Best camping books for children according to redditors

I’m not sure what ages or levels you’re leading, or whether you’re inheriting a previous troop or starting from scratch, so here’s my most general advice...

Don’t burn yourself out trying to do the badges. Sit down alone with the badge list and look through the requirements for each badge. Then make a list of the ones that you know you can facilitate. Then present that list to the girls to vote on and have them narrow it down to the top 3 that they’re most excited about.

Don’t buy the binders. You can find the badge steps and sample meeting plans online. People scan and post the binder innards to Pinterest. My local library even has copies if I need one. I also tell all my families to save their money and just buy the basic uniforms.

I stay organized with an $8 Girl Scout planner from Amazon and a Band (free app/website that’s private and only open to our troop and parents). We post our calendar and photos and information there.

And speaking of your troop calendar: set up the troop meetings and events according to your schedule. Don’t bend over backwards trying to meet Tuesdays after school if Saturdays fit you best. Plan out your year (but stay flexible).

Don’t take it personally if girls leave because they have other commitments or families decide it doesn’t fit their schedule. As long as you’re not kicking a girl out for disciplinary issues, just leave the door open for them to return at a later date.

Be absolutely crystal clear with parents about how the troop bank account works and the rules for the money if they leave the troop. I’ve heard horror stories about parents demanding “their cut” of cookie sales or asking for checks to be cut to them when their daughter leaves the troop. Nip that in the bud upfront. I’ll PM you the text of a ‘welcome letter’ that I give to all new parents that covers everything.

It’s the girls’ money, not mine. So if they earn $500 from cookie sales and they vote as a group that they want to have a blowout party with pizza and bowling and roller skating? OK! My job as the adult leader is to remind them that they might also have upcoming camping trip expenses, or upcoming supplies needed for a project, and to help them manage their budget. $500 is not a “real” amount of money to 8-year-olds, but even they can see that blowing 2/3 of their entire bank account on one party might not be wise.

And listen to the girls! Don’t burn yourself out trying to do badge work if they would rather do arts & crafts. Don’t force them to do big involved volunteer service projects if they’d rather be doing STEM activities. Don’t drag them to museums if they’d rather be camping.

Yes, there’s room for new experiences and growth and change, but if you’re miserable and the girls are miserable and nobody is having fun then something is wrong. As each troop grows and changes they tend to have their own characteristics. Some troops just wanna have fun. Some troops are gung-ho about breaking cookie sales records. Some troops focus all their time on community service. Some troops are happy to do arts & crafts every week. Be upfront with new parents about what your troop is like. (My girls love STEM and camping and field trips. I’m laid-back about cookies, so if you sell 50 and you’re happy? I’m happy. If you sell 300 and you’re miserable? I’m not happy. I’m strict and I don’t allow phones while we’re having meetings or camping. I’m all about free field trips and saving the troop money for camping and travel.)

In 6th grade I wrote a paper about this book and sent it to Gary Paulsen. He sent me back this book, with this inscription, which reads:

>For SGMD1,

>With every good wish -

>Gary Paulsen

>I'm sorry I don't have time to write a personal letter to you. Hope this makes up for it.

>P.S. It was a great thesis.

One of the fondest memories of my childhood.