Welcome to Girl Scout Brownies Basics for Brownie Troop Leaders
1 888.747.6945 | [email protected] | gsnwgl.org REV January 2021 Thank you!
Because you’re a Girl Scout volunteer, girls have opportunities to learn about themselves, build new friendships, and make the world a better place. Use this resource guide to remind you of key opportunities in this grade level. Thank you for volunteering!
Contents
Understanding Healthy Development for Girl Scouts...... 3-5 Uniform...... 6 Awards and Badges...... 7 Journeys...... 8-9 Girl Award Record...... 10-13 From Leader to Advisor...... 14 Safety Resources to Know and Use...... 15 For Every Girl Scout...... 16 The Girl Scout Leadership Experience...... 17-18 Glossary...... 19-21
2 Understanding Healthy Development for Girl Scouts
Just being attentive to what girls are experiencing as they mature is a big help to girls. So, take some time to understand the likes, needs, and abilities of girls in this grade level. As you listen and learn along with girls, you may find it useful to review the highlights of their development in the chart below. Of course, each girl is an individual, so these are only guidelines that help you get to know the girls.
Girl Scout Brownies
At the Girl Scout Brownie level (second and third grade), This means... girls . . .
Have lots of energy and need to run, walk, and play outside. Taking your session activities outside whenever possible.
Allowing girls to team up in small or large groups for art Are social and enjoy working in groups. projects and performances.
Letting girls lead, direct, and help out in activities whenever Want to help others and appreciate being given individual possible. Allow girls as a group to make decisions about responsibilities for a task. individual roles and responsibilities.
Doing more than just reading to girls about the Brownie Elf’s adventures. Ask girls questions to gauge their understanding Are concrete thinkers and focused on the here and now. and allow them to role play their own pretend visit to a new country. Offering only one direction at a time. Also, have girls create the Need clear directions and structure, and like knowing what to schedule and flow of your get-togethers and share it at the expect. start. Offering support only when needed. Allow girls to set schedules Are becoming comfortable with basic number concepts, time, for meetings or performances, count out money for a trip, and money, and distance. so on.
Encouraging girls to express themselves and their creativity Are continuing to develop their fine motor skills and can tie by making things with their hands. Girls may need some shoes, use basic tools, begin to sew, etc. assistance, however, holding scissors, threading needles, and so on. That girls might like to create a play about welcoming a new Love to act in plays, create music, and dance. girl to their school, or tell a story through dance or creative movement.
Acknowledging when the girls have listened or followed the Know how to follow rules, listen well, and appreciate directions well, which will increase their motivation for listening recognition of a job done well. and following again!
3 Brownie Meeting Activity
Brownies are ready for most anything! They’re usually ready to say “yes” to whatever troop leaders offer. So, it’s a good idea to collect the Brownies opinions first, either in a survey, a vote, or in a Brownie Ring discussion, in order to keep the troop activity girl-led.
You can see second and third graders bursting with pride in their achievements. It’s a great time to introduce ceremonies to celebrate their accomplishments. A ceremony is something to mark a special occasion. Here are two ideas.
Investiture: An investiture ceremony is for welcoming a new girl to Girl Scouts. New girls receive their special Brownie pin and are officially welcomed into the troop. Adding new members to a Brownie troop is very common, because girls are becoming more social and seeking opportunities to be with their friends and because families are seeking extracurriculars for their daughters to enjoy.
Make Your Own Ceremony: It’s always a good time to celebrate! Decide what you’re celebrating and invite the girls to identify a reason to celebrate and help them build their own ceremony
• You might begin a ceremony by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, saying the Promise and Law, or singing a Girl Scout song. • Then you might recite a poem, put on a skit, tell a story, or perform a dance. • For a special touch, girls could light candles with the help of a Girl scout adult. - from the Girls’ Guide to Brownie Girl Scouts Handbook
Brownies are helpers Look for the Brownie elf in Brownie program materials. These cute little figures in their striped caps are unique to the Brownie grade level. They present helping tasks as fun tasks, reinforcing the enjoyment that 2nd and 3rd graders find in being useful. Age- appropriate community service activities are a popular choice to get girls out of the meeting room and using their helpful energy.
