Frequently Asked Questions about the new Girl Scout
Leadership Development Program
Girl Scouts of the USA adopted an
updated mission statement at our National Council Session in 2005: Girl
Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who
make the world a better place.
To fulfill this mission and our commitment to girls, we are renewing
the Girl Scout experience by making it compelling, relevant, and
impact-driven for 21st-century girls. Thousands of members around
the country have contributed ideas and perspectives, culminating in
decisions by the National Board of Directors in August 2006.
Girl Scouts of the USA will phase in some exciting program changes
beginning fall of 2008. With changes, come questions! Here are answers
to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions.
- What is the Girl Scout Leadership Development Program?
The leadership model is the new design for what girls do in Girl
Scouting and how adult support can strengthen their experience.
It is the road map for determining what a girl will learn and how
she will be impacted. The model defines and displays all the elements
that must be in place to positively impact girls’ lives.
The Girl Scout Leadership Development Program, then, is the model
in action.
- How will the Girl Scout Leadership Development Program
impact girls’ lives?
Through the Girl Scout Leadership Development Program girls will discover their
personal best and prepare for a positive future, connect with
others in an increasingly diverse world, and take action to
solve problems and improve their communities. Girls have told us
that these opportunities matter very much to girls—both in
their daily lives and as they prepare for their futures. And, with
our unique focus on a By Girls, for Girls approach and cooperative
and experiential learning, girls will continue to have fun, friendship,
and exciting adventures.
- How will the changes impact the volunteer experience?
Over the next several years, Girl Scouts of the USA 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 see (and show others) the difference
they are making in girls’ lives
- What is the Girl Scout approach to leadership?
The Girl Scout approach to leadership is based on the three
pillars—Discover,
Connect, and Take Action.
Discover
As a Girl Scout discovers her world, she:
- Develops a strong sense of self
- Gains practical and healthy life skills
- Strengthens her values
Connect
As a Girl Scout connects with others in a global community,
she:
- Forms caring relationships
- Promotes cooperation and team building
- Embraces diversity
Take Action
As a Girl Scout takes action in the world, she:
- Feels empowered to make a difference
- Identifies and solves problems she cares about
- Advocates for herself and others
The Girl Scout leadership development pillars represent cycles of
activities that engage girls in practicing leadership skills, based
on the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Girl Scouting will
redefine with girls and the nation what it means to be a leader.
- Why is Girl Scouts of the USA changing
now?
Since 1912, Girl Scouting has 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. Imagining the power of the Girl Scout Movement
speaking in one consistent national voice about what we do: leadership
development for girls!
- What about the Girl Scout history and traditions?
“The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we
are its makers.”
– Juliette
Gordon Low
Change is perhaps the oldest tradition in Girl Scouting. Ever
since Juliette Gordon Low returned from England in 1912 and changed “Guide” to “Scout” in
response to the preference of American girls, those in the Girl
Scout Movement have prided themselves on their ability to make
timely adjustments to fulfill the evolving concerns of modern girls.
Girl Scouts has a long history of updating clothing, awards, age
groupings, and so on to meet the needs of girls. While continuing
to maintain the values that have been at our core for 95 years,
this renewal allows Girl Scouts to remain relevant.
- How will we still know we’re Girl Scouts?
The values of the Girl Scout Movement, as expressed in the Girl
Scout Promise and Law, remain the cornerstone of the Girl Scout
experience. In
fact, the renewed Girl Scout leadership development experience
places increased emphasis on teaching girls to live out the commitments
expressed in the Promise and Law. The leadership development program
will do this through Discover, Connect, and Take Action activities.
Outwardly, the revitalized program also retains many of our important
Girl Scout symbols. Girls will continue the practice of earning
official awards to display proudly on a tunic, vest, or sash, culminating
with the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. Additionally,
Girl Scouts will remain united by a national dress code.
- Who had input into the changes and decisions?
Thousands of girls and adults from across the Girl Scout Movement
have been part of an open and honest dialogue for the last 18 months.
Following our tradition of participation, members responded to
questions and contributed ideas through forums such as a specially-designed
email address; strategy cafés held at the 2005 National
Council Session in Atlanta; focus groups with volunteers and girls
within and outside of Girl Scouts; online surveys; and work sessions
held at Girl Scout councils. A panel of experts in the youth development
field also weighed in and gave their seal of approval to the new
Girl Scout leadership model.
The information gathered through all of these sources was reviewed
and summarized by teams of Girl Scout councils and national staff
members. The National Board of Directors made the final decisions
in August, 2006.
- How will the national focus on leadership incorporate
girls’ varied interests?
Leadership skill-building can be incorporated into everything
a Girl Scout already enjoys—from rock climbing to collaborating
on a puppet show to volunteering at a soup kitchen.
- What if I like things the way they are?
So much remains the same! Continue celebrating everything that
girls love about Girl Scouting—troops, camping, the Promise and Law,
badges, uniforms, a By Girls, for Girls approach, and much more.
In fact, when girls strive to live out the Girl Scout Promise and
Law, they’re already on their way to becoming confident, courageous
leaders. As Girl Scouts of the USA continues to honor the
traditions that have always made Girl Scouting such a positive
experience, join the national effort to move forward and make that
experience even better.
- When will the changes become effective?
Not right away. The most important thing we can do right now is
to continue using all current available resources—the web
sections, awards, books, and clothing. Changes will begin to be phased
in October 2008, and girls and volunteers will have time to transition.
- How will this affect what girls are doing now?
It won’t. Girls in all age groups will continue enjoying
the experience 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 timeframe
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.
