Normally it's a small stuffed animal (small mascots are cheaper to mail and less bulky to take places). It relates to the troop or a troop's area. Most common mascot is a teddy bear or a bunny. They also have a cute name, example, our mascot is Daisy, a koala....or Patches a dog and Nuts a squirrel.
I have found my hosts over the internet, some through the WAGGGS-L list, the Chris Welch pen pal/mascot board, or on the America on Line Girl Scout Forum.
To learn about other places; it's similar to a pen pal friendship. The mascot's travels are usually logged into a journal. Every stop along the way the girls in the hosting troop can learn a bit about other places. The mascots usually wind up with photos from their journey in the diary. We've heard about mascots coming home with Patch vests, friendship blankets and alot of other goodies. Our troop is also keeping track of our mascot and the mascots we are hosting through our web site. ( See Daisy for our mascot and hosting for those that are visiting.)
The mascot will normally come to you after you've agreed with the "home" troop and provided "vital" information. See below. Some troops will ask for specific things from you, such as a council patch and/or a note letting them know their mascot has arrived safe and sound. Depending on how much time you have before it has to get sent on to the next destination. You can take it to meetings or any activity that your troop does, be sure to take pictures for the journal. There is many debate on whether or not the girls should be allowed to take the mascots home. Some have been known not to come back.
I send with my mascots....a journal, a blanket, swaps for the hosting troop, a patch with a bit of history about our troop, council and city....and a small gift for the hosting troop leader (something simple to make). Some troops send video and/or audio tapes, back packs, passports. But remember that to keep postage down you should make the box as light as possible. I don't include all my swaps for each host...I mail them separately before my mascot gets to them.
Hosting troops normally pay the postage to send the mascot to their next host. But remember sending packages overseas can cost more (to and from, make sure the host is aware of this additional expense. We had a package go to England, for 4 lbs it cost about $20.00 one way) and don't forget the special customs papers....you get them from the post office.
Leaders Full Name.....Mailing address.....city.....state...zip code.....phone number......email address......................... Troop Number and How Many Girls are in the Troop (f or swaps).......Council Name and Address and Phone Number with a contact person. And in some cases an additional contact person.
**Always try to include swaps for the troop, a patch with a letter about your troop.
**Be sure to pack things well. and clearly print the proper address.
**Include a copy of the itinerary so they know when to ship your mascot on to the next location. And address labels.
**Ask each troop to email you when your mascot arrives and leaves.
**Personally I ask each troop to send my mascot on Priority Mail...at least I'm sure it will get to the next location at a reasonable speed. Some troops ask to send it insured or return receipt requested. One note about insuring a package (I checked with the post office on this) Packages must be insured of over $50 to be traceable....under that it is untraceable....and it adds to the cost of shipping.
**Send a confirming letter....I sent mine via email...along with a brief itinerary confirming when it's going to who.
**Make the mascot to big or heavy...remember some troops pay for their mascots out of their own money.
**Do not include addresses of girls, unless specifically requested...you never know who may actually receive the package.
**Don't be afraid to call the council if you lost a mascot and get no response.
**Don't get discouraged if you send out lots of messages and get no responces from troops. Just move on...there are some great troops out there that do great hosting. As well as creative troops that send out mascots.
**Don't be afraid to tell the hosts not to let the girls take your mascot home. I have heard a sad story about a girl who had taken a mascot home. The parents had been going through some trouble and the father kidnapped his daughter. His daughter had the mascot. Now both father and daughter are in hiding. It is a decision you need to make you don't know the circumstances of everyone who's hosting your mascot. Not the way you know your own troop.
I hosted a mascot for a month a few years ago...my troops loved it, so I'm doing it for them now. It is alot of work, but can be a very good experience too for the girls. Start out slow if you are nervous don't overload or it can delay in the process of keeping to the mascots schedule. Try hosting one first if you like and see it in progress. Happy mascoting!!