Any Brown Owls about

[Perigrine]

Have recently taken over my pack. And am stressing out about it really, to the point where I am not sleeping .

It's been left in a really shabby state, no money in the bank account. No brownies been enrolled since last Feb. . No badge work done since last Feb. Only craft, and plenty of parties (wonder where all the money went)

They don't have any real focus and the pack meeting is only an hour, which makes things slightly harder.

How would you tackle this?

Help - I really want to make this work !

Maybe you need a new assistant.

Talk to the people at Girlguiding UK - you can't eb the first, they may be able to put you in touch with someone who's been there, done that.

Perigrine - well done for taking over. I'm not a Brown Owl, and forgive me if I'm saying stuff you know already.

Firstly, do you know any other Brownie packs in your district? Get in touch with the District Commissioner and explain the situation.

I would write an enthousiastic letter to the parents of the existing Brownies and tell them about any changes you plan to make.

Changes could involve:
length of Brownie meeting,
payment of subs.

You need to plan exactly what you are going to do with the Brownies eg. badge work, activities, and getting involved with other Brownie packs.

Each week you need a timetable dividing play, badge work and other activities.

Once your improvements are in place, word of mouth will increase Brownie numbers.

Some fundraising ideas here and here
Some fundraising ideas will tie in with badges ie Coffee morning/Soup and Roll day with Hostess(?), Cook(?) etc (I've put the brackets cos I'm not sure if these badges still exist, been a while)
Can your DC help put you in contact with your local Guiders for support/ideas?
Put posters up in local shops etc to advertise your pack.
Have a look at GirlGuiding website for more ideas

I'll come back if I have any ideas
In the meantime have a hug !

I was a brown owl, but not been one for six years or so. If they have not done much proper Brownie stuff recently, I would plan the next 8 meetings around the eight points and aim at the end of it for the girls who haven't already done so to make their promise and as you are inviting parents all the girls could also do their hostess badge (guess Brownies still do this?). You could divide the badge stuff up into most of the 8 points I reckon.

If you could I would length the meeting - think mine used to be 1:15 and but lots are 1:30.

For an hour my suggestion would be arrive, Brownie ring, subs/register, sometimes news. Run about game or two (somehow working in the theme if you can - so ladders would be a story with lots of words based on vegetables if it was healthy eating for example). Reckon this would take 20 mins
Then into sixes or journey groups for the main work of the evening 30 mins
Then 10 mins for clear up, Brownie Bells, prayer.
If there is extra time then another game before the brownie bells would work.

For money - either contact your district or Trefoil Guild or try a local charity/business - you only need £100 to buy pens and stuff to start with.

Hope this helps.

Meant to say if possible I would leave the fund raising a while until the girls / parents realise what a good time the girls have - then they will be more generous! Try out something just before/after Easter to raise money.

Thank you all for your input.

I have actually done most of these:

Contacted DC and made her aware of situation.
Sent letter to parents explaining how things will be changing. And phoned all mothers to introduce myself.

Got my work to sponsor me and should receive cheque next week.

Set a plan for the term. We are doing the Fire Safety Badge, and all girls who need enrolled will be, and they will do their hostess badge on the same day.

Any more ideas on games. Really hate Ladders, hated it as a child, not very agile . And now I am older see that really it's not very safe. One of the girls in DD's class broke her leg last year .

Thank you all for taking the time to post, it makes me realise I am on the right wave length and I can do this!!!

Will ask DD what games they play and get back to you. Dodgeball is one, I'm sure.

I think ladders should be banned.

Sounds like you're on track for everything else, good luck.

LizP,
Could you tell me what the 8 points are please, next week we are going to talk about what makes a good brownie and then they are going to split into their 6's and do a picture for their six "emblem" the thing they put on their table to identify it, and the unenrolled ones will be with me to work on their Brownie promise.

I even treated myself to a laminator this week (for brownie purposes obviously!!!) [shame]!

