Here We Go A'Caroling

Please plan to join other Crosstimbers Girl Scout troops to carol to the Crosstimbers teachers and staff on Tuesday, December 8 after school. Please plan to bring about 1 - 2 dozen cookies to share with the teachers and enjoy after the caroling is over. We will be done around 4:45.
Merry Christmas!

Service Project 2009

Service Project: Sack Lunches
Status: Complete
Rate: Great Success
Number made: 342
Comment: WOW!! Great Job!

We would like to thank our partners, donors and many helpers!

Our Partners

First United Methodist Church of Edmond's Children

Donors & Helpers

Homeland - Bryant & Danforth
Sam's Club - Penn & KTP
Crest - 15th & Santa Fe
Mrs Hale's Pre-K - Centennial
Marie Gately & Hugh Piatt
Rose Mary Black
Andrea Altendorf
Ooten Family
Woods Family
Burton Family
Boyer Family
McAdoo Family
and all of the Families that came to help make and distribute the lunches

Sack Lunch Mission 2009

November is "Service Month" and Junior Girl Scout Troop #840 along with the children of First United Methodist Church of Edmond will be making 300 Sack Lunches to feed some of the homeless of Oklahoma City on November 14. We will meet in the Christian Activity Center of FUMC on November 14 at 9:30 AM and plan to leave with all 300 lunches by about 11AM to deliver them.

Our troop is on a Journey to become Agents of Change and make a Difference in our World. We discovered that there is an on-going need in the community to help feed others. Our troop made 120 sack lunches last year and this year have invited the children of First United Methodist Church to join in this mission and make 300 Sack Lunches this year. The troop voted to make the lunches much like last year and include a sandwich, drink, piece of fruit, bag of pretzals and piece of candy. They younger children joining our mission will help by decorating the brown bags that the lunches will go into. We will be delivering them to either the Jesus House or Grace Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City. We have set a goal of making at least 300 Sack Lunches this year.
We are a Girl Scout Troop of 8 4th grade girls, from 2 different elementary schools in Edmond, OK and will be joined by the children of FUMC of Edmond.

We will be collecting donation for the lunches through this week and make the lunches on Saturday to be delivered for lunch the same day. We need bread, meat, drinks, sandwich bags, brown bags, boxes for delivery, pretzals, fruit and sweet treats (any Halloween Candy that you would like to donate) to include in the bag lunches.

If you have any questions or would like to donate, please contact Amy Akin, Junior Girl Scout Troop Leader at:
theakins@sbcglobal.net.

Power Log & HerStory Trading Cards

I hope you are all finding your "moxie" while you are discovering your Power of One while completing your Power Log (pg 15) Think about all of the skills that you use everyday! You are quite powerful and keeping track of the things you do will help you see just how powerful you can be!

Also, don't forget about your HerStory Trading Cards. Try to complete at least the 6 that we discussed last week:

Yourself
Juliette Low
Someone you know
role model alive
role model no longer alive
free choice

If you are having some trouble thinking of who to make cards of, take a look in your Agent book on pages 18 & 19. Or National Women's Hall of Fame has a really good list of women in US history.

November @ a glance

Thu Nov 5, 2009		4pm – 5pm	Jr GS Meeting - Erica Snack - CrossTimbers
Fri Nov 6, 2009			NO SCHOOL - PT Conf.
Thu Nov 12, 2009		4pm – 5pm	Jr GS Meeting @ Oak Cliff Fire Station - Kesha Snack- Flag Ceremony and Delivery of GS Cookies to Firemen/women. - Jr GS Meeting @ Oak Cliff Fire Station - Flag Ceremony and Delivery of GS Cookies to Firemen/women. Thu, November 12, 4pm – 5pm Where: CrossTimbers, Edmond, OK (map) [Delete] edit event details»
		6pm – 8pm	3rd Grade Musical Program - CT
Fri Nov 13, 2009		4:30pm – 6:30pm	First Lego League - GS
Sat Nov 14, 2009		9am – 12pm	Sack Lunch Service Project - CAC @ FUMC and Downtown OKC
Thu Nov 19, 2009		4pm – 5pm	Jr GS Meeting - Anna Snack - vote for new PL - CrossTimbers

Pet Care Badge

We are going to take steps to complete the Pet Care Badge on Thursday. Before then, take some time to consider the following:

Add It Up

What’s the cost of owning a pet? Figure this out for a pet you have now, or for an animal you’d like to have as a pet. What does the pet eat? How much does it eat? Does it need a special place to live? What will that space cost? What are its medical needs? Does it require special equipment, like a leash (dogs), a litter box (cats), a saddle (horse), or an air pump (tropical fish)? Does your community have any laws regarding that animal? Are there fees? Figure out the daily, monthly, and yearly costs for that animal.

