All About Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts’ dreams are our dreams. A Girl Scout builds a better world—just as Girl Scouts have been doing for over a century. With programs in every zip code, coast-to-coast and around the globe, everyone can find their place in Girl Scouts and start creating the world they want to see.

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Girl Scout volunteers are a dynamic and diverse group. Whether you’re a recent college graduate, parent, retiree, or really, anyone with a sense of curiosity and adventure (of any gender, who is 18 years or older and has passed their council’s screening process), your unique skills and experiences have the power to change lives. With you as their mentor, Girl Scouts will grow and thrive.

Girl Scout members and volunteers are united by the values in the Girl Scout Promise and Law and their shared commitment to embrace leadership in all forms. Each member agrees to follow Girl Scout safety guidelines and pay annual membership dues. Volunteers and adults also have the option to purchase a Lifetime membership.

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You can join Girl Scouts at any point from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Girl Scout Daisy (grades K–1)
Girl Scout Brownie (grades 2–3)
Girl Scout Junior (grades 4–5)
Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6–8)
Girl Scout Senior (grades 9–10)
Girl Scout Ambassador (grades 11–12)

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) toggle arrow

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE): A variety of activities plus supportive relationships plus the three Girl Scout processes equals the five Girl Scout outcomes. The GSLE is experienced in regular meetings, in activities, in emotionally and physically safe spaces, and through Girl Scout Traditions.

In Girl Scouts, everything centers around the Girl Scout. Our program is designed by, with, and for Girl Scouts. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) is our research-based impact model that describes what members do in Girl Scouts, who they do it with, how they do it, and how they benefit. This framework should be a blueprint for every activity that your Girl Scouts participate in. When planning your year, make sure that you’re implementing all parts of the GSLE regularly.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience has been purposefully designed to include a variety of fun and challenging activities to help Girl Scouts learn, grow, and thrive. Girl Scouts have the opportunity to take on leadership roles and learn-by-doing in a safe, fun, and cooperative environment. When we say variety of activities, this means that Girl Scouts participate in at least four out five of the following:

National Program Portfolio (badges and awards)
Outdoor or camping experience
Community service and/or Take Action
Field trip and/or events
Cookie program

Supportive relationships mean that troop leaders care about their troop, encourage their creative thinking, are inclusive, and provide a safe space. As a result, Girl Scouts experience positive relationships with their peers and a feeling of belonging. As a supportive adult, you are crucial to the success of the Girl Scout Program. Supportive adult relationships are strongly linked to experiencing the GSLE with a strong dependency between the supportive adult and the three processes. When Girl Scouts feel supported and safe, they are more likely to achieve our outcomes and ultimately our mission.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience draws on three unique processes—Girl-Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning—that encourage Girl Scouts to try new things, write their own stories, and develop the skills and confidence to say, “I know I can do this!”

Girl-Led. Girl Scouts take the lead, no matter their age. From selecting the badges they’ll pursue to how they’ll organize an activity; Girl Scouts have the opportunity to follow their dreams and grow their skills—and gain the confidence that comes with that.
Learning by Doing. Participatory activities are fun for Girl Scouts of any age, but they also help them feel empowered to shape their own experience. Girl Scouts unlock their “I got this” attitude as they discover they can always dust themselves off and try again when things don’t go according to plan.
Cooperative Learning. There’s power in having a tight-knit group of friends who will learn with you, grow with you, and always cheer you on. Girl Scouts experience firsthand that teamwork, respect, and collaboration can fuel them through any challenge that comes their way.

As a volunteer, you’ll draw on these three processes as you lead Girl Scouts of any age. And naturally, girl-led at the Daisy level will look very different from girl-led at the Ambassador level. What is most important is that your Girl Scouts make decisions about the activities they will do together and make choices as they’re doing the activities together. As they learn from their successful and not so successful tries, they gain confidence. All Girl Scouts should have the opportunity to lead within their peer group. By the time they are Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, they will be using the leadership skills they’ve developed to take on more ownership of their activities, mentor younger Girl Scouts, and take action to make the world a better place.

