In this section, we explore the Girl Scout Law: "I will do my best to use resources wisely."

8.1 Personal Resources

Explore

Make a list of the resources you have: things you have access to that you can use when you need help. Your resources might include your personal qualities and experiences, books, the Internet, other people, your health, and things you own that are helpful to you.

Think

How can you use your many resources to help you complete this program?

Express

Across from each resource you have listed, tell how you could use it wisely and well.

8.2 Natural Resources

Choose A or B.

CHOICE A

Explore

List the natural resources you usually use in one day. Don’t forget to include your stuff, which is made from natural resources, and power such as heating, cooling, and going somewhere in a car, which also comes from natural resources. What natural resources does your congregation use on a Sunday?

Think

What does your congregation do to reduce, re-use, and recycle? What do you and your family do? Think about how you can reduce, re-use, and recycle more and/or get others to join you in the effort.

Express

Create a poster, video, blog post, or other way to encourage others to join you in efforts to reduce, re-use, and re-cycle.

CHOICE B

Explore

Find out about environmental projects in your congregation, school, or community.

Think

How do the 7 UU Principles relate to helping the environment?

Express

Volunteer to help with one of the environmental projects you learned about or design and carry out an environmental project by yourself or with a group.

8.3 Volunteer Resources

Explore

Find out how volunteers keep your congregation running smoothly and meeting its goals. Who are the paid staff members at your congregation and what are their responsibilities? What other work has to be done and who does it?

Think

How does volunteering benefit the congregation? How does it benefit the people who volunteer?

Express

Make a list of volunteer tasks at your congregation that kids can do. Star the ones you might like to do and look for opportunities to try them out.

8.4 Financial Resources

Explore

Find out these things about your congregation’s finances: 1. What is the total budget (the amount of money spent each year)? 2. Where does the money come from? 3. How is the money spent? 4. Who makes the decisions about the congregation’s money? 5. What sorts of things other than money do people give the congregation?

Think

How do money donations and volunteering work together to keep a congregation going strong?

Express

Brainstorm some ideas for fundraisers your congregation could try. Which ones look like they would make the most money? Which look like they would be the most fun to work on? If you want, give your suggestions to one of your congregation’s leaders.