Healthy Diet

What is a good diet for your pet? Collect ads for pet food. What information do they give you about the nutritional needs of your animal? Read labels on pet food containers and compare them for food values.

We will discuss these 2 requirements as well as To Have or to Have Not? and Animal Talk. If you have a picture of your pet or pets that you would like to bring to share with the troop, that would be great!

Free to Live Visit

The Troop enjoyed playing with the cats! They were able to give the cats treats while they played with them.

We found out that Free to Live is at capacity for both cats and dogs (about 180 of each). The adoption fee is $60 and that includes the animal's shots up to date and spayed or neutered.

Check out the slide show of all of the cats that Raven took pictures of while playing with them.

Free to Live

We are not meeting at our normal time this week.
We are going to visit Free to Live on Saturday at 1PM. We can meet at Oak Cliff at 12:45 for those that would like to ride together and back there at 2:15 for pick-up.

Last year when we voted with our pennies, doing something to help animals won our dollars. We will take something from their wish list (probably dog or cat food) to give to them while there. This visit is a part of our Pet Care badge.
Please reply or comment your acknowledgment of no meeting this week and your plan for Saturday (meet at Oak Cliff or at Free to Live).

Hurry! Limited time to vote!

• The Junior Badge poll closes 8AM on Thursday Morning, October 1.
  
• Once it's closed, it's closed.
  
• NO verbal voting on the current poll.
• In the case of multiple ties, we'll have a run-off.
• You may vote for up to 3 badges on this poll.
• Only vote once.
  

Pick Badges for the Troop

Polling is now open for Badge Selection for 2009-10.

You have chosen 20 different badges individually that you would like to complete as a troop. We will try to get in as many as we can, but we need your input. You have until the morning of October 1 to vote for your top 3 badge choices.

There are 5 different art badges on the list of 20. If there is a tie, we can have a run off.
Right now we are working to complete our 1st badge of this school year which is Girl Scouting in the USA. There are a few that are not in our books that we may want to look at adding to our program this year such as CyberGirl Scout Badge and The World in my Community Badge. If you want to take a look at other GS program opportunities that are online, this is the link.
Look to the right of this post on the blog and you will find the list of badges to vote from. Please just pick 3 then click vote. Also, please only vote once.
Thanks!

Troop Patrol Leadership

Congratulations to our new Troop Patrol Leaders! They are the 1st for this year and everyone will have the chance to provide leadership to the troop. The terms run for 5 meetings, and on the 5th we will have nominations and election for the next set of Patrol Leaders.

Record Keeper: Ali
Pirate (treasurer): Graysen
Kaper Keeper: Raven

The Record Keeper takes attendance and checks uniforms.
Pirate takes up weekly dues and accounts for them and current troop dues balance.
Kaper Keeper sets up and cleans up meeting space, they can delegate and ask for help.

This is just the beginning of leadership and responsibility opportunities for our Girl Scouts!

Please remember that you are responsible and you will either earn or not your Patrol Cord at the end of your 5 weeks. Please find a replacement if you will not be at a meeting and report your replacement.

Healthy Snack

Please check the calendar (see link above or the agenda on the right side) for your date to send or bring a Healthy Snack. Dates have been assigned up through the end of the year. If you can not bring or send a snack on that date, feel free to switch with someone. No Drinks, unless Capri Suns. There are 7 Girl Scout members at this time (and 3 brother-helpers). Thank you!!

Happy Fall!

Fall is officially here! Today is the Autumn Equinox, or first day of Autumn. Enjoy it!

Don't forget to look over your badge book and bring a few badge ideas that you would like to complete as a troop this year. If you do not have your book yet, no worries, just check out badges online.

Either write down your ideas or email them. See you Thursday! And Happy Fall!

Welcome Back Note

Welcome back Troop 840! This is going to be an exciting year. Here's a recap of some of what we covered at Thursday's meeting plus more that wasn't.

