~p~fflg ts 6~ tt'j) -waa~l vt~~ 11~ ttc~'j) f~8tp G'f~l SeeJltts® We've added to the "Belly Bean" collection and offer you a new twist on the adorable" Puffkins® ".

Zebra Belly Bean. 11936. $7 .00. For our international Girl sisters, a lovable zebra with a fuzzy blue mane and tail. "I Love WAGGGS" embroidered in blue. 8" . Imported. Panda Belly Bean. 1193LL $7 .00. Adorable and definitely patriotic in coloring, "All American Girl Scout" embroidered in blue. 8". Imported. Monkey Belly Bean. 11935. $7 .00. Friends will rush to see your plush new friend with the curly tail. "Make New Friends embroidered in lavender. 8". Imported. Camel Belly Bean. 11937. $7 .00. This precious and irre­ sistible "floppy friend" will grab your heart. The Girl "Be Prepared" embroidered in blue. 8". Imported. Kangaroo Belly Bean. 11938. $7 .00. The friendly little face peeking out of mom's pouch says, "My Mom Supports Girl " embroidered in tan. 8" . Imported.

Lettuce-Edged Heart Girl Scout Puffkins® Keychain. T-Shirt. Girls' Sizes: Candy Sweetheart T-Shirt. Additions to your Puffkins® collection S(6-8), M(1 0-12), Misses' Sizes: S(6-8), M(1 0-12), Girl Scout Belly Beans Gift are these cute keychains. Hook one L(1ij-16), 08ij9. $16.50. L(1 ij-16), XL(18-20),8838. $19.50. Bag. 35361. $2.25. Original onto a backpack or attach keys and Tie-dyed, 100% cott on 2X(22-2ij),88385. $22.00. Candy belly beans pictured on front take your forest friend with you . T-sh irt with lettuce edg­ hearts on the front and back of and back with "Girl Scouts" 21/2" tall. Imported. ing on sleeves and hem . this tie-dyed T-shirt describe Girl imprint. Great for carrying any Bandit the Raccoon. 11959. $5.00. "Girl Scouts " imprinted Scouts in a fun way."Motivated", Girl Scout gifts or new belly Oily the Owl. 11960. $5.00. on colorful glittery "Fun-Loving"," Really Cool" . 100% beans. 8"x10"x4". Imported. Gus the Moose. 11961. $5.00. hearts. Made in U.S.A. cotton. Made in U.S.A. and Imported.

You'll find everything you need at your Girl Scout Council Shop, and selected items are also available in the JC Penney catalog. You may also order directly from National Equipment Service by calling 1-800-221-6707.

Prices subject to change without notice. GSUSA!NES 1/99 Spring 1999

FEATURES 26 Enjoying Your Teenage Troop Anna Fisher Kruse ~ 10 Kappa Delta-GSUSA GIRLSCOCJTS® Partnerships 28 Diversity Is the Goal President Heidi K Roy Sylvia Barsion, Ph.D. Elinor Johnstone Ferdon National Executive Director 12 Making the Most of 29 Building World Marsha Johnson Evans Girl Scout Resources Citizenship Director of Communications Ellen Marko?»itz and Margarita Magner Milly Hawk Daniel Sheila Lewis Senior Editor 14 The Great Girl Scout Janet Lombardi DEPARTMENTS Creative Director Cookie Sale Susan Cuttler Candace White-Ciraco 4 President's Message Production Manager Frances Chan 15 GirlSports 2000 Circulation Manager Dee Ebersole 5 Girl Scout Program Q & A Marie Kary-Gargiulo (centerfold) Permissions Editor 6 In the News Colleen Floyd 19 The Camping Experience: Kit Hammett's Legacy DonnaL Nye Girl (ISSN 0017-0577) is published quarterly by Girl Scouts of the U.S.A, 420 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 1001&-2798. © 1999 by Girl 21 The Endurance of Title IX Scouts of the United States of America. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced Ellen Markowitz in whole or in part in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, 23 Catch the Spirit of without the prior written permission of Girl Scouts GirlSports of the United States of America. Girl Scout Leader cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, Wendy DeGiglio and photos, or art in its offices or in transit. Third-class Ellen Markowitz postage paid at St. Paul, Minn., and additional mail­ ing offices.

Subscriptions $5 yearly (4 issues); $7.50 for all des­ tinations outside U.S.A and possessions; $2 Senior Girl Scouts. Change of address: Write Girl Scout Leader, 420 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 1001&- 2798. Include old and new address, as well as coun­ cil, troop, and identification number where applica­ Page 14 Tips for i1 great Girl Scout cookie sale ble. Allow eight weeks for change. Vol. 76, No. 1, Spring 1999.

GSUSA's Web site address is http:/ /www.girlscouts.org

Design: Bowerman & Collins Advertising Cover Photo: Brownie Girl Scout from Girl Scout Council of Greater New York (New York, N.Y.) Photo: Barbara Nitke

Girl Scout Leader welcomes news about Girl Scouting-interesting projects, community service efforts, awards, recognitions, etc. Please send a brief description along with your name, telephone number, and council name for consideration to Girl Scouts of the U.S.A./ 420 Fifth Avenue/ New York, N.Y. 10018-2798/Attn: Girl Scout Leader. Note: GSUSA cannot guarantee return of unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. If your submission is used, we will contact you for more information and photographs. President's Message

ow the public sees us affects every Let's communicate about the many opportu­ aspect of Girl Scouting. Our aim is to nities we make available to girls: opportunities Hbe the organization of choice for girls to develop skills that will help girls become and young women of all ages and back­ successful adult women in the next millenni­ grounds. To accomplish this, it's up to all of us um. Let's make sure the public knows that in to get the word out: in Girl Scouting, there Girl Scouting girls learn about technology and really is something for every girl, everywhere. the arts, about sports and culture. GSUSA is hard at work sharpening our message to these and other audi­ Gir ences. We talked to girls, and we talked Scouts. to council and to national volunteers and staff. We looked at our print and video materials, and our press coverage. We ~here g analyzed the collected information, and now we're ready to enter a new. era armed with targeted communications about who we are and what we offer. And all of our communications begin with one simple but dynamic truth: Girl Scouting is where girls grow strong. You'll be seeing this message repeat­ ed in many Girl Scout venues, both nationally and locally. In fact, on my recent visit to Central New York Girl Scout Council in Syracuse, New York, the stage was decorated with a banner Helping Girls Grow Strong: Every one of us is a Girl Scout communica­ declaring the new message for all to see. Elinor f. Ferdon with Lovie Winslow, I hope that all of you, too, will begin using President of Central New York tor. To girls we say, Girl Scouting is the place Girl Scout Council (Syracuse, N.Y.) to be-for fun, for friendship, and for future this message when you talk about Girl possibilities. To adults, the message is: Girl Scouting. Use it to tell others how Girl Scouting provides a safe, enriching environ­ Scouting helps girls get ready for the future. ment where girls thrive. Use it as you talk about helping girls make mir­ To raise the money we need to keep Girl acles happen and dreams come true. Scout activities contemporary, fun, and rele­ Use it because Girl Scouting really does help vant, we have to let funders know that Girl girls develop the fortitude to go the distance, Scouting is a well-run organization, one that right into the 21st century. Girl Scouting real­ offers something unique and special. And, it's ly is where girls grow strong! for girls only. From the youngest Daisy to the veteran vol­ unteer or staff member, and every Girl Scout in between, we are all Girl Scout image mak­ -Elinor Johnstone Ferdon ers. The public's image of Girl Scouting is only National President as good as the last Girl Scout met. The chal­ lenge is to keep our image forward-looking and cutting edge.

