The Transformation of Girl Scouting
In conjunction with its 95th anniversary in 2007, Girl Scouting has launched a historic transformation and will focus on our core strength of leadership development for girls in the 21st century. Since it’s founding in 1912, Girl Scouting has continuously developed, adapted, and provided programming so girls would have the leadership skills needed to succeed. Girls view leadership in different ways, so a broad range of experiences will be offered to every Girl Scout. In fall 2008, Girl Scouts of the USA will launch the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience designed to provide girls ages 6 to 17 with expanded leadership opportunities. While the new Girl Scout model will take a few years to fully implement (slated for completion in the fall of 2010), parents and leaders will notice the first of the changes when they register their daughters for the 2008-09 membership year.
At a Glance
The New Girl Scout Leadership Experience is:
- The new design for what girls do in Girl Scouts
- Set to launch in fall 2008 with full implementation by 2010
- Based on the three keys to leadership: Discover, Connect, and Take Action
- Girl-led, based on “learning by doing” and “cooperative learning”
- Serves the Girl Scout mission of building “girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place”
Why Leadership?
From founding libraries in America’s heartland to establishing free medical clinics in India, each year 2.6 million Girl Scouts take the lead in bettering their communities and the world. Girl leaders have been at the heart of Girl Scouts since its founding in 1912, when Juliette Gordon Low recognized that nurturing girls’ leadership abilities would ensure their roles as change-makers of the future.
As Girl Scouting approaches its 100th anniversary, the organization is using its expertise to create a completely new approach for what girls do in Girl Scouting, how they do it, and how they will benefit. Called the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience, this approach engages girls in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place.
Change It Up! What Girls Say About Redefining Leadership
For years, Girl Scout volunteers have been asking for easy ways to guide girls through the wealth of experiences Girl Scouting offers. Today’s busy volunteers want more information about what to do with girls and how to partner so they reap the benefits of Girl Scouting.
Come fall 2008, these requests will become a reality as the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience launches for Girl Scouts in each grade level. Easy-to-use facilitator guides will accompany each “leadership journey.” Guides are designed to help volunteers guide girls easily through fun and meaningful experiences as well as understand and observe the impact of the program on girls’ lives.
Wondering What to Do Right Now?
Don’t worry!
Keep using all existing Girl Scout books and awards with girls. They will remain available even after the launch of the new materials in fall 2008 so everyone has plenty of time to transition.
Get the conversation going.
Ask Girl Scouts what leadership means to them. And tell everyone: Girl Scouting is and always has been first and foremost about leadership development for girls!
Live the Girl Scout leadership philosophy.
Engage girls in activities that develop their unique skills and values (Discover) to team up together (Connect) and make a difference in the world around them (Take A ction).
Spread the excitement.
Imagine the power of the Girl Scout experience when 2.6 million girls and nearly 1 million adult volunteers speak in one voice about what Girl Scouting does: Leadership! What kind? The kind that makes the world a better place.
GSUSA Articles
National Media
Resources
- The Girl Scout Research Institute just published their newest research, which was used, in conjunction with feedback from the membership, to develop the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The April edition of S'more Ideas, Change it Up! What Girls Say About Redefining Leadership is a review of the findings -OR- for the PDF of the complete research study, go to www.girlscouts.org/research.
- Transforming Leadership is a new Girl Scout Research Institute publication that is helpful in orienting everyone to the exciting model underlying the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This publication clearly defines the specific outcomes (benefits) of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for girls. It also describes the outcomes for each of the six (6) grade levels within Girl Scouting.
Some say we’re moving too fast…but we’ve got to move at the speed of a girl.
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