Girl Scouts of the USA : Girl Scouts of the USA Founded in 1912 Largest voluntary organization for girls in the world Open to girls 5-17 (or grades K-12) who subscribe to the Girl Scout Promise and Law Mission: to inspire girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism and service Currently has 2.8 million girls and nearly one million adult members Majority of girls are in grades K-6


The Girl Scout Promise : The 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. * The word "God" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, the word "God" may be replaced with whatever word an individual’s spiritual beliefs dictate.


The Girl Scout Law : The 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.


Girl Scout Age Levels : Girl Scout Age Levels Daisy: Ages 5-6 (K - 1st grade) Brownie: Ages 6-8 (1st – 3rd grade) Junior: Ages 8-11 (3rd – 6th grade) Cadette: Ages 11-14 (6th – 9th grade) Senior: Ages 14-17 (9th – 12th grade)


Girl Scouts of the USA: Organization : Girl Scouts of the USA: Organization Governed by a board of directors that sets policy for the national organization Headed by a volunteer national chair Board hires the chief executive officer who oversees all operations, activities and national staff (employed/volunteer) Operations include program development, membership, research, fund development, public relations, human resources, property management, volunteer recruitment and training Oversees 315 local Girl Scout councils with the same structure Girl Scouts partners with other youth-serving organizations, non-profits, government agencies and businesses


Corporate Goals : Corporate Goals Develop cutting edge programs for girls Be recognized as the leading advocate for girls Increase membership of girls and adults Attract greater diversity of all members


The Girl Scout Research Institute: The Girl Scout Research Institute A center for research and public policy information on the healthy development of girls Insures that the complex and ever-changing needs of girls will be addressed Program development research Original research Research reviews Outcomes measurement of program


How Girls Can Participate : How Girls Can Participate Through one of the nation’s councils located in every state, plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands $10 membership fee per year (effective Oct. 2003) includes programs and insurance Girls can join troops or special interest groups, participate in school programs, register as individuals (Juliettes) or be part of the STUDIO 2BSM initiative geared to girls 11-17 Girl Scouting can and does take place anywhere there are girls – in homeless shelters, detention centers, housing projects, shopping malls, on reservations, etc.


The Girl Scout Program: The Girl Scout Program Is open to all girls ages 5-17 Promotes progressive and cooperative learning experiences Builds skills in areas from science and the arts to technology and the environment Provides trained adult leadership Supports activities that encourage cross-cultural understanding


Girl Scout Program Goals Help Girls: : Girl Scout Program Goals Help Girls: Develop self-potential Relate to others with understanding and respect Develop values to guide their actions Contribute to society The Girl Scout program is driven by girls’ needs and interests and is conducted with program and safety standards. Girls are recognized for their accomplishments and can earn awards for their work such as badges, patches, and pins.


The Youth/Adult Partnership:The Foundation of Girl Scouting: The Youth/Adult Partnership: The Foundation of Girl Scouting Trained Adults Serve as mentors and partners Develop projects and activities with girls based on their interests Encourage participation at all levels Help girls develop critical thinking and decision- making skills


Sample Girl Scout Initiatives and Projects Geared Toward Positive Youth Development: Sample Girl Scout Initiatives and Projects Geared Toward Positive Youth Development


GirlSports: The Girl Scout Sports, Health and Fitness Initiative: GirlSports: The Girl Scout Sports, Health and Fitness Initiative Resources, projects and collaborations: GAME FACE: What Does a Female Athlete Look Like? encourages all girls, regardless of ability, to participate in sports and activities (funded by GAME FACE Productions) Fit&Fun, a sports skills development project for girls 9-11 (funded by NFL Charities) Strong Bones, Strong Girls, a resource guide and video that encourages girls to build and maintain strong bones through increased calcium consumption and physical activity (funded by the National Bone Health Campaign) Partners include the USTA, LPGA, WNBA and AVA


In the Zone: Living Drug Free: In the Zone: Living Drug Free Age-level booklets that contain facts about drugs, real-life stories from teens, advice and activities Designed to encourage sound decision-making and healthy behaviors Developed in conjunction with the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign


