Girls who wish to become an Apprentice must be registered Girl Scouts who have completed sixth grade or above. They participate in classes and tours to extend their knowledge of eighteenth and nineteenth-century lifestyles and to learn the historical crafts that Heritage Patrol offers during its programs. The classes are designed not only to teach the craft and its history, but also how to teach it to others. Most Apprentices begin their training at three half-day sessions held during Musikfest at Historic Bethlehem, Inc. They acquire many of the skills they need during this time and earn the Girl Scout Artistic Crafts Interest Project Patch. Usually within a year, they advance to the rank of Journeywomen.
Journeywomen are Girl Scouts who have completed the artistic crafts interest patch and/or 15 hours of training. They help the Masters with classes, learn new crafts, and develop leadership skills through additional training sessions and observation. This position encourages the girls to develop confidence in their abilities to lead a group as they help Masters and to extend their knowledge of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. By the time they reach this level, most Journeywomen are able to help in at least six different workshops and understand how the activities relate to eighteenth or nineteenth-century life. As Journeywomen, girls usually earn their Girl Scout Folk Arts Interest Project Patch, add as many as six additional workshops they are prepared to teach, and receive basic leadership training.
Girls Scouts who have been in Heritage Patrol for at least one year, have a minimum of 18 hours of service, and have completed leadership training move to the rank of Master. They are expected to learn new skills and teach leadership skills to Journeywomen. As Masters, the girls learn to control and guide not only the children attending the workshop, but also the Journeywomen helping them. They learn to delegate authority, keep time, clarify instuctions and develop many other leadership skills. Girls receive Trainer's training after they have been a Master for roughly a year. Journeywomen who advance to Master have usually learned twelve workshop activities. By the time they advance to trainer, they have mastered up to 30 different skills.
Only about five percent of the girls who join Heritage Patrol as Apprentices reach the highest level, Trainer. A trainer is a Girl Scout who has been in Heritage Patrol for at least three years, has completed a minimum of 50 hours of service and has completed the Heritage Patrol Program Aid Training. Trainers act as site supervisors during events, teach leadership skills to other Heritage Patrol members, and assist advisors where needed. Their experiences include new leadership roles normally reserved for adults. As the site supervisors, they are responsible for preparing the site by checking for safety hazards, being sure the Master in charge has all the supplies she will need, and helping to get the group focused. During the activity she is expected to watch for problems, to observe, and if necessary, to make suggestions, but not become directly involved. If there is a problem, she is responsible for sending someone for help and if necessary stepping in to control the group. Another Trainer activity is to lead Apprentice workshops during Musikfest and to do the leadership training necessary to advance from Apprentice to Journeywomen to Master. At all Heritage Patrol activities, the Trainers are in leadership positions. Often they are expected to teach skills they have never learned. This may seem like a lot to ask of a fifteen year old, but our Trainers come through with flying colors every time.
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This page was last updated on 10/8/07 - erc