Submitted by: Denise

(Note: SB=Skill Builder, T=Technology, SP=Service Project, CE=Career Exploration)

Skill Builder

SB #1: We have a woman police officer coming during the evening - she is an experienced martial arts instructor and will be showing the girls different martial arts and explaining the different philosophies. The girls will have a chance to do different moves.

SB #3: The girls will be divided into groups - each group will be given a topic to make up a short skit that shows how body language and tone of voice will affect the outcome of a situation. The groups will perform for everyone.

SB #5: Our police officer will show how they should respond when in situations such as someone following them home from school, a group of students hassling them, etc.

Technology

T #3: Our police officer will explain the pros and cons of pepper spray, mace, etc. and what the state laws are regarding these items.

Service Projects

SP #2: We are adapting a service project so it can be done as part of the workshop. Girls will be divided into groups. Each group will be given a topic to explore, and develop a page for a booklet on safety to be given to younger children. Some of the topics are: How to be safe walking home alone, how to handle a medical emergency, how to handle a fire in the home, what to do when a stranger is following you, what to do when you become separated from your family in a public place like a mall or amusement park, what to do when someone approaches you to try drugs. I'm sure there are other topics

Career Exploration:

C #3: Our police officer will be interviewed for the career activity and also discuss stress, and how they help victims of abuse and neglect.

C #4: Our police officer will discuss the laws and policies that exist to protect children, women and the elderly victims of domestic abuse in our community. We will also discuss what jobs are available to work with people that are victims of this crime, and what skills are needed.

Self Defense

Second submission by: Cad/Sen Troop 200, Virginia

(Note: SB=Skill Builder, T=Technology, SP=Service Project, CE=Career Exploration)

This was done at a lockin. The troop arrived at their regular closing time; had to listen to the social worker first as she had to go home. She had a video about date rape and emotionally, mentally abusive behavior, some worksheet/questionnaires, and some role-playing scenarios.

A 1st year Cadette troop decided not to do this 'social worker' part, so they had activities in another room until she left. They donated school supplies, but they finished the IP in their troop.

Skill Builder

SB: #1 Learn about several martial arts -- done by the martial arts instructors -- made sure there was a female instructor good with teens! The girls that take classes at this Academy were the demonstrators. We did holds, releases, punches, kicks, and how to defend against those punches and kicks.

SB: #3 Recite sentences using different tones of voices (showing anger/gentleness)-- could be done in the troop, but lots of fun and giggles at the lock-in between active sessions.

SB: #5 Role-play situations avoiding attacks -- shared by the martial arts instructor and the social worker. He had listened to her spiel, and reinforced it very well from the guy-who-used-to-be-a-teenager perspective! The girls also discussed how to say no on a date with firm tactfulness or very firm not-so-tactfulness!

Technology:

T: #3 Explore pros and cons of personal protection items -- talk prepared beforehand by the martial arts instructor

Service Projects:

SP: #3 -- (changed slightly) I did not feel comfortable in having the GS assisting on-site! We collected toiletries and school supplies to donate to the Shelter where the Social worker worked. Everyone had to bring something!

Career Explorations:

CE: #1 & #3 Interviewed professional who "repairs" victims of violence and interview a social worker -- invited a local abuse and domestic violence shelter social worker to speak (sorta boring but necessary).

The instructor had planned on a couple of hours of instruction and sparring practice. He was having such a good time it became more than 4 hours! The adults were whipped the next day, but it was a great lock-in. The SU does it about every 2-3 years for a new crop of C/S. Some have returned multiple times!