Teach values Teach the meaning of the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Write out the Girl Scout Promise on a big sheet of paper. Recite it as you are writing it. Tell the girls that part of becoming a Girl Scout Brownie is learning the Girl Scout Promise and Law. The Promise and Law guide everything we do as Girl Scouts. Talk about what it means and ask the following questions:
• What is a promise? • Why is it important to keep our promises? • What if we forget? • What do the words, “I will try” mean?
Once girls have memorized the Girl Scout Promise, read the Girl Scout Law to them. Talk about what it means and ask the following questions:
• What does fair mean? • What did they do during the day that was friendly to another person? • What does it mean to be courageous? • What does it mean to be respectful? • What does “being a sister to every Girl Scout” mean?
4 Be fair Be fair with an “It and Other” can. Girl Scout Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts are very concerned about fairness. Have each girl decorate and write her name on a wide craft stick and put it in a small can or envelope. When you need to select someone to do something, you’ll draw a name from the “It” can. When the task is complete, put the craft stick in the “Other” can. This will continue when special help is needed until all the names in the “It” can have been used. Then all the sticks will be transferred from the “Other” can back to the “It” can and you’ll start all over again.
Create an inclusive environment. Brownies love their best friends and they sometimes forget to include everyone. Be observant for intentional bullying and unintentional exclusion. Use the Girl Scout Law language of “Be A Sister to Every Girl Scout” to foster troop connections and affection. Rotate seating arrangements and small groups often.
The Brownie Smile Song Girl Scouts love to sing, and we have a very special Girl Scout song just for Brownies. Here’s a link to an online video so you can practice prior to the meeting. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lcpeM-KiDE
The Brownie Smile Song I’ve got something in my pocket I’m sure you couldn’t guess it It belongs across my face. If you guessed a long, long while, I keep it very close at hand, So I’ll take it out and put it on, In a most convenient place. It’s a great big Brownie smile!
5 Girl Scout BrownieGir lVest Sc ando Sashut Brownie Vest & Sash Visit GSNWGL’s online shop for all your official Girl Scout merchandise needs. Click on the name or image of insignia to find out more information and to purchase. Visit www.girlscoutshop.com for all your Official Girl Scout merchandise needs.
American Flag Patch Brownie Insignia Tab World Trefoil Pin Girl Scout Council Identification Set Girl Scout Brownie Membership Pin
Troop Crest Bee Journey Summit Troop Numerals Bee Award Pins
Membership Stars and Discs
MY
PROMISEMY Bridge to Girl Scout Brownie Award FAITH
MY
PROMISEMY FAITH
MY MY PROMISE PROMISE MY MY My Promise, My Faith Pins FAITH FAITH Journey Award Badges Cookie Sale Activity Pin Place your Journey Safety Award Pin awards above Girl Scout Brownie Vest & Sash your badges. Girl Scout Brownie Badges Click on the name or image of insignia to find out more information and to purchase. Place your first Journey Visit www.girlscoutshop.comWorld Thinking D afory Aallw yourard Official Girl Scout merchandise needs. awards at the bottom of your vest. As you earn Global Action Award additional Journey awards, work your way up.
If your Journey awards Brownie Insignia Tab American Flag Patch and badges don’t fit on World Trefoil Pin Girl Scout Council Identification Set the front of your vest or Girl Scout Brownie Membership Pin sash, you can wear them
Troop Crest Bee Journey Summit on the back. Troop Numerals Bee Award Pins
Membership Stars and Discs
MY
PROMISEMY Bridge to Girl Scout Brownie Award FAITH
MY
PROMISEMY FAITH
MY MY PROMISE PROMISE MY MY My Promise, My Faith Pins FAITH FAITH Journey Award Badges Cookie Sale Activity Pin Place your Journey Safety Award Pin awards above your badges. Girl Scout Brownie Badges Place your first Journey World Thinking Day Award awards at the bottom of your vest. As you earn Global Action Award additional Journey awards, work your way up.
If your Journey awards and badges don’t fit on the front of your vest or sash, you can wear them on the back.