4 Girl Scout Leader/ Spring 1999 they hadn't earned yet," she said. Looking for some more ideas ''Then the girls were asked to and tips? Check out the just for vote individually on the ones Girls Web site at http://www. they wanted to work on during girlscouts.org/girls! • the next year." Although compil­ ing the results made a little more work for the leaders, they felt it Please send your responses was important that the girls not to the following questions to: feel the peer pressure of group Patricia Paddock/Girl Scouts voting .. "Over the summer, my of the U.S.A/ 420 Fifth Avenue assistant leader and I took the /New York, N.Y. 10018-2798/ tally and were able to plan the Att: Q&A. Or e-mail them to: first two months' worth of activi­ [email protected]. ties-and it was all based on the Unless your response includes girls' interests." With their deci­ your name, city and state Girl Scout sion-making skills strengthened, address (regular AND e-mail), the girls went on to plan and and phone number, we cannot Program carry out their Rededication use it. Ceremony. "It was a great suc­ cess, with a puppet show, flag Q: GSUSA is currently working ceremony, and a potluck dinner. on revisions to the DaisyI And all with less work for the Brownie Girl Scout resources. leaders." Carolann said. How can these resources When we requested suggestions to better fit your needs? What solve common problems, we heard Limit Choices would you like to see different Bev Melo, a first-year Brownie in these resources? What infor­ from leaders, co-leaders, and Girl Scout leader from mation would you like to see parents. Here's what they said. Manchester, Conn., suggested added to them? giving the girls limited choice at first. "My co-leader and I came Q: Have you visited the just for Q: What have you done to up with two craft activities for Girls Web site? How often? encourage girl decision-making? their Halloween party that we What sections have you found knew they (and we!) could han­ most useful? How have you used A: As in all Girl Scouting experi­ dle. Then the girls voted for one the Web site in planning or car­ ences, there needs to be a reason­ the troop did as a group." While rying out Girl Scout activities? able progression with girl decision­ some of the girls were disappoint­ What would you like to see making. Harriet Mostache, direc­ ed at the outcome of the vote, added to the site? tor of Program Development and a Bev and her co-leader turned it Junior Girl Scout leader from into an opportunity to talk about Q: Aside from camping, what New Rochelle, N.Y., told us, "When "how and why we vote, and how environmental or outdoor educa­ the girls in my troop were Daisy to handle disappointments." tion activities have you done with Girl Scouts,. I had to provide much your girls? What worked well? more direction and help than I do Break Down Tasks Why? What didn't? Why? What resources would you like to now that the girls are second-year Tracy Gregory, a Junior Girl see GSUSA develop on these topics? Juniors. As the girls have gotten Scout leader from Fleetwood, older, they have taken on more and N.C., suggested ''breaking the more of the decision-making. Now task/event/project into smaller they routinely form committees to sections, and having the girls plan trips, activities, and service choose a section on which to projects. If s rewarding to see their work." Tracy uses patrols with leadership skills developing." her troop: each patrol is responsi­ ble for one part of the event, proj­ Plan Now, Complete Later ect, or trip the group is working Carolann Garringer, a second­ toward. The girls can even handle year Brownie Girl Scout leader budgeting successfully. "If the from Rio Rancho, N.M., wrote of girls are told that ifs their money the need to plan ahead in order to that they're spending, ifs surpris­ help the girls make their own ing just how thrifty they can be," decisions. "At the end of the troop she added. year, we listed all the Try-Its that

Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 5 •n the news

Celebrating Women with such famous women as Filling Empty Bowls Olympic gold medalist Dianne Last July, Seven Lakes Girl Scout At its annual Empty Bowls fundrais­ Roffe- Steinrotter, author Susan Council (Phelps, N.Y.) hosted a er, the Brick and Point Pleasant Roesch-Wagner, and Girl Scout unique 12-day wider opportunity Service Unit in Monmouth Council National Executive Director for 75 Girl Scouts from 28 states. of Girl Scouts (Farmingdale, N.J.) Marty Johnson Evans. The girls, ages 14 to 17, participated in a service project to The council's program, called participated in a weeklong benefit local food pantries. Here's "Women: Then, Now, and All celebration of the 150th how it worked: The young people Ways," did more than teach the anniversary of the first working on the event made deli­ girls about the history of the suf­ Women's Rights cious homemade soups and bread. frage movement. They spent the Convention. Called Many troops made ceramic bowls, remainder of the wider opportuni­ Celebrate '98, the event placemats, and signs to advertise ty at area colleges and universi­ drew more than 14,000 the event; others were on hand to ties, participating in workshops on people to hear keynote seat, serve, clean·up, and deliver choosing a college and developing speaker Hillary Rodham leftovers to a local soup kitchen. self-esteem, and sports and fitness Clinton urge women to Diners gave a cash donation to activities. Along with inspiring correct the inequalities that still sample the food and left with a memories, each girl went home exist in the United States. The 75 ceramic bowl as a thank-you for with a special council patch com­ Girl Scouts, who helped host the their support. • memorating the event. • event, also took part in seminars Pursuing a Dream Ashley Hayden, 16, is working hard to realize her dream of com­ peting in the 2002 Winter Olympics as a member of the U.S. Luge Team. A Girl Scout for 11 years in Montachusett Girl Scout Council (Worcester, Mass.), Ashley has trained and raced with experienced sledders, winning a bronze medal in Austria and placing fourth and fifth in Latvia and France. Last year, after only two years of international competition, Ashley won the overall World Cup champi­ onship in the girls' 13- 16 age group. Ashley's sport requires that she travel at speeds of 70 miles an hour down an icy track, using only her body to steer around fast curves. "You feel almost like you're flying," says Ashley. •

6 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 Promoting Well-Being Orland Girl Scout troops in Maine's Abnaki Girl Scout Council (Brewer) made "therapeutic" dolls for young patients in the pediatric department of Eastern Maine Medical Center. Choosing a service project for the Gift of Well-Being, the 20 girls in A Happy Ending Junior Girl Scout Troop 637 and Brownie Girl Scout Troop 372 The girls in Senior Girl Scout Troop 30 in Permian Basin Girl Scout Council created, stuffed, and sewed "pan­ (Midland, Tex.) completed their Gold Award project last fall. After previous­ cake dolls." The dolls ate plain; ly h o~tin g younger Girl Scouts on an educational campout fo r their Silver each child who gets one adds hair, Award project, and working with girls with disabilities fo r their Senior facial features, and a hospital gown. Leadership Award, these ambitious Senior Girl Scouts created a combined Doctors use the personalized dolls project called Outdoor Opportunity. to explain to children about treat­ Their project was an educational cam pout for girls with disabilities. ments they will receive. • Teaming up with the girls, they taught them how to build campfi res, cook outdoors, erect tents, create nature crafts, and learn Girl Scout songs. The successful event was a fitting end to their 12 years together as a troop. •

History Comes Alive Thanking Their School For their Silver Award service proj­ ect, members of Cadette Girl Scout Last fall, Junior Girl Scout Troop 2202 in Reston, Va. (Girl Scout Council Troop 904 from Eveleth, Minn. of the Nation's Capital, Washington, D.C.), presented school supplies (Girl Scout Council of St. Croix to the principal of their local school. They donated crayons, pens, note­ Valley, Saint Paul), brought history books, folders, markers, and more, purchased with troop profits from to life. By staging a play and the cookie sale. The ser vice project showed the girls' appreciation to orchestrating activities, the girls the community and school for allowing them to hold weekly troop fulfilled their goal of helping meetings there. • younger Girl Scouts learn what it was like to be an immigrant girl in Minnesota in the 1850s. The girls memorized their lines, gathered props and costumes, painted scenery, made toys, and baked Swedish cookies. At the event, the girls dressed in period costumes and interacted with their young audience by making toys and playing games. Their play, "Home Is Where the Heart Is," was the culmination of the day's activities. Since then, the girls have performed the play at a com­ munity health care center and at gatherings of younger girls. •

Girl Scout Leader/ Spring 1999 7 •n the news

U.S. Forest Service Award At her troop's May awards cere­ mony last year, Senior Girl Scout Stephanie Lynn Keevel in Hoosier Capital Girl Scout Council (Indianapolis, Ind.) received a 1998 Forest Service Award. One of only two young people selected national­ ly for outstanding volunteer contri­ butions, Stephanie planned and provided recreational programming at the Hardin Ridge Recreation Area in southern Indiana. Silver Award Celebration According to a Forest Service Last June, members of Girl Scouts of Monterey Bay Girl Scout Council (Castroville, specialist, when the visitors' center Calif.), along with parents and campers, gathered to honor nine outstanding Cadette closed a few years ago, it left a void Girl Scouts who received their Silver Awards. The girls had planned, created, and pre­ in the recreational experiences of pared all the materials for nine craft and science projects for 185 campers at Under the park visitors. Stephanie's project Sea Girl Scout Day Camp. In addition to planning and assembling the project, the girls offered young visitors a new win­ also asked business owners for donations, collected materials, and packaged each dow for viewing their forest. • unifs supplies. They also created "Island Hopping"- 14 stations where campers played relay games and received a pin made by the Girl Scouts representing their "island." Then the girls Happy Birthday, Baby presented a campfire fest for campers who spent the night • Every year on March 12, the Micasa Service Unit in Tres Condados Girl Scout Council (Camarillo, Calif.) puts together Partnership for Youth a gift basket to help celebrate the Last year, Pines of Carolina Girl Scout Council birthday of Girl Scouting. Joining (Raleigh, N.C.) brought Girl Scouting to 11 girls in the latest effort was Brownie at Samarkand Manor, a state training school for Girl Scout Troop 248, who stitched delinquent youth. The girls, ages 11-17, a quilt for the first baby girl born became Girl Scouts and used their Girl Scout that day in Pleasant Valley meetings to discuss issues of youth violence Hospital. With the help of their prevention. Girls talked about healthy and leader, the girls made and colored unhealthy ways to deal with anger, conflict reso­ the fabric squares and then pieced lution, and team building. For fun the girls tie­ them together. • dyed shirts and assembled personal collages. According to Carrie Gray, director of Special Programs for the council, 'The girls' coopera­ tion and respect for one another grew tremen­ dously during the course of the program." To celebrate the successful partnership between the council and Samarkarid, staff members and the 11 girls attended a ban­ quet that featured guest speaker Dr. Gloria Scott, President of Bennett College (Greensboro, N.C.) and former National President of GSUSA •

