A World Thinking Day event is something can that be held just for a troop, service unit/association or council. If your troop attends an event in which there will be more than 3 troops, it would be a great idea to have a SWAP. A really cool SWAP would be the flag for the country that your troop will represent at the event. I dug through my SWAP bags of previous Thinking Day events and came up with a few different ways to create a Thinking Day flag SWAP. (One “cheat” would be to purchase these country flag pins, use the country that you represent this year, save the others for next year! I think I bought my set at a party store. They are also available online!)
Skill Level: Daisy – Ambassador (the beaded flag pins will probably be better for the older girls)
Supplies: Photo of flag from your country, toothpick, safety pin (seed beads for beaded flag pins)
Directions:
Each flag was a little different in how it was put together, but it was really the same. Go on Google and search under images for “flag country” (with the country substitute the name of your country – ie Mexico). You’ll want the final flag to be clear but small enough for a SWAP – 2″ x 2-1/2″ is probably a good size to shoot for.
This flag for Mexico had both sides of the flag printed. The girls wrapped it around a toothpick (with glue) and added a pin and they were finished!
This flag from Great Britain was created by printing the flag onto a sticker sheet. The stickers were then placed onto card stock that was cut out in the shape of a tag (use a stencil or scrap booking punch). On the back, the girls wrote which country they were representing.
The final country flag SWAP is one that I have never had my troop made – yet! I feel like this one would be great for older girls (you need some different skill sets to be in place for this one!). The is a great website that lists how to create beaded flag pins for over 50 countries. If you have created a beaded flag SWAP, please share!
I hope you enjoyed my ideas on how to create a country flag SWAP for a Thinking Day event. Please share with me your ideas!
Yours in Scouting!
