October, 2020
A Note From the Founder – Troop Updates
by Kerry Cordy
It is fall once again and a new school year has begun. Unlike past years, many of our troops have lost their meeting locations thanks to COVID -19 restrictions. As a result many have shifted to meeting either outside, on Zoom, or in private homes. Many of our troops have closed completely. As a result, we need to get an update on all active troops and ensure that all participating girls have current memberships. Lisa Peasha, our membership coordinator, will be sending out emails to all troop leaders in a couple of weeks. Please keep an eye out for them and make sure to respond. We want to make sure that those no longer participating remember to cancel their auto-renews and that those that are still active in Frontier Girls remember to keep their registration up to date. We rely on membership fees to stay in business so it is important that all girls who are participating are properly registered. We greatly appreciate any assistance in this matter.
CHRISTMAS SALE!
25% Off
All current gift items and shirts are 25% off through Christmas. While supplies last!
We will be removing all gift items and shirts from our in-house inventory after the first of the year and moving them to an on-demand warehouse. While this will mean these items will ship separately from badge orders after Jan. 1, 2021, it also means we can offer a LOT more designs and fun items. If you are looking for a great deal on a Christmas gift for your favorite Frontier Girl or leader, now is the time to get it as the sale is limited to stock on hand.
10 Ways to Make Homeschooling Fun During COVID
by Kerry Cordy
As “two weeks to flatten the curve” has become long term rotating lockdowns and stay at home orders, many schools across the nation have gone to online distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Zoom has become the new classroom. The teacher teaches, the students listen and attempt to absorb, but in distance learning there is little room for creativity and fun. The teachers do their best, but it is difficult to get kids to participate and engage through a computer screen. Whether your child is participating in remote distance learning or you are a homeschool family operating independent of any school at at all, these ideas should help you find joy in the learning process.
Click Here to Read the Entire Article
All-in-One Troop Websites and Badge Tracking
Frontier Girls has partnered with TroopTrack, an all-in-one space to track all your troop functions from badge earning, to fundraising, to calendars and communication. You get your own troop website with both public and private pages.
TroopTrack is a software that takes the hassle out of managing your scout group. One tool does it all. Whether you are a leader, parent, webmaster, treasurer, advancement chair, or any other member. TroopTrack saves money, headache, and most importantly time.
With the official companion app for TroopTrack now you can take TroopTrack everywhere your adventures take you! The TroopTrack Mobile App has full TroopTrack functionality. You can use TroopTrack Mobile Apps together with your TroopTrack account to record attendance, update awards, manage members, send emails, upload pictures and more.
Troop Track is not affiliated with Frontier Girls, but is a wonderful supplemental product that works great for our program. They offer a free 30 day trial if you want to test them out! Be one of our beta testers and have your voice heard on how to improve Troop Track specifically for our program.
New Badges Posted
Troop 122 Finishes 10th Year
by Elizabeth Simmons, Leader Troop #122
It was NOT what I planned. Our 10th year as a troop was supposed to finish with scrapbooks, slideshows, and celebration of 10 years as Frontier Girls and 7 with our Quest Boys. COVID changed that.
But because it is 2020, we still managed to meet via Zoom from April through August. We completed the Paper Crafting and Costume Design badges as a troop.
I managed to drive by everyone’s home to pick up paperwork for badges completed at home. (I highly recommend the MapQuest route planner https://www.mapquest.com/routeplanner to make order of multiple stops.) I ordered the badges and we planned for celebration. For families that could gather, we had a court of awards with plenty of social distance. We served individually packaged ice cream and drinks. For families that could not, I delivered awards and badges.
Through it all, our families were also working at home on badges and awards.
- Sydney L earned her Dolphin Life Skills
- Emma P earned her Penguin Outdoors, S.T.E.A.M., Life Skills, Fruit of the Spirit, Liberty, Pink Garnet and WOW!
