January is a time to regroup, reassess, and revise. I plan our entire year in August, but I take a moment in January to make sure the plans still make sense. I also take a moment to consider February's big event, which is Thinking Day. Additionally, it's important to take a look at the summer camp schedule if any of your troop members are interested in particularly popular programs. Where I live, if you don't sign up for horse camp within days of the opening of registration, you won't be able to go.

January through March is always the busiest time of year for us in Girl Scouts. We have our regular activities, plus Thinking Day, plus cookie sales, plus Thinking Day. It works out well, thought because January through Spring Break is generally a period of time when there is a lull in other activities.

At the troop level, this year our January is being devoted to wildlife events, hiking, and cookie sales. February is our month to learn to cook and to deliver cookies. We are focusing on food not only by learning to cook but also by providing service to a local food pantry. In March, we will be horseback riding, celebrating the Girl Scout Birthday, and enjoying our Girl Scout friendships by attending a party with our sister troop.

At the school level, we will be celebrating Thinking Day as a school in February with booths from around the world. At the neighborhood level, there is a Father/Daughter Dance being held in late February this year as well, and there is an opportunity to march in a parade, although I think given our full agenda we will be taking a pass.

Detail-wise, how does all this happen? Returning readers know that I have a Brownie and a Junior troop. In January, the Brownies will do the Watching Wildlife Try It and the Juniors will work on the Hiking Badge at their own level meetings. Then they will go on a joint hike on an early-release day.

In February, a representative from the Pampered Chef will be visiting the meetings to earn the Let's Get Cooking Badge on the Junior level and the Make it, Eat it Try It on the Brownie level. All participating troops will contribute booths to the Thinking Day extravaganza. The Father/Daughter Dance is a pay-and-go activity so any girls who are interested will be buying themselves some fifties poodle skirts and attending with their dads.

In March, my two troops will come together to celebrate the Girl Scout Birthday. The Juniors will complete their Junior Aide requirements at that meeting by helping the Brownies earn their Friends are Fun Try It. As a thank you for all their help throughout the year, the Brownies will be throwing a party for the Juniors. Bowling or ice skating are likely events. The Juniors will be going to a local stable for their favorite activity, horseback riding.

I think this gives you a sense that a lot can happen with a little planning and not a tremendous amount of effort for any one person even when two troops are involved. Bringing in an outside expert is a favorite trick of mine as with the Pampered Chef and I'm growing particularly fond of the "plan once, execute twice" method in working with the two troops.

April and May are sketched out as well, but I tend to reassess those months in March to see what we actually acoomplished. I try to plan but be flexible as well!