Games ideas here and here

posted same one twice, durrrr!!
Try here

Eight points here with some ideas

That site from macgod looks good - to be honest the eight points might not even be used any more - it always used to be the 8 areas of the program and had to make progress in each year to progress on your 'journey'. The guides covered the same areas but were called something more grownup.

LOL Macdog, I was in the 5th Chandlers Ford brownies many moons ago. My mum was Brown Owl and I feel myself being inexorably drawn to the force (but DD only 3 LOL.)

An outdoor walk with torches (2 sixes at a time) will get the brownies very excited and puffed out, and we were always putting on little skits and sketches for each other. I think you sound like you're doing fine Peregrine, it's just no fun yet because nobody's appreciating it but they will soon enough.

Hi, my DDs pack was recently taken over by a fantastic Brown Owl (which is just what you sound like too!) who found herself in a similar situation.
Make sure you get plenty of local newspaper coverage including photos. This brought loads of interest.
See if your town council / Mayor have any funds going spare. Our Mayor recently gave our pack a £200 cheque just for inviting him to a coffee evening!
Make sure subs are paid in advance at the beginning of each term if they're not already.
Organise visits out locally - ours went on a walk to the chip shop for tea, a trip to a working windmill, a trip to the police station, fire station, etc. All of these were free.
Organise a sleepover at your meeting place of possible - ours had a whale of a time. This contributed to badge work too, for cooking and crafts.
Hope this helps, and if I think of anything else I'll be back. Well done to you for taking it on!

We had a badge-work night once, sixes rotated and a grown up went through something towards a different badge each time. My dad demonstrated changing a car tyre LOL, can't remember what badge that was towards! I think there was an obstacle course for the agility one. Maybe a nature trail/treasure hunt type thing (our hut had a big carpark and some gardens next to the church. Obviously you could just do two groups at a time instead .

Have you heard about this children's/cheeky monkey marathon challenge for Children with Leukaemia?
The charity provides materials and your unit keeps 50% of the funds raised.
You could get coverage in your local paper to raise profile of pack

Hi Liz - I am a Brown Owl - and was actually thinking about posting to see if there were any more of us on MumsNet!

I see you have already ahd loads of useful advice, and you are right - the 8 points are no longer used, although am sure you could adapt some of the stuff to "create" things that fit your needs.

To give you a bit of background about me (if you are interested...) I ran a Guide Unit for many years, around 9 or 10! but for reasons which I won't bore you with, it had to close - which was a hard decision to reach...however, myself and my assistant didn't want to give up, so we decided to resurrect a Brownie Unit which had been closed for a number of years....this we did, advertising at the school and so on, and were full within a couple of days!

We have now been open for almost 2 years, and have a massive waiting list and are already over-subscribed with girls! A great position to be in, as I am sure you will agree!

Right, as to ideas and ways to help -

Money wise - you can apply for town and council grants, keep an eye out in the local press!
Think about subs - charge the girls a reasonable amount and make sure that you cover the rent, with some left over for extras! We charge per term, saves time with faffing around with weekly money!
Am aware that this term is also the census term, which is harsh - not sure where you are based, but this is the first time in over 10 years of being a leader that I have decided to ask the parents for the full census amount....doesn't seem problem, but am aware that this is not always an easy decision to make.

With regard to enrollment - when we started, obviously from scratch - we had to do a "mass" enrollment! Turned it into a promise celebration and enrolled all 16 in one go!! It went really well!

Am now are that this post is turning into an epic! So will wrap it up quickly - but I have a whole host of songs, games, craft ideas and so on....so if you are interested, let me know and perhaps we could email and swap ideas?

Good luck - and well done on stepping into the breach - there are not many of us about! (and I know this from bitter experience, as I have been a leader for over 10 years, and for most of that have not even had any children, now have a DS who is 14months old! - the Brownies are now worried I will leave them and go to be a cub leader!!!!!)

Brownie
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