AHG Troop 0247 "IN ACTION"...

Joining Award Ceremony

Light for Christ

Tenderheart Badge Awards

The Moment We've All Been Waiting For...

Mom and Daughter - Two Hearts for Christ

AHG Mother/Daughter(s) Love

Cheeeeeese!

Christmas Caroling 12/10

Singing by Candlelight

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

And the music doesn't end...

Hot Chocolate and Goodies

Christmas Cheer

Safety Tips with Gwen before the hike...

Oso Flaco Lake

On the move...

Made it to the beach (it's a tad windy)

 Pathfinders Are Ready to Sing -
Bringing Cuteness to the World!

Ready for the Veteran's Day Program to Begin

God Bless America!

Lunch time for the families!

Serving Those Who Served Our Country

Passing Out Thank You Cards

CAKE!

A Job Well Done - Time to Eat!

Serving at Care Net Pregnancy Center -
Oct. 29th

Serving (and Sorting)
at Care Net Pregnancy Center - Oct. 29

Serving at Care Net Pregnancy Center -
Oct. 29th

Opening Flag Ceremony

Singing Together

Servants Circle

Sharing the Geology Badge

Sharing the Ancestor Detector Badge

National Day of Service - Sept. 17th -
SMFD Station 1

 

National Day of Service -
Sept. 17th - SMPD

Don't Forget to Log Your Service Hours!

American Heritage Girls have a fun time earning badges, but we're all about Christ-like service to our community! Be sure to keep track of your service hours and earn service stars - there is a handy log sheet on pg. 68 of the handbook. That will fill up quickly, but you can staple additional sheets on top as needed.

The following hours are required for each level to earn one star:

Tenderhearts - 5 hours/star
Explorers - 10 hours/star
Pioneers - 15 hours/star
Patriots - 20 hours/star

Knowing service hours is also important for any troop member who wishes to earn her Level Award (Sacagawea, Lewis & Clark, Harriet Tubman, or Dolley Madison Awards).

Besides the actual service events, don't forget to include time spent beforehand. For example, include making cards and cookies for the National Day of Service, baking for the Trunk or Treat Event, and collecting items in your neighborhood for Care Net. Just add them into the total for a given service project - no need to itemize them in your log.

Individual Service Opportunity: Salvation Army Bell Ringers Needed

Some members of our AHG troop have done this in past years and had a wonderful time. You can purchase small candy canes to pass out or play Christmas music while you wish others a Merry Christmas and help out a great cause. It's also a great opportunity to earn more service hours.

Note: This is a fundraiser for a different organization. Girls can earn service hours but SHOULD NOT wear any sort of AHG uniform (class A or B).

Any families interested in doing this should contact Carmen at 805-354-0124.

Time to Assemble Your Operation Christmas Child Shoebox!

It may seem early, but shoeboxes must be turned in at our upcoming 11/14 meeting so that they can be delivered to the facility and shipped on time. The girls watched a video on the the Operation Christmas Child program at the last meeting and are excited about sending love overseas.

Box labels were placed in the Family Communication File Box several weeks ago (note: PGBC also has some if you need more or didn't check your file). Labels can also be downloaded HERE.

Girls should bring their completed boxes (can be an ordinary shoebox, an "official" OCC box, or the plastic shoeboxes from the $ Store) and they should be appropriately labeled. For information on correctly packing your shoebox, visit the OCC website link HERE.

What should you put in yours? Here are a couple of helpful links: 101 Operation Christmas Child Ideas and 50 Best Items to Pack.



 

Celebrate Jesus at PGBC this Christmas!

The girls will be included in Pine Grove Baptist's annual Evening of Music to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We will be singing "The First Noel" as a group.

Our troop has been a blessing to our little church - this would be a wonderful way for our church members to be introduced to our wonderful girls!

WHEN: Sunday, December 18th at 6:00 p.m.

WHERE: Pine Grove Baptist Church, 5551 S. Bradley Rd. 

* Girls should wear full uniform
* Song lyrics have been placed in the Family Communication Box - we will also be practicing this song at the end of each AHG meeting leading up to the event.
* There is a sign-up sheet at the meetings - please let us know if your daughter can come and sing
* Food and fellowship to follow - bring appetizer OR dessert to share with other families

 

"SING AND SERVE" For Our Veterans This Veteran's Day!