- Avery P earned her Otter Leadership, Outdoors, S.T.E.A.M., Life Skills, Fruit of the Spirit, Liberty, Topaz and WOW! She also got started on her Dolphin work over the summer and earned her Make a Difference
- Robyn V earned her Otter Discovery
- Austin V earned his Dolphin Discovery in Quest
- Kayleigh L earned her Otter Leadership, Liberty, Life Skills, Outdoors, S.T.E.A.M., Fruit of the Spirit, Topaz and WOW!
- Lauren L earned her Penguin Life Skills
- Additionally, Troop 122 earned 97 badges on their own over the summer!
We still have 3 of the original girls and 2 of the original boys.
Leadership Positions
As a new year gets started, it is time to assign leadership positions to your girls. Frontier Girls provides a great opportunity for girls to work together as a team as well as to learn to take on leadership responsibilities. In addition to badges and awards involving teamwork and leadership skills, all girls in grades 3 and up have the opportunity to serve in leadership positions within the troop. These girls are essential pieces of the troop and are represented by a puzzle piece pin. Positions are held for anywhere from 6 months to 1 year, giving each girl enough time to learn and become proficient at the job, but switching often enough that all girls should get a chance to serve within 2-3 years. Those girls who need to hold a leadership position in order to complete a gem award should be given priority.
Leader in Training
The Leader in Training is responsible for making sure meetings start on time. They should have a watch at every meeting and give quiet reminders to the Leader when it is time to start, have snack, etc. She is also responsible for keeping the girls occupied with songs or games if there is a lull in the meeting and the Leader is busy. Your leader in training should be trained in both the scribe and treasurer positions so that she can fill in if necessary. Finally, the Leader in Training is responsible for calling all patrol leaders with any important updates or information between meetings.
Scribe
The Scribe is responsible for taking notes at all meetings when business is discussed. She is also responsible for logging in all badges and service stars earned. An adult should always oversee this position to make sure it is done correctly.
Snack Coordinator
The Snack Coordinator is responsible for creating a snack rotation list and calling to remind girls when it is their turn to bring snack. If for some reason a girl cannot bring snack, it is the snack coordinator’s job to find a substitute.
Treasurer
The Treasure is responsible for reporting the current finances of the troop at each Leadership meeting. She should help prepare budgets for all events and activities. The Treasurer is also responsible for logging in all payments to the troop, these may include dues, troop registration, uniform fees, or payments for badges and awards. An adult should always oversee this position to make sure it is done correctly.
Care Coordinator
The Care Coordinator is responsible for praying for the troop at least once a week. She should have cards ready to sign for all special needs (illness, birthday, thanks, etc.) and make sure they reach the intended recipient. Finally, if your troop is participating in our Support A Soldier program, the Care Coordinator is responsible for packing and shipping all care packages. (The troop is still responsible for paying all shipping charges.)
Photographer
The Photographer takes pictures at all troop meetings and events. You may wish to have more than one girl serve in this position if you have a large troop. This ensures that there are pictures of every girl. Photographers may also be in charge of the troop scrapbook.
Reporter
The reporter is responsible for writing a troop newsletter as well as sending photos and write ups to the local media. Reporters are also frequently in charge of the troop scrapbook or website.
Patrol Leader
The Patrol Leaders lead a patrol of between 4 to 8 girls and are in charge of making sure their patrol is ready for the meeting, completes their chores in a timely manner and that any younger girls in the group have a buddy to help them if necessary during crafts or games. Patrol leaders are also responsible for calling the girls in their patrol to pass on important updates or information.
Help Needed for Oregon Fires
from Troop 348 in Southern, Oregon
Troop 348 is reporting in from Southern Oregon. These last couple of weeks have been a lot – frightening, stressful, and heartbreaking are just a few words that come to mind. The Almeda Fire destroyed large swaths through our local communities of northern Ashland, Talent, and Phoenix. Our troop families are safe and all back in their homes. The church where we held our troop meetings burned to the ground. About 2357 residential structures were destroyed (including apartments, trailers and RVs). Some people lost both home and businesses. Many local business are gone. The Phoenix-Talent school district estimates 50% of their families lost their homes.


