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Pathfinder Meetings

Our meetings seem to run as follows:

Our meetings on Thursday evening are cancelled when there is a dance or band concert at the Junior High.

Thursday, September 24, 1998

Notices were delivered to the Pathfinders in advance, asking each girl to complete a health form and registration form, and to bring in a cheque for their registration fee. Taking care of these administrative matters in advance, allowed us to spend more time preparing for camp which was scheduled that weekend.

For our opening, I handed out slips of paper about my typewriter.

The Pathfinders thought that was neat, and I told them that the verse was taken from a book I purchased at Foxlease in the summer. This year each Pathfinder could take the book home and look for an opening to read at the meeting. If the Pathfinder forgot to bring the book back, she could talk about the story she found in her own words. So far only one person forgot to return the book, and I think it helped her to understand the meaning of the story she selected by recalling it for the others.

Thursday, October 22, 1998

One of our Pathfinders planned a trip to the School of Cosmetology where we were treated to manicures. We really enjoyed ourselves there. It was in the evening, and the school asked the students to work late that night so each student was assigned to one Pathfinder or leader. They massaged our arms and we soaked our hands in creamy liquids. I don't have very long fingernails, and I never treat myself to a manicure, so this felt wonderful. Most of the Pathfinders have beautiful nails, and by the time they finished, their hands looked like pictures from fashion magazines.

Thursday, November 19, 1998

What works one year in a group doesn't necessarily work the next year. Last year our Pathfinders were happy just to sit and talk. They completed a lot of challenges discussing things in circle. We found that the younger Pathfinders this year were getting restless when we sat for any length of time. So we decided to divide the Pathfinders into 1st, 2nd and 3rd year groups to work on challenges, and this seems to be successful. Our Junior Leader works with the 3rd year Pathfinders, and they are starting to talk about where they want to hold their Gold Camps this year.

We broke into 1st, 2nd and 3rd year groups to work on challenges. Towards the end of the meeting, we played a game with the jelly beans the Salvation Army gave us as a token of appreciation for working on their service project.

Thursday, November 27, 1998

Amanda M. opened the meeting with a reading. Amy collected money and permission slips for December 11th. She is making plans for the unit to see the Moosehead Hockey Game at the Halifax Metro Centre. Then we played a couple of communication games. We need to improve our communication skills - most of the 3rd year Pathfinders have finished their challenges (except for Gold Camp) so they are coming to the meetings mostly to socialize. After the Christmas break, we'll challenge them to work on the "Leadership Emblem". Maybe in the new year they can also start to work on submissions for our Web Site. I want them to have fun at meetings, but I also want them to grow as leaders.

At the meeting, while some of the Pathfinders worked on challenges, the others posed in front of a cardboard fireplace, wearing Santa hats. I took pictures of them to use in a craft planned for our next meeting on December 10th.

Thursday, December 10, 1998

When we started our meeting tonight, I noticed Megan yawning, and I asked her if she was tired. She told me that she hasn't been able to sleep all week because of exams and tests at school.

Tonight, we worked on our Christmas craft. I looked for picture frames that we could put our photographs in, but didn't find exactly what I wanted. When I was in Kent Building Supplies, I bought wooden snowmen (in a picket-fence design) that were on sale for half price. The Pathfinders mentioned in one of our planning meetings that they really enjoyed the time that they tole painted so instead of picture frames, I thought they could prop their photographs up against the snowmen.

Because of the design, the Pathfinders didn't have to trace on the wood. The snowman's hat, mitts, a star, and Christmas tree were on separate pieces of wood that were attached. At each table in the room, we put paint brushes and different colors of tole paint. The Pathfinders moved from table to table at their own pace, and this turned out to be a good idea because instead of staying with the usual group of "best friends" they mingled and enjoyed each other's company. We played a tape of Christmas music, and it was a quiet, relaxing night.

Afterwards, I asked the Pathfinders if they enjoyed spending two hours just working on a craft. Everyone said they really had fun. Even Megan, who was exhausted at the beginning of the night, looked rejuvenated.

With all the activities that the Pathfinders are involved in - most of the girls earn high marks in school, they are in band, sports, modeling, etc. and I think they become....what did someone call it..."over-stimulated"...that's it! They need time when they can just relax and enjoy each other's company. Anyway, I think this meeting went extremely well. Some of the girls said they were going to hide their snowmen and give them to their parents for Christmas.

thegays@attcanada.ca
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