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AHG
Leader
Resource Guide
Fall 2012
Featuring Joining Award, Dawn of Our
Country & Family Helper Badges.
In This Issue
P. 76-77
Activities Badge HelpsP. 35-64
Games
Girl Leadership
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under
your care, serving as overseers-not because
you must, but because you are willing, as
God wants you to be; not greedy for money,
but eager to serve; not lording it over those
entrusted to you, but being examples to the
flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive the crown of glory that will
never fade away.
1 Peter 5:2-4
Editor, Rachael Culpepper & Melanie Reid
To submit content for future Resource Guides, please visit
the AHG Leader Site, or email [email protected].
P. 77-78
P. 27-34
Hot Topic
P. 15-16
Outdoors
P. 21-26
Patriotism
P. 17-20
Seasonal
P. 65-75
Service
P. 12-14
P. 79
Snacks Social Development
P. 8-11
Spiritual Development P. 3-7
AHG
N at i o n a l
Leadership
Conference
Cincinnati │ Ohio
November 8-10, 2012
Save
The
Date
C
C
C
C
Connect
Challenge
Care
Celebrate
The following brief devotions are from faithgirlz.com.
This website is written by the authors of the Faithgirlz
book series from Zonderkidz. The series is described
as:
Faithgirlz is a collection of books, Bibles and resources
designed to provide transformational Christian experiences
for tween girls.
Faithgirlz encourages honest tween-girl empowerment by
providing engaging, relevant, high-quality offerings, helping
tween girls understand their world, learn biblical teachings,
become closer to God, and to grow into Godly teenagers.
Faithgirlz offers excellent content and contributions from
leading Christian tween writers and spokespeople including
Nancy Rue, Melody Carlson, Kristi Holl, and more.
others out. You’d be much smarter, in fact, to seek
out sensible people and ask for guidance. Don’t let
your pride trick you into thinking you already know
everything. Assume that you don’t, and be open to
learning from other (hopefully wiser) people in your
life. Do two things. First, listen when others share
their thoughts with you. Since you already know what
YOU know, you won’t learn anything by doing all the
talking. Learning only increases when you listen.
Second, if you have a decision to make (“Should I
quit band?”“Should I go to that movie?”), seek out
sensible, godly people and ask their advice.
Want to put yourself on the fast track to learning? Zip
your lip, sharpen your ears, and become wise!
Growing up isn’t easy. With so much to learn and discover
sometimes deciding who you are is the biggest challenge of
all. Faithgirlz can help. Our entertaining and inspiring stories
will help you better understand God’s love and promise for
you. Discover the “Beauty of Believing” that you are a child of
God and that He has a good and perfect will for your life. So
what are you waiting for? Let your faith shine through in all
that you do. Join in, and become a Faithgirl today!
People Pleasing
Your approval or disapproval means nothing to
me, because I know you don’t have God’s love
within you. John 5:41–42 (NLT)
Faithgirlz! devotionals connect with girlz in their own
language and speak to the everyday lives of girlz
today. This custom line of devotionals uses visually
interesting, illustrated pages and bite-sized lessons
and fun facts to help girlz discover the Bible in their
own, special way.
Nicole’s youth group at church was having a lockin Friday night. Nicole had a starring role in the
evening’s opening skit, and she looked forward to it.
That is, until Kaylie invited her to a skating party for
the same night. Kaylie was the most popular girl in
Nicole’s grade and rarely spoke to Nicole. Now she’d
been invited to a party with Kaylie’s friends! Nicole
desperately wanted to go. What would Kaylie think
of her if she turned down a party invitation to go to
church? Nicole hedged and said she’d let Kaylie
know the next day. That night, Nicole wrestled with
her emotions. She wanted Kaylie to like her, but she’d
promised to be in the skit at the lock-in. She knew
without even praying that God wouldn’t approve if she
skipped the lock-in in favor of pleasing Kaylie. It was
hard turning down the party invitation, but in the end,
pleasing God mattered more to Nicole.
Anybody Listening?
“A wise man will hear and increase learning, and
a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.”
—Proverbs 1:5 (NKJV)
A sensible, perceptive, and wise girl will listen and
pay attention. By doing so, she’ll acquire greater and
deeper learning. A girl who wants the ability to make
good judgments and decisions will search out sensible
guidance and advice.
When you’re excited to share something with your
family or best friend, do you do all the talking? Do you
“tune out” anything others might say because you’re so
focused on your own speech? Then you are missing
an opportunity to grow and learn. When a teacher or
parent tries to correct you about something, do you
pay attention and consider what is said? Or are you
content to simply appear as if you’re listening, while
you wait for them to finish and go away.
Again, you’ve missed a chance to get smarter.
Proverbs says you should do the opposite of tuning
Spiritual
Devotion -
Development
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Jesus was often criticized, but the approval of people
meant nothing to him. His unwavering confidence in
God’s approval set him free from human opinion. It
can also free you from the trap of “people pleasing.”
Jesus had some hard words of warning on this subject:
“No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor
each other, but you don’t care about the honor that
comes from God alone” (John 5:44 NLT). If you live
to earn the rewards that come from pleasing people,
you create a trap for yourself. No matter what you do,
not everyone will approve of you.
Even your best friends won’t be pleased with you all
the time. If, instead, you concentrate on receiving
God’s approval, you can live free from the trap of
human opinion.
3
The Focus on the Family website (www.fotf.org)
offers a number of great resources for teaching girls
about the Creed attributes. The following is from
their Character Crew series: (www.focusonthefamily.
com/parenting/spiritual_growth_for_kids/character_crew/
respect.aspx)
Respect
Showing consideration and regard for yourself, others
and the world around you.
Discuss the benefits of treating others in the same
way you would like to be treated. Help your child
understand that all people have value and therefore
should be treated with respect.
People show respect in many ways. They speak and
act kindly, avoid insults, cruel comments and rude
language. They are courteous and considerate to
family members and treat others fairly, regardless
of race, sex, age or ethnic group. They demonstrate
respect for people who do not share their beliefs,
likes, and dislikes.
American writer James Baldwin once said, "Children
have never been good at listening to their elders, but
they have never failed to imitate them." Children learn
respect (or disrespect) from how we treat them and
others. They reflect back everything we, as parents,
say and do. When we give children the same respect
we demand, we are modeling this important character
trait. Remember, how we teach them is what we
teach them.
From Focusonthefamily.com. Copyright © 2004, Focus on
the Family. Used by permission.
Activities:
Listen to this Adventures in Odyssey episode
(Relatively Annoying) with your family. Audio available
by searching "Relatively Annoying" on main FOTF
site, or at http://www.focusonthefamily.com/popups/
media_player.aspx?MediaId={54825C26-720047BF-9AC3-AB24DAA598DC}&FAMILYTYPE=null
Quick Sum:
Alex T. Jefferson has a good life; he only wishes it
didn't have to end this way. He doesn't think he's
strong enough to survive a week at Grandpa's
house! It's bad enough that his grandparents serve
disgusting food and talk about death all the time. But
then Grandpa takes away Alex's video game — his
only source of entertainment!
Fast Ask:
- Why didn't Alex respect his grandparents at
the beginning of the show? How should he have
acted differently?
Spiritual
Creed Resources - Respect
Development
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
- At the end, Alex said he understood his
grandparents a little better. What allowed him to
understand them more? How can knowing people
better help us develop a deeper friendship with
them?
- Read Leviticus 19:32. If Alex had read and
obeyed this verse, how would he have acted
differently?
Based on the Adventures in Odyssey episode, "Relatively
Annoying." From Focusonthefamily.com. Copyright ©
2004, Focus on the Family. Used by permission.
Friendly Dinner
Ages - 4-7
This activity teaches that everyone is different,
special and should receive respect.
Gather
- blank paper place mats (You can purchase them
or make them out of poster board.)
- markers
- clear contact paper
Go
- Give every family member a place mat. Have
each person write his or her name in the center
and draw a picture of something he likes or that
represents him.
- Once everyone has personalized a place mat,
pass the place mats to other family members.
Around the edge of each person's place mat,
the other people should write something special
about that person as well as something worthy of
respect.
- Carefully coat each place mat with contact
paper. Use these place mats at dinner. While
eating, ask each person to share what she wrote
about the others.
From Focusonthefamily.com. Copyright © 2004, Focus
on the Family. Used by permission.
4
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7,6 8,1 7,1 8,0 9,2
7,3 9,3 9,5 8,0
8,2 9,2 7,6 8,1 7,1 8,0 9,2 8,3
9,1 8,4 9,4
8,3 9,3 8,3 8,1 8,0 9,2 8,3
9,6 9,3 7,0 8,0
8,0 9,1 7,2 7,1
7,6 8,1 7,1 8,0 9,2
7,4 7,6 9,2 8,0
7,1 7,6 8,4 7,6 9,2
8,1 7,1 9,1 8,4
Additional Resources for Respect:
Spiritual
Growing Respect
Ages - 8-12
Have your children use the letter graph to complete
the puzzle and find out how God wants them to treat
others.
Development
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Adventures in Odyssey Life Lessons Volume #11:
Respect
Your kids will love this
engaging
collection
of
character-shaping
audio stories. It's all
about respect as up and
coming
performance
artist Aubrey learns
to accept that her
parents' embarrassing
overreacting is just their way of showing they care.
Alex learns a new appreciation for his grandparents
after enduring quite a dreaded week with them. And
imaginative, impulsive Lawrence will be leaving
orthodontic care to the professionals from now
on! CD also includes a PDF of both the student
text and teacher's guide. Contains 3 Episodes: *
'Relatively Annoying' * 'Subject Yourself' * 'Potlucks
and Poetry'
http://family.christianbook.com
7,5 7,6 9,0
8,5 9,1 8,4 8,1
8,6 7,6 9,2
7,5 7,6 9,0 9,2 8,3 8,0 7,3 7,0 8,0 8,3
Answer: "Love each other like brothers and sisters.
Give each other more honor than you want for
yourselves" (Romans 12:10, NCV).
From Focusonthefamily.com. Copyright © 2004, Focus on
the Family. Used by permission.
5
I praise you because I am
fearfully and wonderfully
made; your works are
wonderful, I know that full
well. My frame was not hidden
from you when I was made in
the secret place. When I was
woven together in the depths
of the earth, your eyes saw
my unformed body. All the
days ordained for me were
written in your book before one of them came to be - (Psalm
139:14-15, NIV).
Friend to Friend
It was my first day of teaching second grade. While
standing at the classroom door, greeting parents and
children, I felt a tug on my skirt. I looked down into the
beautiful blue eyes of Sammy, one of my new students.
His mother, who was standing beside Sammy, looked
at me and said, “I guess you’ve heard about Sammy.
Good luck!” As she walked away, Sammy said, “She’s
right. I’m dumb and mean and can’t read or write.”
Lisa was a tall, blonde and beautiful young woman with
zero self-confidence. Lisa was the family joke because
she was always dropping things or falling on the stairs.
“Klutz” became her nickname at home and quickly
caught on in the youth group and church where her
father was the pastor.
A young wife and mother sobbed out her confession
that she had just ended an affair, “He made me feel
important and special.” A talented singer and pianist,
she vowed to never again sing or play because she
was damaged goods.
I often hear and see the same prison described by
women living in the grip of failure and defeat for one
reason or another. I want to share some good news
with you. God can set you free to be all He created
you to be. A healthy self-image is not rooted in pride,
and it does not exalt self above others. In Romans
12:3, Paul clearly says, “Do not think of yourself more
highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with
sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of
faith God has given you.” Be realistic in your opinion
of yourself. Success comes when we learn to accept
God’s evaluation instead of our own, when we give Him
permission to make us what He created us to be and
when we begin to understand who we are in His eyes.
How? Let’s look at six steps we can take to understand
who we are in the eyes of God.
Step one: Check the label.
I love a good sale, don’t you? In fact, I am tempted
to think that a 75% off tag may very well be a sign
from God. However, I have learned that you can save
money in the long run if you check the label. Let me
explain. We needed a new sofa. It had to be a certain
color and style and cost a certain amount. I headed
for the nearest furniture outlet, where I narrowed my
selection down to two sofas. Both were on sale and
both would work in our home. I saw the salesman
coming. Before he could say a word, I asked, “Which
one of these sofas would you tell your wife to buy?” The
man immediately pointed to one of the sofas and said,
“Definitely that one.” When I asked why he had chosen
that particular sofa, he replied, “Check the label. The
one I chose was made by a company known for its
quality work. The other sofa is a cheap imitation.”
Spiritual
Leadership Devotion - In His Eyes
By: Mary Southerland
Development
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
We can judge a product’s potential and value by
looking at the one who created it. You are valuable
simply because you were created by the hand of God.
His design of you and His plan for your life is second
to none. To cower or crawl in inferiority is to say to
God, “You made a mistake when you made me.” God
doesn’t make mistakes, girlfriend. He never has to
say “Oops!” You were created in His likeness. You are
valuable to God. God knows your name and loves
you. You are His masterpiece and have been validated
by God Himself.
Step two: Embrace the plan.
While painting in the city park, an artist spotted a beggar
sitting across the path from where he was working.
Thinking of God’s handiwork in every human being,
the artist painted the man as he imagined he could be
and then called the beggar to see the painting. “Is that
me?’ the beggar asked. “That is the way I see you,”
replied the artist. The beggar stared at the painting.
With tears in his eyes he said, “If that’s the man you
see in me, then that’s the man I will be!” God created
you in response to a unique plan He has for your life.
As you read the Bible and obey His truth, that plan will
unfold.
Step three: Be yourself.
We should always be looking for something new to
learn, an area where we can grow and changes that
need to be made. Sit down with your mate or close friend
and ask for a realistic evaluation of your strengths and
weaknesses. Constantly search for gifts and abilities
on which you can work. Don’t be afraid of change. It
is a sign of life and growth. Change what needs to be
changed, accept what you cannot change and quit
whining about it! Don’t waste another minute trying
6
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
to be someone you were never created to be. Stop
questioning God’s design for your life. When an old
man from the mountains of North Carolina was asked
how he created such extraordinary wooden carvings
of dogs, he replied, “Well, I just take my knife and a
piece of wood and carve away everything that doesn’t
look like a dog.” Learning to see your-self through the
eyes of God is like “carving away” everything that is
not part of the original design – God’s plan – and then
learning how to accept what remains.
Step four: Guard your mind.
We are bombarded on all sides by the media, family
and friends, co-workers and even enemies who have
a certain identity they want to assign to us. We have
a choice. No one makes us feel inferior without our
permission. We will become what we allow our heart
and mind to dwell on. An old adage says it well: “You
can’t keep a bird from flying over your head but you
can keep it from building a nest in your hair.” It is
impossible to avoid destructive thinking entirely. We
will be tempted. We will have negative thoughts and
temptations, but we do not have to allow them to dwell
in our minds. God has given us a “garbage disposal”
for the mind.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think
about such things.”
We once lived in Miami, Florida, a place where ships
come from all over world. However, before a ship is
allowed to dock, an inspection team goes aboard with
one assignment. Find every bit of contamination on
board that ship. If contamination of any kind is found,
the ship must be quarantined until it is cleaned up and
inspected again. The ship is then allowed to dock. We
need to control our thought life in the same way.
Step five: Control your tongue.
Our words either build up or tear down. Scripture tells
us not to curse others because they are made in the
image of God. So are we. As a mom, I constantly
warned our children about the danger of critical words.
I wanted them to learn how to encourage others with
their words as well as have a healthy picture of who
they are. One day, while standing in front my bathroom
mirror, I began berating myself for something I had
done. I didn’t see our son who was quietly standing
in our bedroom door where he could hear every word
I said. “Mom, who are you talking to?” he asked.
I sheepishly replied, “I was talking to myself.” He
thought for a moment and then offered a convicting
observation, “Boy, if I talked like that, I’d be in big
trouble!” I was immediately reminded of the words in
Psalm 141:3: “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD;
keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Words are like seeds. What we plant will grow. If we
sow destructive, critical words, we will reap a life that is
negative and critical, but if we sow words of truth, we
will reap a life of peace and purpose, knowing who we
are in His eyes.
Step six: Be Patient
Weeds spring up overnight but it takes years for a
mighty oak to grow. Today, you can take the first step
toward gaining a new perspective of who you are in
Christ. Our Father says it this way in Philippians 1:6,
“And I am sure that God who began the good work
within you will keep right on helping you grow in his
grace until his task within you is finally finished on that
day when Jesus Christ returns.”
Let’s Pray
Lord, I want to know You more and learn to see myself
as You see me. Please help me recognize and guard
against anything or anyone who would chip away at
Your truth working in my life. I believe You love me and
cherish me as Your daughter. Help me to walk in that
value and worth and then lead others to do the same.
I praise You for validating my very existence as part of
Your heart’s plan. I love You, Father.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read the verses of Scripture and answer the questions
listed below.
Ephesians 2:10. How does this verse of Scripture
emphasize the fact that you and I were created in
response to God’s plan, not as an afterthought or as
an accident?
Psalm 8:3-5. How do these verses line up with the
way you see yourself right now? What one immediate
change do you need to make in order to see yourself
the way God sees you?
Jeremiah 29:11. Are you living a life plan that gives
you hope and a future? Is it the right plan?
Here is your assignment for the week. Read Psalm
139 at least one time every day. In your journal, write
each verse in your own words. At the end of the week,
set aside time to celebrate who you are in Christ. Have
a praise party – just you and God – or invite a few
girlfriends to join you in celebrating how special you
are to Him.
From
http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/girlfriends/.
You can subscribe for daily devotions at crosswalk.com.
7
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Social Development -
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To go along with this fun-filled show, VeggieTales has
worked with AHG to create a guide
on planning a Troop Princess Party!
A Princess Party featuring the NEW
Penniless Princess DVD is a great
way to share the faith, service and
fun that is AHG with the girls in your
community. Consider making a
Princess Party part of your Troop’s
recruitment plans!
Development
NEW Veggie Tales Movie
bonus features. Plus, a special tour of London with
the popular French Peas characters, a hilarious look
at the history of the Teddy Bear, a discussion guide
for parents, behind the scenes clips and other bonus
features. Visit www.ahgonline.org/veggietales to
view the official trailer for The Penniless Princess.
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American Heritage Girls has once again partnered with
VeggieTales in promoting their upcoming release, The
Penniless Princess: God’s Little Girl.
Being released on August 11,
2012, VeggieTales’ The Penniless
Princess DVD teaches girls that
God is always with you – no
matter what! It reminds girls that
true worth is not about what you
have, but what is in your heart.
Whatever is true, honorable,
pure and lovely... practice these
things.” – Philippians 4:8
The DVD’s story is based on the children’s book A Little
Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and helps to
teach an important lesson about knowing your own
true worth and trusting God, no matter what happens in
life. Sweet Sara Crewe has everything a little girl could
want - a loving family, lots of friends, and a closet full of
frilly dresses! But when life takes a turn and Sara goes
from riches to rags, will she realize that her true worth
lies not in what she has, but what she has in her heart?
Find out this Summer in this inspiring new story from
VeggieTales that reminds kids who they are in God's
eyes.
VeggieTales: The Penniless Princess
— God’s Little Girl includes plenty
of engaging and fun music fit for
families, including the all-new Silly
Song “Best Friends Forever” and the
featured song “No Matter What,” both
in sing-along versions in the DVD
indicia are
likenesse
s and other
r names,
VEGGIET
ALES®, characte
ment, LLC.
Entertain
Big Idea
© 2012
Penniless Princess
DVD, Patch Program & Event Kit
August 11, 2012 Release Date
tradema
rks of and
copyrigh
ted by Big
Idea Entertain
ment, LLC.
All rights
reserved
.
Ideas for
Video Disc
ussion Que
stions
You can find a copy of the Princess Party
Event Guide at www.ahgonline.org/veggietales or
by visiting the Leader portal of the AHG Website.
In addition to offering this free resource, Veggie Tales
is offering a special Penniless Princess Event Kit for
only $19.99, including:
• Event DVD (with full show)
• Event Guide
• 2 Event Posters
• 20 Balloons
• 10 Mini-Event Posters
• 50 Kids Activity Posters
• 200 Stickers and More!
Celebrate this lesson in True Worth with your Penniless
Princess Event Kit! Visit VeggieTales.com to order
your Event Kit today! *Event Kits begin shipping June
11th - DVD in stores August 11th!
Troops planning a Princess Party
can also order special event patches
from VeggieTales.com.
Add a craft for a fun twist. Make these crowns fit
for a princess:
Fairy Crown
Transform a cardboard tube into a
fanciful tiara that’ll inspire magical
play.
Step 1 - Decoupage a paper towel
tube with colorful tissue paper* and
let it dry.
8
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
bunches of olympic-colored balloons and the scene
is set. Olympic colors (blue, yellow, black, green and
red) can be repeated in the tablecloths, napkins, cups,
etc. that may be used for refreshments.
Social
Development
Step 2 - Flatten the tube, then make alternating
cuts into the sides, almost all the way through, as
shown.
Step 3 - Unflatten the tube and gently stretch it
apart to create connected rings. Tape the ends of
the tube together.
Step 4 - With tacky glue add
glitter, sequins, feathers, and
pom-poms.
You can use a decoupage medium, such as Mod
Podge, or a solution of equal parts tacky glue and
water. Brush it onto the tube, one section at a time,
cover with pieces of tissue paper, and brush the
top with more glue.
From Family Fun Magazine, August 2012 edition
Father-Daughter Olympics
Make your "stadium" festive and put your guests in
the Olympic spirit by creating several flag garlands to
swag around the yard. To start, reference the Olympic
Official Website (http://www.london2012.com/) to find
out which countries are competing. To get detailed
photos of their flags, visit the World Flag Database
(http://www.flags.net/).
Gather several sheets of colored cardstock, paper
glue, scissors, circle and star punches, and a paper
trimmer.