8 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 The Joy of Reading Kenosha County Town Historian Last May, Cadette Girl Scout Mia Challenge Course Senior Girl Scout Kathryn San Julian of Tracy, Calif. (Tierra The Girl Scout Council of Kenosha Bergmann from Mukwonago, Del Oro Girl Scout Council, County (Kenosha, Wis.) debuted Wis., (Great Blue Heron Girl Rancho Cordova), earned her an exciting "challenge course" last Scouts, Waukesha) delighted her Silver Award for creating a chil­ June at the council's Woodhaven hometown with her Gold Award dren's literacy project for a local property. The challenge course­ project. She researched, wrote, homeless shelter. After soliciting an outdoor course that requires its edited, and printed a 79-page sponsorship and books from com­ challengers to physically negotiate book about the history of her munity service clubs, holding a platforms and ropes-is designed to community. The book, From book drive, and using her own promote team-building, decision­ Mequanego to Mukwonago: Four savings, Mia collected over 1,200 making, self-esteem, and leadership Walking Tours, includes 93 stops, books. The bookshelf she donated in young people. three-dimensional maps, and is completely filled, and boxes of Present at the ribbon-cutting historical pictures. books are on hand for restocking ceremony were Girl Scouts from Kathryn's research was impres­ if any of the children leave with a the Girl Scout Council of Kenosha sive, using such local resources as book. She also volunteered her County as well as youth represent­ teachers, historians, church pastors, time reading to children at ing the other three collaborating and local leaders and residents. She McHenry House and helping them agencies: Kenosha Area Business combed newspapers from the 1800s with art projects. An avid reader Alliance, Kenosha Unified School to the present, checked deeds, herself, Mia's hope is that the chil­ District, and Kenosha County mapped the cemetery, and worked dren there can find the same kind Department of Human Services­ with the artist who drew the maps. of pleasure she does in books. • Division of Child and Family Mter securing donations for the Services. All four organizations printing, she distributed copies to pooled resources to complete the schools, libraries, and historical challenge course. societies. Her book drew much local interest and has proven to be an important sourcebook for the community. •

Holiday Celebration For its service project last year, Brownie Girl Scout Troop 264 of Pleasanton, Calif., (San Francisco Bay Girl Scout Council, Oakland), did something to cheer up local sen­ ior citizens. They made decorations for the dining room at the Pleasanton Senior Center for its Cinco de Mayo celebration. The decorations stayed up for the entire The challenge course is owned month much to the delight of sen­ and operated by the Girl Scout iors and staff. In addition to bright­ Council of Kenosha County and is ening the residents' dining room, available to youth and school the service project allowed the girls groups, community agencies, to learn about a holiday celebrated and businesses. • by people of another culture. •

Girl Scout Leader/ Spring 1999 9 Kappa Delta-GSUSA Partnerships

ould your troop use energetic volunteers Grassroots Effort ... fresh ideas ... college-age role m.od­ With the theme, 'Together preparing girls for Cels? Would your troop benefit from college, for life, for all they hope to become," interacting with women who value honesty, Kappa Delta collegians and alumnae-over true friendship, and community involvement? 157,000 strong-will be volunteering with Girl In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Kappa Scout troops in their local communities to help Delta Sorority is joining forces with Girl Scouts girls earn badges and patches, give college of the U.S.A. to make a difference in the lives tours, organize workshops, plan community of girls nationwide. "We have an unparalleled projects, and more. In fact, many Kappa Deltas opportunity to serve as examples and mentors have been doing just that for years. to girls and young women in a society that needs positive role models now more than Something for All the Girls ever," says Kappa Delta National President Kappa Delta alumna Traci Tuley from Elizabeth Wibker. Federal Way, Wash., has served as a troop leader in her community. "I took them camp­ ing, horseback riding, and cross-country ski­ ing. We also volunteered by painting over graf­ fiti, singing at senior centers, and visiting the sick in nursing homes," says Tuley. Allyson Schmidt, a Kappa Delta at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., serves as a Brownie Girl Scout leader. "My third grade troop has participated in activities sponsored by my chapter," says Schmidt. "The girls real­ ly enjoy meeting college women who not only care about them, but also about each other." Alisse Theodore, a Kappa Delta alumna from College Park, Md., credits her Girl Scout and sorority experiences with her present-day successes. "I look forward to the great things that are sure to come from this partnership!" says Theodore.

10 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 Holding Common Values We look forward to this partnership and what Since many Kappa Deltas were active in Girl it will mean to Girl Scouts and Kappa Deltas Scouting in their youth, it is not surprising alike!" says Melanie McMillan, Kappa Delta's that Kappa Delta chose to form a partnership executive director. with GSUSA. The two groups have much in College chapters and regional alumnae asso­ common. The Girl Scout values of honesty, ciations will be in contact with the Girl Scout integrity and true friendship are the same val­ councils in their areas to determine needs of ues held dear by Kappa Delta. The two also area troops. If your troop is interested in taking have similar goals of leadership development part in this exciting partnership, contact your and community involvement. Girl Scout council for more information. • - Heidi K. Roy Issues Important to All Communications Coordinator, "Volunteering with the Girl Scouts offers us Kappa Delta Sorority ways to become involved in issues that are important to us, issues of values and self-esteem, leadership development, and community service.

Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 11 Making the Most of Girl Scout Resources

sn't it refreshing to come across something Scouts contains more than just pictures to color. It on occasion that offers a helping hand? Girl also has connect-the-dots, mazes, and other prob­ I Scout resources, which include a breadth of lem-solving activities. In addition, there's a place for materials, can be just the helper you're looking girls to chart their participation in sporting events. for. Girl Scout publications are packed with After girls have done one or more of the ideas, tips, and solid information geared exclu­ activities in the coloring book, they can, as a sively for Girl Scouts. If you haven't looked at troop, run a short-distance race (develops skills them lately, now may be the time to reacquaint for soccer, basketball, tennis, and swimming); yourself with. the latest Girl Scout resources. learn to dribble a ball (develops skills for basket­ Included here is a sampling of resources. ball, volleyball); learn to toss and catch a ball (develops skills for basketball, volleyball, softball); Resources Exclusively for GiriSports learn to kick a ball (develops skills for soccer). To help girls and leaders get into the game, They can keep track of their activities and progress GSUSA has introduced, over the last few years, a by using the chart in the back of the book. variety of books to help develop GirlSports, Field trips Daisy Girl Scouts can take are to GSUSA's sports initiative. Books include the a mini-golf course to play nine (or even 18) holes, Sports Coloring Book for Daisy Girl Scouts, the to a park for a hike or nature walk, or to an older Sports Diary for Brownie, junior, and Cadette girls' sports team practice or game. and Senior Girl Scouts (three books), and Off and Running: Exploring Sports Careers, for Cadette For Brownie Girl Scouts and Senior Girl Scouts. Brownie Girl Scouts can complete activities Each of these books encourages participation in their diary- the Sports Diary for Brownie Girl in sports and health activities, promotes fair play Scouts-at the start of a troop meeting as well. and teamwork, and fosters leadership skills. Girls can use the Sports Diary for Brownie Girl These resources educate both girls and women on Scouts to set health and fitness goals while they how to make sports participation a lifelong pursuit. note the improvement of their sports skills. In addition, the diary contains healthy snack ideas, Using GiriSports Resources with sports facts, and stickers. There are program Young Girl Scouts links to the Brownie Girl Scout Handbook and The Guide for Brownie Girl Scout Leaders. For Daisy Girl Scouts Sports and fitness activities can also be used One way for Daisy as introductions to troop/group work on the fol­ Girl Scouts to use the ~~:.1---:J---.._. lowing Try-Its: My Body; Sports and Games; Sports Coloring Book for a~~Mf!l Dancercize; Food; Play; Ready, Set, Go. Daisy Girl Scouts is to Sports diary activities can also serve to link complete activities in this troop/ group work to the following sections of the book on their own during Brownie Girl Scout Handbook: Disabilities, pages a meeting while you are 75-79, 177; Exercise, pages 42, 191-193; Safety taking attendance or col­ and First Aid, pages 58-62; Sports, pages 56--57. lecting dues. The Sports Coloring Book for Daisy Girl _.._...___

