Let's Practice!
Step 1 -  Find a project, a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award project.
Use your own project idea or look at example projects on our Bronze,  Silver or Gold Award Project Ideas page.

Bronze Award 
Emergency Preparedness Event

The girls partnered with: Disney, Cal Optima, & American Red Cross.
They held an event where they  educated the community about emergency preparedness for fires, earthquakes, and floods.
The girls set up stations with tri-folds. Science fair style.
Step 2 - List the steps you think are needed to complete the project.​
  • Research emergency procedures.
  • Decide type of presentations.
  • Contact agencies to partner with through emails.
  • Plan presentations - create speeches,  handouts, activities.
  • Book location for event.
  • Plan refreshments for participants  or for invited community partners.
  • Create flyers, posters to publicize.
  • Send publicity.
  • Create surveys to track what participants learned.
  • Create roster and sign in sheets if needed.
  • Set up tables &  chairs and booths, table decorations, trifold boards.
​​Step 3 -  Identify what still works & what needs to change.
What is the same? 
​Research emergency procedures.
Decide type of presentations.
Email agencies to partner with.
Create flyers
Send publicity.
Create surveys to track what participants learned.
Create roster and sign in sheets if needed.
What needs to change?
The biggest change is the change from in person to virtual event.
  1. Plan presentations - create speeches,  handouts, activities.
  2.  Book location for event. 
  3. Plan refreshments for participants  or for invited community partners. 
  4. Posters to publicize.
  5.  ​Set up tables &  chairs and booths.
​
Adaptation
  1.  Practice effective speaking on Zoom, change handouts to digital flyers, find interactive games.
  2. Set up zoom dates or plan to "visit" meetings or online events.
  3. Send thank you notes or small handmade appreciation gifts.
  4. Ask troop leaders to post on social media.  See if other councils out of your area will advertise it.  Reach out to your school or other groups the girls belong to increase participation.
  5. Practice using Zoom features.  Create websites or PowerPoint with your content.

Obstacle VS Barriers

​Obstacle ​

It might be challenging, but you can brainstorm a creative solution around it.
Not all projects or parts of projects can be adapted.
Teach the girls to recognize the difference by playing obstacle vs barriers.

​Barrier ​

Your idea won't work in the current situation. You may have to change directions.
                                          Examples ​
  • ​ Can't meet in person - Create Virtual Meet up.
  • Size of groups allowed in your county won't allow you to meet.  - Plan more frequent sessions with fewer people.
  • Library not open for art show - Create drive by art exhibit.
                                                   Examples ​
  • The non-profit that you want to partner with is closed or isn't interested in working with you.
  • Your target audience doesn't have internet access.
  • You planned a bring your own cup campaign and the health code changed.
Dealing with Virtual Burnout!
Picture
Think "outside the screen"! Add "in-person" components to make it engaging for your girls. 
Pay attention to your council's guidelines. As restrictions lift, you may gradually be able to add more things in.  
In the meantime, here are examples of projects using a combo.
Issue - Reduction in Art education. Project Idea - In addition to a Zoom art class, have your troop prep kits and activity material for their target audience & do a porch drop off, socially distanced, caravan style. Ask the ask the participants to post their creations. Research local museums that are open and encourage your target audience to visit. Give them a virtual museum challenge to visit international museums virtually by creating a treasure hunt for famous artworks.
Issue - Social Isolation at the beginning of the school year. Project Idea - Be a Buddy - Go old school & start a pen pal program to welcome and mentor incoming students. Your troop can have an art component by creating stationery sets for their participants.