With the 2012 Summer Olympics fresh on our minds,
it's a great time to plan some Father-Daughter fun with
your own Troop Olympics. Girls will surely have lots
of fun and exciting ideas to make this time with their
Dad memorable, but here are a few ideas to get them
started:
Invitation: Print invitations with CALLING ALL
Olympians! Join us for AHG Troop ____'s FatherDaughter Olympic Games! Date: Opening ceremonies
commence: 2:00 p.m. Closing ceremonies conclude:
6:30 p.m. Hosting Country: (event location). Come
ready to compete! Glue a few Fruit Loops at the top
for Olympic Rings and they're ready to be delivered!
Decorations: Using an old twin bed sheet, or a roll of
craft paper, girls can create a banner welcoming the
athletes. Hang this at your entrance, along with a few
For each flag, cut a piece of cardstock measuring
four inches by eleven inches. Fold the cardstock in
half (the long way) and crease. Cut stripes or bands,
punch circles or stars to decorate your flags. Once
you’ve made all of your flags, cut a length of bakers
twine and hang the creased end of each flag over the
twine. Stick a piece of double sided tape between the
two layers of the flag to secure.
http://www2.fiskars.com/Activities/Crafting/Articles/BackYard-Olympics
Event Set-Up: Consider marking each event with
a large sign (hammered into the ground for outside
events, or hung on the wall for indoor). You will likely
also want a clipboard (for recording results) and a
whistle/ stopwatch/measuring tape for the judge.
Pre-event activities: As the pairs/teams arrive,
assign each a competitor
number. This will assist
with result keeping, etc.
Numbers/country
flags
can be included in a
participant lanyard for an
extra bit of "official" fun.
www2.fiskars.com/Activities/Crafting/Articles/Back-Yard-Olympics
9
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Designated girl leaders can lead the group in stretching
exercises while you wait for all participants to arrive.
Father-Daughter pairs/teams can then be provided
materials to create a team name & flag.
Once all pairs/teams have created their flag, you're
ready for the opening ceremony. Choose an older girl
to be the torch barer (carrying a tiki-torch or the like)
and have all teams line up behind her. Be sure to follow
all appropriate fire-safety measures. Play the Olympic
theme song as teams walk through your opening
ceremony area carrying their team flags. Conclude
your parade with the U.S. National Anthem and a brief
discussion on any pertinent rules and/or schedules for
the day. Now, let the games begin!
Events: The number of events you choose will depend
largely on the number of participants and the length of
your activity. Large groups will likely want to have a
round robin type format so not all pairs are starting at
the same event and/or have a number of relay events.
Some ideas include:
The Discus Throw: allow participants to throw Frisbees
for 2 minutes into hula hoops, each hoop worth a predetermined number of points. Record total points for
each team on clipboard.
The Bubble Gum Bubble Blow: each girl chewed 2
pieces of bubble gum, then attempted to blow a big
bubble. Each girl's biggest bubble was measured
and recorded (in centimeters), and then these
measurements were added up to determine the team
total.
The Croquet Ball Shot Put: each girl threw the ball 3
times. The ground was marked with spray paint ahead
of time to help make the measuring easier. Each throw
was recorded, and then the furthest of the 3 was used
in the team total.
Synchronized Snack Toss
Divide players into teams of
two. Start a one-minute timer.
Pairs must get a shower
cap onto one teammate's
head and cover the cap with
shaving cream. Then the
capless teammate, standing
behind a tape or rope line a
few feet away, tries to throw
cheese puffs into the shaving
cream. The team gets a point
for every puff still on the cap
when the minute is up.
http://www.parents.com/fun/parties/ideas/olympics-partygames-ideas/?page=3
Refreshments: A large container of water and/or
Gatorade-type drink is a must for thirsty athletes. In
addition, you may want to have a refueling station set
up in the middle of the "stadium" for participants to
visit and grab a snack during event changes - granola
bars, fruit snacks, string cheese, go-gurts might be on
the menu. You can also get creative with some of
these fun treats:
Twizzlers
wrapped
in
Patriotic Ribbon (hot glued
in the back):
Olympic
torches,
made with ice cream
cones and popcorn.
asmallsnippet.blogspot.com
Olympic ring bagels
Ingredients
- 2 .5 bagels sliced in two and toasted
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Pineapple (or bananas)
- Green grapes
- Cream Cheese
Method
Toast the sliced bagels,
smear them with cream
cheese and arrange your
toppings, Healthy and fit
for an Olympic athlete.
http://babybudgeting.co.uk/how-to-make-olympic-ringbagels/
10
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Award ceremony: After everyone has finished their
events and had time to enjoy refreshments eating gather
teams for the awards/medal ceremony. Invite gold,
silver, and bronze medal winners for each event atop
the podium, as well as your all around medal winners.
Additional awards can be given to best sportsmanship,
team spirit, etc.
join the ends together with a couple of staples.
Cut two more 1.5 x 12 inch strips from green card
stock and glue them inside to line the crown and cover
the staples.
fiskarscraft.typepad.com
Many party stores carry medals, or have your girls create
their own unique medals ahead of time. Winners can
also be presented laurel crowns. In ancient Greece,
laurel crowns were presented to the Olympic victors.
This paper version would be perfect to crown the big
winners of your Father-Daughter Olympics.
Use your paper trimmer to cut two strips of green
cardstock measuring 1.5 inches by 12 inches. Overlap
the ends and staple together to create one long strip.
Use your XL Circle Punch to punch out your “laurel
leaves” from two 12 x 12 sheets of textured or twotoned green cardstock.
Fold each circle in half, and make a crease in the bottom
half of each circle. One by one, staple the creased end
of leaves to the strip, working your way towards the
end. When the strip is completely covered with leaves,
11
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Service AHG's National Day of Service
Save the 3rd Saturday in September each year for
an AHG's National Day of Service event with your
American Heritage Girls Troop!
Join AHG Troops and families across the nation and
girls across the globe serving in their communities,
Charters, churches and charities!
Visit www.ahgonline.org/ndsresources for information
to equip your Troop to express your FAITH, give
SERVICE and have lots of FUN! The following
resources are available:
- Participation Form
- Save the Date Flyer
- Press Release Template
- YouTube NDS Promo Video
- Public Service Announcement: MP3 and script
- National Day of Service Patches
3 Easy Steps to Participating!
Plan
• Save the date in your programming year - Troops
are encouraged to plan an event for the third
Saturday of September
• Discover a need in your Charter, community and
local charities
• Pray with your AHG Troop Board, Charter
Representative and the girls to decide who your
Troop can serve and how to make an impact.
Struggling to find a project? Check out the Service
pages for ideas (www.ahgonline.org/service).
• Utilize the Free to B A Blessing Patch Program
Communicate
• Communicate the National Day of Service. Tell
your Charter, your Troop, the community using
the tools available from AHG (www.ahgonline.
org/ndsresources)
- Press Release template
- YouTube video
- Public Service Announcement - A PSA is
a public service announcement. A radio
station can use this MP3 or prefer to read
the script to promote your event. You may
also use these in social media formats such
as websites, blogs, podcasts.
Service
Save the Date!
AHG's First Annual National Day of Service
September 15, 2012
as part of your celebration (available at www.
ahgonline.org/FBAB).
The MP3 is 30 seconds. The script is
15 seconds.
- MP3 File
- Script
• Share your plans with AHG, Inc. and other AHG
members at www.ahgonline.org/nds.
• Invite the local media (newspapers, radio, TV
stations) to your service event
• Post your event on Social Media, Facebook,
Blogs, Websites, Church websites and community
bulletins. **Remember to Follow the Social Media
Guidelines for safe use of Social Media**
Celebrate the AHG National Day of Service
• Serve in your community
• Take pictures, videos
• Use Press Release Template to share your
event with the local media, your Charter and on
Social Media (Include pictures and video)
• Share the successes of the day on Social Media,
such as the AHG, Inc Facebook page
• Use these keywords on Twitter:
#AHGserves
#Serve
#AmericanHeritageGirls
#FaithServiceFun
• Order your Troops National Day of Service
Patches from the AHG Attic
Mark your calendars and start talking with your
Troop and family about how you can join in the fun
and impact your community on this very special day!
Visit www.ahgonline.org/nds for more information.
12
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Free to B. a Blessing Patch Program
Now Available!
No matter what your age. No matter where you live.
No matter what your background. God wrote a story
just for you. It's true. There never has been, or will
be, a story just like yours; Jeremiah 29:11 promises
it's a story of hope and purpose. More than that,
Ephesians 3:20 says God can do more with your
story than ALL you can imagine. All you can imagine!
So imagine this: How do you think God is calling you
to tell your story? How can you use your unique gifts
and interests to serve others? Because that's where
true joy and purpose live - in being the light God calls
us to be in Matthew 5:16.
This is the nutshell summary of the
new Free to B. a Blessing Program
developed by Frieda B., LLC for
AHG. Based on the children's
picture book Frieda B. Herself
about a freckle-faced girl who believes she is free to
be what she dreams she can be, the FBAB program
guides girls of all ages through the process of
identifying, exploring and dreaming about their own
God-given story... ultimately using it to B. a Blessing
to others. A perfect pairing for the 1st Annual AHG
National Day of Service on September 15th!
To learn more, access all FBAB program resources,
and order patches, visit ahgonline/FBAB or FriedaB.
com/AHG.
Dream Big... Believe... B. a Blessing.
Operation Christmas Child
Troops will be receiving an
informational packet in mid-August,
sent to your Charter Organization,
about how you can participate in
Operation Christmas Child – the
world’s largest Christmas project.
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to
2012 marks an important milestone for Operation
Christmas Child as we surpass reaching 100 million
children with God’s love since the start of the project
in 1993. These shoe boxes have been packed,
shipped, and delivered to needy children who are
victims of war, poverty, disease and natural disaster.
People of all ages can be involved in this simple,
hands-on mission’s project while focusing on the
true meaning of Christmas—Jesus Christ.
Service
New from AHG and Frieda B.:
the Free to B. a Blessing Program!
children in desperate situations around the world
through gift-filled shoe boxes and the Good News
of God’s love. AHG was blessed to hear from one
of the millions of shoe box recipients at last year’s
Convention - Oksana from Russia.
The OCC website offers a number of resources for
Troops interested in serving. Beginning in September,
you can access the OCC website, type in your zip
code, and find your closest drop-off location. In
addition, you can find general information about the
project, instructions on filling a shoe box, as well as a
number of stories about children who have received
the shoe box gifts and participated in the follow-up
discipleship program, The Greatest Journey. There
are a number of free promotional resources available
that you may find helpful in sharing this project
with your Troop families, Charter Organization or
community. Patches for OCC participation will also
be available on the website.
National Collection Week is November 12-19
Though collection week is not until November, it’s
not too early to start planning your project. The
actual packing of the shoe boxes is the easiest part
of the process. You will need to plan ahead in order
to collect the items to fill the boxes. Members of the
Charter Organization and members of your local
community will often be very supportive in securing
the resources necessary to fill the shoe boxes.
How to Pack a Shoe Box
1. SHOE BOX
Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please)
or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box
(lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most
importantly, pray for the child who will receive your
gift.
2. BOY OR GIRL?
Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a
girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 1014. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label from the
OCC website. Mark the correct age category on
the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.
13
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
3. FILL WITH GIFTS
Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring
delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the
bottom of this page.
5. DROP OFF
Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box
and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you
during our collection week in mid-November. If you
do not have a collection site in your community, you
can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607
By partnering with Operation Christmas Child, you and
your Troop can help bring a smile to a child’s face and,
more importantly, share the good news of Jesus with a
child who may not otherwise hear about our Savior!
Service
4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION
Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you
prepare to help cover shipping and other project
costs. You can give online by using our EZ GIVE
option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s
Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in
an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box.
If you or your family are preparing more than one
shoe box, please make one combine donation. If
you use the EZ GIVE option, you can follow your
box to its destination country! You will receive an
email during the holiday season about where your
gift was delivered.
toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food;
out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or
vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass
containers; aerosol cans
First Aid Kits
With the new school year also comes the start of
many youth sports leagues. Consider collecting items
to create first aid kits that can be used at local sports
fields. A great companion project for Units working on
their Emergency Preparedness Plan. Contact you local
YMCA, CYO or community sports leagues to see what
their needs might be. Girls can then host collection
days at a local store, Troop meetings, or even after
church service on Sundays.
GIFT IDEAS
Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos,
harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A
Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra
batteries), Slinky®, etc.
School Supplies: pens, pencils and sharpener,
crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing
pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture
books, etc.
Hygiene Items: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap
(in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
Other: Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag
all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps;
sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights
(with extra batteries)
A Personal Note: In a separate envelope, you may
enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or
your family. (If you include your name and address,
the child may write back.)
DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as
14
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Hot Topic - Brave
With Pixar's new movie out, you may have girls
abuzz with the topic of being "brave." The movie
and our culture has its definition of the character
trait, but how does bravery fit into a Christian
worldview? Your friends at SUSIE magazine offer
their thoughts in July's Mom's Blog:
she can do it. She can be afraid and do the hard
thing anyway.
And you can remind her of Scriptures like these:
• "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid
or terrified because of them, for the LORD your
God goes with you; he will never leave you nor
forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).
• "Have I not commanded you? Be strong
and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with
you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9 NIV).
A teenage girl trying to find her identity. Parents who don’t
seem to "get" her. Siblings who seem to come from another
planet. Expectations for her future that she has no desire
to meet. While that could be the story of many teenage
girls, it’s also the starting place for Pixar’s® newest movie,
Brave.
The heroine, Merida, has to be brave enough to defy
cultural expectations and strike out on her own. Bravery is
needed to deal with the typical stuff of hero tales-hardship,
enemies and magic. But she also has to be brave enough
to deal with the consequences of her actions and to mend
broken relationships. And that can be harder than facing
angry bears.
What is your daughter facing that calls for bravery? What
does she need courage to do?
• End an unhealthy relationship?
• Stand up to peer pressure?
• Try something she’s never done before?
• Persevere through a difficult situation?
• Move on to the next life stage?
• Speak her mind?
• Reach out to someone new?
Someone once said that being brave isn’t about not being
afraid. It’s being afraid and doing the hard thing anyway.
The movie trailer for Brave said this: "Brave journeys are
never taken alone." Whatever challenge your daughter
is facing—big or small—she needs you on the journey.
You can’t take it for her, but you can be there loving her,
encouraging her, listening to her, and telling her that yes,
Hot
Topic
• "David also said to Solomon his son, ’Be strong
and courageous, and do the work. Do not be
afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my
God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake
you until all the work for the service of the temple
of the LORD is finished’ " (1 Chronicles 28:20
NIV).
If you’d like some additional words of
encouragement for your daughter, you can find
these books through the "Shop" tab at SUSIEMag.
com:
The Brave: Conquering the Fears That Hold
You Back by Hayley DiMarco, Michael DiMarco
Your teens are afraid of ... being themselves,
being left out and getting lost in the crowd. They
crave acceptance and spend their time reacting
to the fear of not fitting in. The DiMarcos equip
adolescents with "five smooth stones" to slay selfimage giants—and help them embrace the "me"
they’re supposed to be!
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against
Low Expectations by Alex Harris, Brett Harris
Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation
from responsibility, the authors weave together
biblical insights, history and modern examples to
redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life
and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment
and eternal impact. Written by teens for teens, Do
Hard Things is packed with humorous personal
anecdotes and stories of teens in action.
This isn’t a book, but this pewter Fear Not I.D. Tag
can serve as a daily reminder of God’s promise to
never leave us.
In His Strength,
Dawn Mundy
SUSIE Moms Writer
July SUSIE Mom’s Newsletter
15
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
If you liked this Teen Topic, check out Dawn’s SUSIE Moms blog
under the Moms tab on SUSIEmag.com.
Each topic is presented through the lens of a Christian worldview,
and the brand overall encourages girls to engage actively in their
faith. In addition, SUSIE Magazine publishes a free monthly
Teen Topics enewsletter for moms and youth workers along
with a monthly moms’ blog, created by SUSIE Moms writer,
Dawn Mundy. Subscribe to both the magazine and newsletter at
susiemagazine.com. ©2011 Premier Studios.
Hot
Topic
SUSIE Magazine is a monthly print magazine and optional online
community for Christian teen girls aged 13-18. Each issue is filled
with information about all the topics that teen girls love most —
faith, fashion, faith, family, relationships, music, sports, hobbies
and more.
16
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Patriotism -
Veteran’s Day –
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012 – Observed date
With Veteran's Day around the corner, take some time
this fall to explain to your girls about the VFW. Your local
VFW post may be a great place to start. The VFW has
a number of education programs that not only help teach
youth about veterans, but also flag etiquette, etc.
One such program is VFW in the Classroom
The VFW strives to thank our nation’s educators yearround by arming them with helpful resources and visits
to local classrooms. Loving America and all it stands for
is what we do best. Let us help you educate our future
leaders.
When called upon to participate in a classroom lesson,
a member would prepare a brief introduction, a main
presentation and a Q&A session. Depending on the
lesson, a veteran may bring appropriate memorabilia,
uniforms, photographs and other relevant material.
Many of these resources and visits can work well in the
Troop setting as well. Visit www.vfw.org/oms/findpost.aspx
to find your local post OR
www.vfw.org/Contacts/VFW-State-Department-and-DistrictWebsites/ to contact State and District Offices.
A number of flag education tools are available on the
VFW website - www.vfw.org/Community/Flag-Education/. A
wonderful resource for the Our Flag badge.
The VFW has a kids' site which offers a number of fun
facts, activities and more. Here's a taste of what is
available at www.vfw.org/ & www.va.gov/kids/.
Did you know this about veterans?
Of the 25 million living veterans, most (75 percent)
served during a war or an official period of hostility.
Who is a Veteran? From a 2003 speech given at the
National Young Leaders conference in Washington, DC.
"They are men and women who, for many reasons,
donned the uniform of our country to stand between
freedom and tyranny; to take up the sword of justice in
defense of the liberties we hold dear; to preserve peace
and to calm the winds of war.
But as much as they may differ by gender, race,
age, national origin, or profession, they share a
common love for our great nation; a love great
enough to put their very lives on the line, if need be,
to guarantee the way of life we enjoy today, and to
secure that way of life for tomorrow's generations.
The title “veteran” must be earned. It is a title
endowed by a grateful nation on citizens whose
shoulders were broad enough to carry the weight
of our common defense.
It is a title that speaks of courage and sacrifice in
the face of mortal danger.
It is a title that speaks of compassion and
heartbreak in the wake of the terrible cost of war.
And it is a title that speaks of love of country, and of
a belief in America’s goodness, and our strength.
Patriotism
VFW members are "living history" and can provide
students with insight into the great sacrifices our service
members make to maintain freedom for all of us.
Your mothers and fathers, your grandparents,
your aunts and uncles, your neighbors, the shop
owners in your community, your teachers, your
favorite athlete, a Hollywood star, and your political
leaders... each one could be a veteran.
In each of America’s struggles, heroes in uniform
emerged to inspire and spur us on to victory. Our
veterans’ steadfast resolve to stand and fight for
the American way of life is a constant reminder
that the righteousness of our destiny overarches
the anguish of our losses.
America’s servicemen and women, who became
our nation’s veterans when they set their uniforms
aside and resumed their civilian lives, distinguished
themselves through their willingness to risk life
and limb in defense of the freedoms we all cherish.
Those who have served our nation in uniform are
the best people our society has to offer. We owe
them our full support, and our sincerest thanks.
America’s veterans did not shrink from battle; they
did not yield to fear; they did not abandon their
cause. All too often they paid the ultimate price.
By their example of courage under fire, they raised
up a new nation, inspired by the dignity of the
common man -- a nation blessed with heroes and
heroes’ dreams. That is leadership of the highest
quality. That is America’s leadership legacy."
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
VA Motto
Lincoln’s words became the VA motto
in 1959 with the words, “To care for him
who shall have borne the battle and for
his widow and orphan.” President Lincoln
stated the government’s duty to care for
those who are hurt or died defending our
Country.
the President of the United States.
President Lincoln’s words have stood the
test of time. This reminds us to care for
those hurt in our nation’s defense and the
families of those killed in its service.
The eagle represents
the United States.
VA History 1789 – A law was passed to give money to soldiers who
fought in the American Revolutionary War.
1862 – President Lincoln started national cemeteries.
This was to honor the many Union dead from the Civil
War.
1865 – President Lincoln gave his second inaugural
speech. He asked Congress “to care for him who shall
have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”
This became VA’s motto.
1912 – A new law called the Sherwood Act was passed.
This gave pensions (money) to veterans of the Mexican
and Civil Wars when they turned 62, even if they were not
sick or disabled.
1930 – President Hoover signed a bill creating the
Veterans Administration (VA).
1940 – Congress created a law to help World War II
veterans find jobs when they came home from war.
1944 – A lot of people were hurt and killed in World War
II. This left many families in need. On June 22, 1944,
President Roosevelt signed the GI Bill of Rights. This
helped veterans go to college and buy a home.
1946 – More hospitals were built to take care of veterans.
VA was able to train and hire good doctors. VA also started
research that has helped all of us.
1973 – The Army gave 82 cemeteries to the Veterans
Administration. VA makes sure that veterans and family
members have a respectful burial place forever.
1988 – Congress made VA a Cabinet Department. This
means that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs meets with
VA Seal
Here is a picture of the
VA Seal.
The circle of 5 stars
above the eagle stands
for the U.S. Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
The flags in the eagle's claws show America's
history from 13 colonies to 50 states.
The gold cord is a symbol for those who died while
serving our country. The eagle is holding the cord
to keep the memory of those veterans alive.
What the VA does for Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is very
proud of its noble and sacred mission to serve
veterans by providing them with a great variety of
benefits and opportunities. What do we do for our
veterans? We offer many services and benefits to
meet veterans’ needs:
Patriotism
1861 – The Civil War broke out. The number of Union
veterans grew from 80,000 to 2 million!
1998 – All eligible veterans could now enroll in VA’s
health care system.