12 Girl Scout Leader/ Spring 1999 Books to Help with Contemporary Promoting Literacy Issues Perhaps the girls would like to begin a men­ The "Issues for Girl Scouts" booklets, tai­ toring/literacy project with just a few girls and lored to each age level, offer activities that pro­ adults. Girl Scouts from Girl Scouts-Indian mote fitness, self-esteem, literacy, learning, and Hills Girl Scout Council's (Binghamton, N.Y.) respect for others. By sharing these resources Vestal Service Unit did just that. A handful of Girl with girls, you will be encouraging them to make Scouts and college-student volunteers collected a positive choices. Read the booklets. Better yet, truckload of used books from their upstate New participate in or set' up a training with your col­ York school system and delivered them to a sister leagues and program aides using the booklets. school in the Bronx. Their community activism Here are some ways. paid off with profiles in the local media. Next year, these Girl Scouts hope to celebrate "Make a Get Started with Girls Are Great! Difference Day," whereby they will continue to Choose an activity that builds girls' self­ "give back" to their community. image. For instance, in Girls Are Great! for Ideas for projects related to literacy and a Brownie Girl Scouts, begin with the "All About host of other contemporary issues can be found Me" section and have girls write about them­ in the Issues for Girl Scouts books. selves or draw a self-portrait (pages 3- 4). To share how you've connected with con­ Discuss ways to help younger girls feel good temporary issues, send your stories to Sheila about themselves. Brainstorm a list of communi­ Lewis, Membership & Program consultant/Girl ty resources, including sports, cultural, or service Scouts of the U.S.A./420 Fifth Avenue/New organizations that could assist in a "Girls Are York, N.Y. 10018-2798. Or e-mail them to: Great'' project. Cultivate a working relationship [email protected]. with one or two of these groups. The Issues for Girl Scout resources, which include a wide Girl Scouts Council Guide and the Girl Scout choice of booklets, workbooks, handbooks, and Sports Collaboration Guide offer tips. videos, can be tapped as a source of valuable For older Girl Scouts, look seriously at self­ information. Consider exploring those resources esteem and related issues, such as teen pregnancy, appropriate to your troop or group. • eating disorders, or depression. -Ellen Markowitz and Sheila Lewis

Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 13 The Great Girl Scout Cookie Sale · GJR[ SCOUT

he Girl Scout Cookie Sale is a wonderful way for girls to continue their development and have fun. Use this ques­ T tion checklist to make sure Girl Scout program remains alive and well in the Girl Scout Cookie Sale. • How are girls developing values through their experience in the cookie sale? • Are they learning new ways to relate to others? In what ways? • How are they contributing to society as-they plan and carry out the process of the cookie sale? • How are they developing toward their full potential as they • Are cookie sale participants trying to live the Girl Scout participate in the various activities? Promise and Law as they carry out the cookie sale? • Are girls and adults working as partners as they identify Are they being: activities of interest and ways to carry out the cookie sale? honest and fair? • Is the health, safety, and security of each person friendly and helpful? participating ensured? considerate and caring? • Is the adult leadership facilitating the cookie sale courageous and strong? appropriately trained? responsible for what they say and do? • Is the Girl Scout cookie sale a voluntary Girl Scout respectful to themselves and others? program activity available to all girl members? respectful of authority? (Daisy Girl Scouts are exempt; they do not participate in wise in their use of resources? any product sales because it is not an age-appropriate program activity for them.) makers of a better world? sisters to every Girl Scout? • Are Girl Scout cookie sale participants having fun? • - Candace White-Ciraco

Girl Scout Program Links • Brownie Girl Scout Try-Its: Cookies Count; Food Fun; Careers; Girl Scout Ways; Manners; Math Fun; Earth Is Our Home; Caring and Sharing; Working It Out; Safety. • junior Girl Scout Proficiency Badges: The Cookie Connection; Business-Wise; Money Sense; Careers; Consumer Power; Leadership; Safety-Sense; Making Decisions; Communication Arts. • Cadette and Senior Girl Scout Interest Project Patches: Cookies and Dough; Your Own Business; Leadership; Dollars and Sense; Graphic Communications; The Food Connection; Media Savvy; Games for life; Collecting; Creative Cooking; Writing for Real; Do You Get the Message?; Conflict Resolution; Computers in Everyday life; Exploring the Net • Be sure to look for the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Activity Guide that comes out each year. Girls participating in the cookie sale can earn the Girl Scout Cookie Sale pin by doing the activities in the guide. The guide is developed and produced by GSUSA and made available through the cookie companies along with other materials. You can also find additional information by browsing through the Girl Scout Web site at http:/ /www.girlscouts.org. Look at the Just for Girls section.

14 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999

GiriSports 2000 Sports and Fitness Challenge

ere is an exciting and safe way to Once the girls are warmed up, they will introduce sports and fitness activities travel through the fitness carnival with Hto girls of all ages and abilities. their partners. Partners will take turns Through a series of stations, girls are encour- retrieving balls, counting repetitions, aged to do their best while having a great measuring distances, etc., with the time. If you are having trouble coming up assistance of the adult supervisors. with a GiriSports 2000 event, try this. Most of all , the partners will be there to encourage one another. Daisy/Brownie Girl Scout Fitness Carnival Sample Sports and Fitness Carnival The fitness carnival is comprised of five to ten sports and fitness games ,(see examples • Game I- Bean Bag Toss (Sports Station) listed below). The number of games will Skill - overhand throw for accuracy depend upon the size of the troop, available Starting with five bean bags each, the girls space and equipment, and the number of will toss them overhand into the mouth of adults available to assist. the clown (or other opening). See how many bean bags they can get into the Encourage parents to volunteer to supervise clown's mouth. a game, help with set-up/take down, and cheer on the girls. • Game 2 -Hula Hoopla (Fitness Station) Skill - endurance and coordination Pairing-Up Game - Barnyard Animals The girls will time one another with a stop­ watch to see how long they can keep the First, divide the girls into pairs. If you have hula hoop in motion around their waist. ten girls, write down names of five pairs of barnyard animals on slips of paper. Place the Girls who have difficulty with this exercise slips in a hat. Have each girl take a slip of can see how long they can keep the hula paper. Tell them not to show anyone. As hoop in motion using their arm or leg soon as each girl has read her slip, have all instead of their waist. the girls make the sound of their an imal at the same time. Have each girl continue to • Game 3- Bowling Bonanza (Sports Station) make her animal sound until she finds the Skill- underhand throw for power and girl with the matching animal sound, accuracy who will become her partner. Set up ten milk cartons in a pyramid (like at the bowling alley). Have the girls stand back Aerobic Warm-Up five to ten feet and roll a ball to knock over Now that each girl has a partner, it's time for the cartons. Have them see how many they the warm-up. Have the girls practice the can knock over. aerobic dance steps on page 24 of the Additional games might Sports Diary for include a ring toss, a Fris­ Brownie Girl Scouts, bee throw, a basketball or the steps found in shoot, a timed run, and a the Dancercize Try-It kick-for-accuracy game. on page 191 of The Guide for Brownie Girl The fitness carnival Scout Leaders. You can provides an excellent also have the girls cre­ opportunity to use the ate aerobic steps of Sports Diary for Brownie their own with their Girl Scouts. partner. The warm-up should btst five to ten Junior, Cadette, and Obstacle Course Fitness Station Senior Girl Scout Sports Skills - speed, agility, and endurance and Fitness Challenge Design an obstacle course requi ring speed, throws, kicks, jumps, crawling, climbing, etc. et up five to ten sports and fitness The following is a sample obstacle course: stations. Modify examples listed above first the girls sprint to a marker where they Sfor Daisy and Brownie Girl Scouts, pick up a ball and throw; next, they kick a and/or try the examples listed below. The soccer ball around several cones; next, they number of stations will depend upon the jump with their feet together over several size of the troop and the availability of lines marked on the ground; next, they crawl space and equipment. under a table; and finally, they sprint to the finish line. Using a stopwatch, time each girl • Pairing-Up Game to see how quickly she can complete all of Girls will wo rk in pairs as they travel through the elements of the course. the stations. To pair them up, have them play the game "Find someone who .. :· Softball Throw Sports Station ...has the same eye color. Skill - overhand throw-distance ...has the same shoe size. ...is close to their height. Using cones, milk jugs, etc., mark off 5' incre­ ... has a birthday close to theirs. ments from 20' to 80'. Have the girls try to see how far they can throw the softball. Come up with as many common traits, Partners should mark the distance from where the ball lands first. Have them try behaviors, likes, etc., as you can. Play for five to ten minutes, ending the game in pairs. three times. If space does not allow for an 80' distance, try using a foam ball. • Warm-Up-Walking Tag Jump Rope Fitness Station Now that the girls have partners, warm up Skills - endurance and coordination with a game ofWalkingTag. Define bound­ Have the girls count the number of times aries fo r the tag game in a relatively small they can skip rope without stopping. Or, space. The space size will vary with the with a stopwatch, have them time how long number of participants. Have the girls decide they can continuously skip rope. with their partner who will be "it." Stress that this is a walking only game, then yell "GO!" Once they are tagged by their part­ ner, they will be "it." After five to ten min­ utes, lead the girls (or have one of the girls lead the group) through a series of stretches.

