Kaper Charts

Every leader wants troop meetings to be fun. Fun for the girls! Fun for her! Knowing what is going to happen can be part of the fun, for girls, and for leaders.

A kaper is a short-term job. A kaper chart is a handy tool used for Girl Scout meetings and activities. In troop activities, it can be used to clarify which individual, pair, small group, or patrol is responsible for completing a specific job.

A kaper chart for a troop meeting might look like this:

To choose jobs you can

• Make a 'spin the wheel'
• Put the jobs in a hat and have each patrol pull one out
• Draw a tree on a piece of paper. Cut leaves from another piece of paper. Write each job on a leaf and pin to the tree, writing side down.

However the jobs are chosen, write them on a chart so no one forgets what they need to do.

How to start

Kaper charts may appear confusing, but the are simple to make. Consider the following steps:

1. Make a list of all the tasks that need to be done. (If you put each job on a small piece of paper, the next steps will be easier to do.)
2. Plan how many people should be in each work group to equalize the responsibility: Individuals, Buddies, Patrols, Other small groups
3. Decide which specific tasks listed in step 1 will be combined to fit the work group. Take the small pieces of paper and sort them into piles according to tasks that will be done by each group.
4. If desired, give the work group names and/or symbols for the chart.
5. Make the chart a graphic representation of delegated responsibilities:

• Eye-catching charts create interest. Girls form the habit of checking, at the beginning of a meeting or trip, what their job is.
• Provide rotation of jobs, if appropriate.
• Include a list of tasks for each individual/group.

1. By rotating the people who work together, everyone can work with everyone else over a period of time. This is especially helpful when individuals do not know each other.
2. Kaper charts can help groups avoid the harmful aspects of cliques.
3. Girls should be involved in the designing and making of kaper charts:

• Use the Court of Honor or Steering Committee if the troop has these.
• Involve girls in deciding:

• What needs to be done
• Placing tasks into work groups or patrols
• Type/size of work groups
• Type of rotation
• Making the chart
• Once the outline of the chart is determined, girls may volunteer or draw for jobs.