Outdoor Adventure Planning: An Overview

Is it time to think about an overnight adventure? The secret to success is planning, planning and more planning! Young girls can make decisions, and as they grow so can their voices in the planning and execution of their adventures. When scheduling outdoor adventures, planning activities, and making group menus, leaders and girls must consider the needs, resources, safety and security practices, economic situation, and beliefs of all members. For example, some girls' diet may be limited by religious beliefs, their families may be unable to afford an expensive trip or equipment, their culture may require a male be present, or they may be only able to wear a swimsuit when no males are present... What needs to be planned? Some of the needs covered in this course include: Where to Go Menu Planning Dressing for the Out of Doors Personal and Group Equipment - how, what (and what not) to pack Budget for the event Kapers - jobs and who does them Program Activities for Girls Evaluating with Girls Who does this planning? Girls can plan! It is easy for leaders to do it all, but the girls need the opportunity to develop the leadership skills that come with trip planning. Girls will be more responsible and more receptive to getting things done when they have been the ones to plan the activities. With your help, girls can also plan: When and where to go What to do; what to take Schedule of activities Acceptable behavior What new skills they need to learn before the activity Meeting special needs (allergies, mobility issues, dietary needs and religious preferences) Rewards Teaching the girls planning strategies makes the girl's life better by empowering them to make decisions creating more excitement and ownership in activities they plan giving them experience in working together to set and accomplish goals Teaching the girls planning strategies makes the leader's life easier by reducing the time spent making plans giving you a sense of accomplishment as you see the girls take charge In a nutshell, you're guiding the girls to be leaders themselves! • Check your Adult Guide for Girl Scout Journeys for more ideas of how to plan with girls of various ages. • The course handout also has creative thinking activities to start your girls on the planning adventure. Let's Review: 1) The secret to a successful overnight adventure is planning, planning, and more planning.      A)  True      B)  False 2) When planning, leaders and girls must be sure to respect      A)  All religious beliefs and practices      B)  Ethnic, racial, linguistic and socioeconomic differences      C)  Various levels of physical and mental abilities      D)  All of the above 3) What can girls plan?      A)  Menus      B)  Activities      C)  Kapers      D)  Lists of troop and personal equipment      E)  All of the above 4) Which of the following are outcomes of successful girl planning?      A)  Leaders feel a sense of accomplishment when girls use strategies acquired from their mentoring      B)  Girls have more fun and meaningful experiences      C)  Leaders can give girls increasing planning responsibility which reduces the amount of time the leader must spend planning activities      D)  Girls discover their voice and learn how to work together      E)  All of the above

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