You are warmed up and ready to begin!

Standing Broad Jump Sport/Fitness Station Skills - power, strength One girl will stand at the tape or chalk line and will jump, with both feet, as far as she can. It will be the partner's responsibility to measure the jump. The jump will be measured from the foot that lands closest to the line. The first jump is a practice jump. Jump three times. Answers to Fitness Quiz 0 B. Running at a moderate pace for a long distance. Cardiorespiratory (heart and lung) endurance is measured by the ability of your heart and lungs to supply oxygen and nutrients to your muscles. Aerobic exercises such as runn ing, walk­ ing, jumping rope, and cycling can help improve endurance.

C. It is important to stretch because it reduces the risk of injury. Stretching improves flexibility. When your muscles RESOURCE GUIDE are flexible you can reach, bend, and stretch more easily and are less likely to SPORTS and FITNESS PITNESS and NUTRITION injure your muscles or joints. President's Council on Exercise CATALOGS Department of Health and Park Nicollet Health Source: Human Services Educating for Results 738 Hubert H. Humphrey Building 3800 Park Nicollet Boulevard D. All of the above. Physical fitness Room 738 H Minneapolis, Minn. SS416 can improve the way we feel about 200 Independence Southwest Phone: 800-372-7776 ourselves, can improve our physical Washington, D.C. 2020 I FAX: 612-993-1840 performance, and can improve our Phone: 202-690-9000 Web site: http://www.healthsource.org overall health. FAX: 202-690-S21 I Web site: http://www.indiana.edu/-prechal Gerstung Publications 1400 Coppermine Terrace SAFETY and INJURY PREVENTION Baltimore, Md. 21209-20 12 D. All of the above. Push-ups, sit-ups, National Youth Sports Safety Phone: 410-337-7781 and pull-ups are all great strengthening Foundation (NYSSF) Orders: 800-922-3S7S exercises that requ ire little to no equip­ 333 Longwood Avenue, Suite 202 FAX: 410-337-0471 ment. Fi rst, focus on form and technique. Boston, Mass. 021 IS Once you have mastered how to do Phone: 617-277-1171 each exercise properly, focus on increas­ FAX: 617-277-2278 ing repetitions and frequency. e-mail: [email protected]

NUTRITION U.S.D.A. Food and Nutrition C. Basketball. Due to the demands of Service continuous running and jumping required Office of Public Affairs by a full-court game, basketball requires I0 Causeway Street, Room SO I the most cardiovascular endurance. Boston, Mass. 02222-1 068 Phone: 617-S6S-639S FAX: 617-S6S-6473 C. Ideally, 3-4 times per week or e-mail: [email protected] more to see improvements in fitness. Keep in mind that if you have not been Photo Credits: exercising regularly, just taking the stairs, Page IS going for long walks, and doing house­ Top: GSUSA Archive Bottom: June Harrison hold chores like waxing floors, gardening, Page 16 and vacuuming on a daily basis will Lisa Quinones improve fitness levels.

Centerfold Design: - Dee Ebersole Fiorentino Associates

18 Girl Scout Leader I Spring 1999 The Camping Experience: Kit Hammett's Legacy

atherine Tilley ("Kit") Hammett, known Training Is Key around the world as a camping expert, Through camping experiences, there is a lot Cdied August 28, 1998, at age 96. Kit was you can do to help prepare each girl in your a member of the first Girl Scout troop from troop to develop confidence in her abilities and to Rhode Island to be registered with Girl Scouts become a good team member. But first, in order of the U.S.A In the 1930s, she joined the to develop your own confidence and competen­ Camping Division at Girl Scout national cies, training in outdoor skills is important. You, headquarters and remained until her or another adult who may serve as a camping retirement in 1968. During her career, Kit consultant to your troop, must attend your Girl had many accomplishments, including set­ Scout council outdoor skills training before your ting up camps for children affected by girls go on an overnight in the outdoors. Here World War II in Greece, Palestine, and are a few ideas for working with your troop. Egypt; serving as President of the American Camping Association; and direct­ Preparing the Girls ing the Edith Macy Girl Scout Training • Prepare girls to go troop camping by offering Center. She also contributed to Girl Scout progressive experiences in the outdoors. Leader magazine, wrote camp manuals · Increase each girl's comfort level by having and, in 1942, the first edition of Safety­ her take part in outdoor activities such as Wise. Kit was best known for Your Own walks in the neighborhood, picnics, nature Book of Campcraft. center visits, and playing outdoor games with other troops. Girls become excited if they Bridging the Years think about the future holding possibilities for Kit understood the value of learning and more adventures. Cit Hammett sharing in the outdoors. "In addition to relaxation and adventure, camping teaches resourceful­ • Before girls go on a camping trip, they should ness, a sense of independence. Camping teach­ acquire knowledge of basic camping skills es young people to take care of themselves," she such as selecting clothing and equipment, wrote in the Camp Program Book. food preparation, cleanup, and safety aware­ Kit never lost her enthusiasm for outdoor ness. Each girl should know how to be a buddy activities and stayed in touch with the camping to another girl and how to behave in a group. movement well into her retirement years. She • Prepare each girl for camping by involving the knew that girls continued to go troop, day, core­ family. During a meeting prior to a camping. staff, and resident camping. trip, parents or guardians can ask questions about the campsite, activities, and the clothing Thoughts for Today's Leaders and equipment list. Family members often If you read the Day Camp Book or Let's Go­ need to be assured that safety is a top priority. Troop Camping!, books Kit wrote over 50 years Girls also want to know that they will be in a ago, you would learn that she placed great safe environment. Girls can assume leader­ importance on the group experience as well as ship responsibilities by seeing that other developing the leadership qualities of each girl. troop members follow safety rules and the She believed that "living together includes mak­ buddy system. ing plans, taking initiative or responsibility, talk­ ing things over, helping one another, sharing jobs, developing as leaders or in being good fol­ lowers, and working for the good of the group."

Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 19 • Any time girls are in a group-living situation, conflict can arise. Conflicts may take place because a girl doesn't feel another girl is doing her fair share of cooking or cleanup. Or a girl may feel that several other girls are making fun of her. Help girls to develop skills in resolving problems. Some good suggestions for helping girls resolve conflicts are in A Resource Book for Senior Girl Scouts. • Provide each girl in your troop with an oppor­ tunity to celebrate her racial and ethnic her­ itage. A troop camping trip can provide the Letting Girls Lead perfect setting for a girl to use her leadership • Model girl/adult planning. Girls and adults skills to plan a special dinner for the troop or should plan a camping trip in partner- share a bedtime story or song that is part of ship. Younger girls or less experienced her culture. These opportunities can be the campers will need more guidance than girls beginning of celebrating and incorporating multicultural awareness into all troop activities. who have been troop camping for ~everal years. Yo~ might assume a stronger leadership • Retain and attract new girls by offering pro­ role when safety issues arise or when girls are gressively challenging outdoor activities. Girls doing something for the first time. As appropri­ have become interested in a variety of activi­ ate for the age level, let the girls in your troop ties including kayaking, rock climbing, orien- take on more and more responsibility and par­ ' teering, and ropes courses. If you don't have ticipate actively in decision"making. By the time the skills to teach activities like these, contact girls become Senior Girl Scouts, they should a local rock climbing group, orienteering assume almost all of the responsibility for club, or other organization that can offer planning, carrying out, and evaluating a advanced opportunities. camping trip. By taking increasing responsi­ bility, girls will be proud of how much they Kit's Gift to Each of Us contribute individually and as group members DuringKit's lifetime she was a positive influ­ to the success of the camping trip. ence and role model for thousands of Girl Scouts and . She shared her love and knowl­ Developing Relationships edge about the outdoors and hoped that the • Girls need to feel that adults listen to them and camping movement would remain strong long that what they say is heard and understood. after she was gone. Girls also need to develop good listening As a troop leader, you have the opportunity to skills. When one girl takes the time to listen to follow in the footsteps of Kit Hammett by sharing another, she is giving a message that her camping and outdoor adventures with your girls. friend has something worthwhile to say or Give each girl the opportunity to be a leader and that her friend is not alone with her thoughts to follow. Camping experiences can make a posi­ or concerns. Camp is a wonderful place to tive difference in the lives of your girls and give take time to listen to one another, whether it is them a lifetime of memories. • during a hike or sitting around a small camp­ - Donna L. Nye fire before bedtime. When one girl or the entire troop pays attention to what another girl has to say, her self-esteem and confidence are increased. The girl feels respected and important. She feels loved and cared about.