HEALTH CARE BENEFITS
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is
responsible for providing high-quality, efficient and
accessible health care to veterans in the largest
health care system in the United States. In addition
to its medical care mission, VHA is the nation's
largest provider of graduate medical education
and a major contributor to medical and scientific
research. VHA also provides emergency medical
preparedness and disaster response.
Medical Benefits
VA has hospitals, outpatient clinics, nursing homes,
domiciliaries and readjustment counseling centers
all over the country just for veterans. VA provides
veterans a broad range of medical, surgical,
psychiatric, and rehabilitative care.
VETERANS BENEFITS
The Veterans Benefits Administration helps
veterans, as well as their families, in many ways
by providing them with numerous benefits and
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
services.
Disability Compensation and Pension Benefits
VA pays money to a veteran because of injuries or diseases
that happened while he or she was in the military. This is
called disability compensation. The monthly amount of
compensation depends upon how disabled the veteran
is and the number of dependent family members the
veteran has. In some circumstances, veterans not getting
compensation may receive a pension and other financial
benefits that they have earned with honor.
Education Benefits
These benefits allow many veterans and those in
the military to continue their education, to learn new
professions and to have successful careers. Educational
programs help veterans pay for their vocational or college
education or take classes and tests needed to move up in
their current jobs.
This fun craft can serve as a gift for local Veteran's
or a great reminder to the girls of all they've learned.
Making Clay Beads
You can buy this clay at most craft stores. It doesn’t
dry out and will not harden unless baked. It is
easy to work with and comes in all sorts of colors.
Polymer clay really is a ton of fun!
Patriotism
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Services
VA plays a very active role in helping veterans who have
been injured or became ill during their military service to
return to work and live healthy and enjoyable lives.
VA Life Insurance Programs
In 1917, VA began providing life insurance during World
War I. Today, VA provides over $750 billion in coverage to
millions of veterans, men and women of the military, and
their families. VA wants service members and veterans to
know that they can get life insurance even if they are hurt
or injured in the line of duty.
Home Loan Benefits
Created in 1944 as a way for the United States to say
“Thank you” to the Armed Forces men and women who
have served their country. Since then this loan guaranty
program has helped a lot of veterans buy a home.
The author mixed some of the colors to come up
with “Army” colors, but any armed forces color
combos, or even red, white and blue would work.
BURIAL BENEFITS
The National Cemetery Administration, established during
the Civil War by President Abraham Lincoln, provides
veterans with a final resting place and lasting memorials
that honor their service to our Nation.
This benefit includes free burial in a national cemetery, a
headstone or marker, perpetual care of the gravesite, a
burial flag, and a Presidential Memorial Certificate sent
to immediate families honoring the veteran’s service.
Military honors for the veteran at the time of the funeral
may be provided by the Department of Defense. Certain
family members are also eligible for burial in a national
cemetery, as well as money for funeral expenses and plot
allowances.
Take little pieces from
three of the colors
and mixed them
together.
Next, roll them in
your hands to make
little balls.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Toothpicks work perfectly to make holes.
You can also spread some cheer and say "thank
you" with adorable homemade cards. Have girls
create their cards and hand deliver to the local VFW
Post or VA Hospital this Veteran's Day.
Patriotism
When using multiple colors that
won’t be all squished (for the flag, for
instance) together you can use this
bake and bond glue. Like the clay, it
will not harden until baked.
Homemade Cards
Once you are finished making the beads put them on
an oven-safe plate and bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit
for about 15 minutes. Let them cool completely before
stringing them together.
Activity adapted from notjustahousewife.net.
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Outdoors -
U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s
(USSAF) Trailblazer Adventure Program
The USSAF Trailblazer Adventure Program introduces
youth and their families to outdoor activities such as
shooting, fishing, hunting, and trapping. More than 1.3
million youth and their families have participated in a
Trailblazer program since its inception in 2001.
The USSAF Trailblazer Adventure Program staff will
be working with AHG Troops across the country to
introduce them to the enjoyment of the outdoors and
the connection between American sportsmen and
women and conservation.
USSAF will be working with AHG to develop outdoor
programs (including a Shooting Sports Badge slated for
2015 release) and create leadership opportunities for
girls. USSAF will also teach outdoor training workshops
at AHG's 2012 National Leadership Conference.
USSAF Trailblazer Events
The Trailblazer Adventure Program is an exciting oneday program that serves as an all-around introduction
to the thrill of outdoor sports and the importance of
conservation. Usually hosted at a Boy Scout camp
or similar facility, Trailblazer Adventure Day features
a variety of activities, demonstrations, and orientation
sessions designed to show kids and their families
what the outdoor lifestyle is all about. All activities are
conducted under the supervision of experienced Trail
Depending on resources available at your facility,
Trailblazer Adventure Day activities may include:
fishing, target shooting, boating orientation, archery,
wildlife identification, and many more exciting outdoor
related activities! The Trailblazer Adventure Program
does not charge a fee for the services provided.
Finally, the Trailblazer Adventure Program supplies
most of the needed equipment to run an event
and can even assist in securing other equipment
resources if needed.
How will the Trailblazer Program benefit my
Troop?
The Trailblazer Adventure Program is an exciting
opportunity for all troops, as well as a great
recruitment tool. Trailblazer gives today’s youth an
opportunity they might otherwise miss: the chance
to experience the wonders of nature firsthand, with
expert guidance from experienced sportsmen. With
unique activities such as archery, target shooting,
and fishing and more, trailblazer is often a first time
experience for many young girls and boys who do not
have the resources to participate in such activities.
Trailblazer is also a proud partner with the Boy Scouts
of America, and works closely with them for most
Trailblazer events. American Heritage Girl Troops
can use this as an opportunity to hold joint Trailblazer
events with both AHG and BSA, to introduce young
men and women to the great outdoors at the same
time.
Outdoors
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation’s (USSAF)
Trailblazer Adventure Program and the American
Heritage Girls (AHG) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on May 16, 2012. Under this new
agreement, all current and potential members of AHG
nationwide will have an opportunity to experience the
excitement of outdoor adventures including shooting
sports, archery, fishing, and a host of other hands-on
outdoor related activities.
Guides, with the utmost emphasis on safety.
Your Troop can also benefit from holding a Trailblazer
Adventure Day because it will allow for networking
opportunity with some of the potential outside
organizations and groups for future badge work
events and more!
How do I plan a Trailblazer Adventure Day?
Do you have an upcoming summer camp? Are
you having an AHG event with a large number of
attendees? Are you looking for a new twist for a
recruitment event? If you answered “yes” to any of
this questions please contact the U.S. Sportsmen’s
Alliance Foundation to find out more about the
Trailblazer Adventure Program and how we can
work with you to bring the excitement of the outdoor
lifestyle to your next American Heritage Girl event. If
you would like to hold a Trailblazer Adventure Day,
contact the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation
at (614) 888-4868 or [email protected].
Visit our website at www.trailblazeradventure.org.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
leaf mask with free mask download
Activity adapted from 5OrangePotatoes.
com/blog
Celebrate the fall foliage with these great
masks!.
You need:
* Pressed leaves- use leaves that have been
pressed for about 24-48 hours, they are still
quite flexible at this stage and lay nicely
* Glue Solution- 2 parts glue, 1 part water (or
use Modge Podge)
* Mask template printed/traced on cardstock
* crayons
* scissors
* hole punch and yarn for the masks that tie around the head
* glue gun and a stick for the type of mask you hold
Girls might choose to create a leafy mask, like the one above,
or go for a more nature/animal inspired mask, below.
Outdoors
These masks are as easy as 1-2-3! Cut out the mask, color,
and glue on the leaves.
Preserve the masks by covering the leaves with the glue
solution or Modge Podge.
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•
I
•
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Geocaching – High Tech Treasure
Hunting!
What’s your favorite hobby? Using satellite gps
technology to find plastic boxes of trinkets in the woods!
Geocaching is a fun family or small group hobby that
can be experienced in urban or rural settings. It’s
getting easier to geocache with apps that can be placed
on smart phones. Of course, the old reliable hand-held
gps are more affordable than ever. Some sort of global
positioning system device, a geocaching moniker, a
log in to the geocaching.com website and a sense of
adventure….that’s all you need.
But how can geocaching help you to learn about
history? State and National Parks around the country
are combining the fun of geocaching with the fun of
history and the wonder of the outdoors. Following is an
example of the type of adventure you can have. A list of
parks with geocaching challenges is at the end. Here's
an example of Georgia's program:
So now everybody can "Get Out. Get Dirty. And Get
Fit"® in a Georgia State Historic Site today!
Start your search and locate one or all caches using
a hand–held GPS unit. In this game, 13 caches are
multi-caches and 1 is a puzzle cache. A multi-cache
involves visiting two or more stages (locations)
within the park or historic site, the final location
being a physical container.
There are many variations, but on the Georgia
History Trail, you must answer questions at each
stage to determine the 4-digit lock combination for
the final cache. Geocache containers are sealed
ammo boxes labeled as a Georgia State Parks &
Historic Site geocache.
No GPS? No problem. To play, stop by the Visitor
Center for a list of clues.
After you find a cache and correctly open the
combination lock, log your name and comments
inside the cache. Take a History Trail Trading Card
(one per person/team please) and trade a trinket of
equal or greater value.
There are 5 History Groups:
Native Americans ~ 4 trading cards
Forts ~ 3 trading cards
Historic Homes ~ 2 trading cards
Plantations ~ 3 trading cards
Museums/Battlefields ~ 2 trading
cards
Outdoors
Play Our Game With New Surprises!
Sleuth across the Peach State
as you visit 14 historic sites,
solving clues along the way. Only
by answering questions about
Georgia’s history will you be able to
open the combination lock to each
cache. Inside, you’ll find collector
cards that you can trade with friends
or turn in for custom pathtags. Our
new game can be played with or without a GPS device.
are listed on GeorgiaStateParks.org.
With trading cards, you can collect one or collect
them all. You can even trade with your friends.
Collect all trading cards in your History Group, turn
them in to the Visitor Center and receive a custom
pathtag. Collect all 5 pathtags to complete the set.
Please follow Leave No Trace guidelines –
GeorgiaStateParks.org/LeaveNoTrace
Log back into www.geocaching.com to tell of your
experience and brag about your find!
HOW TO PLAY
Go to www.geocaching.com, create a log-in and find
GPS coordinates and more information for the 14
Georgia State Parks History Trail locations. To get
started, pick your favorite participating historic site or
historic state park.
Remember that hours of operation and admission fees
vary at all locations. Many sites are open only a few
days each week. You must visit when the site is open
to the public, and admission fees are required. Details
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Sites:
Native American:
Chief Vann House State Historic Site
Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site
Kolomoki Mounds State Historic Park
New Echota Cherokee Capital State Historic Site
Forts:
Fort King George State Historic Site
Fort McAllister State Historic Park
Fort Morris State Historic Site
Historic Homes:
A.H. Stephens State Historic Park
Roosevelt's Little White House State Historic Site
Plantations:
Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation State Historic Site
Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site
Wormsloe State State Historic Site
Museums & Battlefields:
Dahlonega Gold Museum State Historic Site
Picketts Mill Battlefield State Historic Site
Outdoors
SAMPLE QUESTION
To get the combination to each cache, you’ll need to answer questions along the way. Here’s a sample from
Kolomoki Mounds Historic Park in Blakely.
How to play:
This is a 4-stage multi cache. You must visit each stage posted in the additional waypoint section below. At each
stage you will gather a part of the 4-digit combination that unlocks the ammo can placed at the posted coordinates.
(Inside the visitors center. Admission fee required.)
The cache is only available during museum hours: Sunday-Wednesday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday
9 .a.m – 5 p.m. Closed Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. You will need 45 minutes to an hour to visit
all the stages and open the cache. Paper and pen will prove useful as you gather information for the combination.
This cache will be visited by new geocachers, so please do not leave trackables.
Stage 1 - How many letters are in the first word of the second sentence on the historical marker?
This number = A
Stage 2 - How many log lined burials were in the original mound at this site?
This number = B.
Stage 3 - How tall is this mound?
This number = C.
Stage 4 - Read the historic marker on the exterior wall at the entrance of the visitor center. What is the last digit in
the year that this marker was placed?
This number = D.
* The combination for the lock is ABCD.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Additional parks with Geocaching History and Visit the
Parks Challenges include:
Minnesota:
http://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/ptgkeygeocache.htm
Georgia:
http://gastateparks.org/Geocaching/History-Trail
http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=a2f17b3da9f7-4d4d-8783-f27eead947e5
and location online. Anyone with a GPS device can
then try to locate the geocache.
Easy Steps to Geocaching
1. Register for a free membership at www.geocaching.
com.
2. Click “Hide & Seek a Cache.”
3. Enter your postal code and click “search.”
D.C., Maryland, Virginia:
http://www.nps.gov/stsp/geotrail.htm
4. Choose any geocache from the list and click on its
name. Be sure to note any hints or tips given by the
hider and fellow cachers.
Chesapeake Bay Area:
http://www.smithtrail.net/things-to-do/geocaching.aspx
5. Enter the coordinates of the geocache into your
GPS Device.
Arkansas:
http://www.nps.gov/fosm/planyourvisit/geocaching.htm
6. Use your GPS device to assist you in finding the
hidden geocache.
Indiana:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=1168efae17a8-4425-8e86-ea8d440ca133
7. Sign the logbook and return the geocache to its
original location.
South Carolina:
http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=f330a7ff-d2464fe7-886e-420f2b94726c
Alabama:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=bca28c5ece1f-4309-a40e-b022b5b6b57c
New Hampshire:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=3596c5bc6e3f-44c8-8ede-57de231072cd
Virginia:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5a47c65b41cb-4dec-8156-d05238f92ed9
West Virginia:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=367c64638987-4da2-8c3b-1fa3048af161
South Dakota:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b2ea5b78ddd1-470f-9750-de685c86b8b2
Getting Started with Geocaching
Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is a worldwide
game of hiding and seeking treasure. A geocacher can
place a geocache in the world, pinpoint its location using
GPS technology and then share the geocache’s existence
Before You Go
• Find a geocache that will meet your immediate
goals. Are you looking for a difficult hike or an easy
adventure?
Learn How to Find a Geocache
• If you’re headed out on the trail, pack any needed
supplies such as water, food and extra clothing.
Bring both a map and a compass. Check geocache
terrain and difficulty ratings.
• For safety, let someone know where you are
going.
• Do not forget your GPS and extra batteries.
Get Out and Play
• Mark your car as a waypoint to ensure your safe
return.
• Be mindful of the environment, practice Cache In
Trash Out.
• Bring friends and family with you; sharing the
experience can be very rewarding. Pets are usually
welcome, too!
• Remember that distances can be deceiving. A
geocache can take longer to find depending on
trails, rivers and other obstacles.
Share Your Experience
• If you take something from the geocache, leave
something of equal or greater value.
• Write about your experience in the geocache
logbook.
• Place your geocaching stories and photos online.
Outdoors
Louisiana:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=eb40f4aa97de-4c06-8187-5745b97b19a4
8. Share your geocaching stories and photos online.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Girl LeadershipThough some of the activities may be geared to a
specific age group, the principles can be applied to any
girl. You are encouraged to adapt activities to meet the
developmental stage of your girls.
A Message from Lead Like Jesus:
Faith and business. Jesus and parenting
Personal and Professional. Servant and Leader
Even seeing those words paired together makes
people uneasy. Our sophisticated culture encourages
us to draw lines and keep our spiritual life separate
from the rest of our lives. Faith is for Sundays or family
gatherings. Right?
At Lead Like Jesus, we believe that leadership is about
influence – influencing the thinking, behavior and
development of others – and we all influence others all
of the time – sometimes for good and sometimes not.
Since we are going to influence (or lead) others, we
believe that it only makes sense to follow the model of
the greatest leader – Jesus of Nazareth.
He offers a leadership perspective that is radically
different than what you’ve been doing. It has stood the
test of time – 2000 years is a great track record!
Be different to make a difference in your life and the
lives of those you touch. Change your world – one life
at a time!
A Leadership Encounter is a two-day workshop
in a collegial environment with a trained facilitator
and others to Lead Like Jesus. Packed with actionoriented learning and reflection, the workshop closely
examines Jesus as a leader and a model while
equipping participants to lead as He led. Whether
you seek a relevant and effective model for day-today leadership or want to learn more about leadership
skills, you will be challenged like never before to look
at Jesus in a new and life changing way. Throughout
the two day event, you will not only discover your
own personal barriers to effective leadership and the
power of the heart, head, hands, and habits of leading
like Jesus.
What can you expect from a Leadership Encounter?
• To learn how to apply the powerful and practical
leadership principles of Jesus to real life challenges
• To explore your own personal leadership
motivation, thinking, behavior and habits in light of
the mandate to Lead Like Jesus
• To find an effective and practical way to live your
faith at work, at home, and in all your relationships
• To create a positive leadership legacy for those
who will follow in your footsteps
• To be challenged to develop a personal next step
and long-range plan to integrate Lead Like Jesus
into all elements of your leadership activity
If you enjoy the following study, you won't want to miss
LLJ at NLC2012! Visit www.ahgonline.org/nlc2012
to learn more or to register.
Girl
Leadership
This study that you will engage in is part of a 6-week
group study highlighting the heart (motivation), head
(belief), hands (behavior) and habits (disciplines) of
leadership as modeled by Jesus in His interactions
with the disciples. Each unit in this study is similar in
structure with content from Lead Like Jesus: Lessons
for Everyone from the Greatest Leadership Role Model
of All Time, memory verses, prayers, activities and
opportunities for you to write your own plan.
Lead Like Jesus will be presenting a training at
this year's National Leadership Conference in
Cincinnati!
Though the following activity is geared toward
adults, you will see that is can easily be translated
to Teen terms (ie. boss = teacher/parents,
coworkers = peers/friends, etc.)
For more information about other resources, events
and opportunities to change your leadership, visit
www.LeadLikeJesus.com.
© 2008 The Center for Faithwalk Leadership dba LeadLikeJesus
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
week two
day two | 2
How do we edGe God out?
Quote for Today
2
When a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package.2
John Ruskin
What God’s Word Says
Girl
Leadership
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John
tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to
me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out
of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This
is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:13–17)
Pause and Reflect
• Whatdoesthepassageaboverevealabouttheheartofaservantleader?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
• HowcanyoubecomemorelikeJesusinyourapproachtoleadership?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
A Prayer for Today
Perfect Example, Selfless One, You showed me how to live and lead as a servant and yet
it seems so difficult, so hard to do. Patiently walk with me as I demonstrate for others the
qualities of servant leadership, so that they, too, might learn to walk in them. In Jesus’s
Name, Amen!
Week Two ~ Day Two
© 2008 The Center for Faithwalk Leadership dba LeadLikeJesus
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Today’s Topic
How do we edGe God out?
How do you define “ego?” We toss around the word referring to how important a person
believes he or she is. Let’s be really honest—some people apparently overestimate how
much the rest of us need them on the planet.
Think about it for a moment. What do the following actions say about a person’s attitude toward himself or herself?
•Usingtheemergencylanetobypasstrafficcongestion.
•Takingaweek’sgroceryshoppingthroughthe6 Items or Less express check-out.
•ParkingontopoftheFire Lane – No Parking markings for a quick trip to the ATM.
•Usingone’spositionandinfluenceforpersonalgain.
You get the picture.
There never has been anyone who deserved to think more highly of Himself than Jesus.
Yet Scripture shows a humility and servant attitude that was uncommon in His day and
remains uncommon today. Jesus could have demanded respect, honor, and social accolades, but He refused to lead by fear and intimidation.
Look Inside
Today we want to help you check yourself on the third test of servant leadership:
Test 3: Control
Girl
Leadership
Do you let God be the Leader and you the servant? The term leader (or leaders) is mentioned only
six times in the King James Version of the Bible, while servant (or servants) is mentioned more
than nine hundred times. That very fact underlines the truth that forms our third test: God is
not looking for leaders but for servants who will let Him be their Leader.
When God approached Abraham, He had the plan and Abraham was to carry it out
according to God’s promise. When God approached Moses, He provided leadership for the
shy, withdrawn man. When God approached David, it was not to ask him to lead but to ask
him to serve using his harp, slingshot, and sword.
When God was the Leader, things worked out well for the men above. Well, of course,
that means things worked according to God’s plan. However, replacing God’s leadership with
self-directed leadership led to chaos. Edging God Out, or EGO, always has disastrous consequences. If we want life to work out, we must recognize that it is all about God, not us.
What Is Your Leadership EGO?
In this study, we’re not talking about a psychological term; we’re talking about an issue
of the heart. Here are two ways to define the EGO difference of self-serving and servant
leaders.
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Lead Like Jesus Study Guide
© 2008 The Center for Faithwalk Leadership dba LeadLikeJesus
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
For Self-Serving Leaders:
EGO: Edging God Out
or
For Servant Leaders:
EGO: Exalting God Only
It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
Let’s take another look at the Scripture passage with which we began today’s reading.
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John
tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come
to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill
all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he
went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the
Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from
heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matt.
3:13–17)
Jesus demonstrated two very significant attributes of servant leadership in His interaction with His cousin, John the Baptist. (1) He validated and affirmed John in his ministry,
and (2) He didn’t ask His follower to do anything He wasn’t willing to do. Servant leaders
never ask anyone to do something they aren’t willing to do themselves!
Look Inside
Look at the EGO diagram below. At the top are three ways we edge God out. Today we will
take a closer look at each of these three attitudes.
Edging God Out as
• Whom I worship
• My source of security and self-worth
• My audience, my ultimate authority and my judge
Pride
An overly high opinion of
yourself, exaggerated esteem
of self, haughtiness, arrogance
“Thinking more of and about
yourself than you should.”
Romans 12:3
P
RI
DE
FE
A
Fear
Promoting Self
• Boasting
• Taking all of the credit
• Showing off
• Doing all the talking
• Demanding all the attention
R
An insecure view
of the future
producing
self-protection.
“The Fear of man
is a trap ….”
