Your girl had an EPIC summer! From going on camping adventures to learning new skills with her besties, she came back refreshed with a backpack full of memories. It may seem like the summer months slipped by, but when you think back to the connections your girl made and all the fun activities she’s been a part of, it’s clear she had an abundance of incredible experiences worth remembering and cherishing for years to come.
Staying present in a moment and enjoying it is a sure recipe to make the most of the long sunny days, but thinking back to memories and reliving them with our girls is a great way to remember all the glittering sunsets, camp games, and friendship bracelets. Reflection is how we preserve memories. Here are some tips to bring back the sun and fun during this back-to-school and back-to-troop season.
Begin with gratitude. What are you most grateful for this summer? A simple question during your first troop meeting or at the dinner table can bring up a ton of happy memories and meaningful lessons for your girl. Even better, by sharing her positive memories with others, she’ll have a chance to think through and verbalize her positive experiences. Teach your girl to have an attitude of gratitude so she can happily experience life instead of comparing her experiences to others or being on the lookout for more. To remember and experience joy, simply show gratitude and appreciation.
Help her write a letter to a new friend she’s made over the summer. Summer is a time for meeting new friends and making new connections. She can choose to write a letter to her new best friend or a thank-you note to her camp leader—let her decide! Want to take things to the next level? Help her unleash her inner artist by decorating her letter with meaningful art, cutouts, or stickers.
Plan a creative project she can take the lead on. Taking on a creative project will help your girl solidify her summer memories. With these four JOANN craft ideas, she can channel her camp memories into wonderful creations. Better yet, have the whole troop pick and create a project. That way everyone can have a tangible summer memory to reflect back on and share with others. Learn more about the JOANN Girl Scout Rewards program.
Make scrapbook magic happen. In the age of smartphones and Pinterest, no one creates scrapbooks anymore, right? NOT true! Creating a small scrapbook is simple and brings a ton of joy. And you don’t need a lot of supplies. Regardless of grade level, every girl can make her own unique scrapbook highlighting her pictures, thoughts, experiences, and SWAPS or little treasures found on the hiking trail! If you choose to do this activity with your troop, make sure you ask your Girl Scouts to show their scrapbook, and pick one memory they can talk about.
Play a game. For your next troop meeting, play a game called Story Stones; have the girls pick a flat stone and paint their favorite summer memory on it. They can also pick a word that connects with their best summer experience—the possibilities are endless!
Making summer memories last all troop year is easy as one, two, three! Now that you have the inspiration you need, don’t forget to share it with the world. Follow us on Instagram, and tag your beautiful creations with #BecauseOfGirlScouts. We can’t wait to see them!