Dramatic Guide Meetings!

I have a very dramatic Guide unit. Not in the "they don't get along and cause a lot of problems" way, they are literally dramatic. They love putting on skits and plays and they would pick doing an improv game over any other activity 90% of the time. When the third year Guides said that they wanted to plan and run a meeting to complete the Performing Arts badge I thought, go for it!

 The third years decided that the unit would be divided into groups and plan, practice, and perform a skit with costumes and props. I had so many photos (as usual) of the meeting that I thought I would share them with you!  

This group was practicing being lost in the woods. 

Onto making masks, props, capes, and other costumes. I like that at the Guide level I can just put out the box of stuff and they just run with it! 

Another part of the badge is face painting, they went to town on this and I was actually pretty impressed with how realistic some of their face paint was!

This was definitely one of the more creative costumes from the meeting. She is dressed as a tree for the Lost in the Woods skit. I couldn't help but say, "I am Groot!" 

Note the dead bird on the tree branch...

The Superhero Skit was semi-improvised and I was pulled into an interrogation room demanding to know why I destroyed 500 cases of Girl Guide Cookies... It was a lot of fun and (un)fortunately it is all on video. 

The final product of the Lost in the Woods skit. 

I am so impressed by my group this year and I love being able to hand over the reins and let them lead activities at meetings. I hope that by letting them have the control of their own Guiding experience they will be confident, creative leaders in their lives. 

Make it Monday: Mason Jar Lanterns

At camp a few weekends ago we made lanterns to bring to our campfire out of mason jars. It was a really easy craft and they turned out well! 

You will need: a mason jar, a sponge brush, paint that is suitable for glass (I got the paint we used at Michael's), vinyl shelf liner, raffia, and a flameless candle. 

Step One: Draw a design on the vinyl shelf liner that you will cut out and stick onto the jar so that it will be protected from the paint. I chose to make a trefoil and after many failed attempts of trying to draw it free hand I went to my duffle bag, got out my word shirt, and traced it...

Step Two: Stick your sticker onto the jar. Make sure there are no bubbles in the sticker and all of the edges are completely stuck down. 

Step Three: Paint the jar. I used a dabbing technique so it wouldn't be streaky, but it doesn't really matter how you paint it on. 

Step Four: Let your jar dry for at least two hours with the vinyl stickers still on the jar. 

Step Five: Carefully peel off the vinyl sticker and add a raffia bow to make it look cute. :) Turn on the flameless candle and screw on the lid. 

That's it! I was really happy with how my lantern turned out and then I destroyed it for this photo. Do not put your lantern in the snow because the paint will come off. If I made this again I would probably add a sealant onto the lantern to protect it, but overall I think it was a pretty good craft.