6 Girl Scout Brownie Awards and Badges
Skill Building Badges
Brownie Brownie Girl Budding Bugs Cabin Camper Celebrating Computer Dancer Democracy for First Aid Scout Way Entrepreneur Community Expert Brownies
Eco Friend Fair Play Give Back Hiker Home Scientist Household Elf Inventor Making Friends Meet My Customers
Money Manager My Best Self My Family Story My Great Day Letterboxer Making Games Outdoor Art Outdoor Painting Creator Adventurer
Pets Philanthropist Potter Senses Snacks Space Science Snow or Climbing STEM Career Trail Adventure Adventurer Adventure Exploration
Progressive Badges Robotics Cybersecurity
Designing Programming Showcasing Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity: Cybersecurity: Robots Robots Robots Basics Safeguards Investigator
Coding for Good Automotive Engineering
Coding Basics Digital Game App Automotive Automotive Automotive Design Development Design Engineering Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
Leap Bot Design Fling Flyer Design Race Car Design Challenge Challenge Challenge
7 Girl Scout Brownie Journeys
What’s a Journey? It’s a themed collection of activities and leadership exploration completed over several troop meetings. It ends with a Take Action project and the experience of creating a small change to make the world a better place. Journey awards are earned as a set, unlike badges which are earned individually. Use the Journey curriculum books from the Girl Scout Shop or the Year Plans in the Volunteer Toolkit to guide you and the girls through the activities.
It’s Your World – Change It! Brownie Quest This is a leadership theme Journey. Brownies will travel along two colorful trails of fun and mystery, exploring individuality and being part of a troop. Girls learn how to take care of themselves, their family, their Girl Scout sisters, and their community— and do a Take Action project to show caring for others.
+ + + =
Discover Key Connect Key Take Action Key Brownie Quest Award
It’s Your Planet – Love It! WOW! Wonders of Water This is an environmental theme Journey. Brownies dive in to learn about the water cycle and make their own rainbows as they explore themes of LOVE, SAVE, and SHARE around the precious resource of water. Girls complete a Take Action project to share what they know and make a difference in water use at home, at school, and in their community.
+ + + =
LOVE Water SAVE Water SHARE Water WOW!
It’s Your Story – Tell It! A World of Girls This Journey focuses on storytelling and creative expression. Brownies learn about girls around the world and how stories can create positive change in the world. Girls put their storytelling skills to work in the Take Action project that shares the important story they choose to tell.
+ + + =
Hear a Story Change a Story Tell a Story Better World for Girls
8 Outdoor Brownie Journey - Find it on the Volunteer Toolkit Brownies will learn all about the outdoors! Prepare for hikes by learning to follow trail signs and maps, packing the right gear, and sleeping under the stars on a troop camping trip. They choose a Take Action project to use their skills to help others enjoy their favorite outdoor area!
Brownie First Aid Hiker Cabin Camper Take Action
Outdoor STEM Journey - Find it on the Volunteer Toolkit Brownies find out how citizen scientists make observations and collect data in their community. They’ll work with scientists to receive feedback on their research. Girls will sharpen their observation skills through games and a SciStarter project. The Brownie Take Action project will demonstrate how research helps others.
Think Like a Take Action Citizen Scientist
Computer Science Journey - Find it on the Volunteer Toolkit Brownies discover how programmers use computational thinking to solve problems, exploring paper programming, algorithms, variables, functions, and rapid prototyping. Brownies use their Take Action project to search for patterns and help others.
Think Like a Take Action Programmer
Engineering Journey - Find it on the Volunteer Toolkit Brownies learn how engineers use design thinking to solve problems. They try three design thinking activities: design and build an assistive device, a water collection device, and a device that can launch a ball across a room. Their Take Action project uses problem solving skills to help others.
Think Like an Take Action Engineer
9 Girl Scout Brownie Award Record for:
Leaders may choose to keep a record of individual girl achievement in the Volunteer Toolkit or use this form.
It’s Your World – Change It! Brownie Quest Journey Award Date Completed Date Received The Discover Key The Connect Key The Take Action Key The Brownie Quest Award
It’s Your Planet – Love It! Wow! Wonders of Water Journey Award Date Completed Date Received LOVE Water SAVE Water SHARE Water WOW!