Kit Hammett receiving the 1987 juliette Low World Friendship Medal

20 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 The Endurance of Title IX

any young Girl Scouts today listen What You Can Do to Promote Gender spellbound to tales of a world in Equity for Girls M which women were not allowed to run • Take a young girl (or boy) to a women's a marathon, cross the half-court line in a basket­ sp01ts event to show them female role models ball game, or play team spons such as softball in sports. and volleyball. The opportunities women ath­ • Participate in a GirlSports event letes enjoy today did not exist as recently as 25 through your council or earn a Girl Scout years ago. sports recognition. In 1996, the world watched in seeming dis­ • Participate in National Girls & Women belief the accoJnplishments of female athletes at in Sports Day, held annually the first Thursday the Olympic Games. After the United States in Februaty. To learn more about how you women's soccer, basketball , softball, volleyball, can participate, contact the Women's Sports and gymnastics teams each won gold medals, Foundation at 1-800-227-3988. the media pronounced this event "the women's games." Stars such as Mia Hamm and Lisa Leslie • Take your daughter or troop out to throw were anointed as the torchbearers for a new a ball or play a spon in the back ya rd. generation of girls. • Be a positive role model for a healthy Societal attitudes regarding girls and women and fit lifestyle. in spons are changing and young girls can now see themselves as everything from doctors to professional athletes. But this phenomenon of extra­ ordinaty achievement in women's athletics did not happen overnight. The explosion of women's sp01ts had its genesis in 1972 with the passing of a single piece of legislation referred to as Title IX. Turn the page for an expla­ nation of Title IX.

Girl Scout Leader/ Spring 1999 21 Questions for Discussion of Gender-Equity Issues with Your Troop • Do female athletes have the same access to facilities (weight rooms, training rooms, prac­ WHAT IS TITLE IXt tice faci lities, locker rooms, coaches, awards, Title IX of the Education Amendments of cheerleaders) as the male athletes at your 1972 reads: "No person in the United States school? shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from paiticipation in, be denied the benefits of, or • Do girls have the same access to spotts be subjected to discrimination under any oppoit unities in the community as boys? education program or activity receiving fed­ • How many male and female athletes are eral fin ancial assistance." d1ere at school? Title IX. was passed by the United States • What male teams are there? What female Congress on June 23, 1972, and signed by President Nixon on July 1, 1972. It is teams are there? a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination in If the answers to some of these questions are education programs and activities receiving "no" or girls feel that there are serious gender federal funds. As such, it was ilie first com­ inequities going on at their schools, they can prehensive federal law to prohibit sex dis­ crimination against students and employees take several actions to tiY to make things better. in iliese federally fu nded institutions. First, they can speak up to a coach, athletic director, or school principal about what iliey see Before Title IX and request that changes be made. They can Did you know that prior to 1972: also read and learn more about Title IX so they understand the va rious aspects of ilie law. The • Many schools and universities had Women's Spotts Foundation has a publication separate entrances for male and female students? entitled Playing Fair, which is available at no cost through the toll-free number 1-800-227- • Most medica l· schools limited the number of women admitted to 15 or fewer 3988. per school? • Most colleges and universities required Resources for Additional Information women to have higher test scores and better grades tl1an male applicants to on Title IX gain admission? Women's Spotts Foundation Source: Repm1 Card on Geuder &:Jt lity, 1-800-227-3988 National Coa lition for Women and Girls in Education, 1997. National Association for Girls and Women in Spoit After T itle IX 1-703-476-3450 Title IX has helped open doors for girls in all National Women's Law Center walks of life, from spons to education to 1-202-588-5180 career oppoitunities: American Association of University Women • In 1973, 43 percent of female high school 1-202-785-7700 graduates were enrolled in college. In 1994, ilie figure was 63 percent. We've come a long way since Title IX was • In 1972, women received 9 percent of passed, but we still have a long way to go. It's medical degrees, but by 1994 mat num- . in1ponant to educate girls about where we've ber was 38 percent; 1 percent of dental come and empower them to continue opening degrees moved to 38 percent, and ilie doors and promoting gender equity in their own percentage of law degrees earned by women moved from 7 percent in 1971 to lives. Change happens one person at a time ... 43 percent in 1994. one action at a time, so, join the team! • In 1972, 1 in 27 girls paiticipated in varsi­ - Ellen Ma rkowitz ty athletics at the high school level; in 1997 that number is 1 in 3. • Eighty percent of female managers of Foitune 500 companies have a spoits background.

Source: Title IX: 25 Years of Progress, U.S. Department of Education, 1997.

22 Girl Scout Leader/ Spring 1999 Catch the Spirit of GirlSports

"T his was the greatest week of my life!" 'The coaches were awesome and really helped!" "It was so much fun getting to know other girls from around the country that play the same sports as I do and share the same interests." "Aprendi muchas cosas nuevas, otras cul­ turas, aprendi a jugar baloncesto y conoci muchas muchachas." ("I learned many new Cleveland Rockers. The game things, about other cultures, I learned how to was a blast- Charlotte won and GSUSA play basketball and I met many girls.") rocked the house to show our support of These were just a few of the rave reviews about women's basketball. the Sports wider opportunity, held last July Also during the week, the girls had a chance 25-August 1 at Converse College in Spartanburg, to attend a Women's Professional Fastpitch S.C. For the second consecutive year, the event softball game in Gastonia, N.C., during the was a smash hit for the nearly 200 Senior Girl league's "Girl Scout Week." Players met with Scouts who participated. Girl Scouts to share their experiences and answer questions. Steeped in Sports The event attracted girls from An Exciting Finish 42 different states, Puerto Rico, Participants were wowed at the closing and Panama. A total of 115 coun­ ceremonies by GSUSA's National Executive cils were represented. Each day Director Marty Evans and soccer star Carla began with sports practices in Overbeck, captain of the U.S. National basketball, soccer, softball, vol­ Soccer Team that won the gold medal at the leyball, tennis, golf, and swim­ 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Carla ming. When girls weren't on the shared many insights and stressed the fields, courts, or in the pool, they importance of teamwork. She and Marty attended a variety of workshops then handed out many well-deserved in which they brushed up on awards. They encouraged the participants, skills or learned a new sport. as well as all Girl Scouts, to believe in them­ The evenings featured a selves and to appreciate the diversity of ta~­ variety of activities, highlight­ ents on their teams. ed by a WNBA game in From July 31 to August 7, 1999, GSUSA will Charlotte, N.C., between the hold the Sports wider opportunity at Smith Charlotte Sting and the College in Northampton, Mass.

Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 23 ATTENTION SPORTS FANS! SURVEY RESULTS At this year's Sports wider opportunity, Girl Scouts came up with the following responses in a sports survey: When asked to name a type of ball, the most popular responses were: Number of Girls Basketball 49 Softball 30 Soccer 25 Volleyball 25 Fall Sports Days Around the Country Who did the girls think are the most famous women athletes,toda y? Dutchess County Girl Scout Council (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) was only 20 minutes into its Sports Day project and already Mia Hamm 20 the girls were climbing the walls. In fact, wall climbing­ Jackie Joyner-Kersee 19 using stone pegs to ascend a wall some 20 feet high-turned Rebecca Lobo 17 out to be the event's most popular activity. The New York lisa Leslie 16 council had hooked up with the local YMCA for a Saturday evening of fun that included a volleyball skills clinic, free swim When asked about places to play sports, period, and old-fashioned team games. Judging by all the girls responded: smiles, it was definitely a hit. School 50 Nationwide, 150 councils have participated in Sports Days Field 35 and weekends- a project designed to introduce girls to the Gym 27 benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle. Park 13 Near the Canadian border, girls from Niagara County of Girl Scouts (Lockport, N.Y.) learned about self-defense. What power foods do they like to eat to gain Across the country at Girl Scouts-Joshua Tree Council in energy for sports? Bakersfield, Calif., track-and-field events drew rave reviews. Fruit 53 Down south in Flint River Girl Scout Council (Albany, Ga.), Pasta 41 girls mastered the basic skills of archery. And up north at Power bars 18 Girl Scouts Susitna Council (Anchorage, Alaska), it was standing room only for the sports sampler held at several When asked to name a career I occupation in local schools. "It was huge," said GirlSports director Heidi sports, girls mentioned: Witt. 'The girls Trainer 59 had such a good time, we plan to Coach 45 make it an annu­ Professional athlete 26 al event." Physical therapist 15 The same sen­ Sports medicine 12 timents were expressed in the "Show Me" state. All nine Missouri councils hosted a weekend for nearly 500 girls that spotlighted soccer, softball, basketball, and volleyball.

24 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 GirlSports is now in its second year, and nearly 200 coun­ cils-many for the second time-have taken up GSUSA's A JUBILANT KANSAS offer of a $500 seed grant for sports programming. The activ­ It started out with a ities have been a great success-just what girls said they few hundred Girl wanted. Among the findings, councils reported that family l Scouts from Kansas events were popular as well as a great way to entice funders getting together for and supporters. a long weekend of In addition, the participating councils noted that their col­ camping, songs, and laborative efforts with local colleges, sports organizations, friendship. But when and other youth-serving agencies promised to enhance sports word spread on the programming in the future. Sports Days showed communi­ Internet that Flint ties new to Girl Scouting that, as the premiere organization for Hills Girl Scout Council girls, we are committed to meeting the needs and interests of (Albany, Ga.) was all girls. hosting a jamboree, 1,200 girls and adults In the future, GSUSA plans to provide more tips for councils signed up! Participants hailed from all over the and leaders planning Sports Days, including event ideas, country and included Girl Guides from scheduling hints, ways to work with collaborators, and out­ England and a Japanese exchange student. reach to underserved populations. In the meantime, GSUSA's The gathering, which took place July 29 to sports materials and the updated 1998 Collaboration Guide August 2, 1998 on the shores of Marion Lake, can serve as handy resources. became known as "Tent City" with an estimated We've got the ball and we're running! • 400 tents housing Junior, Cadette, and Senior -Wendy DeGiglio and Ellen Markowitz Girl Scouts. In addition to usual camp activities, girls toured sites like the Santa Fe Trail, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, and the boyhood home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. A core group of steering committee mem­ bers took the lead. With the help of nearly 130 volunteers, plus support from the community and the county, the U.S. Army Reserves, and the Kansas National Guard, the jamboree was a huge success.

Says assistant executive director Lynn Smith, one of the organizers, "It was just an incredible sharing of cultures and camaraderie. It grew to something well beyond our wildest dreams."

Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 25 Enjoying Your Teenage Troop

wouldn't trade my teenage Cadette/Senior Girl Scout troop They need to be told they're wonderful because they for the sunniest group of Brownie Girl Scouts. Some of you truly are. Some of these kids may not get told enough at ! may be thinking that I'm out of my mind- teenagers can't home or school. But even if they are, they never get too possibly be preferable to cute little Brownie Girl Scouts. Older much praise. Did you, when you were a teen? And didn't girls may not be so "cute," but they're a lot more fun if you follow you want it? a few guidelines. 4. Challenge them to challenge 1 • Listen to the girls-lis(en past themselves the words We can't sit back and do the same old crafts, games, and They may sound silly, flippant, even downright rude. But if songs, or even camping trips, with older girls. We need to you can step back and heat what these young women are encourage them to push their really saying, you'll hear them wrestling with important boundaries and try new issues. You will be tempted to give them answers to their things. Challenge them to problems, but resist unless they ask you to be the guru. plan.an activity for the service Instead of preaching, let them discover answers that are unit based on their areas of right for them. Remember when you complained that interest: a badge day for adults just wouldn't listen to you? Junior Girl Scouts, an outdoor skills workshop for Brownie 2. Respect the girls. Insist that they Girl Scouts. respect one another Challenge them to try I have never allowed my girls to put anyone the next step: to move . from down, and I always ask them to work as a team. troop camping toward back­ I have been rewarded with a group of girls who or bike-packing; from going support and genuinely care about one another. to a fancy dinner to creating Feelings are so very sensitive during this time of one; from singing music to life, and self-image is insecure. Speaking and writing a song for the troop, acting toward these young women in a way that service unit, or region. shows you truly believe they are people of worth This will mean that you may have to step out of your makes them pass that treatment on to others. own comfort zone. But really, you will enjoy it as much as the girls do. I had to really nerve myself up to suggest 3. Tell them they're great, and mean it backpacking to my troop, but knowing they were dedicat­ How often do we see and hear about problem teenagers. ed campers, it had to be the next step. As daunting as Take a look at the girls you are working with. These are hauling a pack-as well as my body-up a trail sounded to kids who care enough to be involved in a positive organi­ me two years ago, I find I'm really having a great time, and zation. More than that, older girl troops perform hours of feeling good about myself, too. service working at day camps, helping with younger troops, doing service projects, organizing activities, han­ 5. Be enthusiastic about their goals dling their own troop business. Their goals may not be yours. I wanted my girls to enjoy knitting and sewing-! was going to teach them to spin

26 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 yarn and weave. They never showed a The important thing is that spending time flicker of interest, no matter how enthusi­ together continues to be important to the group. astic I was. My co-leader has never been Sure, meeting less often would be easier on me, crazy about camping, but you'd never on my co-leaders, and even on the girls. But know it from the way she enjoys herself when we're out. then we wouldn't do as much, and Girl Scouting would If we can get behind the things our girls want to do, lose importance. either by joining in ourselves or connecting them with peo­ ple who can help them, we show ·them that their goals are 9. Know your boundaries and valid and worth pursuing. And we may learn to enjoy enforce them something we've never considered doing. I've drawn a line What is the point beyond which you cannot flex? at igloo camping, but I've got another co-leader now who is Teenagers again and again say they want clear, reason­ willing to do it. able, and consistent rules. In the mad shifts of mood and interest of these years, they want people who care to cre­ 6. Lay off, lay back ate a line that ensures their safety while they experiment. This is one of the hardest things for us to do. We have to So define what those lines are. let these young women succeed on .their own- and some­ Make the boundaries reasonable and logical and be times fail on their own. We have to learn to keep our hands prepared to defend them. If you can't defend them, be pre­ off except for health and safety issues. Sure, you know pared to listen to a counter-argument. Boundaries that are how to do it better, faster. But it won't help the girls much fair and defensible involve health and safety, respect, and if you take over. Try thinking of them as other adults that responsibility, both toward the self and toward others. So you're on a committee with, and you are not the chairperson. a curfew at camp is there for health and safety (everyone needs sleep), for respect (it just isn't nice to keep others 7. Treat these girls as adults, but let awake), and for responsibility (you need to sleep so that them be kids you can perfo~m your assigned tasks and help the team). This is another hard one. We have to give them adult respect and reasonable amounts of responsibility, but not 10. Finally-enjoy these young women. get bent when they take time off to goof around. We have Don't just tolerate them to be flexible about letting them back off if the load is too These are women on the edge of adulthood. They have heavy, and let them know that ifs okay to admit they've thoughts, opinions, ideas, and they still have a kid's sense taken on too much. Sometimes, in the interest of mental and of fun. They can keep you alert and alive if you open your­ physical health, we have to stop them from doing too self to their ideas. much. And, more importantly, we have to give them plen­ Whom do you remember ty of time and leeway to be the kids they still are: play time, fondly from your teenage years? joke time, time to be silly. How did you act when you went Chances are, they are the people to Troop Camp Training? How did you act when you last got whom you had fun working with. together with your women friends? Probably, you got as You would have done anything goofy as a teenager, and you enjoyed it. You can be goofy these people asked because they with the girls, as long as you don't forget that you are the really seemed to like you, want you responsible adult. around, and trust you. It isn't easy to be one of those people, and 8. Meet and do things regularly sometimes you'll feel like a total The group that starts having fewer and fewer times togeth­ failure. But if you can keep these er is the one that gets sacrificed when the schedule gets ideas in mind, you'll find that work­ tough. Successful older girl troops continue to meet ing with older girls will be the best often-my troop still meets weekly-and participate in fre­ time you ever had. • quent activities. Sometimes it may just be a slumber party. -Anna Fisher Kruse

Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 27 Diversity Is the Goal

hen the National Board met in October 1998, it As an example, GSUSA compares the total number of girls strengthened the GSUSA goal on diversity. This who are Black in Girl Scouting with the total number of girls W now states: "GSUSA will chart innovative paths for ages 5-17 who are Black nationwide. This comparison figure, inclusiveness, establish partnerships, and attract diverse lead­ called the membership-to-population ratio, tells us that 1 in 13 ership to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to achieve girls who are Black across the country are currently Girl her full potential through participation in Girl Scouting." Scouts. Nationally, the membership-to-population ratios vary for each racial and ethnic group (see pie chart). Collecting Racial and Ethnic Data On a national level, we know that there is much progress to To that end, the \iirl Scout organization collects racial and be made if we are to serve at least 1 in 9 girls in every group. ethnic data about members to assess progress toward achieving this critical organizational Assessing New Methods diversity goal. At the council and nation- Has GSUSA considered other al levels, racial and ethnic data tell us ways of collecting racial and ethnic how well we are doing in reaching information about membership? girls and adults from every major Absolutely. The national staff will racial and ethnic group in the be working with council volun- United States. In addition, teers and staff to review the new potential volunteers and girl Census 2000 categories and to members, organizations that assess whether it makes sense fund Girl Scouting, and indi­ to ask parents/older girls to vidual donors want to know identify their race and ethnicity who is participating in Girl themselves rather than having Scouting. Is Girl Scouting an troop/group leaders make these inclusive organization that is identifications. GSUSA is waiting welcoming to people from all until the Census Bureau makes its racial and ethnic populations? changes so that any change we make will have a continuing and Evaluating the Information national base of comparison to assess GSUSA compares girl and adult mem­ our progress. bership figures with data from the U.S. GSUSA is considering the feasibility of col­ Census Bureau. Using the data means GSUSA lecting racial and ethnic information directly from also uses its terms so our comparison is as accurate as possi­ parents on membership forms rather than through leader ble. The numbers help us evaluate the effectiveness of pro­ identification. If this change is recommended, it would be done gram design and delivery, adult development, marketing, and at the same time that the categories used by the Census Bureau public relations efforts. In doing so, we have a better idea how are changed. Until then, each person who reports racial and eth­ to provide support to councils in our planning process and nic information helps to demonstrate Girl Scouting's commit­ action strategies. ment to "ensure that every girl has the opportunity to achieve her full potential through participation in Girl Scouting." • -Sylvia Barsion, Ph.D.

28 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 Building World Citizenship

irls around the world are engaged in community action projects linked to six theme areas id entifi~d Gby the World Association of Girl Guides and Gtrl Scouts (WAGGGS). Theme areas are culture and her­ itage; health; food and nutrition; education; environment; Girl Scout Resources and peace. This six-year initiative will be in effect until Environment the year 2003, with a mid-term evaluation in July of 1999 Earth Matters: A Challenge for Environmental Action to assess the work accomplished. By participating, girls Exploring Wildlife Communities with Children will be encouraged to think of the global impact of their Fun and Easy Nature and Science Investigations local efforts. , Your troop, too, can get involved; here are some suggestions. · in Girl Scouting Education Build on Ongoing Program Activities Issues for Girl Scouts: Read to Lead The charts on pages 30 and 31 identify age-appropriate recognitions with activities directly connected to each of Peace the theme areas. Girls may already be working to earn Caring and Coping: Facing Family Crises one of these recognitions and can apply those activities to Issues for Girl Scouts: Connections this project. Talking with TJ: Team Work Talking with TJ: Conflict Resolution Special Patch Food and Nutrition To acknowledge the work that girls do, a special patch Developing Health and Fitness: Be Your Best! will be provided. Girl Scout councils will provide further information in the spring of 1999. To earn the Building Booklet, video, poster, and board game World Citizenship patch, a girl would complete one activity Health from each of the six theme areas listed on pages 30 and 31 GirlSports 2000 Activities and participate in a service project in the theme area of her Decisions for Your Life: Preventing Teenage Pregnancy choice. Leaders may work with girls to select activities Games for Girl Scouts from the charts of Girl Scout Try-Its, badges, or interest projects listed under each theme. Girl Scouts Against Smoking Issues for Girl Scouts: Girls Are Great! Feedback Off and Running: Exploring Sports Careers Let us hear from your troop about how they are build­ Sports Coloring Book for Daisy Girl Scouts ing world citizenship. E-mail your response to: Sports Diary (for Brownie, junior, Cadette and [email protected]. Senior Girl Scouts) Tune in to Well-Being, Say No to Drugs: Substance Abuse Helpful Resources Staying Safe: Preventing Child Abuse Some Girl Scout program resources to support your Culture and Heritage work are listed here. • Issues for Girl Scouts: Connections - Margarita Magner Valuing Differences: Promoting Pluralism Trefoil Round the World

Girl Scout Leader/ Spring 1999 29 ,.. I.. 1.. ,.. I.. ~ I 1.. ,.. ~ .. ~~ WAGGGS's CHOOSE ACTIVITIES ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION PEACE from these Animals Careers Caring and Sharing Earth is Our Home Her Story Manners Brownie Earth and Sky Math Fun People of the World Girl Scout Outdoor Fun Me and My Shadow Outdoor Adventurer Movers Try-Its* Outdoor Happenings Music Plants Numbers and Shapes Space Explorer Science in Action • Taken from the Brownie Scout Handbook and Brownie Girl Scout Try-Its. Water Everywhere Science Wonders

CHOOSE ACTIVITIES ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION PEACE

Dabbler, The World of the Aerospace Active Citizen from these ·out-of-Doors Books Creative Solutions Junior Girl Eco-Action Careers Leadership Ecology Computer Fun Making Decisions Scout Geology Dabbler, The World of My Community Badges* Outdoor Creativity Today and Tomorrow Talk!- Outdoor Fun Discovering Technology You and Your ... Outdoor Fun in the City Math Whiz Community Plants and Animals Ready for Tomorrow Women's Stories Ready for Tomorrow Science Discovery Sky Search Science in Action Water Fun Science in the Worlds Water Wonders Science Sleuth Weather Watch Technology (Online) Wildlife • Taken from the Junior Girl Scout Handbook and Girl Scout Badges and Signs. Your Outdoor Surroundings

ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION PEACE

All About Birds Build a Better Future Conflict Resolution from these Architecture and Computers in Everyday Life Do You Get Cadette Environmental Design Exploring the Net the Message? Car Sense Graphic Communications Family living and Senior Eco-Action Inventions and Inquiry Law and Order Girl Scout From Shore to Sea It's About Time Leadership Home Improvement Math, Maps, and More Media Savvy Interest Planet Power Reading Public Relations Plant Life Travel Understanding Projects* Yourself and Others Space Exploration Why in the World? Your Best Defense Wildlife Your Own Business

• Taken from Interest Projects tor Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts.

30 Girl Scout Leader/Spring 1999 Theme Areas

FOOD & NUTRITION HEALTH

Fun Food Dancercize Around the World Good Food My Body Citizen Near and Far Play Ustening to the Past Ready, Set, Go Safety Senses Sports and Games

FOOD & NUTRITION HEALTH

Foods, Fibers, and Farming Dance Celebrating People First Aid Dabbler, The World of People Frosty Fun Geography Fun Girls Are Great Girl Scouting Around the World Healthy Living Junior Citizen Hiker Local lore looking Your Best My Heritage Safety Sense Now and Then: Sports Stories from Around the World Swimming The World in My Community Walking for Fitness World Neighbors

FOOD & NUTRITION HEALTH

Creative Cooking Child Care A World of Understanding The Food Connection Emergency Preparedness Collecting From Stress to Success Folk Arts From Fitness to Fashion Generations Hand in Hand High Adventure Heritage Hunt On the Court Invitation to the Dance On the Playing Field Museum Discovery Orienteering On a High Note Outdoor Survival Paper Works Pets The lure of Language Rolling Along Travel Smooth Sailing Women Through Time Sports for life Water Sports

Girl Scout Leader/ Spring 1999 31 These materials introduce girls who participate in Girl Scouting in the School Day- to the basics of the Girl Scout program. To order and learn more about this exciting program, please contact your local Girl Scout Council or order from NES at 1 (800) 221-6707.

Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. NON-PROFIT 420 Fifth Avenue ORG. New York, N .Y. 10018-2798 U.S. POSTAGE PAID ~ ST. PAUL, MN GIRL SCOOTS® PERMIT NO. 890