Proverbs 29:25
Protecting Self
• Hiding behind position
• Withholding information
• Intimidating others
• Hoarding control and revenues
• Discouraging honest feedback
Always separates
man from God, other people, and himself or herself
Always compares
with others and is never happy
Always distorts
the truth into a false sense of security or fear
© 2008 The Center for Faithwalk Leadership dba LeadLikeJesus
Week Two ~ Day Two
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1. You Edge God Out When You Put Something Else in God’s Place as the Object of Your Worship.
Your priority is your god; it’s that simple. Whenever anything becomes more important to
you than God, you are in effect bowing to it, adoring it, or giving yourself to it. In short,
you worship it. This can take many forms. It might be an object such as money, a house, a
car, or a business. It might be a desire for power, recognition, or appreciation. It might be
a habit that edges God out—running, watching television or movies, eating, or sleeping.
Here’s the tough part. From the list below, circle any attitude, action, or possession that
could potentially become a life-focus for you. Be honest!
Money
Cars
Clothes
Desire for power
Appreciation
Popularity
Running
Reading
Eating or Cooking
Working on your house
Work
Boating
Public recognition
Fame
Success
Gardening
Watching television/movies
Sleeping
•Whatdoyouneedtodotokeepyourattitudetowardthesethingsincheck?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
• Considerforamomenthowyoumakeleadershipdecisions.Fromthelistbelow,circle
anything that might become more important to you than God:
Your boss’s opinion
Influence of fellow workers
Your money involved
Fear of failure
Potential promotion
Showing up coworkers
Power, recognition, appreciation, money—whatever it is, it’s not worth it if it takes the place
of your worship of God. Paul had the following words for the Philippians: “For we who worship God in the Spirit … put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what
Christ Jesus has done for us” (Phil. 3:3 NLT).
2. You Edge God Out When You Rely on Other Sources for Your Security and Sufficiency.
One of the greatest temptations is to rely on yourself instead of on God until you are at
your wit’s end. When you trust in something other than the unconditional love of God,
other than in His care for you, you edge God out. When you put your security in other
things—your intellect, your position, your business contacts, your talent, anything—you
are counting on the temporal instead of the eternal.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all
your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Prov 3:5–6).
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• Sometimesyourelyonotherthingsorotherpeopletogetyououtoftrouble.Checkany
of the items below that you have ever relied on as your security:
_____ Money
_____ Business contacts
_____ Experience
_____ Intellect
_____ Education
_____ Position
• Circleanyoftheaboveitemsonwhichyouarenowrelying.
Anything you count on instead of God is temporal rather than eternal. Your security should
be in the unconditional love of God and in His care for you.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).
3. You Edge God Out When You Put Others in His Place as Your Primary Audience.
If your self-worth or security is based on what others think, then you don’t have much
security. In Robert S. McGee’s The Search for Significance, we learn that if the devil could get
you to buy into a formula for self-worth, it would be: Your self-worth = your performance
+ the opinions of others.
If you constantly base your self-worth on your performance or the opinions of others,
you’re always going to be chasing an elusive, frustrating fantasy. All the world is a stage and
God is the audience of One.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men”
(Col. 3:23). Not only is God the Audience you are to please, He is the Judge of all the earth.
He determines your destiny. How many businessmen or even church leaders thought they
were getting away with devious deals only to discover that God makes known from the
housetops the secrets that were whispered in the closet! Your character is revealed when no
one is watching. But there is a catch—God is always watching! He is your perpetual audience of one . . . the One you honor above all.
• ReadMatthew4:1-11andlistthewaysJesusresistedthetemptationtoEdgeGodOut.
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Week Two ~ Day Two
© 2008 The Center for Faithwalk Leadership dba LeadLikeJesus
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It is easy to concentrate too much on the physical hardships of Jesus’s fasting experience
in the wilderness and miss the profound spiritual conditioning for servant leadership that
took place. Jesus faced three of the most universal and powerful temptations a leader can
face:
1. Instant gratification
2. Recognition and applause
3. Improper use of and lust for power
Because Jesus faced these temptations from the spiritual perspective, He was able to overcome them. Too many leaders negate the power of God when they face worldly temptations.
In every season of leadership you enter, you will be faced with temptations. The quality of
your service will be a direct result of your spiritual preparation.
Look Inside
List a few examples of how you have faced the following temptations:
• Instantself-gratification:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
• Recognitionandapplauseofothers:
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
• Improperuseofyourpowerandinfluence
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Notice that Jesus used His knowledge of God’s Word to confront and defeat Satan’s temptations. This is one example of the importance of memorizing Scripture.
Key Concepts
• Theheartsofself-servingleadersEdgeGodOutbyputtingsomethinginGod’splaceas
the object of their worship, trusting in something else for their security and self-worth
and valuing someone else’s opinion more than God’s.
• WhenyouEdgeGodOut,youendupputtingyourfaithandtrustinpeopleandthings
that are always at risk and are never a hundred percent reliable.
• Satan’sformulaforself-worthisthatself-worthistheproductofwhatyouhave,what
you do, and what other people think of you. If you adopt this formula, you will live an
always-anxious, always-unfulfilled life and lead others to do the same.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
A Point to Ponder
Edging God Out is usually not a violent act of the will. It is the subtle movement over
time of self onto the throne of your life, through little acts of pride and fear. What choices
will you make today that may give you a sense who is on the throne of your life?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Next Steps
• Today,whatdoyouthinkwillbeyourgreatesttemptationtoEdgeGodOutandactlike
a self-serving leader?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
• Howwillyoudealwiththetemptation?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
• Whatarethedangersofgivingin?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
• WhatarethebenefitsofresistingthetemptationthroughGod’spower?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Tomorrow we will ask you to describe any situation in which you were tempted to be a self-serving
leader and how you handled the temptation.
Week Two ~ Day Two
© 2008 The Center for Faithwalk Leadership dba LeadLikeJesus
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Badge Helps Joining AwardPage 56 of Girl Handbook
The Joining Award is the first award that an American
Heritage Girl should earn. The requirements for this
award allow girls to become familiar with the AHG
program and its foundations. New Troops can easily earn
the Joining Award as a group or Unit. It is a great way for
a new Troop to begin their AHG adventure together. For
established Troops, new girls can earn this award on
their own, or some Troops like to bring together a group
of new girls to work on the requirements together. For
information on this award or for specific requirements,
refer to page 56 of the Girl Handbook. Resources and
ideas for helping girls earn the Joining Award can be
found in the Resource section of the AHG Leader Site
at: www.ahgonline.org/joiningaward.
Family Helper The Complete Family Helper Badge can be found on
page 129 of Girl Handbook
Requirement 2
See Chart on following page.
Requirement 7
See Chart on following page.
See Chart on following page.
Requirement 13
Barney said it! “Clean up. Clean up. Everybody do their
share!” And he’s right. We, who belong to families, need
to pitch in with the chores. Here are some tips to help
making the chores easier.
Wash Windows:
When everyone became eco-friendly with window
washing, switched to vinegar and still had streaks,
what they didn’t realize was that the old cleaners had
left a waxy residue behind. You can take care of that
by adding a little liquid soap to your solution. A favorite
concoction is to combine 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of
white distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of liquid
soap or detergent in a spray bottle. That’s all there is to
Wash the Car:
Wash Tools: First, never wash in direct sunlight.
Pick a shady spot. Second it’s very important to
choose tools that are gentle on the paint, yet still
effective at removing contamination. As a rule of
thumb, sponges and mitts that are plush or have a
deep nap are better than flat weave towels or dense
sponges. For example, a Natural Sea Sponge has
numerous deep compartments where dirt and debris
can
accumulate.
The
natural fibers themselves
will not scratch the paint
and they will essentially
pull contamination into the
sponge’s openings, away
from the paint. Always use
the softer side of the sponge for washing. Rinse new
sea sponges thoroughly before use to remove any
shell fragments or sand.
Another option is a Sheepskin Wash Mitt. Sheepskin is
extremely soft and plush. The fibers are gentle on the
paint while the nap is deep enough to accommodate
loose dirt and sand so they do not rub against the
vehicle. Because sheepskin is natural, it does not last
as long as a Microfiber mitt. However, for luxurious
softness, you can’t beat the texture of sheepskin.
Micro-chenille wash mitts are another paint-safe
option. Microfiber’s combination of polyester and
polyamide make it capable of scrubbing the paint
without scratching or swirling. It traps dirt and grit within
the fibers rather than leaving them on the surface of
your vehicle. Be sure to rinse the mitt frequently to
release these particles.
Proper Washing:
1. Wash the wheels and tires
first. If you splash wheel cleaners
or dirt onto your vehicle, you can
simply wash it off as you wash
your vehicle. Use a cleaner that
is safe for all wheels: waterbased and has no corrosive
chemicals, which is safer for
coated wheels and rubber.
Agitate with a wheel brush to
clean wheels without scratching.
Wash each wheel and tire one at
a time and rinse thoroughly before moving on to the
next one. NOW EMPTY AND RINSE ALL CLEANING
MATERIALS and your wash bucket..
Badge
Helps
Requirement 8
it. (Make sure to label the bottle and keep it out of the
reach of children.)
35
Water House Plants
Load/Unload dishwasher
Wash and/or dry dishes
Take Out Trash
Set the Table
Dust Furniture
Make Bed
Week Two
Water House Plants
Load/Unload dishwasher
Wash and/or dry dishes
Take Out Trash
Set the Table
Dust Furniture
Make Bed
Week One
Sunday
Monday
Family Helper Badge
Requirement 2
Tuesday
Wednesday
Parent Signature
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Water House Plants
Load/Unload dishwasher
Wash and/or dry dishes
Take Out Trash
Dust Furniture
Set the Table
Make Bed
Week Three
Water House Plants
Load/Unload dishwasher
Wash and/or dry dishes
Take Out Trash
Set the Table
Dust Furniture
Make Bed
Week Two
Carry In/Put Away Groceries
Pack Lunches
Polish Furniture
Change Bedsheets
Sort/Fold Laundry
Vacuum/sweep Floor
Clean the Bathroom
Week One
Sunday
Monday
Family Helper Badge
Requirement 7
Tuesday
Wednesday
Parent Signature
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Dust (1x per week)
Vaccum (1x per week)
Make Bed
Put Away Toys, Games, etc
Pick Up Clothes
Week Three
Dust (1x per week)
Vaccum (1x per week)
Put Away Toys, Games, etc
Make Bed
Pick Up Clothes
Week Two
Dust (1x per week)
Vaccum (1x per week)
Put Away Toys, Games, etc
Make Bed
Pick Up Clothes
Week One
Sunday
Monday
Family Helper Badge
Requirement 8
Tuesday
Wednesday
Parent Signature
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
2. Now you’re ready to wash. Let’s start with clean water
and a freshly rinsed container and a wash mitt or sponge.
It’s important to use a car wash that is rich in lubricants.
The purpose of the car wash is to remove contaminants
and lubricate them so they do not scratch the paint as
they slide off the vehicle. Dish detergents are not ideal
because they remove protective coatings.
3. How do you prevent swirl marks? Use two buckets. Fill
one bucket with soapy water and fill the other with clean
water. Each time you’re ready to reload your sponge
with soapy water, dip it in the clean water first, to rinse
out the grit and contamination you’ve just removed from
your vehicle. Then dip it in the soapy water and continue
washing.
4. Always rinse your vehicle
thoroughly before you begin
washing in order to remove
loose debris. Then begin
washing at the top of the
vehicle. Wash down the
vehicle as opposed to front
to back. Remember that the
lower panels are dirtiest. You want to clean the windows
and the upper panels before cleaning the lower half of the
vehicle so that you don’t transfer grit to the top half of the
vehicle. Rinse and reload your sponge often to prevent
cross-contamination. Rinse your vehicle frequently as
you work, especially in hot weather.
5. When rinsing, you don’t have to blast your car clean
with the water hose. Free-flowing water (no nozzle) will
allow the water to sheet off of your vehicle for a more
thorough rinsing.
Drying: Never skip drying! Drying your vehicle after
washing is necessary to prevent water spots. Water spots
are caused by mineral deposits that etch the outline of
a drop of water into your vehicle’s paint. All water has
minerals, whether it’s from the hose or the sky. As the
water evaporates, the minerals remain on the surface
and they will eventually, invariably create water spots.
You can dry your vehicle in a variety of ways, but you
want to make sure you do it quickly. The fastest way to
If you use a squeegee you may still need to use a towel
to wipe away drips from around windows and mirrors.
Use a large 2 microfiber towel that is manufactured
with a waffle-weave texture. This weave increases
the surface area so the towel can absorb more water.
It can absorb 7 times its own weight in moisture, and
it’s completely nonabrasive. Microfiber towels come
in a number of sizes and they can be altered for a
specific purpose. Microfiber is more absorbent than
terry cloth or chamois, and it lasts longer.
Terry cloth towels are not recommended because the
fibers can become matted and hard after repeated
uses. They shed lint. They increase the chance of
swirls. Compared to microfiber, they are not as
absorbent and they don’t last as long. Never use bath
towels that have been discarded from the house.
They are probably not soft or paint safe.
You may also use a genuine or synthetic chamois.
Drying Tips
1. Dry the windows and mirrors first.
2. Use a large microfiber towel to remove the majority
of water from your vehicle. Go back over the vehicle
with a smaller towel to catch any water the large
towel may have missed. This quick two-step process
will leave your vehicle bone-dry and ready for wax.
Badge
Helps
For stubborn spots, like bugs or tar, use a bug and tar
sponge to gently remove sticky contaminants without
scratching. To soften the sponge, soak it in warm water
for 3 minutes. Always use it with soapy water to lubricate
the sponge. If you choose to use a spot cleaner, spray it
on before washing and reapply wax to the treated area
after you’ve dried the vehicle.
remove excess water
is with a “paint-safe”
squeegee that pull 80%
of the water off the
surface of your vehicle.
They are made of soft,
medical-grade silicone
so they will not scratch
your paint or glass. Use
the blade on the windows first, since water spots are
most noticeable there.
3. Once the outside is dry,
wipe down all your door jambs.
Open the trunk and hood to
wipe the jambs.
4. Dry your wheels using a towel
or chamois that is designated
just for this purpose. Don’t use
this towel on your paint to avoid
cross-contamination. You may
also use this towel to wipe off surfaces under the
hood. Wash this towel before you use it again.
http://www.autogeek.net/exterior.html
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Wax the car:
1. Avoid evaporation of your wax product. Always wax
the vehicle in a garage or very shaded area.
2. Apply dry. Applying wax to a wet vehicle will make the
wax smear.
3. Thinner is the Winner. Wax jobs utilizing the thinnest
coats are often the ones that capture the greatest
color and depth. Instead of applying one heavy coat,
lay multiple thin coats on top of each other after the
previous one has cured. It is actually possible to create
spectacular layers of reflective transparency.
4. Spot Treatment. You may sometimes notice an uneven
difference in your wax job. Detail sprays are available
to remedy common problems like streaks and smears
without having to re-wax the whole car.
5. Finish the job. Remove wax gently without leaving
behind lint using a microfiber detailing cloth.
http://www.superiorcarcare.net/how-to-wax-your-car.html
Shampoo a carpet:
There are few things more unsightly in an otherwise
beautiful home than filthy carpets. Unfortunately, carpets
get dirty quite often, much to the dismay of their owners.
Dirty carpet can make even the most immaculate of
homes seem less than clean, but there is something that
can be done about it.
While most people don’t know how to shampoo a carpet,
doing so is much easier than it might look, and can save a
lot of money and hassle that would otherwise be involved
with hiring a professional. While the task of learning to
shampoo a carpet may seem a bit intimidating, it is not
very difficult.
Preparing the Carpet
Before proceeding to shampoo a carpet, it is extremely
important that the carpet be vacuumed thoroughly. It
may be a good idea to remove the old vacuum bag and
replace it with a new one to ensure that all dirt and debris
can be removed.
Next, take some time to locate those areas on the carpet
that get a higher amount of traffic than others and treat
them with a pre-spray or cleaner specifically designed
for highly soiled areas. These can bring some life back
into trampled carpet fibers and aid in maximizing the
Shampooing the Carpet
Allow the spot pre-treater to do its job; this will take
about 30 minutes or so. The actual shampooing
process is not difficult. Begin shampooing in the
furthest corner of the room and pull the machine
towards you while pressing the shampoo release
button, do not soak the carpet. Then go over the
same area again to remove as much moisture from
the rug as possible. You may have to repeat this
process more than once depending on how dirty the
carpet is. These instructions will vary from machine
to machine, but thoroughly laid out instructions are
always included with the carpet cleaner, whether it is
a rental or one you have purchased.
After shampooing, it is best to let the carpet dry
overnight. When carpet is wet, it is much more apt to
pick up dirt and stains than when it is dry, so allowing
it to fully dry before walking on it is important.
http://www.geyservac.com/facts/how-to-shampoo-carpet.
html
Cleaning an oven:
Cleaning an oven naturally is actually quite simple
and you can have great success with the following
techniques that require nothing more than some
eco-friendly solutions and some elbow grease.
Lemon and other citrus oils are great natural
degreasers, and you can clean your oven—
especially convection ovens—with just two lemons
and a little effort. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze
the juices into the baking dish. Place what’s left of
the lemons in the dish as well. Fill the dish about 1/3
full of water, place it in the oven, and bake at 250
degrees for about 30 minutes. If the buildup is really
bad, you can try leaving it in for a bit longer. The
water and lemon juice will heat up and the vapors
will cling to the grime, loosening it and helping it
come clean. Remove the dish and let the oven cool.
After the oven has cooled off, use a scouring pad to
scrub away what’s left of the grime; have a silicone
spatula handy for removing bigger chunks. Use the
lemon water as a rinse aid when cleaning down the
inside of the stove. Keep sponging with the lemon
water until clean and then use a towel to dry it off.
Be aware that the oven emits smoke when this
happens, so be sure to turn on the oven fan and
open a window.
The second technique, which is good for any type
of oven, involves vinegar and baking soda. Simply
spray vinegar all over the inside of the oven. Follow
Badge
Helps
Get a Carpet Cleaner
The first and most important step when shampooing
carpets is to actually obtain the cleaner. In order to
shampoo a carpet, a specialized machine is needed to
do the job. Most hardware stores and grocery stores
have carpet cleaners available for rent.
cleaning process.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
that with an even sprinkling of baking soda and allow for
the mixture to bubble and fizz. Leave the mixture to sit
for about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how many
former Christmas dinners are still clinging to the walls of
the oven. Then use a scouring sponge to scrub the walls
and bottom of the oven to remove the grime and build up.
Vinegar is a great degreaser, so try rinsing the sponge
in vinegar to maintain its grease cutting abilities during
your scrubbing. You can rinse the oven by sponging clean
water on the walls and bottom, this way no chemicals are
required to achieve a clean oven.
or in the sink.
I know many freezers have drain plugs, but if it's not
plumbed to a drain it's not gonna help you.
Step Four: Hurry Up and Wait
Generally at this stage you wait for the ice to melt
and keep mopping up the water. If you don’t have a
lot of ice buildup this is certainly the easiest method
to defrosting.
Help It Along
Cleaning is easy with caustic materials but it takes out Too much ice and not enough time? There are four
the elbow grease factor. However, for a safe and effective ways to speed up the defrosting process.
clean, we should be opting for chemical-free techniques
1. Hot Water Method
so that we can keep our families and the environment
Take a pan and fill it with water, get it nice and
safe while we’re handling that most unwanted of chores.
hot on the stove or use a bowl in the microwave.
http://www.naturallysavvy.com/cleaning-green/cleanPlace the hot water inside the freezer and close
your-oven-without-toxic-chemicals
the door. After about 5 minutes remove the pan
or bowl and reheat then put it back in the freezer.
Defrost a freezer:
Continue until ice is melted.
Step One: Remove Food
I personally hate the hot water method of
Use another freezer if you can or store your food in a
defrosting the freezer. I find that the ice under the
cooler.
hot water melts first and the pan or bowl sticks to
If it’s a cold winter day put the food outside, where no
the ice as it cools off. It’s annoying to come back
wildlife can get to it. This is a great time to take inventory
every 5 minutes and it doesn’t seem to help the
of what you have.
ice melt that much faster.
If your thawing a unit inside of a fridge then remove the
food from the fridge too. If your fridge has a different door
and separate controls allowing you to turn off the freezer
while leaving the fridge running it’s safe to leave food in
the fridge.
However, you might not have a fan that you can
angle properly and if you’re thawing a unit above
a refrigerator it might not be worth the effort.
3. Blow Dryer Defrosting Method—Don’t Try it.
It’s too dangerous to mix a dryer and all that
water!
Step Three: Get Towels and a Bucket
Towels can go into the freezer on the bottom and on
shelves to help absorb the ice that defrosts. Also put
towels on the floor tucked against the freezer because
water is likely to drip to the floor.
4. Scrapper Method
Scraping the ice is probably the most common
way of speeding up the process of defrosting the
freezer. But we have to make sure to do it safely.
And that, my friend, means no sharp objects.
Use the bucket to ring the towels. Or if you have a lot of
ice melting grab a clean mop too.
There are two reasons for this. First you could hurt
yourself. Second you can scrape or puncture the
cabinet of your freezer. Well, it doesn’t sound like
a big deal, puncturing the stuff behind the freezer
cabinet could cause a leak and make your whole
freezer useless. It’s not worth the risk.
I use the mop to keep the floor around the freezer dry and
rags to sop up the water on the bottom shelf.
If your unit has a tray under it, as commonly found in older
refrigerators with freezers on top, make sure to keep
emptying the tray as the ice melts. Dump it in the bucket
Badge
Helps
Step Two: Turn Off Power
Don’t even try defrosting a freezer with it running, it’s a
drain on electricity and on you (believe me, I've tried because I didn't want to unpack the fridge). So turn off
the power, unplug it and get ready to roll up your sleeves.
Now you can leave the door open.
2. Fan Method
Set up a fan outside the freezer with the freezer
door propped open so that air circulates faster.