It’s Your Story – Tell It! A World of Girls Journey Award Date Completed Date Received Hear a Story Tell a Story Change a Story Better World for Girls Award
Outdoor Brownie Journey Badge Date Completed Date Received Brownie First Aid Hiker Cabin Camper Take Action Award
Outdoor STEM Brownie Journey Award Date Completed Date Received Think Like a Citizen Scientist Take Action Award
Computer Science Brownie Journey Award Date Completed Date Received Think Like a Programmer Take Action Award
10 Girl Scout Brownie Award Record, Page 2
Engineering Brownie Journey Award Date Completed Date Received Think Like an Engineer Take Action Award
Girl Scout Brownie Progressive Badges: Mechanical Engineering Badge Requirements Date Completed Date Received Fling Flyer Design Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 Leap Bot Design Challenge 1 2 3 4 5 Race Car Design Challenge 1 2 3 4 5
Girl Scout Brownie Progressive Badges: Robotics Engineering Badge Requirements Date Completed Date Received Programming Robots 1 2 3 4 5 Designing Robots 1 2 3 4 5 Showcasing Robots 1 2 3 4 5
Girl Scout Brownie Progressive Badges: Cybersecurity Badge Requirements Date Completed Date Received Cybersecurity Basics 1 2 3 4 5 Cybersecurity Safeguards 1 2 3 4 5 Cybersecurity Investigator 1 2 3 4 5
Girl Scout Brownie Progressive Badges: Coding for Good Badge Requirements Date Completed Date Received Coding Basics 1 2 3 4 5 Digital Game Design 1 2 3 4 5 App Development 1 2 3 4 5
Girl Scout Brownie Progressive Badges: Automotive Engineering Badge Requirements Date Completed Date Received Automotive Design 1 2 3 4 5 Automotive Engineering 1 2 3 4 5 Automotive Manufacturing 1 2 3 4 5
11 Girl Scout Brownie Award Record, Page 3
Girl Scout Brownie Skill Building Badges Badge Requirements Date Completed Date Received Brownie First Aid 1 2 3 4 5 Brownie Girl Scout Way 1 2 3 4 5 Budding Entrepreneur 1 2 3 4 5 Bugs 1 2 3 4 5 Cabin Camper 1 2 3 4 5 Celebrating Community 1 2 3 4 5 Computer Expert 1 2 3 4 5 Dancer 1 2 3 4 5 Democracy for Brownies 1 2 3 4 5 Eco Friend 1 2 3 4 5 Fair Play 1 2 3 4 5 Give Back 1 2 3 4 5 Hiker 1 2 3 4 5 Home Scientist 1 2 3 4 5 Household Elf 1 2 3 4 5 Inventor 1 2 3 4 5 Making Friends 1 2 3 4 5 Meet My Customers 1 2 3 4 5 Money Manager 1 2 3 4 5 My Best Self 1 2 3 4 5 My Family Story 1 2 3 4 5 My Great Day 1 2 3 4 5 Letterboxer 1 2 3 4 5 Making Games 1 2 3 4 5 Outdoor Art Creator 1 2 3 4 5 Outdoor Adventurer 1 2 3 4 5 Painting 1 2 3 4 5 Pets 1 2 3 4 5 Philanthropist 1 2 3 4 5 Potter 1 2 3 4 5 Senses 1 2 3 4 5 Snacks 1 2 3 4 5 Space Science Adventurer 1 2 3 4 5 Snow or Climbing Adventure 1 2 3 4 5 STEM Career Exploration 1 2 3 4 5 Trail Adventure 1 2 3 4 5
12 Girl Scout Brownie Award Record, Page 4
Other Awards for Girl Scout Brownies Award Steps Date Completed Date Received International Friendship Pin Safety Award 1 2 3 4 5 My Promise My Faith (Year 1) 1 2 3 4 5 My Promise My Faith (Year 2) 1 2 3 4 5 Global Action Award World Thinking Day Award Brownie Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin - Year 1 Brownie Cookie Entrepreneur Family Pin - Year 2 Medal of Honor Bronze Cross Brownie Journey Summit Award 1 2 3 Bridge to Girl Scout Junior Award 1 2
13 From Leader to Advisor
Progression of leadership Progression of skills and abilities is a guiding principle in Girl Scouts at every grade level and it applies to volunteer leadership, too! Adult volunteers slowly transition from leader to advisor as girls develop their own leadership skills. Focus on mentoring and fostering girl independence and help them plan the ways they will discover, connect, and take action to make their world a better place.
For example, younger girls need lots of direction from adults, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help with small tasks and small decisions. Watch that you don’t make all the decisions for them.
Motivating older girls and their diverging interests is a balancing act between being a leader and an advisor. As girls grow, they don’t always want to be told what to do, yet they still need your direction and oversight. Prompt them with questions, support them, and encourage them to set the course for their troop.
