Understanding the Journey's Leadership Benefits
Filled with fun and friendship, each Girl Scout leadership journey is designed to develop the skills and values girls need to be leaders now and as they grow. Journey activities are designed to enable girls to strive toward achieving the national outcomes, or benefits, of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Each girl is different, so don't expect them all to exhibit the same signs to indicate what they are learning along the journey. What matters is that you are guiding them toward leadership skills and qualities they can use right now - and all their lives.

For definitions of the outcomes and the signs that girls are achieving them, see the grade-specific charts throughout the Journeys Planning Preview (link to right) and Transforming Leadership: Focusing on Outcomes of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSUSA, 2008). Keep in mind that the intended benefits to girls are the cumulative result of travelling through an entire journey - and everything else girls experience in Girl Scouting.



  • What is the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience?
    The New Girl Scout Leadership Experience engages girls in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place.

  • What are the books for girls in the second series of Leadership Journeys?
    The second journeys books for girls are all part of the It's Your Planet-Love It! series of leadership journeys. This series features one new book for girls at each grade level in Girl Scouting:

    Between Earth and Sky (Daisies)
    Wonders of Water (Brownies)
    Get Moving (Juniors)
    BREATHE (Cadettes)
    Sow What (Seniors)
    Justice (Ambassadors)

    These books place emphasize inviting girls to "Take Action" on an issue they care about. The books also contain stories, inspirational material, Girl Scout history, traditions and values, facts and games, and blank space for girls to fill in their own ideas and memories.

    In addition, corresponding "how-to" books have been created for adults. These guides for adult volunteers offer plenty of support, including customizable sample sessions.

  • When will the second Journeys books be available?
    All girl and adult books in the It’s Your Planet-Love It!—are out now, and can be purchased at the Girl Scout Shop.

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  • What new awards can girls earn with the It's Your Planet-Love It! Journeys?
    Girl Scouts at each of the six grade levels have a chance to earn official new awards as they complete steps along the journey. The awards are designed to be worn on the Girl Scout uniform. Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes have the chance to earn several badges along the journey. Seniors and Ambassadors can mark the completion of their journey with a pin or badge.

    The steps for earning the awards are clearly explained in the "how-to" books for volunteers created for each journey. Girls have information about the awards in their books, too. The journey books for girls and adults also have suggested reflection and ceremony ideas related to earning the awards. The goal is to provide opportunities for girls to fully understand the achievement and growth the awards represent.

  • Can girls still earn badges apart from Journeys?
    Girls are welcome to continue choosing and earning badges that represent their varied interests. Earning badges is an important tradition in Girl Scouting and it is here to stay! As adults and girls become more familiar with the elements of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, they will even be able to see how the Discover, Connect, and Take Action leadership keys can be integrated into earning badges.

    Of course, no matter what activities girls do in Girl Scouting, the experience is always best when it incorporates the Girl Scout processes: Girl Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning.

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  • How do the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards fit into the Girl Scout Leadership Experience?
    Girl Scouts of the USA is working to update the requirements for earning the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards and new guidelines will be available online in spring 2009. During the transition years (2008-2010), girls may continue earning the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards based on existing standards.

  • Get more of your questions answered here!



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Click the links below to learn about Journeys awards for each level of Girl Scouting:

Girl Scout Daisy
Girl Scout Brownie
Girl Scout Junior
Girl Scout Cadette
Girl Scout Senior
Girl Scout Ambassador