream for dessert and you get one. -You did not do your chores and now you do not get your weekly allowance. -Your leader cancels the Girl Scout field trip because one girl did not behave. -The leader never changes the Kaper Chart jobs. -Team A has 10 players and Team B has 5. -Your older sibling has a later bedtime than you do. -Your 17 year old sister can drive the family car but you cannot. -You save a seat at the lunch table for one person and no one else can sit there. 1. While doing an craft or activity, give an unfair amount of supplies to each girl. Have them figure out how to divide things evenly. To avoid tears, before starting the craft, tell the girls that the person who put together the craft packets may have made some mistakes putting them together. They need to figure out how to help each other in order to finish the task (this can also be used for the Violet Daisy petal, Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout). 2. Another activity is to give out plastic bags or cups of a wrapped candy, such as Starburst or Hershey Kisses. All have different amounts. Put the girls into small groups and have them divide the candy up so each gets the same amount of candy. If you are not a leader who wants to serve candy or chocolate, you can do this with crayons, beads, or any other object you have on hand.
Image from Pixabay
3. Play the game Musical Chairs. It is a classic on things not being equal! 4. Have each girl lead a game of Simon Says. However, each girl only gets to say 1-2 things and one girl gets to do a lot. Talk about fairness. 5. The Band-Aid Game. This is a free game to download from Teachers Pay Teachers. You can find it here. For more ideas on how to earn the light blue Daisy Petal, Honest and Fair, you can check out these blog posts (keep scrolling after the first long post to find the others).
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.
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.
Your very first Girl Scout Daisy meeting does not need to be stressful. Here is a quick and easy idea for new leaders to use.
*This post contains affiliate links. Updated August 2021
The time is fast approaching for your very first Daisy Girl Scout Meeting. Before you let the feeling of panic set in, take a deep breath and get yourself prepared.
Do Your Paperwork and Get the Training
Before you schedule your very first Girl Scout Daisy meeting, you need to have all of yourpaperwork completed and handed in. Many Councils now offer online training that you can do at your convenience. Check that you have all of the girls' forms and that you have been scheduled for a specific meeting place and time. If you have not been assigned a meeting place, you may not get together with your girls. Contact the Service Unit team member in charge of this task and get a printout of your meeting schedule. My troop always met in the art room of the elementary school where most of the girls went, so the school secretary and custodians also had the schedule as well. Everyone needs to be on the same page so your space is not given to someone else at the time you will be meeting.
All of the required new Leader Training workshops need to be taken before you have your first Daisy meeting. Keep any paperwork proving you have completed your training in your leader binder so you always know where it is. Failure to do these two things will lead to problems if, heaven forbid, a girl becomes injured while under your care. The Girl Scouts of the USA does have insurance, but only covers incidents if everything is done properly.
Meet the Parents
You will want to have parents attending the first troop meeting. This way your co-leader and you can share your goals and expectations with girls and their parents. You can also ask for volunteers, as they will be needed for busy crafts, as well as asking a parent to be the troop treasurer. Any volunteer at a meeting must be registered and background checked! Have any necessary paperwork and information ready to be handed out to parents who want to assist. No paperwork=no helping at meetings. It is that simple. Since many parents work or have other children who need to be watched, emailing the parents a few weeks in advance of your first Daisy meeting will help them clear their calendars. Advance notice is always very much appreciated and puts you in their good graces.
First Daisy Meeting
You need to prepare a craft that the girls can do on their own during your very first Daisy meeting. This way you can speak to the parents without too many interruptions. This article will give you a list of leader essentials that you will need for every meeting.
Here is what I did at my first troop meeting:
I bought a large piece of white poster board. In my favorite Cherry Liney font I typed up "Daisy Troop _____" (our troop number). I glued it in an arc and then glued a large blue circle for the center of the petal.
I cut and pasteda petal shape and printed it onto card stock (you can also do this free hand). I cut out enough for each girl and a few extra (always do that-young girls will make mistakes!).
While the parents and I spoke, each girl used magic markers to write her name and decorate the petal. It was easy to check on the girls, as they were at the next table.
When all of the girls were done, each glued her petal around the center. I brought this poster to each of our meetings throughout our first year. It can be converted to a Kaper Chart if you want and you can also add Daisy stickers.
At the end of our very first Daisy Girl Scout meeting, we sang "Make New Friends", did the "Friendship Squeeze" and went home. I wish I had brought my camera so we had a keepsake for our Girl Scout scrapbook. Don't forget to bring yours and start documenting your troop's journey!
This Girl Scout Daisy Leader Start Up Kit has everything you need to prepare for your first meeting with your troop. There are 17 pages to help you get it all together before you meet with your girls.
Included in this kit:
Preparation Before Your First Meeting Materials First Daisy Meeting Checklist Meeting With Your Co-Leader Checklist 10 Essential New Leader Tips An Easy to Follow Meeting Routine
A start to finish plan for your very first Girl Scout Daisy meeting that includes:
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.