More air flow will help the ice to melt faster.
A dull object, like a plastic spatula or spoon,
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
works better. Think of it less as ‘scrapping’ and more
as ‘assisting’ large chucks of ice to come out before
they melt.
Step Four: Clean It
Use a mild detergent or 3 tablespoons baking soda in 1
quart of water to gently clean the freezer while it’s already
empty.
remainder of the refrigerator.
2. Remove Shelves and Drawers--Take out all
removable drawers and shelves and set them aside.
Drawers and shelves that are made of metal or plastic
can actually be washed with hot water and dish
soap right away, but glass and ceramic pieces need
to gradually warm up to room temperature before
being washed with hot water to prevent cracking and
breaking. Washing them in a clean bathtub works!
3. Wipe Down Refrigerator Interior--Use a clean
cloth with hot water and a mild detergent like dish
soap. Work from top to bottom to prevent dripping on
surfaces that are already clean. Tough stuck on spills
Step Five: Turn It On and Let It Cool
may need a plastic, non-abrasive scrubber. Another
Make sure the freezer is dry or you’ll be starting to build option is to lay a warm wet cloth over the spilled area
up ice again before there's even food inside. Turn the for a few minutes. The spilled area will be softer and
freezer on, set the ideal freezer temperature for your easier to wipe away. Rinse cloths thoroughly and/or
needs, between 0F and -10F.
use multiple cloths to insure cleanliness. Pay special
attention to the bottom crevices and back of the
I would wait about an hour before adding food that is still refrigerator where spills tend to migrate. Finally wipe
frozen, longer for refrigerator temperature food.
down the interior doors.
And do not rub oil over your freezer like some sites
suggest, because over time even at cold temperature that
oil will go rancid.
Step Five: Repack Frozen Foods in Good Condition
Check the foods you have before returning them to the
freezer. Anything too old or freezer burnt should be tossed
out. Any meat that has thawed needs to be cooked before
it can be frozen again. Learn more about how to refreeze
food if you're not sure.
4. Clean Shelves and Drawers--Now that your
shelves and drawers have had time to warm up
gradually, take a few moments and clean and dry
them thoroughly. Be careful, especially when handling
slippery glass shelving. Dishwashing gloves may be
helpful to prevent breakage.
Put like items together so they are easy to find. There's a
method to organizing your freezer contents.
5. Dry Interior--Using a clean dry cloth or towel wipe
down the interior of the refrigerator to make sure it is
completely dry. Don't forget to dry the interior doors
as well.
http://www.favoritefreezerfoods.com/defrost-freezer.html
6. Replace the Food--Put the food back into the
refrigerator. Now is also a good time to wipe off any
jars or containers of food that may need it, like a sticky
jelly jar or a crusty salad dressing lid. Take care to use
clean cloths when working with your food jars and dry
them thoroughly as well.
7. Clean Out the Freezer--Use the same methods
listed above to clean out a freezer. The great thing
about freezers is that they rarely have spills and need
Clean out the refrigerator:
A refrigerator is the hub of our kitchen. We depend on to be scrubbed out much less often. You may need to
it to safely store all of our perishable foods until we're only check for and remove expired food. If the freezer
ready to use them. Unfortunately the refrigerator takes a does require more thorough cleaning, you can use the
lot of abuse. We stuff it full. We forget about leftovers. We same methods used in the refrigerator.
leave spills until they've crystallized. Then we complain 8. Clean the Outside--Starting from the top, wipe
when there's even the slightest unpleasant odor. Find out down and clean the exterior of the refrigerator using
all the steps you need to know to clean your refrigerator. hot/warm water and a mild dish soap. If you have a
1. Remove the Food--Toss any old or expired food into stainless steel refrigerator, you'll need to use a soft
the trash. Remove the food that is still good to a cooler non-scratching rag, and vinegar or a window cleaner
with ice to keep it safe and cold while you clean the to keep the surface shiny. Don't forget to clean the
rubber gasket seal around the edges of the door using
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Helps
While we are on the topic there is a myth to dispel.
Myth: Frost in a freezer contributes to freezer burn on
your food.
Truth: Frost in the freezer usually means there is an
air leak. However, foods that are properly wrapped in
moisture-vapor proof freezer materials will not develop
freezer burn simply because the freezer doesn’t seal
properly.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
dish soap and warm water. Dirt and grime can collect
here and cause the seal to crack.
To dust, use a soft clean cloth or chemically treated
dust cloth and tilt the slats as above.
9. SeasonallyCheck the Drip Pan--Some refrigerator models have
a removable drip pan that collects the condensation
from the refrigerator. Remove the grill from the
bottom front of your refrigerator and use a flashlight
to locate the drip pan. It will be on top of condenser
coils. Drip pans can become moldy and gross over
time, so wear gloves and be prepared. Remove the
drip pan and clean thoroughly before replacing. You
may need to use bleach. When in doubt refer to the
manufacturer's instructions and follow them. Dry and
replace the drip pan and front grill.
To wash, use a damp cloth or sponge and mild
detergent. Use warm or cold water - NOT hot water.
Tilt the slats as above. Protect the floor or sill from
excess water. The blind can also be taken down,
placed in a bath tub of mild soapy water, then rinsed
clean, wiped dry, or allowed to dry completely in the
open air.
Vacuum the Refrigerator Coils--Unplug the
refrigerator and move it out from the wall carefully
and slowly. For models with the coils on the back of
the refrigerator, use the brush attachment to vacuum
the coils. Some side by side and built-in models may
have coils located behind a vent on the top, bottom
or back of the refrigerator. Some models even have
vents screwed on over the coils. On these models,
you'll need to use a long narrow crevice attachment
for your vacuum cleaner. Refer to your owner's
manual for assistance. Put the refrigerator back and
plug it back in.
Tips:
1. Wiping up spills as they occur, and throwing out old
food every week, will go a long way to keeping your
refrigerator clean.
2. Adding a box of baking soda can work wonder for
eliminating odors in the refrigerator and freezer. This
is great if you don't want your butter to taste like fajita
onions.
Clean the blinds:
When it's time to clean your blinds and shades, even
your best friend is hard to find. But there are some
simple and effective ways to clean blinds and shades
with minimal effort.
Aluminum or Vinyl Miniblinds
Use ordinary soft, clean dust cloths, chemically treated
dust cloths, vacuum cleaner brush attachments, or other
available ordinary household aids. The paint surface of
the slats is quite smooth and dust is easily brushed off if
done at regular intervals.
To vacuum, use the brush dust head attachment and tilt
the slats first up, then down (but not entirely exposed) to
reach the entire top and bottom surfaces.
Fabric Pleated Shades
Most of the cellular shades, like the Hunter Douglas
Duette shade, are anti-static, and they require
very little cleaning. A light sweep with your vacuum
cleaner brush attachment is all that is needed to
keep them dust free. For a more thorough cleaning,
the entire shade assembly may be gently wiped with
a soft damp cloth using lukewarm (not hot) water.
Take special care when handling opaque (blackout)
shades to avoid creasing, and do not immerse them
in water. For tough stains, spot clean with a mild
detergent. Some shades, like the Graber Crystal
Pleat have a "soft hand" fabric. Be very careful
when trying to clean these types of shades as they
tend to "pill".
http://www.blinds.com/control/infopage?page=article_
mighty-tidy.html
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http://housekeeping.about.com/od/kitchen/ht/refrigerator.htm
Wood Blinds
Care must be taken when cleaning real wood blinds.
Washing the blind is NOT recommended. Although
the wood is sealed, water or even excessive
dampness may cause warping or discoloration of
the slats. Since the surface of the slats is smooth,
dust may be easily brushed off at regular intervals
using a clean soft dust cloth or a vacuum cleaner
brush attachment. Clean them as described above.
Clean light fixtures:
Be certain electric current is turned off before
cleaning.
Clean metal ceiling lights with a soft cloth, moistened
with a mild liquid soap solution. Wipe clean and buff
with a very soft dry cloth. Under no circumstances
should any metal polish be used, as its abrasive
nature could damage the protective finish placed on
the metal parts, especially on ceiling fan motors and
blades.
Wood components may be polished with a fine
furniture polish, taking care to avoid getting the polish
on the metal surfaces. Never wash glass shades in
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
an automatic dishwasher, line a sink with a towel and fill
with warm water and a mild liquid soap. Wash glass with
a soft cloth, rinse and wipe dry.
http://www.lightingdirect.com/cleaning-light-fixtures-andceiling-fans/c1573
Vacuum upholstery:
Another major area that needs the vacuum cleaner's
attention is upholstered furniture, which can hold loads
of dust and dust mites. Have you ever thumped your sofa
cushion on a sunny day and seen what comes up into
the air? This, of course, can be helped or even prevented
by regular vacuuming of upholstery. (Make sure the
attachment you're using is not dirty from use on the floors
when you go to clean your furniture.) Before flipping
the vacuum on, check between and under cushions for
missing items and large stuff that may clog the vacuum.
You might even find the remote!
http://www.achooallergy.com/vacuum-to-reduce-allergens.asp
Launder curtains:
How often should you be cleaning curtains? How do
you protect delicate sheers? Can you use a washing
machine? Cleaning curtains doesn't have to be difficult...
these tips will help.
Here's How:
1. Weekly Care--For weekly care, use the upholstery
brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to vacuum
heavier weight curtains. For light weight curtains, an
occasional shaking is more practical to protect delicate
fabric.
3. Drying Curtains--Line drying or using a low setting
on a clothes dryer will both work for washable curtains.
Remove the curtains from the dryer before they are
100% dry. Shoot for a 95% dry removal. Over drying
will set wrinkles, but removing while still slightly damp,
make ironing curtains a super simple job.
4. Press and Replace--A quick ironing will be all that is
needed. Replace your curtain hardware, and rehang
your curtains.
http://housekeeping.about.com/od/surfacefabric/ht/
curtains.htm
Cut the grass:
Cut your grass, not yourself
Every year, hundreds, maybe even thousands, of
people get injured when using lawn mowers. Power
lawn mowers can be dangerous even when used
properly. Be proactive when it comes to safety and
follow these tips to avoid injuries:
• Know the equipment. Read the owner's manual.
Become familiar with all the safety features and
don't disconnect any of them. Keep all nuts and
bolts properly tightened. Never pull a walking
mower.
• Check the lawn before mowing and wear proper
clothing. Pick up any rocks or debris. Heavy shoes
and long pants provide the best protection from
flying debris. If you're using a reel mower, don't
wear loose clothing.
• Protect your hearing. Doing yard work can get
pretty noisy. In addition to the lawn mower, highdecibel noise comes from trimmers, edgers, and
blowers. Use earplugs or earmuff-type hearing
protection.
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Helps
2. Washing Curtains--Remove all hardware from your
curtains before washing. When washing curtains, be
sure to check the care label first. If you're in doubt about
your curtains, try spot testing a small corner with a mix
of water and detergent. Most washable curtains will
need to be washed in cold water with a small amount
of laundry detergent.
Tips:
1. Delicate lace and sheer curtains may benefit
from being hand washed or machine washed
inside a mesh bag. In a pinch, I've washed delicate
curtains inside an old pillowcase that is tied shut
tightly. This prevents fraying and damage.
2. Even the sturdiest curtain fabrics will weaken
with exposure to sunlight. I'll never forget pulling a
set of cotton curtains of the rod, only to have them
tear apart right in my hand. Use caution with your
curtains, especially if they've served your windows
for an extended period of time.
• Keep pets and children away from the lawn as
you mow. Don't let children operate a lawn mower
unless they're strong enough, responsible, and
understand all the operating and safety features.
Even then, supervise them. Never give a young
child a ride on a ride-on mower. Sudden stops,
flying objects, or an excited child can spell disaster.
• Be careful when fueling. Stop the mower and
let the engine cool for 10 minutes before fueling.
Never fill the tank with the mower on the lawn.
Avoid spills by using a gas can with an adequate
pouring spout. Clean up spills immediately and
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
put the used rags in a covered metal can. (Gasolinesoaked rags are a fire hazard.)
• Turn off the mower. Never leave the mower running
unattended, or work on a motor that is running. Turn
off the power when you cross non-grass areas.
• Be careful on hills. Steep slopes are always
dangerous because a mower can flip over or go out of
control. Plant a ground cover other than turf in these
areas. On gentle slopes, mow across the slope, not
up and down. Use a walk-behind mower.
Proper mowing is one of the most important practices
in keeping your lawn healthy. Grasses are like most
plants — if you clip off the growing points (for grass, it's
in the crown, where the new leaves develop), the plants
branch out and become denser, which in this case, turns
thousands of individual grass plants into a tightly woven
turf or a lawn. If you didn't mow at all, your yard would
look more like a prairie than a lawn. But the mere act
of mowing isn't what makes a lawn look good. Mowing
height and mowing frequency determine how healthy
and attractive your lawn looks. After all, cutting a lawn
is stressful for the grass. The leaves make the food for
the roots — and how would you like it if someone kept
cutting off your food?
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/mowing-your-lawnthe-right-way.html
Hand weeding is a common way to get the job done.
It is a most effective technique when weeks are
small, and have not had a chance to root too deeply.
When hand weeding, do so when the soil is slightly
moist so that roots can be loosened easily but avoid
saturated soil as this can spread soil borne diseases
to the plants.
Use hand held weeding tools to get the job done:
trowels, forked weeders, hoes and three-pronged
rakes. Be cautious when weeding close to plants.
Weed at the end of the season to prevent seed
production and distribution.
Plant cover crops to crowd out weed throughout the
winter.
Use drip irrigation around plants to prevent watering
the weed seeds/plants.
Start with transplants instead of seeds. This will give
your good plants a head start over weeds that may
sprout around them.
http://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-weed-yourgarden/
Water the grass, garden or houseplants:
The key to properly watering plants is all about
paying attention
In some cases, a sprinkler is the best option for
watering a large area. However, only 40% of the
water reaches the root zone. For more efficient
watering, install a soaker hose early in the season,
before the plants get big.
Weed Prevention
Prevention is your best defense against weeds. There are
steps that you can take to help eradicate weeds before
they get a chance to grow. Mulch is one of the easiest
ways to do this. Use any organic mulching material in a
three to four inch layer around your plants. This will not
allow sun to get to the weed seeds and germinate them.
Mulch can be used in both the flower garden and in the
vegetable garden.
A friend of mine once had a summer job working
at one New England's premier nurseries. He told
me that the nursery owner always had his new
employees spend their first two weeks doing nothing
but watering plants. By teaching his staff how to
properly water a plant, the owner was ensuring
the health and vitality of his inventory. But he also
used this initiation period to find his best employees:
people who paid attention.
You can also use landscaping fabric or weed mats to help
control weeds around plants. These items work similarly
to mulch. They suppress weeds as well by blocking sun
The key to properly watering plants is all about
paying attention. That's because there are no hard
or fast rules. Determining whether a plant needs
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Helps
Weed the garden:
(Know what is a weed and what’s a prized plant!)
Weeding your garden is one of the most unpleasant
gardening tasks that you may face. Because it is
unpleasant, many gardeners put it off until the weeds
are out of control which will just make the job more labor
intensive. Weeds are unwanted in the garden because
they rob your plants of nutrients needed to grow, crowd
the roots, spread disease, and often encourage pests.
to the soil around your plants. Mats smother weeds
while still allowing water to penetrate. You can use
black plastic sheeting, but will have to have a drip
irrigation system underneath the plastic so that
plants receive enough water.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
water or not is always a judgment call. It depends on the
type of plant, the type of soil, the weather and exposure,
the time of year, and many other variables.
Every plant in your house or garden is probably unique in
its water requirements. The only way you can accurately
determine if you do or don't need to water, and how
much water to apply, is by assessing the needs that
particular plant. Fortunately this is easy to do — even for
a teenager on a hot summer day. You just need to check
the soil.
Get a feel for the weight of a well-watered hanging
basket by lifting it.
If you're working in a nursery, the right way to do this is
to lift each and every pot before you water. Over time,
you get to know how heavy a pot should feel if all the
soil inside the pot is consistently moist. If it is, you don't
water. If it's not, you water slowly until all the soil in the
pot is moist and water is running out the bottom. Then
you lift the pot again to check that it feels right.
Watering is of no value if the water runs down the outside
of the root ball, leaving the roots at the core of the plant
dry. The point is to ensure that the soil at the core of the
pot—where the plant's roots are located—is thoroughly
moist. This is important to remember in the greenhouse
when you're watering seedlings, in the house when
you're watering houseplants, in the garden when you're
watering your tomatoes, and in the landscape when
you're watering shrubs and trees.
A few more tips and techniques for proper watering:
• Focus on the root zone. Remember that it's the roots
that need access to water, not the leaves. Wetting
the foliage is a waste of water and can promote the
spread of disease.
• Water only when needed. Water timers are a
great invention, but you should not be automatically
watering your lawn and garden, regardless of the
weather. Too much water can be just as damaging to
plants as too little water.
• Water deeply and thoroughly. Lawns and annuals
concentrate their roots in the top 6 inches of soil; for
perennials, shrubs and trees, it's the top 12 inches.
www.gardeners.com/When-toWater/8108,default,pg.
html
Mop a floor:
Here's How:
1. Gather Supplies--Choose a mop based on your
floor type. If you have a floor with a lot of texture,
you'll wan the more classic white string or rag mop.
If you have a smooth floor, a sponge mop will work
well.
2. Prep the Floor--In order to prevent your floor from
becoming a sticky, muddy mess, sweep or vacuum
the floor thoroughly before ever touching the mop
to the floor. This is a good time to prewash sticky
or gunky spots that you notice when sweeping or
vacuuming.
3. Fill Bucket or Sink--Some people prefer to use
a sink instead of a bucket. At the end, you can just
scrub out the sink. If the water gets too dirty, it's easy
to let the water drain out, wipe down the sink, and
start with fresh water. Other people prefer a bucket
because it can be carried along the path of the
mop and many have built in wringers. Whichever
you choose, make sure you use hot water and a
mopping solution appropriate for your floor type.
Check the directions to be sure. Do not think that
extra mopping solution will get you a cleaner floor; it
will just leave a residue on your floor.
Badge
Helps
You can't use the "lift" test to evaluate whether or not the
plants in your garden or landscape need water, but you
can occasionally dig down 6 or 12 inches and see what's
happening down there. A soil core sampler is perfect for
this job, or you can just insert a sharp spade and then
pull on it back to reveal a picture of what's going on down
there. If the soil contains some moisture down to a depth
of 6 or 12 inches, you're in good shape. If the soil in
direct contact with the roots is bone dry, it's time water!
In some cases, it may take hours to get moisture
down to a depth of 6-12 inches.
• Water in the morning. If you do get moisture
on the leaves, this gives them time to dry out.
It's much more difficult for plant diseases to get a
foothold when the foliage is dry.
• Mulch everything. Mulch reduces surface runoff
and slows evaporation from the soil surface.
• Use the right tool. When you use a sprinkler on
your lawn or garden, only about 40% of the water
actually reaches the root zone. Instead, try to
apply water directly to the soil surface and apply
it slowly so it soaks in, rather than runs off. You
can do this most effectively with an open-ended
hose at half-pressure, a watering can without the
rose, or a soaker hose.
4. Dip and Wring Out--Dip your mop in the bucket
and wring it out with a wringer or by hand. Too much
water dripping from the mop can damage a floor or
leave the floor with an extended drying time.
5. Mop--Mop from the top of the room to the bottom,
so that you are always standing on unmopped floor.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
This will prevent tracking. Mop in straight lines if you are
using a sponge mop. For rag mops, mop in a figure eight
shape to use the design of your mop most effectively.
When you encounter tough or sticky spots, rub quickly
and press down with your mop onto the floor to scrub at
the spot.
6. Rinse and Wring--Rinse the mop frequently in another
side of the sink, or a different bucket. Dip in the mop
bucket, wring and begin mopping again. When the
mopping water becomes cool or dirty, it needs to be
changed. Otherwise you'll just be painting dirty water
back onto your floor, and making your own work more
difficult. For hard to reach corners and edges, wash with
a paper towel or cleaning rag.
7. Put Away Supplies--When you've mopped every
section, thoroughly rinse your mop and mop bucket and
allow to dry completely. Let your floor dry completely
before walking on it.
Tips:
1. Special floor types may need modified cleaning
care. Know what type of floor you have, and follow the
manufacturer’s directions.
2. Choose cleansers that are safe for your floor type.
http://housekeeping.about.com/od/surfacefloors/ht/
howtomop.htm
Clean inside the car:
You can clean up fast — and it won't require a six-man
NASCAR pit crew.
2. SWIPE --Clean the dashboard, doorjambs, armrests,
and steering wheel with car cleaning wipes which handle
grime without harming vinyl or leather. Or use ordinary
baby wipes. "They're mild enough for a baby's bottom,
but still tough enough to do the job," says David Bowers,
author of Dad's Own Housekeeping Book and the father
of two toddlers.
3. SHAKE AND VAC --Remove and shake out the floor
mats. Using a handheld vacuum, go over the seats and
the floor. Treat spills and ink spots with hand sanitizer; its
high alcohol content zaps stains. Slip the mats back in.
5. DOUBLE UP --Once you've emptied the laundry
basket or bin, stow it in the trunk for double duty:
It can hold multiple grocery bags upright for easier
transfer into the house, then ferry indoor items —
clothes headed to the cleaners, overdue library
books — back into the car when it's time to run
errands.
6. BE PREPARED --Head off trash accumulation:
Fill an empty tissue box with plastic bags from the
supermarket and stash it under the front seat
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaningorganizing/hell-on-wheels-jun07
Extra Cleaning Tips at:
http://www.howtocleananything.com
Requirement 14
Learning how to do laundry is not difficult. Today’s
fabrics, detergents and machines take most of the
mystery and mistakes out of the process. Follow
these basic guidelines and you will have clean
clothes to wear tomorrow.
