MYTHBUSTERS GET TO KNOW WHO WE ARE. MYTHS FACTS ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS

Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for girls. There are a At Girl Scouts, everything we do is designed with, by, and for girls. lot of similar •Our all-girl, girl-led space allows girls to safely thrive in an environment designed just for them! X organizations The environment offered by Girl Scouts creates an inclusive, safe space in which girls are free to similar to explore their potential and take the lead without the distractions or pressures that can be found Girl Scouts in a co-ed environment.

Girl Scouts build outdoor skills, go camping, and appreciate nature.

•Many of Girl Scouts’ most cutting-edge programs take place outdoors, including STEM and Girl Scouts civic engagement activities. don’t do •Girl Scouts earn badges in outdoor adventure. X much in the •Girl Scout troop camping starts in kindergarten. outdoors •For many girls, Girl Scouts is their introduction to the outdoors. Girls choose from age-appropriate activities including archery, paddle-boarding, backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, zip lining, horse-back riding, and so much more. •Not only do girls go on adventures, they raise the money and plan the trip, leading the experience and ensuring they are girl-centered.

Girl Scouts Girl Scouts are ALL about STEM! don’t learn •Girls earn badges in engineering, robotics, environmental science, space science, and more! X about STEM Girls build and program their own robots in all-girl teams in our LEGO robotics leagues! •Our STEM content helps girls develop a lifelong interest in how things work and teaches girls how to think like scientists, programmers, and engineers. •Our Makerspace has programs that encourage creative growth and innovative thinking. Girls build circuits, work on 3-D printers, learn about object design and more!

The Cookie Sale is a big deal! Girl Scouts •As the world’s largest girl-run business, the Cookie Program gives girls an opportunity to mostly just develop expertise and con dence in goal-setting, decision-making, money management, X sell cookies people skills, business ethics, and more. •Every year the Cookie Sale fuels girls’ adventures, awards, and service projects. •Cookies give back! Cookie money supports your community. All money stays local.

Earning the The Gold Award requires completion of a rigorous project that Girl Scout prepares girls for a lifetime of thinking and doing. X Gold Award •The Gold Award is the most prestigious award a Girl Scout can earn, challenging them to isn’t a big deal think globally about issues that matter. Girls practice skills in advanced planning, organization, and team building. •The Gold Award is impressive to colleges on scholarship applications, and to the military, which advances Gold Award Girl Scouts a full rank. MYTHBUSTERS GET TO KNOW WHO WE ARE. MYTHS FACTS ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS Girl Scouts build outdoor skills, go camping, and explore nature. It’s hard • GiFamilyrl Scouts ear nparticipation badges in outdoor ad isven encouraged.ture and high adventure. • Girl Scout troop camping starts in kindergarten. For many girls, Girl Scouts is their introduction for families to th e•We out dencourageoors. the entire family to get involved, and lots of dads volunteer in different ways, X (especially • Girl Scsupportingouts of Weste rasn W co-leadersashington o wofn troops,s and op eCookierates 3 m Saleain c coordinators,amp properties. and camp volunteers. dads) to get •Parents and other adults play a critical role in delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience involved Girl Sbothcout ass b volunteersuild outdo oandr sk asill ssupporters., go campi Parentsng, and who exp lareore also nat utroopre. leaders get the opportunity with • Girl Sctoou bondts earn withbadges their in ou daughterstdoor advent uasre theyand h imovegh adve throughnture. the Girl Scout program. Girl Scouts •G iirrl lSsc ohuet tlpro ocph coamospein ga sntadrt sp ilnan kin tdreorgoaprte anc. Ftoivr mitaiensy gwirlhs, iGcihrl Smcouatks eiss th eeivr einrtyroduction tor othoep ou utdnooiqrsu. e. •• G Aicrlt iSvciotiuetss v oaf rWy edesteprenn Wdiansgh oing tthoen i onwtenress atsn odf o gpirelrsa atensd 3 t rmooapin l ecaadmeprs p. Mroopsetr ttrieoso.ps explore STEM, outdoors, life skills, and community service, and attend staff-led programs where they can explore theGirlsir intere helpst in sp ochooserts, arts, STEM and, entr eplanpreneu rtroopship, outd activitiesoor adventure, cwhichamp, and m makesore! every Troops troop unique. Girls help choose and plan troop activities which makes every are troop•Activities unique. vary depending on the interests of girls and troop leaders. Most troops explore all the X • AFcatmivitSTEM,iileys vpaary routdoors, tdeicpiepnadtiniog nolifen i tsh skills, e inntceore andustrsa ogf community geirdls. and troop lservice,eaders. 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Experience both as will now volun•Girlteers Scouts and as s willuppo notrters .be Pa racceptingents who are boys also t rintooop l eourade rorganization.*s get the opportunity to bond with their • dTahueg thwteor lsa argse tshte syc omoutvineg t horgoaunghiz athtieo nGsir la Srec otuhet p Wroogrrlda mOr. ganization of the Scout Movement, and the X accept Worl*Wed Ass oempowerciation of G ieveryrl Guide girl—girlss and Girl Sc ofou everyts. It is n race,ot true ethnicity, that co-ed s socioeconomiccouting has replace status,d Girl sexual boys Guideorientation,s (or Girl Scout sability,)—it has gendernot. They identity, are merel yreligion, different orpro geographicgrams. location—to make the • Someworld co-ed s aco betterut prog rplace.ams are sectarian or require that members Girl-only scouting organizations are going strong. The World Association of Girl non-sectarian group, with a strong policy of inclusion for all girls. Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS.org) represents 10 million girls in 150 countries. • The two largest scouting organizations are the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. It is not true that co-ed scouting has replaced Girl GWuied essu (opr pGiorlr Stc ouurts) —viot hluasn ntoete. Trhse!y are merely different programs. • S ome co-ed scout programs are sectarian or require that members • There are many planning resources and support available such as the Volunteer Toolkit, online nleoanr-nsecingta mriaond uglreosu, pa,c wtivitihty a p sltaronnsg, a pnodli ctryo ofp i nmceluntsioorns .for all girls.

We support our volunteers!

• There are many planning resources and support available such as the Volunteer Toolkit, online learning modules, activity plans, and troop mentors.

Questions?

Contact our customer care team at 1(800) 541-9852 or [email protected]. Or visit www.GirlScoutsWW.org for more information.