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!
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?
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.
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!
*This post contains affiliate links. Updated October 2019
You did it super leader! You managed to get through your first year of Daisy Scouts and do all of the petals and the blue Promise Center. Now that you are a veteran, what are you going to do with your Daisy troop for your second year?
For some leaders, they may try to do all three Journeys to have the troop earn their Summit Award. Others may want to try one Journey to test it out and add other things to the program as the year progresses.
Personally, I have never been a fan of the Journey program and I never will be. That is why my calendar of meeting ideas does not include doing one; however, feel free to include one if you wish.
Just as in my article Daisy Meeting Ideas for September to December, feel free to change or move around the meetings to fit your schedule. Nothing is set in stone! If you do have a mixed group of old and new girls, try integrating your activities so that they align with a Daisy petal. Repeating petals is not a bad thing, but the way you do it needs to be fresh and new for those who have learned them already. Reinforcement is a good thing.
Image by Hannah Gold
Your First Daisy Girl Scout Meeting of the Year
For some of your girls it is "Welcome back!", but for others, it may be their very first Daisy Girl Scout meeting. It is a good idea to start the meeting more non-traditionally so the new girls know what to expect. Ice breakers are also fun for those who know each other from the previous year, because they may not have seen each other over the summer. You might want to try an ice breaker activity as the girls sit in a circle. Here is a resource of four pages full of ice breaker games. You know your girls best, so see which one will work for you. After you have done your Ice Breaker game, it is time for the Pledge of Allegiance, Girl Scout Law, and Girl Scout Promise.
Now it is time to break out your Kaper Chart and explain what the jobs are, how they are done, and how often you will rotate them. Then give each girl a job.
Your co-leader and you will want to talk about the things the girls did last year and what they want to do this year. What are their goals?
Next you can review the Girl Scout Promise with this craft activity.
Materials Girl Scout Law Printed on cardstock (Small sized. Check out these images) Safety Pins Gimp
Before the meeting, you will need to print the Girl Scout Law cards out. You can use contact paper to laminate them if you wish. If you do not laminate them, use a small hole puncher to make a hole for the safety pin. You will also need to cut the gimp into 5-6 inch lengths and put a knot at the bottom. To make life easier for the girls, create your own craft kit and separate the pony beads into the colors you nee. Place these in a snack sized baggie with the gimp and card. After the girls are done beading, knot the end for them on the safety pin and attach to the card. The girls now have something they can pin to their Responsibility bags.
Your Second Daisy Girl Scout Meeting of the Year
This is the perfect opportunity to practice a short Rededication and/or Investiture ceremony. For investitures, please see this blog post on the different things you can do. Resources for Rededication can be found hereandhere. Remember to keep it short and simple and to inform the parents ahead of time when the ceremony will be.
Since you want to keep the girls interested and motivated, break the meeting up into five segments:
Your usual opening
Rehearsal
Craft
Rehearsal
Closing for meeting
Your craft is an easy one.
Materials
Invitation you created
Crayons
Find an image of a Daisy petal to color in and cut and paste it to a blank page on your computer. Type in "You're Invited to Troop 12345's Rededication and Investiture Ceremony". Add the details and print several extra copies just in case (this is always best practice). You can resend this document in emails to parents and/or place it on your troop Facebook page or Shutterfly account.
The girls can color the page and hand it to their parents at pick up time.
Your Third Daisy Girl Scout Meeting of the Year
Today is the day for your Rededication/Investiture ceremony. You will have to decide whether or not you want this to take place first thing or as your final activity. If you do it at the end, you have a chance to practice one more time! Either way, you will need something to do with your girls. Here is an easy craft. Materials Foam Daisy shapes Glitter foam stickers (or other stickers of your choice) Peel and stick rhinestones Dowels Thin markers Masking tape or duct tape
Have the girls write their name on the front of the flower and then decorate it with stickers and rhinestones. When they are done, your co-leader or you can tape the dowel to the back.
Now that you are in the month of October, at some point toward the end you will can have a meeting that is a service project for Juliette Gordon Low's birthday (which is October 31st). Doing a service project covers several of the petals:
Friendly and Helpful
Considerate and Caring
Responsible for what I say and do
Make the world a better place
At the start of the meeting you can talk about these parts of the Girl Scout Law and how it ties into today's project.
Share with the girls the story of who Juliette Gordon Low was and why she was courageous and strong for starting the Girl Scout movement. Because she wanted to help girls develop all kinds of skills, this was a service. She was inclusive.
Because the girls are young and the Halloween spirit is in the air, you can do this simple project. Be sure to find an organization that will be wanting to accept your donations.
