I need some advice

[Timd]

Wow! thanks for the great input. That's what I was kinda thinking, smaller groups and making rounds. I was a Boy Scout leader for 20+ years,so I'm ok with crowds of kids, but I guess the image of all those screaming little girls spooked me....lol. I'm hoping to spark some real interest in the craft, because as I've said here before, I feel like I'm in the black hole of leathercraft, no one close to me does this stuff. Believe me Johanna, I'll be sending anyone who asks to this site, but the nearest Tandy is 2 hours away. Oh, and I'll have some of Mr. Jack's Tennessee sippin' magic waiting for me when I get home...lol

[Pip]

Wow! thanks for the great input. That's what I was kinda thinking, smaller groups and making rounds. I was a Boy Scout leader for 20+ years,so I'm ok with crowds of kids, but I guess the image of all those screaming little girls spooked me....lol. I'm hoping to spark some real interest in the craft, because as I've said here before, I feel like I'm in the black hole of leathercraft, no one close to me does this stuff. Believe me Johanna, I'll be sending anyone who asks to this site, but the nearest Tandy is 2 hours away. Oh, and I'll have some of Mr. Jack's Tennessee sippin' magic waiting for me when I get home...lol

I have controlled a few large groups in my time but 45 is a real stretch, My advice is that from the instant they meet you take control, be nice, talk etc but you are in control, don't get trapped talking to one child about what they are going to do cause 10-1 that child will cause problems in the session ahead, tell them i will tell you all about once we get started.... before you even go near the teaching site lay down some rules and boundaries. Explain why the rules are needed and ask the girls if there are other rules they would impose on themselves.... you will be surprised. This is only how i would do it so please don't take offence, i don't want to tread on toes but this is my method and it works for me for ages 4-15 above that I have different methods.

Introduce yourself, stick to the fact (hi i am nic, I have been doing leatherwork for 2 years, we are here today to have a go and if we work qwell you'll all get some snazzy bracelets to take home). because your a big grouop I need to lay down some groundrules ok

Rules:

1. No one touches anyone elses work, unlessthey ask for help.

2. (Actually rule no.1) when you speak, ask the girls to listen. there is no point in shouting over 45, silence and a clap can work wonders, "we will do this in stages, so i can keep up with you all".

3. Don't let anyone touch anything until you have explained how to do it, if anyone done it before then say " great you can help the others, once we get going"

4. Then run through the thing in stages..... First we wet the leather, grab a sponge and wipe it over the surface, note how the colour changes etc etc (this gives you control of what they do and in what order)

Now, if any body finds it difficult to follow the rules I will stop the activity, and we can all sit on the grass here and wait, do you all understand. I always feel a bit militant at this point but it is soon forgotten and everyone knows the outcome of breaking the rules.

ask them who knows the rules? what happens if they break them. "Ok thats the nasty bit out of the way" lets go enjoy ourselves and make these bracelets

These are lettering stamps and explain how they work, the are back to front so when we stamp on the leather they are the rifgt way around. This is how we transfer to the leather (including safety) then they have the basics. (how do you think we need to hit this to give a good impression, act out what you don't want, you will look silly but they will all get the gist straight away)

once they've got the basics the last bit of decorating the leather, let them go for it, but repeat how to use the stamps safely, (Ask them how they do it!)

You've been a leader so all this is probably teaching granny to suck eggses. As i said, I control groups of between 10 and 60(absolute maximum, in dangerous areas walking, hiking, and doing crafts. i find once you lay down the rules, reasons and consequences, you actually enjoy yourself more cause everyone knows where they stand.

Thats my 2ps worth. In a nut shell I work to a system called the supported system which I divised myself, two years ago, it works liovely.

Pip

[Johanna]

If you raise an arm with two fingers up, all the Girl Scouts know to be quiet, and they raise their arm with the signal, too and get quiet. I wish there were something similar in Boy Scouts- if there is, I don't know the signal.

Johanna

[Pip]

If you raise an arm with two fingers up, all the Girl Scouts know to be quiet, and they raise their arm with the signal, too and get quiet. I wish there were something similar in Boy Scouts- if there is, I don't know the signal.

Johanna

lol, I am presuming thats in the official salute not in the english longbowman style lol

[indypbear]

Johanna, Johanna, Johanna,

Ask ANY Cub Scout, Boy Scout or Venturer what the words mean "Sign's up"! Cheeze Louise. Whar u bin girl? An old BOY, Gen. Robert Baden-Powell, started this thing called Scouts in England 101 years ago and Lady Baden-Powell after that with her Girl Guides. Now you've had your (partial) history lesson for the day-right Timd? ALL great advise. Now go in there and have fun with those Scouts and win one for the gipper. You'll have more great stories to tell later for years to come as will they. "Remember that leather class with that old crumudgeon (she says lovingly)....we really had fun once we got into it. I've still got that bracelet in my memory box".

Memories, memories, memories-we've got a million of them. Thanks kids.

Indy

Eagle Class of '55

[indypbear]

Ooooops!......I got carried away. Sorry

[Timd]

Well, I survived! Left the house at 9:00 this morning, just got home at 8:45. Went pretty well, had some kids really interested, some just liked pounding the bejeezus out of the leather, and some that didn't want to be bothered. I'll post pics in the morning, right now the living room floor and the heating pad are calling my name.......

[Timd]

Some pictures- the first is Frank and I, I'm on the left. The next are finished projects, all the girls were thrilled with them. The last is the only one I got permission to show, my niece, Makayla. All in all, it was a good experience. Frank talked me into an adult class in the fall, teaching the leaders, so next spring they can help a little more. Looks like I'm becoming a reluctant teacher...lol

[jammon]

Really glad to hear it went well and you survived ; )

[Timd]

Thanks, Jammon. I really had a blast, though some of those girls eally got into swing the hammer, my ears were still ringing when I got home...lol