And finally, when we incorporate a variety of activities, supportive adults, and the three processes, Girl Scouts experience the 5 GSLE outcomes:

Strong Sense of Self. Girl Scouts have confidence in themselves and their abilities and form positive identities.
Positive Values. Girl Scouts act ethically, honestly, and responsibly, and show concern for others.
Challenge Seeking. Girl Scouts learn to take appropriate risks, try things even if they might fail, and learn from mistakes.
Healthy Relationships. Girl Scouts develop and maintain healthy relationships by communicating their feelings directly and resolving conflicts constructively.
Community Problem-Solving. Girl Scouts desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, learn how to identify problems in the community, and create “action plans” to solve them.

The outcomes occur as a result of regular meetings and activities including Girl Scout traditions, in an emotionally and physically safe space, with a supportive adult.

Although they may start building their leadership skills in school and on sports teams, research shows that the courage, confidence, and character Girl Scouts develop stays with them throughout their lives. Our program and outcomes are based on research and our studies show that Girl Scouting has a measurable positive impact on Girl Scouts. In fact, we can proudly say Girl Scouts are almost 10 percent more likely than non-Girl Scouts to have positive expectations about their future based on our studies. We encourage you to learn more about our program and outcomes as you check out our studies and in-depth research for insights and information.

One last tip: Girl Scouting isn’t a to-do list, so please don’t feel that checking activities off a list is more important than tuning in to what interests them and sparks their imaginations. Projects don’t have to come out perfectly—in fact, it’s a valuable learning experience when they don’t—and Girl Scouts don’t have to fill their vests and sashes with badges. What matters most is the fun and learning that takes place as they make experiences their own, so don’t be afraid to step back and let your Girl Scouts take the lead.

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Was a badge-earning activity a resounding success? Or was it derailed by something your troop hadn’t factored in? No matter the activity’s outcome, you can amplify its impact by encouraging your Girl Scouts to reflect on their latest endeavor.

Reflection is the necessary debrief that reinforces what is learned. As your Girl Scouts explore the what’s and why’s, they’ll make meaningful connections between the activity at hand and future challenges that come their way. In other words, reflection gives them the confidence boost they need to pick themselves up, try again, and succeed.

Keep in mind that reflection does not need to be a formal process, but you can kick-start the conversation with three simple questions: What? So what? and Now what?

What? Go over the “what” of the activity. For example, ask:

What did we do today?
What part was your favorite?
If we did it again, what would you want to do differently and what would you want to repeat?

So what? Next, move to the “so what.” You might ask:

So, what did you learn by doing this activity?
So, what did you learn about yourself?
So, what did you learn about your community (or environment, school, or others) that you didn’t know before?
Why do you think this activity was important?
What key learning can we take with us?

Last, review the now what. Say something like:

Now that we’ve done this, what would you like to do next?
Now that you know this about yourselves, what would you like to try next?
Now that we’ve completed this Take Action project, what do you think we should do next to make sure it continues?
Given this experience, what’s more of a priority to you now?
What are you curious to learn more about?
Where would you like to go?
Who would you like to meet?

This form of reflection, or whatever style of reflection you choose to use with your Girl Scouts, is a powerful component of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience that helps to carry these lessons with them for the rest of their lives.

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Although elements of the program—like outdoor expeditions or learning entrepreneurial ventures—are consistent across all grade levels, Girl Scout Brownies and Juniors won’t be doing the same activities as Girl Scout Seniors and Ambassadors. But with your support, Girl Scouts will be ready for what comes when they get there!

Girl Scout programming is designed to be progressive and it’s what makes Girl Scouting fun and effective! By building on the knowledge and skills they gain year after year, your Girl Scouts’ confidence will grow exponentially, and they’ll be eager to try new things and take on new challenges. As a volunteer, you will cultivate a supportive, nonjudgmental space where your Girl Scouts can test their skills and be unafraid to fail.

