Pen Pal Program
"Making Council Connections" NEW Pen Pals Program - Make new friends in your own backyard through the Council Connections Pen Pals Program. Get matched with another troop to discover how alike – and different – other girls from across our council can be. Share your interests in sports, music, school and more, all while finding out cool information about your Pen Pals!
Pen Pal - Council Connections registration form.pdf
What is Council Connections?
Council Connections is the new Pen Pal program that Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois is offering to introduce girls to the experience of writing to pen pals. Having a pen pal can be a rewarding, enriching activity. It can create friendships that can sometimes last for years or even decades! It also builds communication skills while helping girls with penmanship and grammar. Many girls make friendships with pen pals that will last a lifetime. This resource is available to help leaders link their troops with sister troops in other areas of the council.
How will we get matched? When will we find out who we are matched with?
Initial requests will be taken and matches will be made throughout the spring and summer months. Troops who have sent in their registration form by August 31, 2010 will receive their troop match information in early September. Requests for matches after August 31 will be matched throughout the school year on an ongoing basis. Requests received after April 1, 2011 will receive their troop match information the following fall.
What are the benefits to writing to girls within our own council?
Girls will find that there as many differences as similarities while writing to girls in a different part of the council. Whether rural or urban, from the northern corner of Iowa, the southern tip, or even Illinois, the girls will surely find many things to tell their new pen pals. After corresponding for months, or even years, the troop leaders may be able to arrange for a special trip for the girls to meet each other – at a council-wide event like Girls Go Global or World Thinking Day, at camp, or at another central meeting place.
Is there a patch?
There is not currently a pen pals patch. However, the art of letter writing and the act of making new friends is an activity that can be tied into several try-its and badges. Troop leaders may also wish to incorporate the pen pal activity into related Journey activities.
Can Daisies and Brownies participate? What modifications should be made for these age levels?
Daisies and Brownies can participate, but they will need extra guidance and assistance from their troop leader. Daisies may want to come up with a list of things they want to say to their sister troop, but the troop leader will write their information on one single letter. Depending on the skill level of the girls, they may be able to each write a short sentence or two. Each girl could also draw a picture to include in the mailing. Brownies may be able to write a short letter and/or drawing, but the troop leader may also wish to write a letter summarizing what the girls would like to say. It is up to the troop leader to determine the readiness of the girls and give them appropriate direction at the troop meetings where letters will be written.
Important How-To Information
- Pen Pal links should be requested by Girl Scout troop leaders who are interested in long-term correspondence (one-year minimum).
- When you receive your pen pal's information, troop leaders should send an email or letter as quickly as possible to establish the pen pal link.
- Troop leaders send and receive letters. Put letters to your pen pals into one envelope and mail it to your pen pal troop's leader.
- Write carefully and legibly.
- Keep the art of writing letters going. Do not encourage the exchange or phone numbers or emails between girls.
Suggestions for Girls/Troops with Pen Pals
1) Tell your pen pal about:
- Yourself, your family, your home, your friends
- Your neighborhood and town, your special holidays
- Your Girl Scout troop, your community activities, your leaders, and other adult friends
- Your school and school friends
2) Include special items with your letters:
- Snapshots and Sketches
- Maps and Games
- Magazine Articles
- Recipes and Songs
3) Find out more about your pen pals:
- Ask questions about the pen pal's special interests, her schools, her Girl Scout activities, and her local town or neighborhood
- Get information about her region or county from libraries and people in your community, and by watching the news
- Ask for snapshots, newspaper headlines, maps, games and songs
4) Leaders – your pen pal troop's leader can be your pen pal too!
- Leaders, learn about your pen pal's troop leader by asking about her experience, her interests, and her Girl Scout activities
- Send your pen pal troop's leader interesting information you pick up at trainings and events
- Keep in touch with your pen pal troop's leader and keep her up to date on your troop's progress.