1. This year we will have Patrol's that will be responsible for taking attendance, records of uniform, treasurer, kaper keeper (set up and taken down table), flag bearers. They will earn a "Leadership Cord" that they can wear on their vest. They will be voted on by the troop and everyone will have the opportunity to provide this leadership to the troop throughout the year.

2. It is important that they are responsible for wearing their vest each week and bringing their quarter and book(s).

3. The leaders will keep a "catch ya being good" chart. This is to note the times that we see especially good behavior or participation.

4. We will have quarterly family celebrations to show the importance of what the girls are achieving with their badges, journey and service projects. (dates/times TBA)

5. We will take up a one time for the year dues of $25 to cover badges, crafts and extras. If you have extra cookie dough and would like to use that to pay the dues with, please let me know and that is acceptable.

6. There will NOT be paper notes sent home (unless they come from a source other than our troop specifically). Check your email for notes, dates, reminders and information of the like.

7. Snack: Healthy Snack please. No drinks, unless Capri Suns. Look at the troop calendar and email the dates you would like to send snack. As they are received, they will be added to the calendar. No dates are taken yet.

8. There are a few weeks that we can not meet on Thursdays. Check the calendar for those dates. A reminder will be posted prior to the date. We are going to try to do other activities or field trips those weeks. Details TBA.

9. ***Badges*** this is important :)
Girls, for this Thursday, look over your Badge book and bring 3 or 4 that you would like to accomplish this year. We will compile a list and you will get to vote on the blog. We will try to get as many of your choices done this year as we can.

Remember: Live by the Girl Scout Law. Have Fun. Do your best. and Be Prepared!

Let's Get Ready . . . . .

This is going to be another great year of Girl Scouting!
Check the calendar for up coming meeting dates as well as dates that we will not be meeting. You should plan to check your email and/or the blog at least weekly for notes, updates and much more.
There is a lot to look forward to this year, we are going to go from Traditions to Leadership and Self Esteem to Exciting Adventures.

So get ready with your vest, get set with your Junior Handbook and Badge book, and let's GO on this Journey together!
If you have any friends that would like to join us this year, please let us know or have their parents contact us. We would love to meet new friends and look forward to seeing the old.

Fall Program Guide 2009

The Girl Scout Fall Program Guide is now available. If there are any activities you are interested in participating in, please comment to this post.

Hold the Presses! Day Change!!

Day Correction: We will meet on Thursdays this year, NOT Tuesdays as previously reported.

Everything else is correct . . . as far as we know. (see last post)

So our first meeting will be September 17 CT Cafeteria - Pick up 5PM.

Juniors 2009-10

We hope everyone had a great summer! School starts next week, but Girl Scouts does not start until September 15. This year we will meet on Tuesdays after school, not Mondays, so mark your calendars. The troop calendar is updated to reflect this change.
If you have not already visited either the GS Western OK shop or website to purchase your uniform and handbook, here is a breakdown of the costs and items.

Item	$
Vest	$15.75
Troop #'s	$3.75
US flag	$1.75
Insignia tab	$2.50
GSWOK	$4.00
GS Pin	$2.00
* handbook	$10.95
* badge book	$11.95
**hand/badge books	$21.50

*Badge book alone has description of Junior Badges
*Handbook alone is not recommended
** package of both Handbook & Badge Book is the best deal to keep track of badges completed, information on Girl Scouting and Junior requirements.

Basically if you would like both books, a vest and the basic emblems it will be $51.25 plus tax.

Are you ready to discover your power? Are you ready to see how this power can make a change in the world?
We hope you are ready and excited to discover this power that you resides within you!
This year we will become "Agents of Change"!
The troop will purchase these books for you.

In addition to this journey, we will accomplish a number of badges. If you have any particular badges that you would like to do as a troop, please let us know.

We are excited to take this journey of Girl Scouting with you. We will see you Tuesday, September 15 after school at CrossTimbers for our 1st meeting of this school year.

