Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Lincolnshire, Twin Groves School District, Wheeling
- 2,261 current girl members *
- 666 current adult volunteers *
Event Detail
VISTA 2 Thinking Day/International Fair
Sunday, February 24, 2008 - Time: 12:30 – 4:00 PM (includes set-up & take-down
Place: Country Meadows Elementary School (cafeteria & gym) 6362 Gilmer Road, Long Grove, IL
Purpose: To remind us that we are an international family of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Also, to give girls an oppor-tunity to learn the costumes, games, crafts, and Girl Scouting activities of their sister Girl Scouts in other lands. The main focus of the fair is not to make money, but is an opportunity for troops to get together and share learning experiences.
The International Fair is being hosted by Twin Groves Community. The entire VISTA is invited to participate. This fun event is run every other year and has always been highly anticipated by Scouts! A "RSVP form" for International Fair registration, along with an explanation of the fair and what is required if you host a country, is attached. In addition, a list of countries that are taken and ones that are still available is included. We have 23 countries represented and room for 17 more. RSVP’s are taken on a first come/first serve basis. We are unable to post the event coordinator’s personal contact information because of security reasons. An e-mail with this information went out to all leaders. If you didn’t already receive this info on where to mail your completed registration, contact V2_IntComAmb@gsvista.org for the form.
This is how the Fair works:
The girls need to pre-buy at least one "passport" (punchcard) for $2 each to enter the Fair. A passport has 10 punches (.20 per punch). More punchcards can be purchased at the Fair. Girls can be just visitors to the fair, or troops can choose to set up and decorate a booth to represent a country that is picked from the list that was provided (these countries all support GS’ing). Each country does an activity or provides something that represents that country. Girls walk around and visit the countries and do the activities. Once you visit a country, your "passport" is punched. So in essence, it costs you .20 to visit a country. The activities are generally simple and fun. Some examples from previous years . . .
USA - did a simple baseball activity with a whiffle ball & bat and gave a small sample cup of apple pie (similar to what samples are given in at Costco & Sam’s Club). . . baseball & apple pie are symbols of the USA. Costs to troop - bat & ball (somebody may have already had), 4 or 5 apple pies, cups & forks.
Japan - made & decorated paper laterns. Cost to troop - paper & markers.
Greece - decorated their booth with Olympic Rings, Grecian columns, etc & girls (when working) wore togas (white sheets) with ivy wrapped around their heads. They played a couple games as their activity to represent the Olympic games. Cost to Troop - minimal.
Mexico - made little "worry dolls" out of string and toothpicks. Cost to troop - minimal.
Troops cover all their costs and some get donations to cover activity.
Creativity and simplicity is the key. Girls have a blast planning for the Fair, visiting other booths and taking turns "working" their own. Right now, we have 23 booths and are hoping your troop would like to add one as well. However, if not, we would still like you to come. You do need to pre-purchase punchcard "passports" (excluding adults) so we have an idea of the attendance figure and can manage that accordingly. We are not allowing walk-ins. It’s too hard to manage numbers. Families and siblings are welcome.
Troops are not reimbursed for their expenses and proceeds are donated to the Juliette Low World Fellowship Fund.
Be sure to get your registration in by February 9th.
Fair Schedule:
12:30 - 1:00 Troop members set up booths in Country Meadows cafeteria & gym
1:00 – 1:30 Welcome, Flag Ceremony, Girl Scout Promise
1:30 – 3:30 Booths open
3:30 - 4:00 Clean – up
Click to download registration/permission documents for this event