1. Check the labels. They will tell you whether an
item can be machine washed. Place all clothes that
are labeled “wash separately” or “hand wash” into
separate piles. As a novice launderer, if it says “dry
clean only,” believe the label and place in a bag to
take to the dry cleaners.
Badge
Helps
1. SORT AND TOSS--Grab a garbage bag, an empty
box, and a laundry basket or plastic bin. Starting from the
front, work your way to the rear (don't forget to look under
the seats), tossing trash into the bag. Throw anything
that belongs in the house (a stray lipstick tube, say) into
the box; put items that stay in the car — registration,
travel games — in the basket or bin.
4. STOW TO GO --Now it's time to find a home for
items in the for-the-car bin. A visor organizer is perfect
for stuff you'll need on the road — sunglasses, favorite
CDs. Put maps in a large Ziploc bag in the driver'sside cubby; manuals and registration documents go
in the glove compartment. Use an empty pill bottle
to store coins for tolls; keep it handy in a cup holder.
Unclutter the backseat plastic basket or a tote bag
for toys, ice scrapers, umbrellas. Put emergency car
supplies like jumper cables and flares in an empty
toolbox that you keep in the trunk.
2. Sort laundry by color. Whites, pastels, light gray
and white background prints will go in one pile. Deep
colored clothes – black, red, navy, brown, dark gray
– go in another pile.
3. Sort each pile one more time by type of fabric. For
instance, in the whites separate towels and sheets
from apparel. In the dark colors, separate t-shirts
and jeans from lighter weight items like blouses
and dress shirts. Washing by fabric type allows you
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
to use different water temperatures and keeps drying
cycles simple.
1. Check the tag. It should say if it can be ironed and
also tell you what setting to use on the iron.
4. If there are not enough items to make up a full machine
load of each type and you are in a hurry, you can wash
all of each color together. Just be sure to choose the
machine cycle to fit the most delicate items.
5. Select an all-purpose laundry detergent and read
the directions to determine how much to use. Most
recommend adding the detergent to the washer before
loading to prevent residue on clothing.
6. Unless your clothing is caked with dirt and heavily
stained, washing in cold water will serve your needs
and prevent most laundry disasters. Always rinse in cold
water – there’s no need for a hot or warm rinse on any
fabric.
7. Check that all pockets are empty – even tissues and
paper. Remove any accessories such as belts and
jewelry. Close all zippers and buttons.
2. Fill the iron's water reservoir (if it has one) with
rainwater or distilled water to minimize mineral
buildup on the iron and on the clothes. If you want
to add a pleasant scent to your clothes, soak a few
sprigs of lavender into the water before you put it
into the iron.
8. Load items one at a time, making sure they are not
in a wad. Do not cram the washer too full. The clothes
need room to move about in the water. To protect fabric
finishes and reduce the “washed out” look, turn knitted
items, corduroy, textured fabric and sweatshirts inside
out.
9. Bed linens and towels need to be washed at the
highest recommended temperature at least every other
wash to sanitize.
11. If you did not separate loads by fabric type, do it now
and dry all lightweight items together and then all heavy
fabric items. This will prevent shrinking and protect your
clothing.
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Helps
10. Promptly remove wet laundry from washer to lessen
wrinkles and prevent mildew. Hang items to air dry or
place in dryer.
3. Set the iron on the right setting. Plug it in and let it
sit upright. Wait until it heats up. Many irons have a
little light that will light up to show the iron is heating
up and ready to start. It will go out when the iron has
reached the right temperature.
- If you're ironing more than one garment and they
require different settings, organize the garments
so that you start with the coolest setting first and
work your way up. It's much faster to heat up the
iron than to wait for it to cool off, and if it's not cool
enough you could ruin the fabric.
12. Hang or fold each piece as it comes out of the dryer
to prevent wrinkling.
http://laundry.about.com/od/laundrybasics/ht/howtodolaundry.
htm
Requirement 17
Whether it's your first time ironing or you've been doing
it since you could hold up an iron, here's an overview
laced with handy tips to make wrinkle-free clothes!
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
4. Place a piece of aluminum foil on the ironing board.
The foil will heat up so that it's almost like ironing the
garment from both sides at the same time. You can also
purchase a silver ironing board cover that accomplishes
the same task.
5. Put the piece of clothing on the ironing board. Put it
wrong side out (so that the side that touches the iron is
the same side that touches your body). If the fabric is
cotton or silky rayon, put the right side out instead.
8. Turn the fabric over and iron the right side. This
will ensure that the right side is immaculate and any
creases you accidentally create are ironed to the
back, where it matters less. However, ironing both
sides is optimal. If you used the aluminum foil as
outlined earlier, you may not need to iron the other
side. Cotton and silky rayon shouldn't be ironed on
the wrong side at all. Polyester can be ironed on
either or both sides; if in doubt, iron the wrong side
and stop there. For delicate fabrics or those with
vibrant colors you'd like to preserve, try to get all
the wrinkles out by ironing the wrong side (ironing
on the right side can give dark colors an unwanted
sheen).
9. Hang or fold the garment immediately after
ironing. Don't forget to turn off the iron and empty
the water out. Leaving water in the iron for extended
periods of time can cause rust to form inside. That
rusty water can shoot out with the steam next time
and stain your clothing.
6. Spray starch. This is optional, but will make your
clothes feel more "crisp". You can make your own
starch spray by completely dissolving one tablespoon of
cornstarch in two cups of water. Put this solution into a
clean spray bottle and lightly mist the fabric right before
you iron on that spot.
- acrylic knits - since they can warp when wet and
warm, let the fabric cool and dry completely before
moving it
http://www.wikihow.com/Iron
Badge
Helps
7. Start ironing. Always keep the iron moving; never let it
sit still over any part of the garment. If there's a stubborn
wrinkle that refuses to iron out, spray some water on it
and iron over with steam. Begin at the big areas and
finish with the corners. Once you iron a section, move
the garment away from you. If you move it towards you,
it may wrinkle as you lean over it and possibly push it
against the ironing board.
- corduroy - hold the iron just above the garment so
that the steam thoroughly penetrates the fabric, then
smooth it along the ribs with your palm.
- pleats - hold them in place with paper clips (just be
careful that the clips don't snag or damage the fabric)
- sleeves - use a sleeve board; insert the sleeve board
in the sleeve so that you can iron it without creases; if
you don't have a sleeve board, roll up a towel and put
it snugly inside the sleeve, then iron.
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Badge Helps - Dawn of Our Country
The complete Dawn of Our Country Badge can be
found on page 95 of the Girl Handbook.
Requirement 1
A dawn is a new beginning. We think of the dawn of a new day; a day that we could wake up with sunshine or
storm. Our great country weathered many early days of sunshine and storm and has endured for nearly 400
years since the first settlers landed on our shores at Plymouth Rock.
Cross-Sections of the Mayflower
Forecastle: Where the crew's meals were cooked,
and where the crew's food and supplies were kept.
Cabin:
The general sleeping quarters for the
Mayflower's twenty or thirty other crewmembers. The
crew slept in shifts.
Steerage Room: This is where the pilot steered the
Mayflower. Steering was done by a stick called a
whip-staff that was moved back and forth to move the
tiller, which in turn moves the rudder.
Gun Room: This is where the powder, shot, and other
supplies were stored for the ship's guns and cannons.
Capstan and Windlass: Large apparatus which were
Cargo Hold: This is where the Pilgrims would have
stored their cargo of food, tools, and supplies during
the voyage.
Gun Deck: The gun deck is where the cannon were
located. On merchant ships, this deck was used
to hold additional cargo. In the Mayflower's case,
the gun deck is where the passengers lived on the
voyage to America.
Badge
Helps
Poop House: Nothing to do with a bathroom, the poop
house was the living quarters for the ship's master
(Christopher Jones) and some of the higher ranking
crew, perhaps master's mates John Clarke and Robert
Coppin.
used to lift and lower heavy cargo between the decks.
The Gun Deck, sometimes referred to by the Pilgrims
as "betwixt the decks" or the "tween deck," is where
the Pilgrims lived for most of the voyage. They
occasionally ventured to the upper deck, especially
during calmer weather when they would be less likely
to get in the way of the seamen and there was less
danger of being swept overboard. The gun deck had
about four gun ports on either side of the ship for
cannon. Even though the Mayflower was a merchant
ship, it needed to be able to defend itself from pirates,
and needed to be prepared for the possibility of
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conscription (when England was at war, the King or
Queen could turn merchant ships into military vessels.)
The height of the gun deck was around five and a half
feet.
During the voyage, the 102 Mayflower passengers
lived primarily on the gun deck, or the 'tween deck.
The length of the deck from stem to stern was about
80 feet, of which about 12 feet at the back belonged
to the gun room and was probably off-limits to the
passengers. The width at the widest part was about
24 feet. Various hatches provided access to the cargo
hold below. The windlass and capstan, both used to
haul heavy items by rope between the decks, also took
up floor-space, as did the main mast in the middle, and
the spirit sail mast in the front. Many of the families
built themselves small little "cabins," simple wooden
dividers nailed together, to provide a small amount
of privacy. Others, especially the young single men,
just took up any old spot--many found shelter within
a shallop, a 30-foot sailing vessel that the Pilgrims
brought with them, and which they had dismantled and
stowed on the gun deck. The two month voyage, with
many young men living inside of it, caused considerable
damage to the shallop, and cost the Pilgrims several
weeks of time to fix after they arrived.
The Gun Deck Floor Plan
scoffed at the passengers, "cursing them daily" and
saying that he hoped to throw their dead bodies
overboard and take their belongings for himself. But
it turned out that this sailor would be the first to get
sick and die: Passenger William Bradford wrote "it
pleased God before they came half seas over, to
smite this young man with a grievous disease, of
which he died in a desperate manner, and so was
himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his
curses light on his own head, ... for they noted it to be
the just hand of God upon him."
Text from MayflowerHistory.com.
What Happened on the Voyage
The Mayflower left Plymouth, England on September
6, 1620, and anchored off the tip of Cape Cod on
November 11. During those two months crossing the
Atlantic Ocean to America, many things happened on
the Mayflower.
Of the 102 passengers onboard the ship, three of
them were pregnant women. One of the women,
Mrs. Elizabeth Hopkins, gave birth during the voyage.
Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins named their newborn
son Oceanus. The other two women would give birth
shortly after arrival.
The first half of the voyage was actually fairly smooth.
The wind and weather were good for sailing, and they
made good progress. Aside from sea-sickness, the
health of the passengers was generally very good.
One of the sailors, however, continually laughed and
After they had sailed more than half way to America,
the Mayflower began to encounter a number of bad
storms, which began to make the ship very leaky,
causing many of the passengers below deck to be
continually cold and damp. During one of the storms,
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
a main beam in the middle of the ship cracked, causing
some of the passengers and crew to wonder if the ship
was strong enough to make all the way to America. But
Master Christopher Jones felt his ship was strong, and so
they fixed the main beam with a large screw, caulked the
leaky decks as best they could, and continued on.
During another storm, a twenty-five year old man named
John Howland came up on deck, but the ship suddenly
rolled and he lost his balance and fell into the cold Atlantic
ocean. Luckily, he managed to grab a hold of a rope that
was hanging down from one of the topsails, and held on
as he sunk many feet below the surface of the water. The
Mayflower's crew hauled him back up to the surface with
the rope, and then grabbed him with a boathook.
Wet and cold and cramped in their small quarters, some
of the passengers began to develop coughs and colds.
As the Mayflower finally began to approach America, one
of the passengers, a young boy named William Butten,
a servant to the passengers' doctor Samuel Fuller, died.
William Butten died on November 6, just three days before
land was sighted.
so shaken up by the near disaster, that they decided
to head back to Cape Cod, instead of trying to
make another attempt to head south. They entered
Cape Cod in the early morning of November 11,
and anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor,
waiting for sunrise. After the sun was up and the
tide was high, they sent shore a small group of men
to collect juniper wood--the living quarters on the
Mayflower had no doubt become very rancid and
smelly, and one of the Pilgrims highest priorities
was to collect some juniper wood to burn onboard
the ship, to make everything smell just a little bit
better. Over the next month and a half, the Pilgrims
would send out multiple exploring parties, seeking
out a suitable place to build their colony.
Text from MayflowerHistory.com.
Additional online resources:
- www.plimoth.org
- http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/
kidscraftsactivitiesblog/2011/11/how-to-make-amoving-mayflower-for-thanksgiving/
Text from MayflowerHistory.com.
Puppet Show
Badge
Helps
Land Ho!
On the early morning of November 9, 1620, the Mayflower's
crew spotted land. It was the first land they had seen
in more than two months, and signified to the Pilgrims
that they were near the end of their long voyage. What a
relief, and what excitement it must have been! The crew
determined that the land they were seeing was Cape
Cod, somewhat to the north of the Hudson River in New
York where the Pilgrims intended to plant their colony. So
the Mayflower turned south to head for New York (back
then it was called "Northern Virginia"). But on the way,
the Mayflower encountered some very treacherous seas,
and nearly shipwrecked. The passengers and crew were
Creating a puppet show can be great fun: from
script writing, to scenery, to the puppets…even just
being the audience. Everyone can take part. Go
simple; go elaborate. Let those girls’ imaginations
fly.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
http://www.easy-child-crafts.com/support-files/thanksgiving-crafts-for-children.pdf
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Requirement 2
George Washington is an American hero whose fame
is not wholly accounted for by the record of his life. Like
Lincoln, the man was infinitely greater than anything he
did. A military genius, he wrested liberty from tyranny;
a statesman, he helped evolve a stable government
from political chaos; a patriot, he refused a crown.
Wisdom, patience, tolerance, courage, consecration to
the righteous cause animated his every act. Ingratitude,
injustice and treachery never embittered him, but served
to strengthen his character. He grew in dignity and in
capacity to the need of his growing responsibility and
power, but he never became arrogant and ambition and
opportunity never tempted him from the narrow path of
honor.
Quick facts and trivia:
Birthday: February 22, 1732
Birthplace: Wakefield, Virginia
Place of Burial: Mount Vernon, Virginia
* Only President to be elected unanimously
* Only President inaugurated in 2 cities - New York
and Philadelphia
* Only President that did not live in the White House.
He was involved in the planning of the Capitol.
* Washington did his own bookkeeping and recorded
every penny of expense or profit. His ledgers still
exist today.
* There were 13 stars on the United States flag when
Washington became President in 1789.
* Five states were added to the Union during
Washington's presidency - North Carolina (1789),
Rhode Island (1790), Vermont (1791), Kentucky
(1792), and Tennessee (1796).
Information adapted from www.apples4theteacher.com
College or University: none
Religion: Episcopalian
Occupation or Profession: Planter, Surveyor, Military
Military Rank: General
Married: (January 6, 1759) Mrs. Martha Dandridge
Custis
Children:
- 2 step-children - John "Jackie" Parke Custis (1754 1781) and Martha "Patsy" Parke Custis (1756 - 1773)
- 2 step-grandchildren - Eleanor "Nelly" Parke Custis
and George Washington "Washy" Parke Custis
President number: First President of U.S.
Runner Up: none
Badge
Helps
Political Party: None (Washington opposed the idea of
political parties)
Crossing the Delaware River
In the bitter cold of December 1776, George
Washington’s battered army launched a surprise
attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton, New
Jersey. His troops crossed the ice-choked Delaware
River and ambushed the encampment on December
26th, when the soldiers were still recovering from
their Christmas festivities. Washington’s forces took
the town and captured nearly a thousand Hessian
soldiers, less than an hour after they first attacked.
At last, the Continental Army had won a victory. Here
we see Washington as he appeared in the famous
but fanciful painting by Emmanuel Leutze, done
many years after the event it portrays. It is unlikely
that Washington, a prudent commander, would have
stood up in the bows of a boat being maneuvered
across an ice-filled river. This is, however, certainly
one of the most well-known depictions of Washingtonaccurate or not.
Vice President: John Adams
Age at Inauguration: 57
Served: 1789-1797
Number of terms: 2
Other Offices or Commissions: President of Constitutional
Convention, Lieutenant General and Commander in
Chief of new United States Army
Died: December 14, 1799
Age at Death: 67
Painting: Emmanuel Leutze, “George Washington Crossing
the Delaware,” 1851, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Badge
Helps
http://www.mountvernon.org/sites/mountvernon.org/files/Crossing_the%20
Delaware%20River%20Coloring%20Sheet.pdf
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Requirement 3
Tradition tells of a chime
that changed the world on
July 8, 1776, with the Liberty
Bell ringing out from the
tower of Independence Hall
summoning the citizens of
Philadelphia to hear the
first public reading of the
Declaration of Independence
by Colonel John Nixon.
The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the Bell in 1751 to
commemorate the 50-year anniversary of William Penn's
1701 Charter of Privileges, Pennsylvania's original
Constitution. It speaks of the rights and freedoms valued
by people the world over. Particularly forward thinking
were Penn's ideas on religious freedom, his liberal
stance on Native American rights, and his inclusion of
citizens in enacting laws.
The Liberty Bell gained iconic importance when
abolitionists in their efforts to put an end to slavery
throughout America adopted it as a symbol.
As the Bell was created to commemorate the golden
anniversary of Penn's Charter, the quotation "Proclaim
Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants
thereof," from Leviticus 25:10, was particularly apt. For
the line in the Bible immediately preceding "proclaim
liberty" is, "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year." What
better way to pay homage to Penn and hallow the 50th
year than with a bell proclaiming liberty?
The Crack
There is widespread disagreement about when the
first crack appeared on the Bell. Hair-line cracks on
bells were bored out to prevent expansion. However,
it is agreed that the final expansion of the crack which
The Philadelphia Public Ledger takes up the story
in its February 26, 1846 publication:
"The old Independence Bell rang its last clear
note on Monday last in honor of the birthday
of Washington and now hangs in the great city
steeple irreparably cracked and dumb. It had been
cracked before but was set in order of that day by
having the edges of the fracture filed so as not to
vibrate against each other ... It gave out clear notes
and loud, and appeared to be in excellent condition
until noon, when it received a sort of compound
fracture in a zig-zag direction through one of its
sides which put it completely out of tune and left it
a mere wreck of what it was."
The Bell as Icon
The Bell achieved its iconic status when abolitionists
adopted the Bell as a symbol for the movement. It
was first used in this association as a frontispiece
to an 1837 edition of Liberty, published by the New
York Anti-Slavery Society.
It was, in fact, the abolitionists who gave it the
name "Liberty Bell," in reference to its inscription.
It was previously called simply the "State House
bell."
In retrospect, it is a remarkably apt metaphor for a
country literally cracked and freedom fissured for
its black inhabitants. The line following "proclaim
liberty" is, "It shall be a jubilee unto you; and ye
shall return every man unto his possession, and
ye shall return every man unto his family." The
Abolitionists understood this passage to mean that
the Bible demanded all slaves and prisoners be
freed every 50 years.
Badge
Helps
Also inscribed on the Bell is the quotation, "By Order
of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania for
the State House in Philada." Note that the spelling of
"Pennsylvania" was not at that time universally adopted.
In fact, in the original Constitution, the name of the state
is also spelled "Pensylvania." If you get a chance to visit
the second floor of Independence Hall in Philadelphia,
take a moment to look at the original maps on the wall.
They, too, have the state name spelled "Pensylvania"
(and the Atlantic Ocean called by the name of that day,
"The Western Ocean"). The choice of the quotation was
made by Quaker Isaac Norris, speaker of the Assembly.
Centered on the front of the Bell are the words, "Pass
and Stow / Philada / MDCCLIII." We'll get to Pass and
Stow in a bit.
rendered the Bell unringable was on Washington's
Birthday in 1846.
William Lloyd Garrison's anti-slavery publication
The Liberator reprinted a Boston abolitionist
pamphlet containing a poem about the Bell,
entitled, The Liberty Bell, which represents the first
documented use of the name, "Liberty Bell."
The Bell and the Declaration of Independence
In 1847, George Lippard wrote a fictional story
for The Saturday Currier which told of an elderly
bellman waiting in the State House steeple for the
word that Congress had declared Independence.
The story continues that privately he began to
doubt Congress's resolve. Suddenly the bellman's
grandson, who was eavesdropping on the doors of
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Congress, yelled to him, "Ring, Grandfather! Ring!"
This story so captured the imagination of people
throughout the land that the Liberty Bell was forever
associated with the Declaration of Independence.
The truth is that the steeple was in bad condition and
historians today highly doubt that the Bell actually rang
in 1776. However, its association with the Declaration
of Independence was fixed in the collective mythology.
Bell as Symbol
After the divisive Civil War, Americans sought a symbol
of unity. The flag became one such symbol, and the
Liberty Bell another. To help heal the wounds of the war,
the Liberty Bell would travel across the country.
Starting in the 1880s, the Bell traveled to cities
throughout the land "proclaiming liberty" and inspiring
the cause of freedom. We have prepared a photo essay
of its 1915 journey to the Panama-Pacific Exposition in
San Francisco.
A replica of the Liberty Bell, forged in 1915, was used
to promote women's suffrage. It traveled the country
with its clapper chained to its side, silent until women
won the right to vote. On September 25, 1920, it was
brought to Independence Hall and rung in ceremonies
celebrating the ratification of the 19th amendment.
To this day, oppressed groups come to Philadelphia to
give voice to their plight, at the Liberty Bell, proclaiming
their call for liberty.
The bell arrived in Philadelphia on September 1, 1752,
but was not hung until March 10, 1753, on which day
Isaac Norris wrote, "I had the mortification to hear that
it was cracked by a stroke of the clapper without any
other viollence [sic] as it was hung up to try the sound."
The cause of the break is thought to have been
attributable either to flaws in its casting or, as they
thought at the time, to its being too brittle.
Two Philadelphia foundry workers named John Pass
and John Stow were given the cracked bell to be melted
The new bell was raised in the belfry on March 29,
1753. "Upon trial, it seems that they have added
too much copper. They were so teased with the
witticisms of the town that they will very soon make
a second essay," wrote Isaac Norris to London
agent Robert Charles. Apparently nobody was now
pleased with the tone of the bell.
