Three Keys to Leadership in Girl Scouting:
The Three Keys to Leadership are the core of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience. They represent the way Girl Scouts will work through the Girl Scout program and develop themselves as leaders. The three keys to leadership are:
- Discover: Girls understand themselves and their values and use their knowledge and skills to explore the world.
- Connect: Girls care about, inspire, and team with others locally and globally.
- Take Action: Girls act to make the world a better place.
Discover + Connect + Take Action = Leadership.
Each Leadership Key has five (5) desirable outcomes associated with it.
History:
Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts in the United States when she assembled a group of girls on March 12, 1912. She provided an opportunity for girls to experience activities outside of the traditional women's roles. The movement grew quickly. On March 16, 1950 the US Congress chartered the Girl Scouts of the USA.
Girl Scout Grade & Program Levels:
- Daisies: Kindergarten and 1st grade
- Brownies: 2nd & 3rd grades
- Juniors: 4th & 5th grades
- Cadettes: 6th - 8th grades
- Seniors: 9th & 10th grades
- Ambassadors: 11th & 12th grades
Membership Criteria:
Membership is open to all girls from kindergarten age through high school as well as adult women and men as volunteers, leaders and staff who believe they can make the Girl Scout Promise.
Girl Scout Promise:
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law
According to the Girl Scout Web site, "The word 'God' can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is okay to replace the word 'God' with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate."
Girl Scout Law:
I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Uniform:
Girl Scouts of the USA adopted a new official dress code in autumn 2008:
The official dress code of the Girl Scouts of the USA is required when girls and adults participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement.-from the Girl Scout Web site > Program > Girl Scout Central
The official uniform for girls is a sash or vest worn with a solid white shirt and khaki pants or skirt. For adults, the official uniform is navy blue business attire worn with an official scarf and membership pins for women and the tie for men. Girl Scout Brownies and Girl Scout Daisies have a full uniform offering.
Activities & Awards:
Activities are age appropriate and reinforce the values in the Girl Scout Promise, Law and Three Keys to Leadership. Girls earn badges and other awards for completing activities, but not all activities necessarily work towards awards. Sometimes the girls just have fun and build friendships.
The Girl Scouts have recently added a new series of Leadership Journeys to their program. Journeys are theme based activities that take place over several meetings. Awards are given along the way and for completing Journeys.
Girls also have the opportunity to earn special awards as they progress through Girl Scouts.
Find a Girl Scout Troop:
Many troops meet at churches, community centers or schools, so those are good places to check. Local Councils are listed in the phone book and can help you locate a troop. You can also find your local council through the GSUSA Council Finder on their Web site.
Why Girl Scouts of the USA:
Pros:
- Fun and friendship
- Opportunities that girls may not experience elsewhere
- Well thought out programming
- Caring and well trained adult leaders
- Whether your daughter is just starting out in the Daisy age level, or joining late in her high school years, she will find a place in Girl Scouts.