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Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere
or
Share With a Pal
The origin or SWAPS is Native American. Patlatch is the ceremonial exchange of gifts practiced by Native Americans of Northwest Coastal tribes. The custom stems from the legend explaining why birds have colored feathers. As the story goes, two Indian girls plucked feathers of a magic bird and distributed the multi-colored plumage to the colorless birds living in the forest. From that time on, birds have had brightly colored feathers and those gifts were remembered at patlatch ceremonies.
Families were summoned to the potlatch by a messenger carrying a bundle of stickes representing the number of people to be invited. The ceremony included speeches, songs, dances, games, races, and refreshments. The host and members of his family were costumed and enacted legends about their heritage. The gift giving came last of all, just before the guists departed. Since potlatch gifts were symbols of the family's status in the village, they were often quite elaborate, often being carbed boxes, canoes, dishes, jewelry, mats and baskets.
The potlatch ceremony was given to commemorate the births, deaths, marriages, or comoing of age of members of the group.
* The idea of SWAPS was started at the original National Roundup Conferences. At that time a SWAP was a little remembrance that one Scout gave another.
* SWAPS are handmade, thus the girl is giving a part of herself to show friendship. Swaps are exchanged at National Conventions, Council events, Wider Ops, SU or neighborhood events, troop meetings and most frequently at day camp. They can have a tag attached with the event name and date or the Troop number, Council name or State.
* In some countries, SWAPS are called hat crafts. Swapping promotes friendship.
* Swaps are great mementos of a good time as well as a great way to share something about where we live and what we do.
Swapping Etiquette
1 SWAPping "do's and don'ts" vary from council to council but there are some basic rules that everyone should be aware of.
2 SWAPS for trade are carried separately from the ones you want to keep. Keepers are frequently pinned on to hats or bandannas. Sometimes thay are pinned onto a specific area of a shirt. SWAPS for trade can be in a SWAP bag, zipper baggie, shoe box,a friendship tie or pinned onto ribbon, any thing that can be easily carried. SWAPS are usually 1" to 2".
3 It is considered rude to refuse to swap with someone who asks.
4 If you don't like the item you have been given or already have an identical SWAP, accept it politely and give them one of yours with a Girl Scout smile.
5 (Try to make your SWAPS something you would want to receive. ALWAYS say thank you!
6 Try to have a few extra SWAPS on hand for those people who don't have any to give in return.
7 Most SWAPS have a pin on them so thay can be pinned to a hat or a shirt but they don't have to. SWAPS can be bracelets, necklaces, council patches, event patches, district/division/camp crests, or other small items. SWAPS can also be displayed on a banner, troop flag or the kitchen curtain.
8 SWAPS should NOT contain edible food. Food items can attract bugs and critters when outdoors.
A SWAP PIN EXAMPLE
Worm on a twig:
2" to 3" piece of fuzzy green pipe cleaner
2" - 3" twig
safety pin
wiggle eyes
small red pompoms
glue
Put end of pipe cleaner through the circle at end of safty pin, fold down and twist together. Wrap pipe cleaner aroudn twig. Glue eyes and note to end of pipe cleaner (end without pin).