Pass and Stow indeed tried again. They broke up
the bell and recast it. On June 11, 1753, the New
York Mercury reported, "Last Week was raised and
fix'd in the Statehouse Steeple, the new great Bell,
cast here by Pass and Stow, weighing 2080 lbs."
In November, Norris wrote to Robert Charles that he
was still displeased with the bell and requested that
Whitechapel cast a new one.
Upon the arrival of the new bell from England, it was
agreed that it sounded no better than the Pass and
Stow bell. So the "Liberty Bell" remained where it
was in the steeple, and the new Whitechapel bell
was placed in the cupola on the State House roof
and attached to the clock to sound the hours.
The Liberty Bell was rung to call the Assembly
together and to summon people together for special
announcements and events. The Liberty Bell tolled
frequently. Among the more historically important
occasions, it tolled when Benjamin Franklin was
sent to England to address Colonial grievances, it
tolled when King George III ascended to the throne
in 1761, and it tolled to call together the people of
Philadelphia to discuss the Sugar Act in 1764 and
the Stamp Act in 1765.
In 1772 a petition was sent to the Assembly stating
that the people in the vicinity of the State House
were "incommoded and distressed" by the constant
"ringing of the great Bell in the steeple."
But, tradition holds, it continued tolling for the First
Continental Congress in 1774, the Battle of Lexington
and Concord in 1775 and its most resonant tolling
was on July 8, 1776, when it summoned the citizenry
for the reading of the Declaration of Independence
produced by the Second Continental Congress.
However, the steeple was in bad condition and
historians today doubt the likelihood of the story.
In October 1777, the British occupied Philadelphia.
Weeks earlier all bells, including the Liberty Bell,
were removed from the city. It was well understood
that, if left, they would likely be melted down and
Badge
Helps
History of the Bell
On November 1, 1751, a letter was sent to Robert Charles,
the Colonial Agent of the Province of Pennsylvania who
was working in London. Signed by Isaac Norris, Thomas
Leech, and Edward Warner, it represented the desires
of the Assembly to purchase a bell for the State House
(now Independence Hall) steeple. The bell was ordered
from Whitechapel Foundry, with instructions to inscribe
on it the passage from Leviticus.
down and recast. They added an ounce and a half
of copper to a pound of the old bell in an attempt to
make the new bell less brittle. For their labors they
charged slightly over 36 Pounds.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
used for cannon. The Liberty Bell was removed from the
city and hidden in the floorboards of the Zion Reformed
Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which you can still
visit today.
Throughout the period from 1790 to 1800, when
Philadelphia was the nation's capital, uses of the Bell
included calling the state legislature into session,
summoning voters to hand in their ballots at the
State House window, and tolling to commemorate
Washington's birthday and celebrate the Fourth of July.
The Bell Today
The Liberty Bell Center was opened in October, 2003.
From the southern end, the bell is visible from the street
24 hours a day.
On every Fourth of July, at 2pm Eastern time, children
who are descendants of Declaration signers symbolically
tap the Liberty Bell 13 times while bells across the
nation also ring 13 times in honor of the patriots from
the original 13 states. More about this ceremony.
inch wide and 24.5 inches long. The Bell actually
suffered a series of hairline cracks. The area around
the crack was expanded in hopes of extending the
useful life of the Bell. In the picture at right, note the
hairline crack that finally rendered the bell unusable
extending upward.
Bell Stats
• circumference around the lip: 12 ft.
• circumference around the crown: 7 ft. 6 in.
• lip to crown: 3 ft.
• height over the crown: 2 ft. 3 in.
• thickness at lip: 3 in.
• thickness at crown: 1-1/4 in.
• weight (originally): 2080 lbs.
• length of clapper: 3 ft. 2 in.
• weight of clapper: 44-1/2 lbs.
• weight of yoke: 200 lbs.
• Length of visible hairline fracture: approx. 2'
4" (this and next measurement made by Park
curator Bob Giannini in 1993)
• Length of drilled crack: approx. 2' 1/2"
• yoke wood: American Elm (a.k.a. slippery elm)
Each year, the bell is gently tapped in honor of Martin
Luther King Day. The ceremony began in 1986 at
request of Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King.
Liberty Bell Facts
Location: Liberty Bell Center, Market Street & 6th,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania(Map of Historic Philadelphia)
http://www.ushistory.org/libertybell
Bell Originally Cast: Whitechapel Foundry 1752
Bell recast: Pass & Stow Philadelphia 1753 and again
later that year
Center opened: October, 2003
Center architect: Bernard J. Cywinski of Bohlin,
Cywinski, Jackson
Exhibit designer: UJMN Architects + Designers (Ueland
Junker McCauley Nicholson LLC)
Tourism information: Daily 9am-5pm with extended
hours July and August. The bell is visible 24 hours a
day. 215-597-8974
Strike note: E-flat
Composition: 70% copper, 25% tin, small amounts of
lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver
Size of "Crack": The "crack" is approximately 1/2
Betsy Ross and the American Flag
Betsy would often tell her children, grandchildren,
relatives, and friends of the fateful day when
three members of a secret committee from the
Continental Congress came to call upon her. Those
representatives, George Washington, Robert Morris,
and George Ross, asked her to sew the first flag.
This meeting occurred in her home some time late in
May 1776. George Washington was then the head
of the Continental Army. Robert Morris, an owner of
vast amounts of land, was perhaps the wealthiest
citizen in the Colonies. Colonel George Ross was a
respected Philadelphian
and also the uncle of
her late husband, John
Ross.
Naturally, Betsy Ross
already knew George
Badge
Helps
Bell owned by: The City of Philadelphia (not the Park
Service)
Requirement 3
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Ross as she had married his nephew. Furthermore, Betsy
was also acquainted with the great General Washington.
Not only did they both worship at Christ Church in
Philadelphia, but Betsy's pew was next to George and
Martha Washington's pew. Her daughter recalled, "That
she was previously well acquainted with Washington,
and that he had often been in her house in friendly visits,
as well as on business. That she had embroidered ruffles
for his shirt bosoms and cuffs, and that it was partly owing
to his friendship for her that she was chosen to make the
flag."
In June 1776, brave Betsy was a widow struggling to run
her own upholstery business. Upholsterers in colonial
America not only worked on furniture but did all manner
of sewing work, which for some included making flags.
Cut a 5-Pointed Star in One Snip
George Washington's original pencil sketch for the flag
indicated 6-pointed stars, a form he apparently preferred.
Betsy Ross, however, recommended a 5-pointed star.
When the committee protested that it was too difficult to
make, she took a piece of paper, folded it deftly, and with
a single snip of her scissors, produced a symmetrical fivepointed star. This seeming feat of magic so impressed
her audience that they readily agreed to her suggestion.
To you we pass along the secret...
Take a thin piece of paper 8-1/2" x 10" (or an exact
proportion thereof), fold it as indicated and cut yourself a
perfect 5-pointed star.
Step 2. Fold and unfold in half
both ways to form creased
center lines. (Note: be sure
paper is still folded in half.)
Step 3. Bring corner (1) right to
meet the center line. Be sure to
fold from the vertical crease line.
Step 5. Bring corner (2) left
and fold.
Step 6. Bring corner (2) right
until edges coincide. Then fold.
Step 7. Bring right edge AC
and the left edge AB together,
crease, and unfold. Join points
A and C, crease, and unfold.
Step 8. Cut on the angle as
shown in the picture (from point
C, through the intersection of
the fold lines from step 7, to
the left edge). Then unfold the
small piece.
Badge
Helps
Step 1. Fold an 8-1/2" x 10"
piece of paper in half.
Step 4. Bring corner (1) left till
edges coincide, then make the
fold.
Step 9. Marvel at your perfect
(we hope!) 5-pointed star! If
your star is not perfect, take
a fresh piece of paper (8-1/2"
x 10" — not 8-1/2" x 11") and
return to step one.
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagtale.html
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Requirement 7
The text of the Mayflower Compact:
In the name of God, Amen. We
whose names are underwritten,
the loyal subjects of our dread
Sovereign Lord King James, by
the Grace of God of Great Britain,
France, and Ireland King, Defender
of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken for the Glory
of God and advancement of the
Christian Faith and Honour of our
King and Country, a Voyage to plant the First Colony
in the Northern Parts of Virginia, do by these presents
solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one
of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves together
in a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and
preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and
by virtue hereof to enact, constitute and frame such just
and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and
Offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet
and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto
which we promise all due submission and obedience.
In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our
names at Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of
the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England,
France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the
fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620.
Info adapted from http://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids/
homework-help/mayflower-and-mayflower-compact
Requirement 9
Preamble to Constitution
We the people of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.
When creating your “commercial script” keep the
following in mind:
- Will you create a 30 second or 60 second
commercial? (radio or television)
- Could you expand to a 15 or 30 minute infomercial? (television)
- Who is your target audience? Use language
and images this audience will understand.
- Can you create a “hook line” to catch the interest
of your audience and make them want to listen?
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Helps
Signers of the Mayflower Compact:
John Carver, Edward Tilly, Digery Priest, William
Bradford, John Tilly, Thomas Williams, Edward Winslow,
Francis Cooke, Gilbert Winslow, William Brewster,
Thomas Rogers, Edmund Margeson, Isaac Allerton,
Thomas Tinker, Peter Brown, Miles Standish, John
Rigdale, Richard Bitteridge, John Alden, Edward Fuller,
George Soule, Samuel Fuller, John Turner, Richard
Clark, Christopher Martin, Francis Eaton, Richard
Gardiner, William Mullins, James Chilton, John Allerton,
William White, John Craxton, Thomas English, Richard
Warren, John Billington, Edward Doten, John Howland,
Moses Fletcher, Edward Leister, Stephen Hopkins, John
Goodman
The original document does not survive. It first appeared
in Mourt’s Relation, a pamphlet about the first year of
settlement at Plimoth. In 1669 Plymouth’s town historian,
Nathaniel Morton, reprinted the agreement in his book,
New England’s Memorial. Interestingly, he included a
possible list of the men who signed it, even though these
men’s names were not included in earlier copies of the
Mayflower Compact. According to Morton, the document
was signed by 41 of the male passengers – all but
one of the freemen, three of the five hired men, and
two of the nine servants.
Requirement 15
The plan of the city of Washington was designed in
1791 by Pierre L'Enfant, and mapped the following
year; a design which remains largely in place.
For nearly a century, the realization of physical
changes to the original plan were gradual until the
second important benchmark in the development
of Washington's urban plan: the McMillan
Commission and its 1901-02 recommendations.
The McMillan Commission plans were implemented
predominantly during the first three decades of the
20th century, and continued sporadically thereafter.
For nearly 100 years, a legal height limit of 160' has
preserved the broad, horizontal Baroque nature
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
of the city, allowing light and air to reach the pedestrian
level, and resulting in a picturesque skyline pierced by
steeples, domes, towers and monuments.
On January 24, 1791, President George Washington
announced the Congressionally-designated permanent
location of the national capital, a diamond-shaped tenmile tract at the confluence of the Potomac and Eastern
Branch Rivers. A survey of the area was undertaken by
Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker. Forty boundary
stones, laid at one-mile intervals, established the
boundaries based on celestial calculations by Banneker,
a self-taught astronomer of African descent and one of
the few free blacks living in the vicinity. Within this 100
square mile diamond, which would become the District
of Columbia, a smaller area was laid out as the city
of Washington. (In 1846, one-third of the District was
retroceded by Congressional action to Virginia, thus
removing that portion of the original district which lay
west of the Potomac River.) In March 1791,the surveyors'
roles were complemented by the employment of Major
Pierre Charles L'Enfant to prepare the plan.
Major L'Enfant (1755-1825), a French artist and engineer
who had formed a friendship with George Washington
while serving in the Revolutionary War, requested the
honor of designing a plan for the national capital. The
fact that the area was largely undeveloped gave the city's
founders the unique opportunity to create an entirely new
capital city.
Map of Federal City, 1797
Historical Society of Washington, DC
Badge
Helps
After surveying the site, L'Enfant developed a Baroque
plan that features ceremonial spaces and grand radial
avenues, while respecting natural contours of the land.
The result was a system of intersecting diagonal avenues
superimposed over a grid system. The avenues radiated
from the two most significant building sites that were to
be occupied by houses for Congress and the President.
L'Enfant specified in notes accompanying the plan that
these avenues were to be wide, grand, lined with trees,
and situated in a manner that would visually connect
ideal topographical sites throughout the city, where
important structures, monuments, and fountains were to
be erected. On paper, L'Enfant shaded and numbered 15
large open spaces at the intersections of these avenues
and indicated that they would be divided among the
states. He specified that each reservation would feature
statues and memorials to honor worthy citizens. The open
spaces were as integral to the capital as the buildings
to be erected around them. L'Enfant opposed selling
land prematurely, refused to furnish his map to the city
commissioners in time for the sale, and was reluctantly
relieved of his duties by George Washington. Ellicott
was then engaged to produce a map and reproduced
L'Enfant's plan from his memory.
In the context of the United States, a plan as grand
as the 200 year old city of Washington, DC, stands
alone in its magnificence and scale. But as the
capital of a new nation, its position and appearance
had to surpass the social, economic and cultural
balance of a mere city: it was intended as the
model for American city planning and a symbol of
governmental power to be seen by other nations.
The remarkable aspect of Washington, is that by
definition of built-out blocks and unobstructed
open space, the plan conceived by L'Enfant is little
changed today.
Info adapted from http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/
lenfant.htm & http://www.mm2c.com/mm3/features/
maps/.
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Requirement 16
The Bill of Rights: A Transcription
The Preamble to The Bill of Rights
Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven
hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at
the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a
desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its
powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses
should be added: And as extending the ground of public
confidence in the Government, will best ensure the
beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America, in Congress assembled,
two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following
Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several
States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United
States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three
fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents
and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the
Constitution of the United States of America, proposed
by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the
several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original
Constitution.
Note: The following text is a transcription of the first ten
amendments to the Constitution in their original form.
These amendments were ratified December 15, 1791,
and form what is known as the "Bill of Rights."
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security
of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear
Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any
house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of
war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment
or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising
in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in
actual service in time of War or public danger; nor
shall any person be subject for the same offence
to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall
be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law; nor shall
private property be taken for public use, without just
compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy
the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial
jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district shall have been
previously ascertained by law, and to be informed
of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be
confronted with the witnesses against him; to have
compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his
favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his
defence.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in
controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of
trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a
jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of
the United States, than according to the rules of the
common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive
fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments
inflicted.
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Helps
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the Government for a redress of grievances.
searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and
no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause,
supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly
describing the place to be searched, and the persons
or things to be seized.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights,
shall not be construed to deny or disparage others
retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by
the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are
reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
www.archives.gov
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Requirement 17
Abraham Lincoln was the second speaker on November
19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National
Cemetery at Gettysburg. Lincoln was preceded on the
podium by the famed orator Edward Everett, who spoke
to the crowd for two hours. Lincoln followed with his now
immortal Gettysburg Address. On November 20, Everett
wrote to Lincoln: “Permit me also to express my great
admiration of the thoughts expressed by you, with such
eloquent simplicity & appropriateness, at the consecration
of the Cemetery. I should be glad, if I could flatter myself
that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in
two hours, as you did in two minutes.”
great task remaining before us -- that from these
honored dead we take increased devotion to that
cause for which they gave the last full measure of
devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these
dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation,
under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -and that government of the people, by the people,
for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/gettysburgaddress/Pages/
default.aspx & http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/
lincoln/speeches/gettysburg.htm
Requirement 19
Memorize the following passage and recite it to
your Unit. Ask what they think it means. Consider
"dressing the part" in colonial garb.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all
men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable
Rights,that among these are Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of Happiness.
Library of Congress
President Lincoln, center, is pictured at the dedication of
the Civil War cemetery in Gettysburg,Pa., Nov. 19, 1863.
It is the only known photograph of Lincoln at Gettysburg.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether
that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated,
can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that
war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a
final resting place for those who here gave their lives that
that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper
that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can
not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The
brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have
consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say
here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us
the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished
work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly
advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the
http://www.benjaminfranklincostumes.net/wp-content/
uploads/2010/09/ChildBenFranklinCostume.jpg
&
http://www.costumesupercenter.com/boys+costumeshistoric+patriotic/R884718-boys-general-georgewashington-costume.html
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Helps
The Gettysburg Address
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth
on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created
equal.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Seasonal-
August Holidays
August 1 – Airforce Day
AUGUST 2 – FIRST LINCOLN PENNY
ISSUED IN 1909
• Use thickened frosting or glue and pretzel
sticks to make log cabins. You can also use
graham crackers.
• Make penny rubbings by putting a coin
under a sheet of thin paper and rubbing it
with the side of a crayon or pencil lead.
August 3 – National Watermelon
Day
Watermelon, in it’s 30 varieties, is both fruit and
plant of a vine-like herb originally from southern
Africa and one of the most common types of
melon. The watermelon fruit has a smooth exterior
rind (green and yellow) and a juicy, sweet, usually
red or yellow, but sometimes orange, interior
flesh. It’s iconically associated with picnics, can be
used to make salsa and smoothies, and is great
for hydration on a hot summer day. This juicy
fruit is also an excellent source of vitamin C and
vitamin A, and dosed with significant amounts of
vitamin B6 and vitamin B1, as well as the minerals
potassium and magnesium.
Why not try having an Iron Chef competition in your
Troop or Unit? Divide girls into teams and assign
them all the same course, such as dessert (or for
older girls, you may want the added challenge of
an entire meal). All teams have the same amount
of time to create their culinary treats, and all teams
must incorporate watermelon into their dish! Invite
a local chef, or culinarily-gifted Troop parent to
taste the finished dishes and choose a winner.
AUGUST 6 – ODIE’S BIRTHDAY!
August 10 – S’Mores Day
S'mores Nachos
Ingredients
- 5 soft taco size flour tortillas
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter , melted
- 12 whole cinnamon graham cracker , finely
crushed
- 1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallow
DIRECTIONS
Heat the oven to 350° F. Cut each tortilla into 8
wedges. Pour the butter into a shallow bowl. Place
the graham cracker crumbs onto a plate.
Dip the tortilla wedges into the butter. Coat with the
graham cracker crumbs. Place the tortilla wedges
onto a baking sheet.
Bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown, turning
the tortilla wedges over once halfway through the
bake time.
Place the tortilla wedges onto a platter. Top with the
marshmallows. Drizzle with the chocolate sauce.
Recipe
Note: for a version with toasted marshmallows,
use an oven-safe platter. Place the baked tortilla
wedges onto the platter. Top with the marshmallows.
Bake at 350°F. until the marshmallows are lightly
browned. Drizzle with the chocolate sauce.
http://www.kitchendaily.com
August 19 – National Aviation Day
This special day was created by a presidential
proclamation by U.S. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt in 1939. National Aviation Day is in
honor of the birthday of aviator Orville Wright.
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were
pioneer aviators in the United States. Orville was
the first person to successfully fly an airplane. His
first flight was December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk,
North Carolina. This inaugural flight was soon to
change the skies forever.
The National Air Traffic Controllers have a coloring
and activity book available for download from their
site. These activities gives girls a glimpse into the
important role Air Traffic Control plays in aviation
today. Download at: http://www.natca.org/assets/
Documents/mediacenter/coloringbook.pdf
Seasonal
August 4 – Coast Guard Day
- 1 jar (about 10 ounces) chocolate sauce (about
1 1/4 cups), warmed
AUGUST 23 – FIRST PHOTOGRAPH OF
EARTH FROM THE MOON.
Taken by Lunar Orbiter in 1966
During the Lunar Orbiter missions, the first pictures
of Earth as a whole were taken, beginning with
Earth-rise over the lunar surface by Lunar Orbiter
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Honey is an natural source of energy that contains
a unique mixture of glucose and fructose. Recent
studies suggest that this unique mixture of sugars
works best in preventing fatigue and enhancing athletic
performance.
All-natural honey is an effective treatment for
minor abrasions and burns. A recent review of
medical research documents its effectiveness as an
antimicrobial agent.
1 in August, 1966. The first full picture of the whole
Earth was taken by Lunar Orbiter 5 in August, 1967.
See http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/symbolizingthe-green-movement. The second photo of the
whole Earth was taken by Lunar Orbiter V on
November 10, 1967. This photo was published by
Stewart Brand in the first Whole Earth Catalog in
the fall of 1968.
AUGUST 31 – NATIONAL TRAIL MIX
DAY
Huckleberry Trail Mix
Ingredients
• 1 pound (4 cups) dry-roasted almonds
• 1 pound (4 cups) cashews
• 2 cups dried huckleberries or cranberries
• 1 1/3 cups M&M's Minis or semisweet
chocolate chips
• 1 1/3 cups shredded coconut
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-networkkitchens/huckleberry-trail-mix-recipe/index.html
September Holidays
September is National Honey Month
All-natural honey has been used a beauty product
since the days of Cleopatra and it continues to be
used today in manufactured and homemade products
for skin and hair care. Honey is naturally hydrating and
non-irritating.
For relief of the irritating symptoms of sore throats
caused by viruses, try a spoonful of honey to soothe
and coat the throat. In between, keep up liquids with a
steaming cup of tea sweetened with honey.
Honey is an ingredient in more and more manufactured
products from cereals to cough syrup. Over 200 new
products containing honey have been introduced since
1998, many of which promoted honey’s all-natural,
wholesome image.
How do bees make honey? When a honey
bee takes nectar from a flower, she stores it in a “honey
sack.” When this honey sack is full, she returns to the
hive, deposits the drop of nectar into the honeycomb,
and evaporates the water out of the nectar by fanning
her wings. Once the honey has aged, wax is used to
seal it in the comb, which keeps it clean and safe.
A honeybee makes 154 trips for one teaspoon of
honey.
A colony produces 60 to 100 pounds of honey a year.
To gather a pound of honey, a bee flies a distance
equal to more than three times around the world. It
takes two million flowers to make one pound of honey.