STUDIO 2BSM: STUDIO 2BSM A new approach to meet the needs of today’s teens in Girl Scouting Grows out of research from the Girl Scout Research Institute Offers a new line of fun books for girls with corresponding awards in the form of charms Features a new website – www.Studio2B.org – that speaks to teens about their lives Covers topics important to girls at different stages of adolescence – from bullying and public speaking to travel, body image and driving


uniquely ME!The Girl Scout/Unilever Self-Esteem Program: uniquely ME! The Girl Scout/Unilever Self-Esteem Program A self-esteem activity project for girls ages 8-14 Addresses challenges girls face in their daily lives such as dealing with emotions, eating healthy, fitting in and friendships Includes three activity booklets, one for girls 8-10 and two for girls 11 and up, plus a guide for adults Unilever employees serve as volunteers and mentors to girls Funded by Unilever


Elliott Wildlife Values Project : Elliott Wildlife Values Project A trust fund project committed to the preservation of the environment and wildlife (funded by Herford N. Elliott) Workshops, hands-on activities, books, field trips, career exploration and community service through collaborations with environmental and government agencies Projects include: Linking Girls to the Land: Councils collaborate with federal agencies on conservation projects From Sidewalks to Treetops: Video & booklet set in Spanish and English teaches adults how to use the streets in their communities as outdoor learning centers for girls (funded in part by Jessie Ball duPont Fund)


CentsAbility: CentsAbility Financial literacy/money management initiative for girls 8-14 Kit with workbook, posters, career cards and leader’s guide Topics include budgeting, investing and shopping Funded by Mutual of America


Girl Scouts Beyond Bars andGirl Scouting in Detention Centers: Girl Scouts Beyond Bars and Girl Scouting in Detention Centers GSBB links daughters with incarcerated mothers Helps maintain healthy family relationships and break the cycle of criminal behavior Programs in 28 correctional facilities GSDC responds to the growing numbers of female youth in the justice system Both programs created with U.S. Department of Justice


P.A.V.E.(Project Anti-Violence Education): P.A.V.E. (Project Anti-Violence Education) Helps girls recognize and address violence at home and in their neighborhoods Funds given to Girl Scout councils for local programs Projects include conflict resolution, personal safety, positive social skill development and valuing diversity Due in Dec. 2003: Staying Safe for Girls 5-11, a series of booklets on personal safety Funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service


Fair Play – GSUSA/Intel Science Fair Program: Fair Play – GSUSA/Intel Science Fair Program Science, technology and engineering initiative for girls ages 13-14 Summer science camps with project mentoring, career exploration and the creation of a national Internet peer group linking all participants Funded by the Intel Foundation


Girl Scouts in Public Housing: Girl Scouts in Public Housing Federal program which strengthens local programs and partnerships Helps Girl Scout councils pilot test projects addressing teen issues, financial literacy, science, technology, the arts, drug awareness and other key topics Collaborations include local businesses, law enforcement, schools, civil leaders and other youth serving agencies Funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development


Don’t Sweat It:A stress management project for girls: Don’t Sweat It: A stress management project for girls Based on research from the Girl Scout Research Institute, focus groups, interviews and published articles Geared mainly for girls 11-15 Includes information, practical advice, activities, and tips Topics include family, school issues, friendships, and appearance Skills include decision-making, critical thinking, communication, goal setting and time management Developed through a grant from the University of Arizona


How organizations can work with local councils: How organizations can work with local councils Contact the council and ask for the program director Look in White Pages under “Girl Scouts” Call 1 (800) 478-7248 (800 GSUSA 4U) for the council in your area Visit the councils’ websites or visit www.girlscouts.org


What local councils do:: What local councils do: Assess the needs of girls in their jurisdictions Develop programs for local membership that complements national programs Fundraising Collaborate with agencies, businesses and other non-profits Recruit volunteers and girls Provide training for volunteers and staff Disseminate information to members and to the public


Practical Applications: Practical Applications Councils do corporate planning in the early fall with a yearly cycle of goal setting and budgeting Groups that want to work with councils should: Provide information about your organization, its mission and goals Ascertain shared goals and program philosophies Plan joint projects 6-8 months ahead of time Be accessible for questions and meetings Provide enough time for information to filter down to girls (two months plus)