World Thinking Day Event Template

Transcription

1 World Thinking Day Event Template This template includes: Event Activity Ideas Planning Timeline Event Day Guide Sample Promotional Fliers and Passport Girl planning is easy for this event. Some service units have an older girl troop that can host and organize this event each year. Girl planning is built in when each troop chooses a country, researches and creates displays and activities. Each year on February 22 Girl Guides and Girl Scouts all over the world celebrate World Thinking Day. At this time, girls participate in activities and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. World Thinking Day is part of the WAGGGS Global Action Theme based on the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals, which aim to improve the lives of the world's poorest people. World Thinking Day not only gives girls a chance to celebrate international friendships, it is also a reminder that Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a global community and an international movement one of nearly 150 countries with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

2 Thinking Day Exhibit Booths Many Thinking Day events have troops select a country from one of the five WAGGS Regions. Girls research this country and set up an interactive display booth. Girls take turns being tourists and running their booth. Girls can teach other girls things like: what does the Girl Scout uniform look like in that country, what is their version of the Promise and the Law, what are some traditional food, games, fashion or language in that country. Troops could also provide sample crafts, snacks or SWAPS. Passports can be created and issued to "travelers" and as the girls travel to each exhibit, they can receive a stamp or a sticker from the places they learn about. Beyond the Booth Ideas International Flag Ceremony to open your event flags may be available at the council office Think globally, act locally World Friendship service project The sponsoring service unit or troop helps the girls understand a community problem that has a global dimension (e.g., pollution or water scarcity). Next they organize a service project at the event to learn more about the issue and how to address it. Globetrotters: Schedule speakers or interactive displays: Invite Girl Scouts who have participated in GSUSA sponsored Destinations or other Girl Scout travel programs, or who have lived abroad. Contact the Peace Corps Speakers Match and invite them to speak about their experiences. Before the event, have girls research the country. What issues affect girls there? Invite international exchange students for girls to interview. To locate nearby exchange students, reach out to your local high school or contact cultural exchange programs. Invite local museum educators, or librarians to talk about similarities and differences between cultures. Invite girls and parents of girls who speak other languages or language teachers from local schools to teach simple phrases in different languages. Invite activity providers who may be able to display crafts, perform traditional dances and music or offer other information about the culture of a country. Display images of the WAGGS World centers. Invite girls or adult volunteers who have visited the world centers to present information on these countries, as well as what can be done while visiting the center. Juliette Low Wishing Well Design a wishing well where girls can drop in coins and make wishes on behalf of Girl Guide and Girl Scout sisters around the world. Girls can learn about and send their contributions to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. Dreams for the World Display artwork, stories, or poems by girls that depict their hopes and dreams for the world (encourage all types of media e.g., collage, drawings, paintings, videos). Global Beats Schedule a sing-along of Girl Guide or Girl Scout songs from around the globe. Plan and have a World Association Pin ceremony Award or Patch Activities Complete activities to earn the World Thinking Day Award, the Global Action Award, or the Juliette Low Friendship patch. GSUSA Resources Use World Thinking Day activity packs provided by Girl Scouts of the USA at girlscouts.org that are based on the millennium development goals of WAGGS.

3 Tips for Involving Girls Choosing Activities Before any planning goes on, it is important to find out what kind of event girls would like to attend. To get girl input, you could try one of the following methods: Invite girls to a service unit meeting and have them brainstorm activity ideas for the event and then vote. Have each troop brainstorm activity ideas and submit their top three to the event planning committee. At the Event An older girl troop can host the event each year. Troops can run stations at the event. Girls can facilitate the opening and closing flag ceremonies, be the emcee or guest speakers, oversee the games or songs. Girls choose which activity stations they would like to do. Person Responsible Date Completed October Form a committee. This can this be a girl committee or an older girl troop can host the event Form sub-committees as needed for activities (i.e. Juliette Gordon Low Wishing Well station, service project, guest speakers, World Thinking Day Award station) Select three possible dates Make list of possible locations Determine objectives and activities for event using girl input. See tips to the left. What activities and people will enhance the event for a greater learning experience? (i.e. Peace Corp volunteers, Dreams for the World art station, WAGGS world centers station, Pinning Ceremony) November Determine costs for facility, food, awards, and activities. Determine admission fees. Set budget based on funds available. See sample budget in SU Event Planning Guide. Reserve a facility based on how many participants you expect to attend. Keep in mind parking space, table and chair availability, technical support, and handicapped accessibility. Submit any contracts to be signed to the Girl Scout regional director. Send a Save the Date card to all troop leaders (see sample below). Determine registration deadline (two to three weeks prior to event). Determine who and how registrations will be handled Create a promotional flyer and send to community engagement manager. Allow two weeks for approval. (see sample below)

