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What's the latest on the changes in the Girl Scout Program?

March, 2008

What is the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience?

In a very real sense, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is not new. Since 1912, Girl Scouts has been about leadership development. Juliette Gordon Low wanted to give members the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. The Girl Scout program introduces girls to a range of new experiences and allows them to build on those experiences to develop greater competencies and leadership skills. What is new is the spotlight that GSUSA wants to shine on what we do and the continued effort to promote a consistent core experience based on leadership development. GSUSA also wants to be able to define the outcomes of participating in the Girl Scout program so that both parents and the general public really understand how important Girl Scouts is to girls.

What will the focus of Girl Scout activities be?

The simplest way to describe it would be:

DISCOVER + CONNECT + TAKE ACTION = LEADERSHIP

When girls discover they:

develop a strong sense of self
develop positive values
gain practical life skills
seek challenges in the real world
develop critical thinking

When girls connect they:

develop healthy relationships
promote cooperation and team building
can resolve conflicts
advance diversity in a multi-cultural world
feel connected to their communities, locally and globally

When girls take action they:

identify community needs
are resourceful problem solvers
advocate for themselves and others, locally and globally
educate and inspire others to act
feel empowered to make a difference in the world

Girls in the Lead

The most important thing about girls discovering, connecting and taking action is that their actions will be "girl led." They will learn by doing in a cooperative learning environment.

Pathways to Participation

There are many ways girls currently participate in Girl Scouting, whether it be through a troop, a special interest group, or through a Community Outreach program.

Girl Scout Pathways for Girls - Proposed, chart

These ways of participating, or 'pathways' are being standardized and expanded. See below for the proposed pathways for girls to get involved in Girl Scouts.

New Girl Scout Levels

After extensive surveys with both girls and adults over the last two years, GSUSA determined that existing age levels are out of sync with girl needs. The new Girl Scout levels will help ensure that girls are able to engage in age-appropriate activities and that they continue the progression that is so important in Girl Scouts.

Grades K-1: Girl Scout Daisy
Grades 2-3: Girl Scout Brownie
Grades 4-5: Girl Scout Junior
Grades 6-8: Girl Scout Cadette
Grades 9-10: Girl Scout Senior
Grades 11-12: Girl Scout Ambassador

GSSJC has adopted the recommended levels of membership for Girl Scout Daisiesâ€“Brownies during the transition. This chart is located in a document called 'Changes in the Girl Scout Program' on the Council Information Network (CIN) at www.gssjc.org in the month of February.

Girl Scout Leadership Journeys

Currently, Girl Scouts encourages girls to explore new concepts and themes through their try-it/badge/interest project work. To build on that concept, GSUSA is introducing the concept of a Leadership Journey, in which girls will explore a theme through a sequence of fun and challenging experiences. There will be 5-8 'Discover, Connect, Take Action' outcomes per journey. In partnership with volunteers, girls are invited to customize journeys locally.

The First Journey for Fall 2008

The first journey for each level will be a 'Change Your World' series. This journey will:

provide a global and multicultural perspective
highlight Girl Scout history and tradition
encourage girls to live the Girl Scout Law
touch on healthy living and the environment
can be stretched out for longer-term experiences

Additional Program Resources

By Fall 2010, there will be a total of 3-5 journeys for girls of each level to choose from. All journeys will incorporate girl friendly themes, have corresponding awards and tie to some of the national leadership outcomes. Complementary program activities with companion badges will continue as supplements to journeys.

Pathways for Adults - Proposed, chart

FAQs

Will Girl Scout Daisies this year (07/08) be Daisies again next year?
Yes. GSUSA will be designing new program resources specifically for the 1st grade.

Will Girl Scout Daisies be able to participate in the cookie program?
Beginning in October 2008, GSUSA will provide age-appropriate guidelines for girls in K-1 grade on participating in the Girl Scout cookie program activities.

How will this affect the girls now?
It won't. Girls in all age groups will continue enjoying the experiences they are already engaged in, earning awards and badges as they exist right now. Materials will continue to be available in Girl Scout Council shops and online. When the transition time frame is put into place, girls will have time to complete projects or awards they have already begun at their current age levels, using existing materials.

What about the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards?
Don't worry! The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards remain vital awards in Girl Scouting, and they are great awards to teach girls how to Discover, Connect and Take Action as leaders. The Girl Scout Gold Award will remain the highest award. Over the next few years, as the new program materials are developed, the awards will be updated based on the leadership model.

How will the changes impact the volunteer experience?
Over the next several years, GSUSA will strive to improve the volunteer experience by:

Making it easier for busy volunteers to join, stay involved and serve in flexible ways.
Providing user-friendly new materials, resources and training that make it easier for volunteers to deliver a fun and impact-driven Girl Scout experience.
Helping volunteers to better understand (and show others) the difference they are making in girls' lives.

Why are these changes being implemented?
Girl Scouts has always risen to the challenge of meeting the unique needs of each generation of girls. Girls today are asking for compelling, relevant and impact-driven experiences. This change is part of the next steps in the Core Business Strategy as expected since 2004. Imagine the power of the Girl Scout Movement speaking in one, consistent, national voice about what we do: leadership development for girls!