*Mystery in our National Park series*

National Geographic Series Mysteries in Our National Parks

	Buried Alive, A Mystery in Denali National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • LITERATURE • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • The Landons are in Alaska's Denali National Park and are joined by 13-year-old Nicky Milano. Jack, Ashley and Nicky accept a dogsled ride from a man in a Park Service uniform -- which leads to trouble. (ALA251, $4.99)
	Cliff-Hanger, A Mystery in Mesa Verde National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • LITERATURE • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • Jack's mother is investigating a cougar attack at Mesa Verde in this installment of the popular series, co-authored by science and mystery authors. (USW522, $4.99)
	Deadly Waters: A Mystery in Everglades National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • Alane Ferguson • MYSTERY • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • While visiting the Everglades National Park with their parents, the Landon children uncover the mystery of dying manatees and learn important lessons about the natural environment. (FLA69, $4.99)
	Escape from Fear, A Mystery in Virgin Islands National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • MYSTERY • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • The Landon family races to figure out what is destroying the coral reefs at the Virgin Islands National Park in the ninth installment of the popular mystery series. (CRB208, $4.99)
	Ghost Horses, A Mystery in Zion National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • LITERATURE • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • Life-threatening accidents keep plaguing the Landon family as they investigate the mysterious deaths of white mustangs at Zion National Park (USW521, $4.99)
	The Hunted, A Mystery in Glacier National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • MYSTERY • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • The fifth installment from the popular series follows the Landon family's attempts to uncover the mysterious disappearance of grizzly cubs in Glacier National Park. (ALA252, $4.99)
	Night of the Black Bear, A Mystery in Great Smoky Mountains National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • LITERATURE • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • While their mother investigates a series of bear attacks in and near Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Jack and Ashley learn about country music and Cherokee people from two new friends, one of whom is keeping a secret. (USS400, $4.99)
	Out of the Deep, A Mystery in Acadia National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • MYSTERY • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • The Landons travel to Arcadia National Park in Maine for the tenth installment of the popular mystery series. (USE414, $4.99)
	Over the Edge, A Mystery in Grand Canyon National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • LITERATURE • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • The life of a biologist studying condors in the Grand Canyon is threatened in this entry in Mysteries in Our National Parks -- and the hostile teenage computer whiz in her family's foster care may be involved. (USW520, $4.99)
	Rage of Fire • Gloria Skurzynski • Alane Ferguson • MYSTERY • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • In this suspenseful entry in the Mysteries in our National series, Jack, Ashley and their parents visit Hawaii and meet a Vietnamese boy who leads them on a mysterious adventure into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. (HWI212, $5.95)
	Running Scared, A Mystery in Carlsbad Caverns National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • MYSTERY • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • The Landons travel to Carlsbad Cavern to study the local bat population, but find themselves lost in the dark tunnels of the caves in this installent of the Mysteries in Our National Parks series. (SWU236, $4.99)
	Valley of Death, A Mystery in Death Valley National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • LITERATURE • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • The Landon family makes a trip to Death Valley National Park accompanied by a mysterious new foster child, fourteen-year-old Leesa Sherman. (CAL216, $4.99)
	Wolf Stalker, A Mystery in Yellowstone National Park • Gloria Skurzynski • Alane Ferguson • MYSTERY • MIDDLE READERS (Age 9-12) • Published by National Geographic, this mystery concerns the shooting of a wolf in Yellowstone National Park. For readers ages 9-12. (RKY45, $4.99)

Amy Akin "Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or, Do without."
Junior GS Troop # 840
Akin Adventure

theakins@sbcglobal.net

No Kid Hungry - Dine Out 2009

Each year, more than 12 million children in America (one in six) worry about when their next meal will come.

Eat out the week of September 20-28, 2009 at a local participating restaurant.
Click to find one of the many near you!

CAMP EDGE VBS @ FUMC Edmond

SUMMERTIME FUN

CAMP E.D.G.E

The Lord is my strength and my might.

Psalm 118:14a

Camp E.D.G.E Vacation Bible School is not your typical stroll through the woods. It is an

action-packed, adrenaline-filled expedition to an Extreme Adventure Camp that teaches

kids their strength and might come from God!

First United Methodist Church of Edmond - 305 E Hurd in the CAC

Camp Dates July 20-24 from 9:30 to 12:00 (Noon)

Register on line (click here)

Twlight Campers

Quite a few from our troop will be at Twilight Camp this week. Keep an eye out for each other & have fun!

Happy Summer!

Summer plans will be found here on the blog & on the Troop Calendar. Check in for details.
See below for June's meeting info @ the Edmond Library.