We have an awesome opportunity to be part of a wonderful program honoring our Veterans! We will be singing a song for them and then serving them lunch. This was an amazing event last year!

WHEN: Friday, Nov. 11th - Girls arrive at 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: 1745 Missions Dr. Solvang

* Girls should be in full uniform
* They will be singing along with a choir "God Bless America"
* Afterwards, girls who can stay will help serve lunch by dishing up salad, hot dogs, and cake to attending veterans
* Recommended: It's really nice if girls can make thank you cards to hand out to veterans while they eat lunch. They don't have to be big and fancy - simple "Thank you for your service" sorts of things (include this in your service hours)

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NEW Rescue Mission Service Opportunity!

Our local Rescue Mission will be feeding approximately 1000 people Thanksgiving dinner

 When:  Monday, November 21st 

Where: Santa Maria Fairpark

**Read the details below** Then, if your family would like to participate, please follow this link to Sign-up Genius and pick a time slot: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4da5ad2aa3f58-rescue3

People from all over Santa Maria stand in line for hours in order to eat a hot meal and receive encouragement and prayer from local volunteers. Many of the people in line will be children, who have come with their parents. Imagine standing in line for hours for something as simple as a hot meal! I am organizing a group of families that will come together to make the wait a little bit more fun for the children. We will be setting up various stations with activities, crafts, and games outside in order to give the children something to do while they wait in line. Last year we had several carnival games, face painting, coloring, story telling, crafts, balloon animals and more.  

People will begin standing in line at 8:30 am and the event will end between 2:00-3:00. We will have several 2 hour shifts to choose from. 

Each family will need to provide all the necessary items for whatever activity they wish to present to the kids. Last year I would estimate that we saw 100 kids in an hour so if you will be providing an activity for a 2 hour shift, I would recommend having enough of whatever you are doing for 200 kids. We will be outside so keep that in mind when thinking of activities.  The Rescue Mission will provide tables if your activity requires them.  Last year the people who brought the carnival games gave out candy as prizes. The kids loved it! 

**Please remember that the children will vary in age but many will be preschool age and younger. The children who have not started school will most likely be Spanish speaking only. Keep this in mind if you have an activity that needs to be explained. If you speak Spanish you are a precious commodity for this event!!!!**
 
Here is a list of activities that I think would be fun but please don’t be limited by this list. Carnival type games:

• Face painting
• Balloon animals
• Helium balloons
• Coloring station 
• Simple craft 
• Paper airplane making and throwing station
• Lollipop tree
• Plinko
• Temporary tattoos
• Clowns or Mimes

Date Change for Trunk or Treat Flyer Distribution

The date for flyer distribution for Pine Grove Baptist's Trunk or Treat Event has changed* - instead of Oct. 22nd, it will now be Sat. October 29th, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (meet at 8:45). If you signed up but will now be unable to do this service activity OR if you are now able to do it,  please let Diane Smith know ASAP.

NOTE: This is the same day as the Care Net service project which begins at 2:00 p.m.

*There is no change to the other Trunk or Treat Service Opportunities - dates and times for the Cupcake baking and Games/Hospitality Help is the same as before.

Let's Go Bowling!

We're getting together with our Santa Ynez AHG sisters on for an afternoon of fellowship and fun. No badgework or community service here - this is strictly for kicks and giggles. Bring the family, but note that families pay for their own on this one.

WHEN: Sunday, October 23rd
WHERE: Rancho Bowl (128 E. Donovan Rd., Santa Maria)

Mark your calendar!

Tenderhearts & Explorers - Sign-up to Present Badges Completed at Home

Since there are a larger number of girls in our Tenderheart and Explorer groups, we would appreciate it if girls (or their parents) would let the leaders know in advance if their daughter has a badge to present.

To help with this, there will be sign-up sheets - one for Tenderhearts and one for Explorers - at the sign-in table.  

Please write the name of the presenter and then put a checkmark IF the badge requires that she present something to the entire group

(Note: not all badges have to be presented to the whole group and can be discussed with just the leader - if time permits, however, we would love for the girls to be able to share what they learned with everyone in their unit).

Our Pi/Pats group is smaller so presentation time may not be an issue. The leaders will let the girls know how they would like to schedule presentations.

Sign-up prior to the meeting date, if possible, so that leaders can 
plan their activities around the correct number of presentations.