Girls have told us that it’s important to be with other girls
their age, and currently, they get bored by too much repetition.
As one 13-year old Girl Scout wrote in, “It makes us more
comfortable to be with the same age group as ourselves.”
Our research found that girls learn best and have the most fun when
they are with the right developmental/social grouping. The new grade-level
groups are:
Grades K-1
Grades 2-3
Grades 4-5
Grades 6-8
Grades 9-10
Grades 11-12
Major Changes
Kindergarten and grade 1 girls will have the opportunity
to share fun experiences and learn from each other. Girl Scouts
of the USA will be designing new program resources especially for
this level.
Middle School (6th-8th grade in many parts of the country) can
be a difficult time in girls’ lives. New program resources
will address their progression through the early stages of adolescence,
ultimately preparing them for the next phase of life and Girl Scouting.
Girls in 9th and 10th grade will have their own unique program
resources making leadership relevant to their lives as they seek healthy relationships,
deal with the pressures of high school, and figure out who they are. While girls
in 11th and 12th grade have expressed interest and focus more on preparing
for their futures, and demonstrating leadership skills.
- Why group by grade? Can other grades still go together?
Girls identify with social groups based on grades. Grouping by
grade allows girls to be with peers who share a closer level of
emotional and social maturity.
Older and younger girls can continue to interact—in fact,
that's a great way for girls to practice leadership! As the new
Girl Scout Leadership Development Program materials begin rolling
out in October, 2008, Girl Scouts will establish a national curriculum
offering age-appropriate, differentiated activities at each level.
- We heard that level names were changing? Why didn’t
they?
Throughout work on the Girl Scout leadership development model,
GSUSA continually asked members of the Girl Scout community about
changing level names—and if so, to what? GSUSA received thousands
of ideas ranging from names that sound more current to names that
speak more clearly to leadership to names that honor tradition
in Girl Scout history. As GSUSA tested many of these possibilities,
a common theme arose to place emphasis on strengthening the existing
Girl Scout brand rather than focusing energy on new level names.
The level names effective October 2008 are:
Girl Scout Daisy
Girl Scout Brownie
Girl Scout Junior
Girl Scout Cadette
Girl Scout Senior
Girl Scout Ambassador*
*The grade-level name Girl Scout Ambassador was added to adjust
the newly-separated 11th -12th grade level. The word ambassador represents
young women leaders, paving the way in a global world.
- Will Girl Scout Daisies be able to participate in the
product sale?
Beginning in October 2008, GSUSA will provide age-appropriate guidelines
for girls in K-1st grade on participating in the cookie sale.
- What about girls with special needs?
GSUSA will continue to serve all girls, including those with special
needs.
- What do girls say about the changes?
Girls want a more contemporary image and have requested activities
that better reflect their current interests. Some girl members worry
about how the changes will affect the Girl Scout experience they
know and love. Many girls in Girl Scouts wanted to keep traditions,
like current age level names, wearing of awards on vests, etc., so
these are still with us. And the transition process will enable girls
to complete experiences they have already begun. Girls will also
continue to have opportunities to contribute ideas as new books,
awards, and web content are created.
- What about the four program goals?
The values underlying the four program goals are integrated into
the new Girl Scout Leadership Development Program and its activity
cycles of Discover, Connect, and Take Action. The four program
goals, however did not tie to a compelling end result for girls.
The Girl Scout leadership model clearly defines the impact of Girl
Scouting on girls’ lives: leadership!
- What about the Girl Scout 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.
- Will patches, badges, and charms still exist?
Yes! They will remain important symbols of achievement in Girl
Scouting. We
will also add other fun items as girls say they want them.
Girl Scouting will balance our tradition of unity with practicality
to meet the needs of today’s girls and their families.
- Girls at each age level will have one official uniform item
(e.g. tunic, vest, and sash) for the display of official pins
and awards. Girls will be required to wear this item with their
own white shirts and khaki pants or skirts when they participate
in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement
- Teen girls will also have the option of wearing a scarf connecting
us to our global sisterhood, WAGGGS
- The adult uniform will be the membership pins worn with a scarf
for women and a tie for men coordinated with navy blue business
attire
- Girl Scouts of the USA will continue to evolve and offer a
range of appealing casual wear for girls and adults
- What do we do with our current uniforms?
Continue using them! Tunics, vests, and sashes for the display of
official pins and awards will still be a part of the Girl Scout uniform.
Girl Scouts of the USA
has received many comments and suggestions about STUDIO 2B. Many
girls, especially those at the pre-teen level, love aspects of
the approach—from tone and graphics of the
books, to options for the awards, like badges or charms, the ability
to set and learn from their own goals, and the renewed commitment
to the By Girls, for Girls approach.
Other girls want a clear, strong emphasis on the Girl Scouts brand,
image, and leadership experience. So, we’ll use the aspects
of STUDIO 2B which are most well-received and valued and incorporate
them into the Girl Scout Leadership Development Program.
Thanks for asking! Here’s how:
- Talk it up! Share your enthusiasm about the changes we’re
making to better serve girls
- Find ways to emphasize leadership
using existing Girl Scout materials
- Encourage girls to select existing
Girl Scout activities, books, and awards that give them the opportunity
to discover their
personal best and prepare for a positive future, connect with
others in an increasingly diverse world, and take action to
solve problems and improve their communities
- Get involved. In October/November,
councils will receive the “Fall
2006 Resource Kit DVD” which will communicate the decisions
of the National Board to the Girl Scout community
- Stay tuned for
tips throughout the year with suggestions for using the existing
materials to carry out the renewed leadership development approach
