Learning about the basics means your experience in exchanging SWAPs is a pleasant one. You need to consider others, what you’re creating, how it fits into a theme or event and more!
Steps
1. Etiquette.
When swapping with others, you want to make sure the experience is positive both for the giver and the receiver. Review the etiquette in the Enrichment Project supplement. Discuss etiquette with your kids so they know what to expect. Try to roleplay or give examples of good and bad experiences.
2. No swap.
Sometimes you have items you don’t want to swap, but you want to let others see them. This is the reason why many people wear a SWAP necklace or hat. When someone asks, you can say it’s your personal collection, but you have some available to trade. Normally, my girls like to keep those they want to trade in a zip-top bag to keep them clean and dry as well as separate from those they do not wish to trade. How else might you identify those SWAPs you want to keep?
3. Duplicates.
Duplicates can be overwhelming. We went to a sing-along and my oldest ended up with twelve of the same SWAP. She couldn’t tell the girls in the Daisy troop “no.” The leader had to do a lot of encouraging to get the first girl to even ask. Of course, once the first one traded, they all had to. But what to do with all those duplicates?
Exchanging duplicates at the same event where you received them is something I discouraged. That troop of Daisies would be devastated if they found someone they wanted to trade with already had one of their SWAPs and they didn’t do the swapping. Discuss this with your troop. What might they do with duplicates so no one’s feelings are hurt?
Back to SWAPs
4. Consider.
Before you start, you need to think about where and why you will be swapping. Here are some things to think about.
- Type / theme of event
- Community ideas to showcase your location instead of event
- Number of participants
- Realistic goals for final quantity
- One SWAP for the troop or one per girl
- Time available for girls to make SWAPs
- Materials available for girls to make SWAPs
- Crafting ability of the girls
5. Themes.
Sometimes the event will give you a theme for the SWAP. If not, look at the things you’ve done with your troop or group in the last year that can be used as inspiration for creating a SWAP. You can help guide their ideas with things they’ve already experienced. What themes jump out to you? What do they suggest?
6. Directions.
Search the Web for directions on creating SWAPS, SWAP photos that you can recreate, etc. Pick a few to create to familiarize yourself with how a SWAP is made.
NOTE: SWAPS do not have to be pins, so do not discount items that do not come in that form.
7. Make.
Making SWAPs can be done in a variety of ways. What you create shouldn’t be random, but have a reason . . . whether it’s specific to an event, theme or directions from a host. See the Enrichment Project badge program “SWAP Maker” for information on making SWAPs.
8. Rejects.
Everything you make won’t be perfect. Don’t throw it out. It might lead you to other ideas and inspiration. You might use them if you host a workshop or training. Keep these for your own personal examples.
9. Identify.
SWAPS should have the giver’s identification — a label or a tag works well. You may wish to include the troop number, event name, event date and location. If the girls want to include names, make it first name only. Explore different ways to place identification on / with your SWAPS. Try both handmade and digital versions to see what works best for you.
10. Protection.
Make sure your SWAPS and identification can stand a little rain. Paper items can be covered with clear contact paper (laminate). Some items may need to go into a small baggie. Review the items you make and make sure they’ll be able to withstand the weather.
11. More.
In case your girls are looking for more than just SWAPS, have them take a camera or notebook with them. As they make new friends at events, they can take pictures of the girls with the SWAPS they made and make note of email addresses or physical addresses so they can continue their friendships. They can also use this to include in a memory book or photo album of the event.
Badge and Supplement Files
Member Level
- EP_Badge List_SWAPBasics_larajla — list of badge items
- EP_Badge Set_SWAPBasics_larajla — list of badge set and related badges
- EP_Supp_List_SWAPBasics_larajla — list of supplements for the badge
- SUPP_BPG_SWAPBasics_2in_12up_larajla — generic badge printable
- SUPP_SWAPBasics_Journal_larajla — badge journal
- SUPP_SWAPBasics_Planner_larajla — badge planner
Supplement Fun
- SUPP_Instruct Fun_SWAP Etiquette_larajla — SWAP Etiquette
- SUPP_Instruct Fun_SWAP How to_larajla — “How to” for SWAPs
- SUPP_Instruct Fun_SWAP Introduction_larajla — Introduction to SWAPs
Sites to Explore
- www.verywellfamily.com/girl-scout-swaps-etiquette-4025467
- www.swapsforscouts.com
- www.slideshare.net/mactartan1?utm_campaign=profiletracking&utm_medium=sssite&utm_source=ssslideview (She has a few decks to check out.)
- www.gsctx.org/content/dam/girlscouts-gsctx/documents/volunteers/troop-planning-resources/SWAPS%20Tip%20Sheet.pdf
- www.facebook.com/groups/300337196804235
- questclubs.net/2015-swaps
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tnr5wpd5U5E
- www.youtube.com/watch?v=onlG2uAtXvY
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here