Neighborhood Enrichments

Michigan Trails is proud to continue our Enrichment Training series for Neighborhoods. Enrichments focus on program activities that incorporate our mission for all girls. They are designed with a hands-on approach and leaders are able to easily implement these activities and skills into troop meetings.

Enrichment Presenters

Each Neighborhood is encouraged to send one person to Enrichment Presenter Training. Enrichment Presenters will then be required to deliver at least two Enrichments throughout the year: one in their own Neighborhood and one in a near-by Neighborhood. This will help ensure that all Neighborhoods that request Enrichment training, receive it.

Registration Information

Enrichments must be scheduled through Neighborhood Managers four weeks prior to course delivery, to assure presenter and kit availability. The Neighborhood/Troop Enrichment Request Form is located in the forms section of the Adult and Teen Training and Enrichment Supplement. The more information you can provide, the more customized the course will be for your Neighborhood. Please also include a map to your meeting location.

Please note that Enrichments are one hour in length and will be delivered at the start of Neighborhood meetings, prior to business portion.

Neighborhood Enrichments

Enrichments count toward leaves on the Leadership Development Pin, so be sure to record the hours on your Training Card or on the application form in the Recognitions Packet.

• El - Bridging to the Next Level
  Explore the steps for bridging your kindergarten, third, sixth or ninth grade girls to the next level of Girl Scouting. Make contacts with local troops and learn what equipment is available. Learn how to empower your girls to move on to design and implement a ceremony, activity or event. (We recommend this enrichment be taken no later than February, to allow ample time for bridging steps to be completed.)
• *E2 – NEW! A Year of Celebrations Around the World
  Have a party every month! This interactive enrichment has compiled festivals, holy days, and feast days from many cultures across the globe. Learn about EID-UI-Fitr, Raksha Bandhan, Lammas, Hai Ba Trung, and the many ways Christmas is celebrated and more. Each month highlights a different holiday and culture. This enrichment is a great starting place for your Thinking Day Celebration!
• *E3 - Crafts of Cultures
  Investigate arts and crafts from other cultures with hands-on activities, examples and troop programming ideas. Many different crafts are presented, which you can share with your troop.
• *E4 - Games Across the Globe
  Receive instructions for traditional, contemporary, cross-cultural, indoor and outdoor games. Playground, street, big group, small group, quiet and energetic games from around the world are shown.
• E5 - Hands On Nature
  Interactive activities for indoors or outdoors that will bring you closer to the world we share. There are fun activities that invite Girl Scouts to learn about the outdoor world around us.
• E6 - I Spy Science
  Explore and experiment with science in a fun and interactive environment using household items. Do experiments girls will want to try over and over again! These simple kitchen-type activities will have your Girl Scouts enjoying the world of science.
• E7 - Simple Ceremonies
  Learn how and when to conduct ceremonies such as Investiture, Scout's Own, flag and rededication. Also, learn what materials are available in your Neighborhood or through the Service Center.
• E8 - Sing A Song
  Music makes the world go round and brings us closer together. Learn songs that girls love to sing: songs of action, fun and tradition. Start Girl Scout traditions by bringing music into your meetings, field trips and campouts.
• E9 - Flag Ceremonies
  Become familiar with American flag information, etiquette, terms, how to fold and display a flag and conduct both indoor and outdoor flag ceremonies including retiring old flags.
• E 10 - Troop Team Building
  Learn team building initiatives to help troops to work together and respect one another. This is an active participation enrichment that includes "Human Knots", "All Aboard" and "Group Juggle."
• E11 - Trip Planning
  Hotel camping? This Enrichment is a required if you are traveling with your troop to a hotel or hostel. It is a prerequisite for all other outdoor trainings. Topics covered include budgeting, setting an itinerary, transportation, packing, activity progression and forms and policies.
• E12 - SWAPS
  Swaps (Share With Another Person) are an old Girl Scout tradition. Would you like to learn more about Swapping? This enrichment will discuss the definition of Swaps, the history of Swaps and Swap etiquette. You will end the session by making a Swap.

Troop Enrichments

Brownie troops may request a presenter for four exciting programs, to be delivered at the troop level. Presenters are teen Girl Scouts who have been trained to deliver each program.

Registration Information

Enrichments must be scheduled eight weeks prior to course delivery, to assure presenter availability. The Kids on the Block request form is located in the forms section in the Program Guide. The more information you can provide, the more customized the course will be for your Troop. Please provide a map to your meeting location.

KOB - Kids on the Block

Kids on the Block is a troupe of educational, child-size puppets, designed to teach children about disabilities and differences. KOB: Multiculturalism is an exhilarating skit developed to introduce children to the concept of culture and how it affects us as individuals and the world.

Silver/Gold Registration Information

To ensure presenter availability, please schedule these courses four weeks in advance. Use the Neighborhood/Troop Enrichment Form in the back of the Adult and Teen Training and Enrichment Supplement 2007-2008. Please fill out all registration forms completely and include a map to your meeting location.

Striving for the Silver

Interactive course for troop advisors and Cadette Girl Scouts interested in earning the Silver Award. Troop Advisors receive details needed to support a teen in earning her Girl Scout Silver Award. Cadette Girl Scouts will receive instructions for earning the preliminary recognitions and for choosing and completing their award projects. $5.50 for each girl, includes resources.

Going for the Gold

Interactive course for troop advisors and Senior Girl Scouts interested in earning the Gold Award. Troop advisors receive details to support a teen in earning her Gold Award. Teens will receive instructions on earning the highest recognition and on choosing and implementing their award project.

Girl Scouts Michigan Trails 3275 Walker Avenue NW Grand Rapids, MI 49544 (616) 784-3341 (800) 442-1401 FAX: (616) 784-8187