Problem Solving Trips

Conflicts will occur in your troop from time to time. They can be over seemingly smile issues, such as who gets to go first for an activity, or over major ones, such as how o spend troop money. Sometimes conflicts have their beginnings in the family or school environment, spilling over into the Girl Scout troop meeting. Girls may become bored, restless, or tired, or they may be having a problem at home or at school. Sometimes, they may disagree over values and goals.

Conflicts can become larger or smaller. They will become smaller if the problem is recognized and if the focus is keep on the problem and problem solving. The aim is to discover a solution in which both participants win. Conflict resolution techniques work well if the girls trust each other, trust you, an have a positive self-esteem. The techniques may be harder to apply if the girls are competitive and rude to each other. If this is the case, you will need to work on the meeting atmosphere. Keep the girls busy choosing and doing activities while you work on changing the atmosphere. As Girl Scouts, we can base conflict resolution on the Girl Scout Promise and Law. As sisters in Girl Scouts, we may have conflicts, but we work to resolve them. Many activities in the handbook and in other Girl Scout resources help build self-esteem and respect for others.

GETTING ALONG - What's NOT good for the group: 

Occasionally you may need to intervene when behavior is so disruptive that it becomes destructive, hurtful, or if it impedes the progress of the rest of the group. Respond quickly and appropriately so that the routine for the group is maintained. Examine your actions to be sure they contribute to positive behavior in girls. Acknowledge questions, give girls enough time to finish tasks, and when a girl is acting out in some minor way, she will stop when she realizes that the behavior is not getting the attention she expected. Make sure the activities are not too long or difficult and be sure to vary the pace of the activities.

Disagreements over issues that affect values or goals need solutions in which both sides win. Girls need to have their self-esteem strengthened, as well as to learn to respect one another. It may be that the troop needs to do activities  as a group that strengthens self-esteem and respect. Age-level books, as well as the issues for Girl Scouts booklets, have many such activities. Council have also developed activities and leaders' training for conflict resolution.