4 Tips: This event should be girl led. Make sure leaders know to let girls take on responsibility for planning and implementing their booth and activity. Simple activities even young girls can do include decorating their booth, singing songs, and creating costumes. Get plenty of help and delegate the responsibilities. Ask local businesses to donate decorations or other supplies. Person Responsible Date Completed December Send approved promotional flyer to all troops via Facebook, or mail. Determine decorations and supplies Determine service project for event WAGGS has a theme each year based on millennium goals. Create Juliette Low Wishing Well to send funds to Juliette Low World Friendship Fund Plan event day schedule that might include o Opening and Closing ceremonies o GSUSA resources, awards or patches o World Association Pin Ceremony o Activity providers or guest speakers Obtain a certificate of liability Insurance from the venue naming GSWO as additionally insured. Obtain a copy of GSWO Certificate of Liability insurance for the contracted venue, if requested, at gswo.org. January Plan food menu if needed Determine event emcee Confirm supplies and decorations Determine an event photographer Develop an emergency plan and recruit first aiders to be on site for event. Review Safety Activity Checkpoints and Volunteer Essentials. Purchase additional insurance at gswo/forms Determine who will create registration list

5 Building Interaction into Your Event Girls from different troops interacting together should be built into the design of the event. Minimize the troop in the event. It is natural to group girls at the event by troop, but in doing this you are inhibiting interaction between girls of different troops. Make sure there are times for girls to be independent of the troop. Get the buy-in of leaders and volunteers. Let them know ahead of time about the interaction goals for the event. Make sure they help their girls overcome their insecurities by encouraging them to meet new friends and learn new things. Person Responsible Date Completed February (Two weeks prior to event) Close registration Create a registration list Order food Make final plans for event activities and speakers Design and print event evaluation Develop check-in procedure Confirm event day schedule and responsibilities with committee Send confirmation letter to troops and participants Confirm venue and set-up/tear down instructions One Week prior to event Write out checks to pay bills due on the event Purchase all decorations and nonperishable food Confirm emcee and speakers February (event day) Buy perishable supplies Arrive early to set up Review crisis management plan with volunteers Assign a committee member to greet and escort the press Distribute and collect event evaluations Thank volunteers and committee

6 Person Responsible Date Completed March Meet with committee to review evaluations Determine successes and challenges to improve on for next year Send thank you notes Pay outstanding bills, create final budget report, file for future reference Notes:

7 More Resources: Girlscouts.org Worldthinkingday.org gswoblog.org Scoutingweb.com altiusdriectory.com Girl s Guide to Girl Scouting handbook Journey leader guides SU and Circle Event Planning Guide sample budget Visit your Regional Girl Scout Center resource room Sample Event Day Template World Thinking Day 10:45 a.m. Committee sets up tables, supplies, decorations, registration table, wishing well, service project station. 11:30 a.m. Registration opens and troops arrive to set up displays. Activity providers, and guest speakers arrive to set up displays. 12:00 p.m. Arrival of troops who do not have displays and are only participating in event. 12:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony Flag ceremony with Girl Scout Promise and Law (see sample below) Welcome spoken by older Girl Scout who has been on a Destination trip or who has helped organize the event. She can give some background about herself and thank everyone for coming. Explain flow of event, how to travel to different booths, how to participate in service project, the Juliette Gordon Low Wishing Well and GSUSA awards or patch stations. Introduce activity providers and guest speakers like exchange students, Peace Corp volunteers, and museum curator. 12:45 p.m. Girls travel independantly to display and activity tables, service project table, and wishing well at their own time and pace, while taking turns with their troop mates to facilitate their troop s display. 2:30 p.m. Closing Older girl thanks troops and activity providers for participating Explain how and where to fill out event evaluations Closing flag ceremony (see below) 2:45 p.m. Participants fill out evaluations, clean up displays and tables, room re-set. 3 p.m. Event over