Keep in mind that progression drives success for your troop and consider that it is not about grade or age, but experience. Click on the following links for outlined suggestions that will help you determine when your Girl Scouts are ready for their next outdoor challenge, their next troop trip, or their next cookie selling challenge.

The Girl Scout Program: National Program Pillars & More toggle arrow

Girl Scouts four Program Pillars—STEAM, Life Skills, Outdoors, and Entrepreneurship—form the foundation of the Girl Scout program and work together to build girls’ curiosity, kindness, and can-do spirit. In fact, every aspect of our program, and every Girl Scout adventure, can be traced back to one of our four program pillars.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Girls are naturally curious and have a strong desire to help others. Whether they’re building a robot, developing a video game, or studying the stars, Girl Scouts become better problem-solvers and critical thinkers through STEAM and gain the confidence to turn their ideas into breakthrough inventions to help others.

Life Skills. Girl Scouts life skills programming includes a mix of practical skills, tools, and activities that foster positive values in girls like financial literacy, civic engagement, and community service. Skills that help them discover that they have what it takes to raise their voices as community advocates, make smart decisions about their finances, and form strong, healthy relationships—skills that inspire them to accept challenges and overcome obstacles, now and always.

Outdoors. Girl Scouts has been building girls’ outdoor confidence and skills for over one hundred years through a variety of outdoor adventures like camping and nature focused badges that inspire them to spend time outdoors and develop a lifelong appreciation of nature. An appreciation that sparks girls’ desire to take action as environmental stewards in their community and across the globe.

Entrepreneurship. Starting with Girl Scouts iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program and growing to include the fall product program and a series of entrepreneurship badges, this pillar instills and nurtures an entrepreneurial mindset and fuels girls’ curiosity and confidence as they learn the essentials of running their own businesses and how to think like entrepreneurs.

Important Differences: Community Service and Take Action Projects toggle arrow

As your Girl Scouts look for meaningful ways to give back to their community, you can help sharpen their problem-solving skills and expand their definition of doing good by discussing community service and Take Action projects. Both projects serve essential needs, but at different levels.

When a Girl Scout performs community service, they are responding to an immediate need in a one-off, “doing for” capacity. In other words, they are making an impact right now.
Through Take Action/service learning, Girl Scouts explore the root causes of a community need and address it in a lasting way; they truly make the world—or their part of it—a better place.

If your troop members want to pursue their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award, they’ll develop a Take Action project on an issue that’s close to their hearts. To make Take Action projects even more impactful for your Girl Scouts, set time aside for them to reflect on their projects. When they take time to internalize the lessons they’ve learned, they’re more likely to find success in their future projects—or anything else they put their minds to.

Traditions, Ceremonies, and Special Girl Scout Days toggle arrow

Time-honored traditions and ceremonies unite Girl Scout sisters and the millions of Girl Scout alums who came before them—around the country and around the globe—and remind them how far their fellow trailblazers have come and just how far they’ll go.

A few of those extra special days, when you will want to turn up the celebrations, include:

Juliette Gordon Low's birthday or Founder's Day, October 31, marks the birth in 1860 of Girl Scouts of the USA founder Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia.
World Thinking Day, February 22, celebrates international friendship. It is an opportunity for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to connect with each other and explore a common theme around the world.
Girl Scouts’ birthday, March 12, commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia.

Whether they’re working on a new badge, making new friends, or closing meetings with a friendship circle, your troop won’t want to miss out on Girl Scouts’ treasured traditions, ceremonies, and special Girl Scout days. We embrace fresh perspectives and innovation from our rich cultural legacy. We continuously review norms and traditions evolving over time to ensure they are relevant and equitable. Sometimes that may involve modifying or sunsetting traditions to make way for new ones.

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The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards honor Girl Scouts who become forces for good and create a lasting impact in their communities, nationally and around the world.