Have the girls make faces on the orange cup. Have them add candy and help them put the candy and treats into the cellophane bag. Tie with ribbon and add the gift tag. The girls can write on it "Happy Halloween" or "Enjoy these treats". You can find free printable Halloween gift tags hereat Print This Today's website.
When you are done, sing "Happy Birthday" and serve cupcakes to your girls.
Your Fifth Daisy Girl Scout Meeting
Plan a Field Trip
If you live in a climate where winter is harsh, this is the perfect opportunity to take a field trip. You can go over the "Respect Authority" petal by visiting the police station or fire station. If you visited one last year, then go to the other this year. These are free and it is important for children to learn about their helpful community helpers.
If you do not want to go on a field trip, then you can teach your girls about Veteran's Day, which ties into being Courageous and Strong.
Ask the girls if they know anyone serving or who has served in the military. Talk about Veteran's Day and why we honor our military men and women. Then read the book Hero Mom and make cards to send to Veterans either overseas or to send to a local VA hospital. The printable cards are free to download at Project Nursery. More Veteran's Day ideas that are free to download can be found at A Cupcake for the Teacher.
Your Sixth Daisy Girl Scout Meeting
The Thanksgiving holiday is fast approaching. You can do this meeting three different ways.
1. Focus on a service project
2. Focus on doing fun Thanksgiving activities
3. Do a mix of 1 and 2
I am a huge believer in the community service aspect of Girl Scouts. Growing courageous, compassionate and caring children is a role that we leaders play. It is a huge part of who Juliette Gordon Low was. She did not start Girl Scouts so troops could sell cookies and do crafts...she started it so girls could could grow intellectually and learn things that they ordinarily would not given the mores of her time. According the Girls Scouts of the USA website:
"...just like Girl Scouts across the country and around the globe today, they offered a helping hand to those in need and worked together to improve their corner of the world."
With Thanksgiving around the corner, now is the time to do a service project to help others in need.
Find a need in your community and see how your girls can fulfill it. Collaborate with a house of worship or your school to organize:
A gently used coat drive
A new hat, glove, and scarf drive
A canned food drive
A slipper drive
Or you can have each girl bring in one of the following items and make a big bag of Thanksgiving foods to donate to a family in need. The girls can make pictures or cards that go inside.
Some items to put in the bag or basket are:
Canned corn
Canned string beans
Canned peas
Pumpkin bread mix
Corn bread mix
Canned apples
Canned cranberry sauce
Canned turkey gravy
Jar of applesauce
Box of Bisquick for making biscuits
Box of brownie or cookie mix
Supermarket gift card so the family can buy a turkey
*You can add additional optional items for the basket or use doubles of some like the canned corn.
For the cards, you can use fall stickers like these:
For this meeting, your troop can earn the Daisy Girl Scout Safety Award. This can tie in with the orange Daisy petal, Responsible for What I Say and Do. There are three components to earning this award: 1. Understand what to do if you get lost.Know your phone number, address, and who it's safe to ask for help (police officer, teacher, person in charge). 2. Find out what you should do if you or a friend is choking. 3. Learn how to do "Stop, Drop, and Roll" if your clothing catches on fire. Activities for Part 1 Ask the girls if they had ever gotten lost. Tell them if it happens to them, they should try to find a grown up in a uniform. If they are in a store, they should find someone with a store name tag on them or go to a customer service/check out desk. Then hand out one of these free printable worksheets about knowing their personal information. If a girl does not know her phone number, please let the parents know at the end of the meeting. This is an important thing for them to know. If you have a play cell phone, the girls can practice dialing the phone number on it. They can also practice dialing 911. Activities for Part 2 At Girl Scout Leader 101, Lora Brinkman shares her idea for this activity. Be sure to find a huge stuffed animal for this. Activities for Part 3 Children learn in school about fire safety and the term, "Stop, Drop and Roll". You can start this part of the meeting by reading this book to the girls.
After listening to the book, have the girls demonstrate the procedure. If you have time, here are some free Fire Safety crafts that you can do with your girls to close out the meeting.
Another thing you can do is learn this easy Stop, Drop and Roll song. Scroll to the middle of the blog post. It is sung to the tune of "Three Blind Mice". If you have time, print out this coloring page for the girls to do to calm them down after rolling on the floor.
Your Eighth Daisy Girl Scout Meeting
It is that time of year that the girls are giddy with the holiday spirit...and maybe you are feeling a bit of that Mom stress that happens to so many this time of year. There are expectations, obligations, and the time crunch seems to come faster and faster.
As I have discussed in previous blog posts about celebrating the December holidays, this is an area that you need to tread lightly. If you have a diverse group of girls, best practice is to do non-denominational winter crafts like the ones below. They ready for you to do with no prep work at all. The girls get to take something home from your celebration. Another fun thing to do is play Minute to Win it Games like the ones here. After the meeting is over, sit back, relax and enjoy your well deserved time off.
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