This section of the file contains ideas compiled by Elisabeth England in 1997.

• Our plan this year for our second-grader Brownies, is to have a cultural celebration with each child and their family asked to bring things from their own cultural and/or family traditions: foods, stories, items of clothing, jokes, dances, holiday traditions, etc. etc. The idea we had, which came during our basic leader training about multi-ethnicity, was that every girl, even the "plain vanilla" ones, have a cultural heritage; and ALL ought to be encouraged to be proud of that, not just the obvious black or Hispanic or Asian. I know that my own cultural traditions, German/Russian Mennonite, have been pretty much forgotten or ignored in our society. I don't "look" different at all so I must not have any ethnicity -- of course, that's not true, but that's how a little girl in American society nowadays would think. I think that the celebration of cultures all over the world, for a Brownie, most appropriately begins with their own family background. Anne Wiebe, Brownie Girl Scout Troop #659, Lone Star Council, Austin, Texas

• We rent a school cafeteria and auditorium. The girls (Daises through Seniors) study their country, make up a table display, prepare a skit (5 min. or less), and prepare swaps from their country to pass out to the other participants. Some years we include passports which the girls have stamped at each table. In those years we do not have skits. This year we represented Mexico, and performed the song Celito Lindo with the audience joining in on the Aye, Yi, Yi, Yi , served Vanilla wafers dipped in caramel sauce (This was served to us at Our Cabana), and our craft was Coins placed in a cardboard coin holder with the makers name, troop level, troop #, and town imprinted upon it. My Senior troop traveled to Our Cabana and Ticalli this past summer. Our intention is to share our experiences with them. Linda Blaser Senior,Troop 1293 GSCNC Service Unit Manager

• As a troop my troop decided to celebrate Hawaiian style. Game : Hula Dancing, Directions: The girls will make up hand movements to this song: Rainbow song ( sung to Mary had a little lamb), Rainbow over the waterfall, waterfall, waterfall,, Rainbow over the waterfall Rainbow over the tree, Rainbow over the mountain, mountain, mountain,, Rainbow over the mountain, Rainbow over the sea. Rainbow over the flowers, flowers, flowers,, Rainbow over the flowers, Rainbow over the bee. Rainbow over the dancers, dancers, dancers, Rainbow over the dancers, Rainbow over me!,

  b) Food/Drink: bananas, fruits, having a luau Recipe: Making poi (mashed taro root) using whipped cream sweeten with pineapple juice. Leaving a bowl without due to food allergies.

  c) Craft: We made masks and hula skirts , Directions: Skirts were made by cutting strips in trash bags They will tie the bags around their waist. Leis I made by sewing plastic bags cut into strips together. ,

  d) Other: Using a tarp for the luau (as the ground), Sue Morrison, Troop 1410 , Western Reserve Girl Scout Council,

• We had Guides dressed up in other uniforms (improvised sometimes), in Saris and henna-painted hands from India, and Brownies dressed up in clogs and Dutch caps singing 'a mouse lived in a windmill!. After this each Guide picked up a passport from the 'world bureau' and had it stamped as they visited each area of the room (Country) and tried the food that the Guides had bought along. At the end we had a ceremony where Guides lit candles on England, and then on all the countries we had represented and bought their thinking day pennies. We then sang a thinking day song and 'Brownie Bells' and 'Taps'.

• Needless to say there are LOTS of things you can do for Britain!, Play Conkers (a game which involves the 'nuts' from Horse Chestnut trees), have your own 'highland games', eat fish and chips, Yorkshire pudding, haggis, Welsh rarebit, bakewell tart, eccles cakes, scones and jam (if you can find the recipes!) drink tea, dress in kilts -the list is endless and there are lots of web sites that might be able to help try Anglophilia for starters,

• My service units have done everything from Tasting Teas/International Fairs (what you were describing) to "Dance throughout the World." A small service unit (125 girls) did a day-long event on the four world centers. The girls rotated through the four stations, spending about an hour learning about the centers, the country itself, a craft and some food. The day was a great success. I like the idea of using the four world centers for a first time Thinking Day!!!!, We have done several in our Neighborhood, but using the centers allows the girls to learn about WAGGGS, but for many they can earn GS Around the World, etc. They can participate by setting up a booth for their country, showing food, scout info, games and songs. , The countries are interspersed between the centers. A viewing of the Golden Eaglet adds to the day to show how the US fits in. Sometimes we forget that the US is one of the WAGGGS.

• This year my troops put together their Thinking Day using the theme: Make all Girls feel WELCOME! Their wide game format included reading challenges, hearing challenges, physical (walking) challenges, and speaking challenges. We ventured from the traditional disabilities and focused around some of the disabilities of the girls in the troops or their friends and how everyday struggles are faced being a Girl Scout in the US. The best part is they earned their leadership badge in doing the project as well as are more tolerant of each other, and now realize how to make scouting more enjoyable for every girl!

• We did a Junior Event for 600 plus girls based on the World Centres. Cabana, tacos, made paper flowers, taught Mexican Hat Dance to La Cucaracha; Chalet, sampled fondue, learned to yodel, and SOMETHING with dance. India, (I forget) :(, Olave House (Pax Lodge now) served tea in the garden with shortbread cookies (no not GS ones, home baked ), dance was may pole (I think) and oops forgot the other element. But you get idea, in this event each Station was about 1 hour, and that was broken up into 3 substations, so a group of 150 was really 50 in presenting the activities. , Lela C. Arnes, San Jacinto Girl Scout Council, Master TrainerHouston, Texas, mailto:earnes@idt.net,

• A Greek presentation, eh? , How about a map of Greece on the top of the table, clearly outlined. Display books about Greek legends (the Odyssey), cooking, churches, etc. The girls want to wear togas, eh? Great idea. Don't forget the sandals. Present a list of Greek goddesses, each girl gets a different name, and have each girl dress appropriately. They have the opportunity to learn what that goddess did and her particular story. (Maybe they can wear a name tag that states that particular goddess' name). Then they can tell (say) Hera's particular story. Isn't there a badge for creating costumes, or putting on a play... Anyway, my son did this for his 6th grade social studies class (before Halloween) and dressed as Poseidon, the god of the sea, wearing a wreath of laurel leaves, toga with a watery blue hem, and of c ourse a trident. His necklace had a dolphin, natch. No, no, he didn't wear the costume for trick-or-treating, but the opportunity was there. Ask the parents for help on Greek items. It will be a Greek museum on your tabletop. Anybody you know own a balalaika? native Greek costumes? Do you have a Greek Orthodox church in your community? Contact them and ask for constructive suggestions in making your presentation. How about the classics dept. at the university? Thrift shops are great for locating old National Geographics with a Greek map. Perhaps a Greek cloth can cover the table, too. Don't forget the empty bottle of ouzo, and of course a basket overflowing with grapes. (A nice snack for folks passing by, too.) Also, clearly display the Greek alphabet. You know... alpha, beta, gamma. Perhaps make a poster of mathematical equationsMention the Greek philosophers... Aristotle, Plato, etc. , Cities: Athens, the Parthenon, etc. % maybe a travel agent c an give you pictures or try the public library. Hope this helps, , Very best regards and good luck. It is easy to get leader burnout. Don't forget to delegate. Other parents will be happy to provide some baklava... grapes... lamb, dolphin pictures, vases or art. Just ask them. From Peggy Ravitch