Books Badge

We will meet at Edmond Public Library to complete the Books badge. We will try to make the meeting times for the summer some time during the 2nd week of the month.
For June, we will meet at Shannon Miller Park, just in front of the library on Wednesday, June 10 at 10AM for about 40 minutes. We will complete 6 of the requirements during the meeting. Please bring a gently used book(s) to donate to a local organization. (Troop will decide who will receive the books)

Books
Complete any six of the following requirements to earn this badge:

1. It's a Wide World
   Read two fold tales, stories, or poems from a culture other than your own. Share what you have learned in any of the following ways:
   - Act out one or more of the stories or folk tales.
   - Learn more about one or more of the writers.
   - Read one of the stories, poems, or folk tales to your Girl Scout group or another audience.
   - Create puppets and put on a puppet show, based on one of the stories, for a group of younger children or Girl Scouts.

2. Picture This!
   Select one or tow picture books and do one of the following:
   - Read the books to younger friends or Girl Scouts. Ask what they like about the illustrations and the stories.
   - Create two book covers to go with your selected books.
   - Create your own picture book in the same style.

3. Be a Tape Worm!
   Make an audiotape of a book, short story, magazine article, joke or riddle collection, play or poetry collection that you can give to someone who cannot read. You could, with your troop or group, make tapes at a local agency that service people who are blind or visually impaired. Practice reading aloud so that your tape will sound polished and smooth.

4. Be a Reading Helper
   Some children and adults have trouble reading. Find out from a reading specialist, teacher, librarian, or another adult about different types of reading difficulties or disabilities. Then, with the help of adults as needed, do one of the following:
   - put together and distribute a list of places to go in your community for reading help. This information is available at most libraries.
   - be a reading buddy. find out where you can help a younger child who is learning to read or having trouble reading. check with your teacher or leader, or ask your librarian if there are literacy or reading organizations in your community. volunteer to spend at least one-half hour a week for alt least a month with a reading partner.

5. The Living Past!
   When you read about something that happened a long time ago, you make the event come alive again in your mind. Read a story poem, or folk tale that reflects past life in the united States.

6. Read and Review
   In a newspaper or other source, read review of new books for your age level. Check one of the books out of the library, read it, and decide if the review was right.

7. How To? Read On!
   Become an expert in a subject by reading about it. You might read about the subject mater of another badge in this book. For example, read a book about dance, music, the life of a famous woman artist or sports hero, horses, cooking, the environment, or an historic event. Review the book in writing or discuss it with your troop or family.

8. Build a Library
   Share your love of reading with others in your community in one of two ways:
   - Set up a schedule with other Girl Scout members to bring library books in large print, in Braille, or on tape to someone who will enjoy them.
   - With the help of an adult, collect books and magazines for specific age levels and donate them to a library, camp, nursing home, youth shelter, pediatric office, clinic, day-care center, or other facility.

9. Books for Life
   Find out about careers for people who like books. If you can, visit with an author, poet, illustrator, editor, librarian, bookstore owner or book publisher or invite any of those professional to visit your troop or group.

10. Your Library's Treasures
    Explore your local library's resources. Prepare poster to encourage greater use of the library, or an advertising flyer to let the community know about all the library's treasures. Some libraries sponsor readings by local poets and authors, or concert series. What kinds of classes or lectures are available at yours?

Junior Record

Do you want to get started on Junior Badges?
Check out: The Junior Badge Page
Keep track of the options you complete and we will order your badges as you earn them.

Emmy

Emmy is planning on attending the

June 6 outdoor cooking breakfast

June 16 beginning fancy braiding

June 16 outdoor cooking dinner

July 16 Zinc the Zebra (might be on vacation?)

July 31 Strike it up for bowling

Abbigael's Scoops Schedule 09

Hello All, We can only make it to a few Scoops this summer but the ones we can go to will be GREAT!! So here you go. June 6, Cook Out Breakfast with Nancy Benedict June 19, Exploring Bluff Creek. Martin Nature Park July 11, Fit for a Princess at Oak Cliff Fire Station. Hope to see you there!! Sincrely Ruth~

flying up and bridging 2009

Junior Girl Scouts, that's what Troop 840 flew up to this weekend. Here flowers symbolized the Girl Scout Law. With colors and flowers we made a bouquet of meaning that we rededicated ourselves to uphold for another year of Girl Scouting.

And just in case you missed it, here's the list of some of the things we did as Brownies 2008-09:

We had fun with our friends

We went on a Haunted Hayride

We did arts and crafts

We tried “try-its”

We made 120 “Brownie” bag lunches for homeless in Oklahoma City.

We went on a Brownie Quest to become leaders

We found 3 keys: Discover Connect Take Action

We made SWAPS.