8 American Flag Protocol: In a Parade with Other Flags The American flag, when carried in a procession with another flag, or flags, should be either on the marching right; that is, the flag s own right, or if there is a line of other flags, in front of the center of that line. The flag of the United States of America should be at the center and at the highest point of the group when a number of flags of States or localities or pennants of societies are grouped and displayed from staffs. There is absolute silence from the time the flag ceremony begins until dismissed. The Color Guard remains silent from the time they start to walk in until they walk out. The Color Guard does not speak or sing with the group, but stays at attention. Color Guards and the Girl Scout in-charge (caller) may wear white gloves. Red sashes can be worn by Color Guards around their waist, right to left, tie on left. Red sashes worn by flag bearers are worn over the shoulder, right to left, tie on left at waist. For more information, check out this publication: Flag Protocol, Ceremonies and Activities at Girl Scouts of Central Illinois Opening Flag Ceremony "Girl Scouts, attention." Used to announce that the flag ceremony is to begin. "Color guard, advance." This signals the color guard to advance with the flags, or advance to pick up the flags. "Color guard, post the colors." This directs the color guard to place the flag in flag standards. "Color guard, honor your flag." The color guard salutes the American flag. "Please join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance." (Followed by the Girl Scout Promise and Law.) "Color guard, dismissed." The color guard leaves in formation, without the flag. Closing Flag Ceremony "Color guard, honor your flag." The color guard salutes the American flag. "Color guard, retire the colors." This asks the color guard to remove the flag from standards. "Color guard, dismissed." The color guard leaves in formation, with the flag. "Girl Scouts, dismissed." Girls may leave in formation or be at ease where they have been standing.

9 SAMPLE INVITATION/PROMOTIONAL FLIER World Thinking Day 2015 Sponsored by Service Units 601, 602, 603 and Troop 272 Each troop needs to: Sign up for a country This year s theme We can create peace through partnerships is based on a United Nation s Millennium Development Goal. February 22, :30 2:30 p.m. Elks Lodge 640 E. Elva St. Toledo, OH $2.00 per girl Create a display for that country including Girl Guide Uniforms, their version of the Girl Scout Promise and Law, traditional food, country flag, how this country creates peace and any additional items Be able to describe their display to other troops Provide a stamp or sticker for their country to visitors at their booth Optional: SWAPs and/or food samples Teach a song or dance Registration (see below) and money are due by February 8, Contact Stefanie Jones at or StephJones@ghost.com Leader s Name: Leader s and phone number: Troop #: Will participate with a booth Country Requested: # of girls: # of adults: X $2 = $ World Thinking Day Registration Will participate but not have a booth # of girls: # of adults: X $2 = $ (Checks payable to Service Unit 601)

10 SAMPLE SAVE THE DATE FLYER SAVE THE DATE World Thinking Day Event Sponsored by Service Units 601, 602, 603 and Troop 272 February 22, 2015 Elks Lodge, Toledo, OH 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. $2 per girl All troops are invited to set up a table display of a country of their choice. Troops can teach other girls about the Girl Scouts/Girl Guides in that country as well as share information on their food, life, and culture. Troops may provide either a swap, craft or food item from that country to visitors to the booth. Registration forms will be available in December. Contact Stephanie Jones for more information at stephjones@ghost.com. World Thinking Day Passport Instructions: Make one passport for each girl at your event. She will take the passport to each table and receive a stamp or sticker from that country. 1. Photocopy both covers together (two sided). 2. Photocopy inside pages together (two sided). 3. The inside pages should be enough for the number of booths that will be at your event. 4. Cut in half. 5. Fold pages in half and insert into cover. 6. Staple together. Other passport ideas: gsusa.org scoutingweb.com makingfriends.com

11 Passport World Thinking Day World Association Of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Passport World Thinking Day World Association Of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

12 Name Birthplace Nationality Issue Date Signature Name Birthplace Nationality Issue Date Signature

13 Visas Visas Visas Visas RS:rs/