As your Girl Scouts discover the power of their voices, they’ll want to take on an issue that is close to their hearts and meaningful to them. Encourage them to turn their ideas into reality by pursuing Girl Scouts’ highest awards.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award is earned by Juniors. The prerequisite is completion of a Junior Leadership Award or a Junior Journey.
The Girl Scout Silver Award is earned by Cadettes. The prerequisite is completion of the Bronze Award, a Cadette Leadership Award, or a Cadette Journey.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is earned by Seniors and Ambassadors. The prerequisite is completion of the Silver Award, a Senior/Ambassador Leadership Award, or a Senior/Ambassador Journey.

Did you know that a Gold Award Girl Scout is entitled to enlist at a higher paygrade when they join the U.S. military? A Gold Award Girl Scout’s achievements also make them standout in the college admissions process and may make them a top candidate for academic scholarships and other financial merit awards.

Girl Scouts are eligible to earn any recognition at the grade level in which they are registered. Any Girl Scout is eligible to earn the Girl Scout Gold Award even if they joined Girl Scouts for the first time in high school.

Ask your council about Gold Award Girl Scouts in your community and how they’re doing their part to make the world a better place. For inspiration, consider inviting a local Gold Award Girl Scout to speak to your troop about how they took the lead and made a difference. You’ll be inspired when you see and hear what they can accomplish when they take the lead—and by the confidence, perseverance, problem-solving, time and project management, and team-building expertise they gain while doing so!

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Girl Scouts encourages girls to try new things and see the world with fresh eyes, both inside and outside of their usual troop meetings. As our local COVID-19-related travel restrictions are lifted, please be sure to check your destinations as across the globe the restrictions may differ. We want to make sure you and your troop feel safe traveling. We know you are excited to travel and explore the world as a troop.

Traveling as a Girl Scout is a more engaging experience than traveling with family, school, or other groups because girls take the lead. They’ll make important decisions about where to go, what to do, and take increasing responsibility for the planning of their trips. During this process, they will also build their organizational and management skills—skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Girl Scout travel is built on a progression of activities, so girls are set up for success. Daisies and Brownies start with field trips and progress to day trips, overnights, and weekend trips. Juniors can take their adventures farther with longer regional trips. And Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors can travel the United States and then the world. There are even opportunities for older girls to travel independently by joining trips their council organizes or participating in GSUSA’s travel program, Destinations, which resumes in 2022.

Planning Troop Adventures
Contact your council as soon as you start thinking about planning a trip to find out more about their approval process for overnight and extended travel. They will also likely have training programs that will raise your confidence as a chaperone.

Not Sure Where To Begin?

Check out the Girl Scout Guide to U.S. Travel. This resource is designed for Juniors and older Girl Scouts who want to take extended trips—that is, longer than a weekend—but also features tips and tools for budding explorers who are just getting started with field trips and overnights.

Once girls have mastered planning and embarking upon trips in the United States, they might be ready for a global travel adventure! Global trips usually take a few years to plan, and the Girl Scout Global Travel Toolkit can walk you through the entire process.

Safety First
If you’re planning any kind of trip—from a short field trip to an overseas expedition—the “Trip and Travel” section of Safety Activity Checkpoints is your go-to resource for safety. Your council may also have additional resources and approval processes

Be sure to follow all the basic safety guidelines, like the buddy system and first aid requirements, in addition to the specific guidelines for travel. You’ll also want to refer to the COVID-19 guidelines in Safety Activity Checkpoints as well as any COVID-19 guidelines for your destination. You will learn more about how to use and follow Girl Scouts Safety Activity Checkpoints in the next section.

© Copyright 2009–2024 Girl Scouts of the United States of America.  All rights reserved. All information and material contained in Girl Scouts’ Volunteer Essentials guide (“Material”) is provided by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) and is intended to be educational material solely to be used by Girl Scout volunteers and council staff. Reproduction, distribution, compiling, or creating derivative works of any portion of the Material or any use other than noncommercial uses as permitted by copyright law is prohibited, unless explicit, prior authorization by GSUSA in writing was granted. GSUSA reserves its exclusive right in its sole discretion to alter, limit, or discontinue the Material at any time without notice.