We made new friends

We sold Girl Scout Cookies (over 2,700 boxes)

We sent 233 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to military troops

We sang Christmas carols to elderly

We went to the “She and Me Chocolate Dreams” event

We learned about “going green” from Eco Ellie.

We Live, Love and Lead

We recycled

We celebrated “World Thinking Day”

We participated in Scout Sunday

We went to see Wizard of Oz

We had a Flag Retiring Ceremony

We had cookie booth sales

We sang songs

We experienced new things

We went “green”

We live by the Girl Scout Law

We are flying up to Junior Girl Scouts

About to Bridge and Fly up!

As they crossed the bridge, they were given a beautiful hand made lei, Rainbow Bridge, Brownie to Junior Wings and their first 2 Jr Badges. They gave Ms Ruth a Girl Scout Hand Shake and started their journey as Juniors.

With a Great Big Junior Smile!

Thank you for your support and for sharing your Girl Scouts with us. We are looking forward to a sharing their journey as Junior Girl Scouts.

Summer Sunsation Guide

The 2009 Summer Program Guide is available online now for you to check out.

Summer Sunsations Program & Event Guide 2009

The Junior activities begin on Page 5. There are a lot of FUN options. You can register on your own either through the council or venue depending on the event you choose. Registration information is on the last page. If you have "cookie dough" you can use it to pay for most registrations.
If you are planning on doing any of the events - post it to the comments of this post so that we will all know and maybe others will join you!
Have Fun Juniors!

See you all Sunday!

From junior

And the Winner is . .. . .

Junior Badge & Animals!

You voted to earn another Jr Badge. A part of the requirements for the "United we Stand" badge was the flag ceremony. Another was the Pledge of Allegiance and learning a patriotic song. At the flag retiring ceremony we sang God Bless America & TAPS. We will sing them both again at our Bridging Ceremony.

God Bless America

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home

Complete the requirement below and bring with you next Monday, May 4:

The American flag isn't the only American symbol. Find out about two other American symbols and what they stand for. Share with your troop.

Now to the Animal part - You voted with your pennies for the social or environmental action project that you all researched and the winner was ANIMALS with feeding children a close second then babies and education. We will find a local animal no-kill shelters to help, such as Free to Live. If you have thoughts or suggestions, please post in the comments for all to see.

Retiring Flag Ceremony

Monday, April 13, Troop 840 retired 2 US flags. The Brownies performed a traditional Girl Scout Flag Retiring Ceremony. We learned the significance of the symbolism of our flag as well as the importance of retiring flags with dignity and respect.

We cut each of the stripes to lay them on the fire one by one

“When the flag of our country has become worn or damaged, the proper way to dispose of it is through burning or burial. We are here to pay our last respects to these particular flags with love and reverence.

7 red stripes and 6 white stripes; Each strip stands for one of the 13 colonies that gained us liberty. The red stripes remind us of the lifeblood of the brave men & women who were ready to die for this, their country.

The white stripes remind us of the purity and cleanliness of purpose, thought, word and deed.

Each of the 50 states is represented by a star on a field of blue. The blue is for truth and justice, like the eternal blue of the star filled heavens.

We cut these flags with respect and will place them stripe by stripe on the fire.

The 1^st stripe stands for Delaware, then Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island” (adapted from the GSA handbook)

The field of Blue with white starts, which stands for all states was burned last and laid on the fire with 2 scouts holding the corners.


We ended the ceremony with God Bless America.
All 12 members of Brownie Troop 840 were present for this event. We thank Oak Cliff Fire Department for assisting us in the burn and Meme & Papa Akin (Raven's Grandparents) and Mr & Mrs Harris (Kesha's Parents) for the flags that we retired.

US Flag Patch Choice

Pick the patch! I didn't realize that some of us had earned the "wave the Flag" patch a few years ago in our old troop. We have an opportunity to earn a Junior Patch with one of the requirements being to have a public flag ceremony, which we did yesterday and will present the flags at the bridging ceremony. The 3rd option is to get a "fun" patch that is worn on the back of the vest or sash. It is really nice. The choice is yours. Here are the 3 patches. Vote for the one you would rather earn.
A. Brownie Try-it "wave the flag"
B. Junior Badge "united we stand"
C. Flag Ceremony Patch for Girl Scouts

See the poll to the right and vote. Voting is open for 1 week.

Please print this Flag Print Out to color!