Resources

Shared Ideas, Time Fillers & Resources

Troop Trip Ideas:

Local Fire Station Tour - Free
Waste Management - Free (Follow Your Recyclables)
San Diego Wild Animal Park - $15 (Patch Program)
Legoland & Sea Life Aquarium - $18 (Scout Program)
California Pizza Kitchen - Free (+ tip) Make & Eat Pizzas
Kellog House - $8-$9 per child (Scout & Youth Programs/Tea Party)
Tanaka Farms - See Website for fees (Pick Vegetables, Fruit and ride on tractor)
Dance Works (Free Classes)
Tea Party & Show - www.BroadwayonTour.org
Color Me Mine - www.colormemine.com
Pretend City - www.pretendcity.org
Santa Ana Zoo - www.santaanazoo.org
Red Robin Restaurant tour, Foothill Ranch - (See Manager)
Roller Skating - www.holidayskate.com
Sky High Sports - www.jumpskyhigh.com
Environmental Nature Center, Newport Beach - www.encenter.org
OC Conservation Corps Recycling Center, Irvine - www.hireyouth.org
Knott's Berry Farm - Overnighter (May) Junior and Brownie
Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Laguna Beach
Saddleback Church Food Pantry
Atna Del Sol Retirement Home
Club Libby Lu - Scavenger Hunt in Downtown Disney
Del Rio Stables - Horse Care (including mucking stalls & riding lesson)
Gleaning at Incredible Edible Field, Great Park - Hot Air Balloon Ride and Tour of 2nd Harvest Food Bank

Time Fillers for Troop Gatherings:

Mystery Box. Put an object in a box. Allow the girls to ask yes-no questions, shake the box, hold the box to feel its weight, smell the box…. After they have had the chance to investigate, ask them to identify the mystery item.
-Regina Comroe

Our troop loves to do anything crafty. A time filler I have been using while people are getting to the meeting and before we have the official start to the meeting is making cards. For thanksgiving they made cards for their families or others they were thankful for. At Christmas time they signed cards for people in the nursing home who may not otherwise get a card. The only problem is getting them to finish so I try to limit it to 3 cards each. I bring blank cards, markers and stamp sets and they love drawing and chatting the whole time. This month our meeting is about health so I may have them do hula hooping or jump roping activities which will also help get their energy out so they can maybe be more attentive during the meeting.
-Diane Hall

I always keep pieces of rope on hand and directions for different knots. That way, if we have a little downtime, the older girls practice their knot and lashing skills or learn new ones.
-Sharon Anderson

I LOVE songs for time-fillers!! With the Daisies, I use simple games … like Simon Says, Red Light/Green Light, act like an animal, or a scavenger hunt for things that begin with a certain letter OR are a certain shape or color.
-Diane Caryne-Gardner

I like having supplies on hand so the girls can make cards for any upcoming holidays. We work with a senior care facility and a church who can always use these uplifting cards. Sheets from Color A Smile are great for the girls too. http://www.colorasmile.org/
-Carissa Jones

Our time filler can also be used as a closing ceremony. Our junior troop loves to talk : )! We have them sit in a circle, and take turns telling what the "worst" part of their day was, and then the best part of their day. It is great to see how they interact, empathize and support each other!!
-Sandy Kwiatkowski

The Suitcase Game. Click here.
-Denise Ko

Bridges for Bridging:

Linda has a bridge that can be used if you wish to move it to your location.
Melissa Yrigoyen has a small bridge that can be borrowed.
Cherry Park (Cherry Street between Jeronimo and Trabuco) – has picnic area
Flo Jo Park aka Olympiad Park (off Olympiad and Alicia) – has picnic area and bathrooms
Montbury Park (Northcrest, off El Toro Road [closer to Trabuco than Portola/Santa Margarita Pkwy]) – has two bridges, really shady
There's the "Duck Pond" at Ridge Route and Elrond, but you have to bring the bridge to it.

If you know of any more....let us know!

Need to Order Patches?

The Patch Corner in Mission Viejo
The Patch Connection in Dana Point