Saturday brownies?

[FlorenceMattell]

Hi
I am interested in general opinions. What would you think of a brownie meeting on a Saturday morning ?
In our town we have two weekday evenings, if we open a third unit we thought of Saturday.
Appreciate some girls do dancing/swimming etc. what do you think ?

[redexpat]

It doesn't really matter about what we think, it matters what the girls and their parents where you live think! I'd imagine attendance might be a bit more up and down.

My Guides meet every other Wednesday evening but for 2 1/2 hours. It means they can really get stuck into bigger activities when they come, but it doesnt get too much for them, and we tend to retain them longer. Would you consider a similar arrangement?

[MyMamaToldMe]

Love the idea of Brownies on a Saturday! It means my child would get to go. As I work full time there is no way I would ever be able to get her to a Brownies meeting during the week.

[DeWe]

I wouldn't go as mine do ballet on a Saturday, but judging by the waiting lists for ballet people don't have objections to doing stuff then.

[ObiWan]

There's a Scout group that meets on a Saturday morning out here. It seems popular.

It is very handy for us, as getting to a weeknight one would be tricky.

There is definitely a slightly 'geeky' element to the group, as the more football/rugby/cricket inclined are elsewhere on Saturday mornings.

There are quite a few children there who'd struggle with evening groups too, because of various SN.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Am a Brown Owl.

I think Saturday meetings sound great. My own daughter wouldn't have gone because by the age of 3 she was already ensconced in ballet, but we gave lost a few Brownies over the years because they were overcommitted on weekday evenings and they probably would have stayed involved if there was a local Saturday pack.

[FlorenceMattell]

thanks for your comments. And we will ofcourse ask the parents on our waiting lists and current parents. Although not planning to close any units.
I just wondered as well, if we might get volunteer leaders who work Mon to Fri.
And I know of a few girls who go to after school clubs/childminders and dont get to do brownies.

[BackforGood]

I think it's an excellent idea.
Any reason why the morning and not the afternoon? If a lot of other activities are in the morning, then might the afternoon be better (less competition) ?
Also, you'd get more liklihood of young Leaders being available if they didn't have to get up on a Saturday morning

[teacherandguideleader]

I think it sounds a great idea. I wish I could move my guides to a Saturday - I really struggle after work!

[AThingInYourLife]

I think Saturday morning is a great time for activities.

As a child I did Bridgíns (Irish Brownies) on Saturday morning, we loved it.

You're all fresh and not tired from a full day of school/work.

I'm vaguely on the lookout for a nice Saturday activity for my big girls so DH and I can get jobs done while they are out.

[Groovee]

I heard of a Rainbow unit which met on a Saturday morning. I'm a brownie guider and I am sure it would suit many girls who can't make during the week.

[EduCated]

I remember reading in Guiding magazine years ago about a pack that met on a Saturday, but fortnightly with 2 hour meetings, so they weren't committed to every Saturday. Might be a thought.

[Allegrogirl]

I love the idea of a longer session every othere Saturday. Would leave every other week available for family days out. I am currently trying to find a suitable group for my DD. Luckily I don't work full time but it's tricky fitting in extra curricular activities when both parents work.

[colditz]

I would love brownies on a Saturday, I'd send ds2

[YDdraigGoch]

Snowy Owl here.

Saturday Brownies - what a great idea! I'm sure there'd be plenty of girls who'd prefer a Saturday, and it might be easier to get adults too.

[JenFrankincenseAndMyrrh]

Join Us should be a good indicator of parents wanting weekends.

[EduCated]

If it works

[jennywren123]

It sounds like a good solution for some. Definitely worth contacting parents who might be interested to confirm if Saturday would work for them.

As someone else said your attendance might be a bit more patchy. We used to have Rainbows on Friday evenings, but switched to Wednesday, one of the main reasons was that attendance was affected by families going away for the weekend, having grandparents to stay, a couple of Rainbows also went to their Dad's house every other weekend, etc etc.