Seasonal
Honey Facts From the National Honey Board
There are approximately 300 varieties of honey
in the United States. They vary from water-white
fireweed to rich dark amber buckwheat. In general,
lighter-colored honeys are milder in flavor while
darker-colored honeys are bolder in flavor. Darker
honeys also tend to have a higher mineral content
and antioxidant potential.
Research has shown that unlike most other
sweeteners, honey contains small amounts of a wide
array of vitamins, minerals and trace minerals as well
as antioxidants.
Because of the floral sources from which honey
originates, no two honeys are exactly alike in flavor
or nutritional content. Since honeys may contain
pollen, studies are underway to determine if eating
local honey could relieve allergy symptoms.
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
What kinds of bees are there?
There are three classes of bees: queens, workers,
and drones. In a hive, there can be hundreds of
drones, thousands of workers, but always just one
queen.
The Queen
* She is the only bee able to lay eggs.
* She never leaves the hive and is constantly
attended by workers.
* She only uses her sting against other queens.
* She lays up to 2,000 eggs per day.
The Worker
* Workers are all sterile females.
* If born during the active spring or summer months,
they live for only four to five weeks; during winter,
they live for a few months.
* They perform many tasks in and out of the hive,
including:
- Gathering pollen
- Making honey
- Feeding the other bees
- Producing beeswax
- Building honeycombs
- Protecting the hive
The Drone
* Drones are males.
* Drones don’t work, can’t feed themselves, and
have no stinger.
* They live for only about three months.
* Their only task is to mate with queens.
http://www.millershoney.com/making.htm
September is Library Card Sign-Up
Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month
(Sept 15 – Oct 15)
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage
Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was
expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to
cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and
ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on
August 17, 1988 on the approval of Public Law 100402.
The Crayola website offers ideas for activities to
celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month:
http://www.crayola.com/calendar/detail.cfm?event_
id=161&year=2008&extended=true
Labor Day - September 3rd
National Cheese Pizza Day- September
5th
Easy Pizza Dough
Prep Time: 10 Min
Cook Time: 20 Min
Ready In: 30 Min
Original Recipe Yield 1 - 12 inch pizza crust
Ingredients
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
• 2 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm
water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. Stir in flour, salt and oil. Beat until smooth. Let rest
for 5 minutes.
3. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and pat
or roll into a round. Transfer crust to a lightly greased
pizza pan or baker's peel dusted with cornmeal.
Spread with desired toppings and bake in preheated
oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let
baked pizza cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Seasonal
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic
Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by
celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions
of American citizens whose ancestors came from
Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and
South America.
The day of Sept. 15 is significant because it is the
anniversary of independence for Latin American
countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and
Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16
and Sept.18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día
de la Raza, which is Oct. 12, falls within this 30 day
period.
http://www.loc.gov/topics/hispanicheritage/
index.html
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/quick-and-easy-pizza-crust/
Grandparents Day - September 9th
American Heritage Girls’ Birthday September 13
The very first American Heritage Girls Meeting occurred
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
in an elementary School in West Chester, Ohio on
September 13, 1995. Plan a special birthday party
to celebrate this special day and the way that God
has blessed AHG over the years!
AHG's 1st Annual National Day of
Service - September 15th
International Chocolate Day – Sept 13
Constitution Day/Citizenship Day September 17
Deaf Awareness Week September 18-24
Invite a member of the Deaf community to talk with
our Troop about what it is like to be deaf. Participate
in a service project benefiting this group.
Saturday, September 22nd Is First Day
of Autumn
October Holidays
October is Pastor/Clergy Appreciation
Month
Encourage your Troop to thank their local Pastor/
Clergy, or the Pastor/Clergy of your Charter
Organization. Whether the girls send cards, bake
cookies or organize a service project, October is a
great time to stop and thank these individuals for
dedicating their lives to the Lord’s service!
Columbus Day - October 10
Navy Day - October 13
Sweetest Day - October 15
Milne
The history of Sweetest Day dates back to 1922
when a man by the name of Herbert Birch Kingston
wanted to bring cheer to local orphans, elderly,
homebound people and others he felt may feel a
little “forgotten” during other holidays. Kingston
worked for a candy company in Cleveland, Ohio
and started giving out candy to all the little “sweets”
in the community. Following his initial efforts, local
Make a Difference Day - October 27
National Bologna Day - October 24
How is this holiday celebrated? By eating bologna
your very favorite way! Or why not try eating it a new
way? Maybe fried and hot? Stacked with cheese and
cut into bit size pieces and held with a fancy toothpick?
What is Bologna? Bologna is an American sausage
somewhat similar to the Italian mortadella. It is
commonly called bologna and often pronounced
and/or spelled baloney. US government regulations
require American bologna to be finely ground, and
without visible pieces of fat. Bologna can alternatively
be made out of chicken, turkey, beef, or pork.
Bologna sausage is generally made from low-value
scraps (trimmings from steaks, roasts or other meat
cuts.) Such may be the origin of the slang word
baloney, meaning “nonsense.” No more than 3.5%
non-meat binders and extenders or 2% isolated soy
protein may be used, and they must be listed on the
ingredients label. A typical composition might be
14.5% protein, 27% fat, 68% water and 5% other
ingredients. Spices and flavorings can include ground
mustard, coriander, white pepper, onion powder,
garlic powder, cardamom, and red pepper or paprika,
Varieties:
• Bologna – In general, bologna is constitutionally
much the same as hot dogs, although larger and
sliced.
• Beef Bologna – This is an al-beef version,
usually more of a red color than its mixed-meat
counterpart.
• Kosher Bologna – Typically made with only
beef, but sometimes made from turkey. The
manufacture of this variety of bologna must be
supervised by a mashgiach to be certified kosher.
• German Bologna – Also known as Garlic
Bologna, this sausage is typically distinguished
by adding garlic to the recipe. Despite the name,
bologna in Germany –where it is very common
and known as Fleischwurst or Lyoner—does not
usually contain a noticeable amount of garlic.
• Lebenon Bologna—named for Lebanon County,
this is the Pensylvania Dutch variety of the
Seasonal
Winnie-the-Pooh
by
AA
published - October 14, 1926
candy makers in Cleveland began to continue the
tradition of giving and called it “The Sweetest Day of
the Year” and distributed over 10,000 boxes of candy
to over 26 Cleveland area charities their first year.
americangreetings.com
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
sausage. Distiguished by its smokey taste and
dark, coarse appearance, this is one of the more
extreme flavors of bologna.
• New Zealand Bologna –In New Zealand, bologna
is actually referred to as savaloys or cheerios, and
are essentially bologna meat in a red casing or
other colors such as purple.
• South African polony – In South Africa, bologna
is referred to as polony or French polony, and is
often sold in thick sausage form which can be
sliced onto sandwiches.
Now you know. And that’s no baloney.
Dedication of the Statue of Liberty - October 28, 1886
Pumpkin Facts: Pumpkins, which are actually
fruits, not vegetables, range considerably in size. Some
varieties weigh less than a pound, while giant pumpkins
can grow to more than 1,000 pounds! Pumpkins are
members of the gourd family, which also includes
watermelons and zucchini. They are 90-percent water
and also contain high concentrations of potassium and
vitamin A.
Pumpkins, which grow from vines, originated in Central
America and were a popular crop among Native
Americans. Some tribes used the seeds for food and
medicine and made sleeping mats out of dried pumpkin
strips. American colonists invented the pumpkin pie,
but their original version used the pumpkin as the crust,
not the main ingredient. They cut off pumpkin tops to
make handy edible bowls, which they filled with milk,
honey and spices and then cooked over a fire or hot
ashes.
Halloween - October 31
One obvious question about Halloween is, “What
does the word itself mean?” The name is actually a
shortened version of “All Hallows’ Even,” the eve of All
Hallows’ Day. “Hallow” is an Old English word for “holy
person,” and All Hallows’ Day is simply another name
for All Saints’ Day, the day Catholics commemorate
all the saints. At some point, people began referring
to All Hallows’ Even as “Hallowe’en” and then simply
“Halloween.” howstuffworks.com
November
is
Military
Appreciation Month
Family
Daylight Savings Time Ends - Nov. 4th
Election Day - November 6
AHG's National Leadership Conference
- November 8-10
Marine Corps Birthday November 10
Veterans Day - November 11
National Hunger and Homeless Week November 11-17
Sponsored by the National Student Campaign
against Hunger and Homelessness, this week is a
time for people to reflect on the issues of hunger and
homelessness in both the US and the World. Currently
in the U.S., 36 million people live in households that
are food insecure, which means that they frequently
do not have enough money to afford food or do not
know from where or when their next meal is coming.
Of that, 8.3 million live in households facing the worstcase scenario, where members of that household are
literally hungry.
Though this organization specifically targets college
Seasonal
In medieval times, one popular All Souls’ Day practice
was to make “soul cakes,” simple bread desserts with
a currant topping. In a custom called “souling,” children
would go door-to-door begging for the cakes, much
like modern trick-or-treaters. For every cake a child
collected, he or she would have to say a prayer for
the dead relatives of the person who gave the cake.
These prayers would help the relatives find their way
out of purgatory and into heaven. The children even
sang a soul cake song along the lines of the modern
“Trick-or-treat, trick-or-treat, give me something good
to eat.” One version of the song went:
A soul cake!
A soul cake!
Have mercy on all Christian souls, for
A soul cake!
November
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Leader Packet - Fall 2012
campuses, take time this week to discuss these
important issues. How is hunger and homelessness
affecting your community? What can girls do to
help? How can your Troop, Charter Partner or
home church help to alleviate these problems in our
country and abroad? Try to plan a project this week
that begins to address the problem - volunteer at
a food bank or soup kitchen, host a food collection
drive, help support a missionary who is actively
fighting hunger in another country, etc.
National
Clean
Out
Your
Refrigerator Day – November 14 is
followed the next day by Pack Your Mom a Lunch
Day. Anyone see something very unfair about this?!?
Take a Hike Day – November 17
Family Hiking
Hit the trail with your family to bond together and
make great memories. While some people think
their days of hiking are “on hold” once they become
parents, that’s just not the case! There are still plenty
of adventures ahead for both parents and children.
If you’re a hiker with young children, you don’t have
to put hiking on hold until they head for college. And
if you’re a parent who is new to hiking, there couldn’t
be a better time to start! Spending time on the trail
offers a world of opportunity for family outings and
vacations.
http://www.americanhiking.org/
Thanksgiving Day - November 25
American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the 4th
Thursday of November. This year Thanksgiving will
fall on Thursday November 26, 2009.
The custom of celebrating Thanksgiving, an annual
celebration held after the harvest began around 1621
when the Pilgrims fulfilled a successful and bountiful
harvest in the New World.
In the late 1700’s a day of national Thanksgiving was
proposed by the Continental Congress.
In 1817 New York State adopted Thanksgiving Day as
an annual custom. By the middle of the 19th century
many other states also celebrated a Thanksgiving
Day. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a
national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president
has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually
designating the fourth Thursday of each November as
the holiday.
Seasonal
Not only will your family grow closer, but you can
introduce the next generation to all that trails offer
for personal growth and education while making
life-long family memories. One of the keys things to
remember when hiking with children is that the trek
no longer becomes about getting from point A to
point B, but more about exploring the trail and what
is on it. With that in mind, here are a few thoughts to
help keep your hike kid-friendly:
- Have fun and be flexible. If this is your number
one goal, everyone will be happy. Remember
that you are trying to introduce your family to
hiking; they won't want to do it again if they don’t
have fun the first time. Change your plans if
things are not working out.
- Give the kids some control. Let the kids set
the pace and allow them to make some choices
along the way. Let them decide which trail
to take or where to stop for lunch. They will
naturally want to explore their surroundings and
examine new bugs, spider webs and birds. You
could carry a few toys for them to play with out
on the trail if they seem to get distracted. Better
yet, see if they can make their own inventions
using only things they find on the trail, such as a
few rocks, sticks, leaves, etc. Just make sure to
put it all back when you leave.
- Bring snacks and plenty of fluids. Make sure
to stop and drink frequently. Kids may be so
interested in their new environment that they don't
realize how thirsty they are. High energy foods
and plenty of water will keep them in good spirits.
Coloring Page Sources:
edupics.com,
homeschoolhelperonline.com,
www.
samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/ & honkingdonkey.
com
70
Hi! I would like to introduce myself to you.
My name is ________________________________
and I am very glad to meet you.
I am ________ years old.
This is what I look like.
I live in the United States of America.
I live in the state of ___________________ ,
in the city of _______________________.
If you look at the map, I live
in the state that
is colored in.
Now if you look at a map of
our world, I’ve colored the
country where I live. My
shoe box has taken a
fantastic journey
to find you!
There are lots of things I like.
My Favorite:
thing to drink is ____________________.
color is _____________________________.
food is ______________________________.
thing to play is _____________________ .
When I have free time,
I like to _______________________________________.
I love Jesus because_________________________
______________________________________________
____________________________________________.
My house looks like this.
e
h
t
r
colotures!
pic
In my family, I have
______ brothers
______ sisters
______ pets
I hope you like the gifts I packed
for you. If you send me a letter to
this address, I will write you back
and we can become friends.
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
____________________________________
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
5. Trim and style the hair as you like. Then
draw on a face with fine-point permanent
markers, and your completed character is
ready to top a pencil.
Activities Pencil Buddies
FamilyFun.com
Total Time Needed:1 Hour
Poised for note taking,
these posable writing
buddies easily slip on and
off a pencil top.
Instructions
Materials
• Embroidery floss
• Craft wire
• Wooden bead
• Foam pencil grip
• Pushpin
• Permanent markers
1. Loosely wrap embroidery floss
around your palm about a dozen times
to create a coil of hair. Twist a 7 1/2inch length of plastic-coated 22-gauge
craft wire around the center of the
hank.
DIY Braided Hairband
Materials: You will need a piece of stretchy
material (an old t-shirt will do the trick),
scissors, thread, needle and pins.
2. Thread a 6- to 8-mm round wooden
bead head onto the wire ends flush to
the hair. For a body, use a foam pencil
grip. Poke armholes in the foam with a
pushpin or the end of a paper clip.
3. Thread the wire ends down into
the pencil grip and out through the
armholes.
Step Two. Take 3 pieces of material and
pin them at the top so that the braid stays
together as you make it and pin the bottom
when you finish.
Games &
Activities
4. String two 4-mm cylindrical wooden
beads (about 1/2 inch long each) onto
each arm wire and shape the wire tips
into loops for hands.
Step One. Cut thin strips of material, if you
want to make it thick you will need 15 pieces
for 5 braids.
76
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
GamesWhere the Wind Blows
Type: Indoor
Number: Small Group (Preferably 7 people or
more) to Large Group (20 + people)
Age: Middle – High School
Time: 15 – 20 minutes
Summary: Great icebreaker group game- find
out what people have never done before.
Goal: Avoid being the last person standing.
Preparation:
- One person needs to start the game by
standing in the middle of the circle
Step Three. Once you have all 5 braids done place
them one on top of the other, grab the ends and
twist them.
- You will need everyone to sit in chairs
arranged in a circle.
Step Five. Cut an extra piece of fabric, make sure
it’s wide and long enough to cover the part where
you sew the ends.
How to Play Where the Wind Blows Game:
1. The person in the middle needs to say a
sentence of something they have never done
before. For example, “I’ve never been in an
airplane”, “I never been to a buffet”, “I’ve never
been the Hawaii”, “I’ve never had a pet”.
Step Six. Sew that piece of fabric and turn it inward
so that the stitches are not visible.
2. If the person’s statement applies to someone
sitting in the circle, that person has to move from
his or her seat and sit in a different chair.
Step Four. Sew all the ends together.
You are done!
Time to wear it!
Adapted from http://www.henryhappened.com/diy-braidedhairband-guest-mom-ana.html
3. The person in the middle will need to try to
sit down. One person will remain standing. The
standing person starts a new round by saying a
different statement.
Note: People cannot move to seats on their
immediate left or right. For example, they can
sit two seats away, but they cannot move to the
left or right of their current chairs.
Games &
Activities
77
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Fruit Salad
Type: Indoor
Number: Small Group (more than 6 people) to
Large Group (20 + people)
Age: Elementary - Middle School
Time: 15 - 20 minutes
Summary: Good icebreaker game, especially for
kids. Easy to learn and play, with little preparation.
Goal: Avoid being left in the middle of the circle.
Preparation:
- Chairs (one chair per person)
How to Play Fruit Salad:
1. Have everyone sit in a chair, arranged in a circle
facing inwards. Select one person to be in the
middle and remove his or her chair from the circle.
2. Explain the rules: The person in the middle needs
to say something that applies to at least 2 people
in the circle. For example, “Anyone who has a pet”,
“Anyone who is wearing jeans”, “Anyone who has a
brother or sister”, “Anyone wearing the color purple”.
If the person’s statement applies to someone sitting
in the circle, that person has to move from his or her
seat and sit in a different chair. If the person says
"Fruit Salad", then everyone needs to move to a
different chair.
3. The person in the middle tries to sit down. There'll
be one person left without a chair- this person will
be the next person in the middle of the circle. The
standing person starts a new round by saying a
different statement.
Note: People cannot move to seats on their
immediate left or right. For example, a person is
allowed sit two seats away, but they cannot move
to the left or right of their current chairs.
Toilet Paper Costume Game
Type: Indoor
Number: Medium Group (10 - 19 people) to
Large Group (20 + people)
Age: Elementary – Middle School
Time: 20 - 25 minutes
Summary: Use toilet paper to create most
original and creative costume!
Goal: Have the most creative and entertaining
toilet paper costume.
Preparation:
- 5 rolls of masking tape
- 5 rolls of toilet paper
- A judge
How to Play Toilet Paper Costume Game:
1. Arrange everyone into teams of about four or
five. Give each team a roll of toilet paper and a
roll of masking tape.
2. Each team selects a volunteer from their
group. The goal of the game is to wrap the
person up in the most creative and original toilet
paper costume (for example: Statue of Liberty).
The teams have only 10 minutes to wrap the
person up using only toilet paper and masking
tape.
3. After 10 minutes, tell everyone to stop. Have
the teams present their costume to the judge and
convince the person to choose their costume.
4. The judge will have to decide who has the
best-looking costume, and is ultimately, who is
the winner.
http://www.greatgroupgames.com
Games &
Activities
Variation:
- You can have the teams present their
costumes with a story instead of a formal
presentation. The story will be graded along
with the costume.
78
Leader Packet - Fall 2012
Snacks Patriotic Fruit Pops
Skip the fruit bowl and
grab some cookie cutters
and striped straws for a fun
Fourth of July dessert.
Ingredients:
- Watermelon
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Straws
Step 1 - Cut watermelon
and apple pieces to
thickness of the cookie
cutter.
Step 2 - Place cookie
cutter on top of fruit slices
and push straight down.
Step 3 - Place one fruit inside of another and finish with
a blueberry in the middle.
Step 4 - Push the straw through all three pieces of fruit to
keep it everything in place. If you have trouble pushing
a paper straw through the apple portion, use a plastic
straw first to create a pathway and then replace with the
paper straw. Popsicle sticks will work as well.
Patriotic Popcorn
Patriotic Popcorn is just the thing- colorful, yummy
and easy to make.
Ingredients:
- white melting candies
- white pop corn
- red nonpariels
- star confetti
- red m&m's
Step 1 - Pop popcorn
and
melt
white
chocolate. Spread the
popcorn on a cookie
sheet but do not dump
the whole bag out,
otherwise you may
have unpopped kernels in your mix.
Step 2 - Pour the melted chocolate over the popcorn
and mix well.
Step 3 - Sprinkle with the star confetti & nonparielsOnce you do this do not mix the popcorn otherwise
you will coat the sprinkles and they wont be stars
anymore.
Step 4: Once the mix has set (this may take an hour
or longer) add in your M&M's.
Tip:
• To keep the apples from browning, lightly brush
them with lime or lemon juice. Limes are preferred
for the flavor and that they seem less tart.
Adapted from http://www.bakersroyale.com/fruit/fourth-ofjuly-dessert-fruit-pops/
Package it in a cute for for a party like the above
picture or in individual containers for gifts to give to
family, friends and especially to those serving our
country!
79
Snacks
Adapted from bloomdesignsonline.blogspot.com/2012/05/
happy-monday-you-all-enjoyed-you.html
Questions? Concerns?
Don’t forget your Support Services Coordinators are available to assist you
with your questions and concerns about the AHG Program. Not only do they
have plenty of insight, suggestions and resources to offer, but they would also
love to celebrate your Troop successes and hear about the way God is moving
in your AHG ministry. Contact your Support Services Coordinator today!
GREEN - Rebecca Desch 513.771.2025 Ext #127
[email protected]
ORANGE – Adam Hollingsworth 513.771.2025 Ext #130
[email protected]
BLUE – Lori Marshall 513.771.2025 Ext #107
[email protected]
YELLOW - Amanda O’Dell 513.771.2025 Ext #122
[email protected]
RED - Christy Johnson 513.771.2025 Ext #119
[email protected]
New Troops – Carolyn Moore 513.771.2025 Ext. 103
[email protected]
Don’t forget to send your girls to the new AHG
Girls’ Site! This site is full of great resources;
spiritual development, service, merit badge helps,
outdoor fun, coloring pages, games and much
more! The Girls’ site is now accepting submissions,
so encourage your girls to check us out and share
their prayers, art and ideas!
www.ahgonline.org/girls
Looking for more program resources? The AHG Leader Site is bursting
with great resources, including archived Leader Packets. We are also
looking for your input on upcoming leader packets. Visit the Leader
Site to submit an idea for the next resource packet!
www.ahgonline.org/leaders
Don’t forget to visit the AHG Attic Online Store
to see our exciting new merchandise items!
Remember to help increase AHG's buying power
of PRAY publications by ordering booklets
exclusively through the AHG Attic or the PRAY
organization.
www.ahgonline.org