The Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council is teaming up with The Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence for the Start Strong Idaho program designed for Cadette Girl Scouts (ages 11-14).

Members will discuss relationships they read about and see in the media and explore the topics of abusive behavior, warning signs of unhealthy relationships, and why someone would stay in a detrimental relationship.The goals of the program are to raise awareness and help prevent adolescent dating abuse.

The Start Strong Idaho patch activities are focused on gaining a better understanding of the aspects of healthy relationships and recognizing how to make strong, positive choices in difficult situations.

These patch activities provide reflection, conversation, and hands-on experience in dealing with relationship issues. Members will choose 6 of the following 11 activities to complete:

 
1. Read Dreamland and post thoughts/summary on FaceBook page.
2. Be a guest speaker for the Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Visions program, and speak on Healthy Relationships.
3. Write a story or poem and submit to a school newspaper.
4. Write a story or poem and submit to a local newspaper.
5. Organize a movie night with troop. Watch Twilight and have discussion after the movie on healthy and unhealthy relationships
6. Create artwork/poster that brings awareness to the issues of healthy relationships to hang at school, troop meetings, or pass out to friends.
7. Administer a survey to at least 20 teens on healthy relationships. Summarize the results, what you’ve learned from the experience, and submit to the group homepage.
8. Answer questions concerning healthy relationships on Facebook group homepage.
9. Rate a particular piece of music, a video game, TV show, or other media as depicting healthy/unhealthy relationships and post your findings on Facebook group page.
10. Organize a speaker from the Idaho Coalition against Sexual and Domestic Violence to come and speak to your troop on healthy relationships.
11. Join the Start Strong Idaho Book Club and post weekly on FaceBook group page and answer discussion questions regarding Sarah Dressen’s book, Dreamland.
 

To join the program please complete the START STRONG PARTICIPANT CONTRACT. Send to: KC Driscoll at 1410 Etheridge Lane, Boise, Idaho 83704.

The activities begin on April 12 and will continue throughout the summer!

For more information contact KC Driscoll at kdriscoll@girlscouts-ssc.org