For program and event information for
this program year,
contact your current council.

Girl Scouts, Central Savannah River Council

Girl Scouts of Concharty Council

Girl Scouts of Middle Georgia

Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia

The Girl Scout Council of Savannah, Georgia

Girl Scouts of Southwest Georgia

Toward the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience
Transition Planning, 2007-2010

The Girl Scout community is hard at work addressing our Core Business Strategy’s call for a major transformation centered on building the world’s premier leadership experience that ties activities to outcomes, provides differentiation for girls from kindergarten through high school, and offers flexible pathways for today’s diverse and busy girls and volunteers.

The Multiyear Transition Period

The transition has been set up as a multiyear process so that councils can balance national action plans with local needs, making choices as needed to reach the Movement’s goal of providing girls with a unified Girl Scout experience by fall 2010.

Girl Scouts of the USA wants to reassure councils and members that the transition period extends through 2010.  Fall 2008 marks the beginning of the transition to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  GSUSA is providing guidance on managing membership and program over the next several years with specific attention to:

• New Membership Grade Levels
• Changes to Registration Forms
• New Program Resources and Awards
• Existing Resources and Awards
• Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards
• National Outcome Strategies
• Preparing Adults for Change
• Girl Scout Pathways
• Uniforms

The Model, Pathways, and Journeys
Understanding the New Lingo on the Road to Leadership

The Leadership Model

The leadership model provides the design for what girls do in Girl Scouting.  It illustrates how adult support strengthens girls’ experiences and drives and displays all the elements that must be in place to create a positive impact on girls’ lives.

Girl Scout Pathways

A pathway is the way girls and volunteers join Girl Scouting.  They can choose from several pathways, including an ongoing troop, destinations, a short-term opportunity, a day or resident camp, a special interest topic or event, or virtual (online) connection.

Leadership Journeys

Journeys represent the experiences Girl Scouts engage in to achieve leadership outcomes.  For each Girl Scout grade level, GSUSA is creating a series of leadership journeys accompanied by new resources and new awards.

The New Membership Grade Levels

Girls say it is important to be with other girls their own age and, currently, they get bored by too much repetition.  As on 13 year old Girl Scout wrote, “It makes us more comfortable to be with the same age group as ourselves.”  Girls identify with social groups based on grades.

Research also found that girls learn best and have the most fun when they are with the right development/social grouping.

The new grade levels, approved by the National Board, address the charge of intentionally creating differentiated Girl Scout experiences that mirror girls’ developmental needs:

• 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, 9-10
• Girl Scout Ambassador, 11-12

The grade-level groups provide “leadership levels” for girls as they progressively “step forward” through the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Leadership Journeys: The New Direction for Program Resources and Awards

 A series of leadership journeys, accompanied by new resources and new awards, is being created for each Girl Scout grade level.  Each journey engages girls in exploring a theme through a series of linked experiences that, together, form a whole greater than any one journey activity.  Each journey is tied to national “Discover, Connect, Take Action” leadership outcomes.

The journey concept grew out of an approach many councils already use informally as they weave activities and events around existing Girl Scout resources and awards to better suit their members’ needs and interests.  The concept also builds on the rich tradition of linked Girl Scouting efforts like “program trails.”

While engaged in the new Girl Scout journeys, girls and volunteers are encouraged to add on outings, celebrations, in-depth explorations or anything else that meets their interests, time, and resources.

Leadership Launch Journeys Coming Soon

The first journeys planned for fall 2008 are referred to as Leadership Launch Journeys because they kick-off the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience and serve as a “launch pad” for future experiences in Girl Scouting.

Each launch journey presents a central theme that ties in the three keys of leadership- Discover, Connect, Take Action- and places special emphasis on choosing and implementing related “Take Action” projects.  These journeys deepen girls’ understanding of what it means to be a leader at each progressive level of Girl Scouts.

The launch journeys are made up of 5-8 sessions (total sessions vary by age level) and are intended for local customization.  Journeys can be done in a variety of Girl Scout Pathways, including stand-alone, short term experiences.

A print resource for each level will bring the journey to life for girls and incorporate important elements of Girl Scout history and tradition.  Girls will earn official awards to display on their vests or sashes during each journey.  GSUSA is mindful of the need to be cost-conscious with all new product offerings.

Existing Resources and Awards

Throughout the multiyear transition period, no girls will lose out on experiences, projects, or awards they have already started.  Girls at every level can continue to use all available existing materials as new resources are phased in.  Adults are invited to use their best judgment to assist girls in choosing projects that are appropriate for their grade level.  Existing program resources will continue to serve as supplements to the new materials through 2010.

Highest Awards in Girl Scouts

The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards remain the culminating leadership awards, and are an opportunity for girls to put the “Discover, Connect, Take Action” leadership philosophy into motion.

Based on the resolution adopted by the National Council in 1990, GSUSA recognizes “in perpetuity the designation Girl Scout Gold Award as the highest award to be earned as a girl member.”

GSUSA will update the requirements for the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards and will provide a transition period for girls to meet the updated requirements.

GSUSA is now seeking input on both the grade-level standards and requirements for these highest awards.  The ultimate goal is to lift up these awards as pinnacles of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience.  Working together with councils, we will increase the prestige of these awards and honor as never before the girls who demonstrate their leadership while earning them.  E-mail suggestions to programideas@girlscouts.org.

Symbols of Belonging: Uniforms and Awards

Girl Scout uniforms and awards unite Girl Scouts around the world as a sisterhood of leaders.  In the tradition of updating these important symbols of belonging periodically, the National Board of Directors approved a new policy, provided below, for implementation, beginning in fall 2008.

Based on this policy, girls at each level will have one official uniform item (e.g. tunic, vet, sash) so that they can proudly display the pins and badges they earn.  Girls will wear their vests and sashes over their own white shirts and khaki pants, making it easier for more girls than ever before to show their pride as Girl Scouts!

Uniform Policy Adopted by National Board of Directors, August 2006
Required Elements

• Girl Scouts at each level will have one official uniform item (e.g. tunic, vest, sash) for the display of official pins and awards.  This uniform item will be required when girls participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement.
• The official dress code will unite girls as Girl Scouts.  Girl Scout Juniors and older program age groups will wear solid white shirts and khaki pants or skirts with their official uniform item, which will be required when they participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement.  Brownies and Daisy may still wear full uniform ensembles.
• The adult uniforms will be a scarf worn with the membership pins for women and a tie for men.  The scarf/tie and membership pins will be worn with navy blue business attire.

Available elements

• Girl Scouts at the Daisy and Brownie levels will continue to have a full uniform ensemble available.
• Girl Scouts in high school will also have a scarf, uniting them in the WAGGGS tradition.
• Girl Scouts of the USA will continue to develop and offer a range of appealing casual wear for girls and adults.

© 2006, Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The GIRL SCOUTS name, mark and all associated trademarks and logotypes,
including the Trefoil Design, are owned by GSUSA.

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