About Girl Scouts

ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS
Girl Scouts is the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adults, girls develop strong values, social conscience, and self-confidence-- qualities that will serve them all their lives.

In Girl Scouting, experiences like high adventure trips, sports, leadership opportunities, community service projects, and team building activities give girls opportunities to discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together.

Girl Scouts of the USA, our national organization which is located in New York City, maintains a membership of more than 3.7 million girl and adult members throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. For 95 years, its membership has been unified towards the achievement of the Girl Scout mission: “To build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.”

GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM BASICS

Why do girls enjoy Girl Scouting?
When asked what they like about Girl Scouts, girls enthusiastically replied:

• making new friends
• trying new things
• helping people
• earning badges
• taking trips
• making choices
• going camping

The Girl Scout program has always been recognized with camping, cookies, and crafts. But that’s not the whole story: Girl Scouting is really about courage, confidence and character. Girl Scouts go camping, and they go rock climbing, backpacking, and white water rafting; Girl Scouts sell cookies while developing money-management, marketing, and goal-setting skills; Girl Scouts make crafts, and they make bedrolls for the homeless, alphabet books for pre-schoolers and survival kits for battered women’s shelters.

THE GIRL SCOUT ADVANTAGE

Girl Scouts gives girls an advantage in life.
Girl Scout program offers girls adventure, excitement, fun, friendship, a sense of belonging and an opportunity to learn new skills. The Girl Scout Promise and Law help girls to develop a strong core of values to guide them in life. This unique combination is a proven formula for success, and is hard for girls to find elsewhere.

Girl Scouts is for every age.
If you are a girl between the ages of 5 and 17, or if you are an adult age 18 or over, you can join Girl Scouts! The program levels are:

• Daisy Girl Scouts, age 5-6 kindergarten or grade 1
• Brownie Girl Scouts, ages 6-8 or grades 1-2-3
• Junior Girl Scouts, ages 8-11 or grades 3-4-5-6
• Teen Girl Scouts, ages 11-17 or grades 6-12
• Adult Girl Scout Volunteers, age 18 and over

Girl Scouts is offered in many ways

Traditional troop: May meet 1, 2 or 4 times a month. A troop has 6 or more girls with trained leaders and usually meets in a public place. Girls set goals and work on recognition requirements, attend events, trips and activities, and participate in product sales. (Daisy Girl Scouts do not participate in Product Sales.)

Special Initiatives: Through targeted funding, the council is able to organize and directly deliver program to Girl Scouts who otherwise would not be able to participate. These “alternate pathway” programs are focused around specified geographic areas and designated topics, such as healthy living, self-esteem, and other topics of concern to girls.

Non-Troop Affiliated: For the girl who chooses not to be in a troop but wishes to attend events, trips, participate in product sales or work on recognition requirements. (Not available at Daisy Girl Scout level.)

Special Interest Groups: For the girl who wishes to devote a limited amount of time to one specific activity for a short period of time. The type of programs offered vary from year to year.

Click here to learn about our council’s history, competencies and sustainable advantage.

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

2008 © The Girl Scout Council of Greater Essex and Hudson Counties