Girls in charge

This week's meeting was the first time I have EVER sat down at a desk to do paperwork during a Brownie meeting. The girls such did a great job with the first of their Patrol nights (which they planned a few weeks ago), that while they were busy creating skits, I had a chance to sit down and sign off some badgework - a task usually done in front of the TV at home. This shared leadership thing is awesome! 

That said the night wasn’t without its challenges…

The two Patrols each had 30 minutes to run an activity for the rest of the unit. By strange coincidence, both happened to choose drama activities, but each had a slightly different spin on the idea. Having such similar activities allowed me to observe and compare how each group presented their activity and dealt with any issues that arose. 

Some things that were really great about the night were:

• The enthusiasm for creating completely original skits!
• The dress code for the night was "crazy clothes" and the Brownies did a great job with weird hairstyles, clashing colors and mismatching outfits. I wish that I had remembered to take a group photo!
• Laying down broomsticks to assign an area for the audience to sit.
• The laughter. The girls had such a fun night and while I didn't understand 90% of what was occurring during the performances, they did, and that is all that matters!
• First aid skills. It was great to see the girls putting their skills to good use, but I wonder if I should also be alarmed at the amount of skits that focused on people injuring themselves. The price of comedy...
• We finished the meeting ON TIME (this happens at best 4 times a year). Clearly they have a better control of time than I do. Or perhaps, I actually had a free moment to look at the time and keep us on task!
• Leadership. Especially when the Patrol in charge went around to the other groups to let them know how much time they had left to practice and offered assistance with scripts.
• Teamwork!! For the Patrols in charge AND those creating skits. By the end of the night even my least cohesive Patrol had created and performed together! A real achievement!

Some of the things I observed over the night were:

• Not listening. I felt the girls handled this very well. One girl implemented a clapping pattern (common in schools) but most stuck with the hand in the air and waited for silence. It was great for them to see things from a Leader's perspective and also come to an understanding that you have be in a position that the majority of the group can actually see you to hear or follow your directions.
• The first Patrol in charge gave out their activity instructions and then went immediately to create their own skit. I explained that as Leader's they needed to remember the needs of the other groups as well and to offer assistance or advice in needed. From there they were great and would periodically split up and assist the other Patrols with their planning.
• Never ending skits - i'm sure you've seen them before! The plot slowly disappears, the Leader looks completely confused, the girls on stage get the giggles and the audience members start to get fidgety (or alternately seem to think what is happening onstage is absolutely hilarious!)
• No set stage area. The audience was cordoned off which one Patrol took to mean that the rest of the hall was their stage. I had to stop them when they entered the kitchen!
• Performers speaking with their backs to the audience. Very common and not a worry until we do drama again.

And finally, here are the activities:

Patrol One:

Patrol two gave each group a folded piece of paper with a topic (aliens, ghost and witches). The girls were given 10 minutes to create a skit based around this topic and then came back together to perform in front of the group. The Patrol-in-charge then filmed the skit, creating a "short film".

When we were cleaning up I came across this script one of the Patrols had created. I especially love scene 3!

The night was definitely a worthwhile experience for both myself and the girls! Next week should be interesting as the other two Patrols present their activities - rainbow loom bands and a taste-testing challenge. 

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How do you give girls the opportunity to lead?