Seeking Advice/Patterns for Girl Scouts

[miss emerald]

My daughter is a Junior in Girl Scouts, and I just learned that the troop leaders want the girls to learn crochet this year. Since neither of the troop leaders crochet, I suspect that I will be heavily involved in this. I thought it would be great if the girls could make something as a service project (hats? scarves? who knows?) and give it to those in need, but never having done this before, I don't know where to begin. Does anyone have any ideas of what the girls (great girls but no experience crocheting) could make and to whom they could donate it? I suspect the simpler the pattern the better. Thank you so much!

p.s. If it helps, the girls are all 9-10 year olds.

[lastade]

Contact the activities director at your local nursing home. The residents love to have young people visit and give them little gifts. You might even find a grandmother there who will be happy to assist you in teaching the girls to crochet. The residents usually can use lap robes and slippers. One of the first things my grandmother taught me to make were slippers. They are an easy project to start off with and there are so many patterns for them everywhere.
I was also a girl scout all the way up to Cadettes. It is nice that you are teaching them to crochet.

[Arlinka]

Contact the county or your local abused women's shelter. See if they can use scarfs or hats for this coming winter. You can also contact the Animal Shelter and see if they can use blankets for their cages - then each girl can make a little cage liner for the animals to lay on.

[eyrthmother1]

There are so may opportunities to help in the community.

As mentioned, nursing homes, animal shelter, abuse shelter, but there is also the hospital cancer unit (the funfur hats can be a big hit there), w/ the neonatal units for preemies, if your community has homeless shelters, or a large special olympics, disable veterans, etc.

I do give a word of warning though. The nursing homes here (southern va) are NOT fond of the slippers due to possible increase in patients slipping while wearing them. shawls and lapghans are quite appreciated.

Good luck w/ the teaching/donating. :)

Sandy

[bethintx1]

The CGOA has a great lesson plan:
http://www.crochet.org/teach/toc.html