Foster girl/adult planning in all grade levels by: • Asking questions, rather than providing answers • Guiding, rather than directing • Advising, rather than judging • Helping a girl think through a decision, rather than deciding for her
The balance of adult responsibility and girl responsibility will be changing constantly. You’ll feel it in the short-term for each activity you organize. You’ll see it in the long-term for each year you are together. Be inspired by thinking about how volunteer leaders everywhere are trying to build skills in younger troops that will foster confidence and ability in older girl troops. Let that idea influence your choices in offering age-appropriate decision-making opportunities. Take the long view! Enjoy the journey of getting to know your girls and the emerging strengths they will share with one another and the world! Girl Leadership Changes with Age
Girls’ definitions of leadership also differ with age (see the chart below). The Girl Scout Research Institute focus groups reveal that as girls grow and develop new skills and ideas about the world, leading moves from a more singular approach with elementary school age girls (girls lead with action—what I can do) to influencing others at the middle school level (girls lead with voice—how I can impact others). As girls enter high school their ideas about leadership become inner-directed again with an emphasis on confidence (girls lead with vision–who I am as a leader) as they seek to validate their own ideas and become comfortable acting on them.
Elementary School Middle School High School Girls Lead with Action Girls Lead with Voice Girls Lead with Vision
If I help my friend, she will feel If I were my best self, I’d be a Leaders make the world better for themselves better, and I will too. public speaker. and others around them.
“Helping younger kids” “Having good communication “How to resolve conflicts” “Being a good friend” skills” “Being clear on my values/actions” “Being a good model” “Speaking up for myself” “Being comfortable making “Teaching other kids the things “How to resolve conflicts” decisions” I know” “Being a good role model” “Communicating with others” “How to take care of my “Influencing others” “Planning and organizing” family” “How to take care of my family” “Having a sense of purpose” “Having a positive attitude toward change” 14 Safety Resources to Know and Use Use the tools below to help you run safe Girl Scout meetings and activities.
Volunteer Essentials Reference Volunteer Essentials to find full details for internet safety, financial safety, travel safety, and creating emotionally safe spaces for girls. gsnwgl.org/VolunteerResources
Adult-to-girl ratios From camping weekends to cookie booths, adult volunteers must always be present to ensure their girls have fun and stay safe, no matter their grade level. Not sure just how many adults you’ll need for your activity? The helpful chart below breaks down the minimum number of volunteers needed to supervise a specific number of girls.
Group Meetings Events, Travel, and Camping Two unrelated One additional Two unrelated One additional Girl Scout Level volunteers (at least volunteer to volunteers (at least one of volunteer to each one of whom is each additional: whom is female) for this additional: female) for every: number of girls: Daisies (grades K-1) 12 6 6 4 Brownies (grades 2-3) 20 8 12 6 Juniors (grades 4-5) 25 10 16 8 Cadettes (grades 6-8) 25 12 20 10 Seniors (grades 9-10) 30 15 24 12 Ambassadors (grades 11-12) 30 15 24 12
Safety Activity Checkpoints and Safety Guidelines In Girl Scouting, the emotional and physical safety and well-being of girls is our top priority. All volunteers should review the Safety Guidelines and the Safety Activity Checkpoints manual when planning activities with girls in order to manage safety and risk in Girl Scout-sanctioned activities. Find them on our website at gsnwgl.org/Forms
Health History Forms Every girl and adult member in your troop must complete a health history form. Find them on our website at gsnwgl.org/Forms
GSNWGL Emergency Procedures Keep a copy of the emergency procedures with you at all times.
In the event of serious injury, emergency, or fatality during a Girl Scout activity, DIAL 9-1-1 first, then: Call 888.747.6945. If you receive a voice message, PRESS “9” for your call to be routed to the emergency answering service.
Be prepared with the following info: • Caller name / phone number / location • Nature of the emergency • Name / age / condition of injured party(s) • What action has been taken so far
A council spokesperson will call you ASAP. If asked by media to comment, direct them to speak to the council-appointed spokesperson ONLY.
First Aid Make sure a general first aid kit is available at your meeting place and accompanies girls on any activity. Assemble your own kit if a fully stocked kit is not available at your meeting site. Per the Safety Activity Checkpoints, most activities require the presence of someone trained in adult and pediatric first aid and CPR. If your activity destination does not provide a staff person with this training, bring along your own First Aider. A First Aider is a Girl Scout volunteer who has completed Girl Scout approved adult and pediatric first aid and CPR training. 15 For Every Girl Scout Take the time to help girls learn these values and traditions.
Girl Scout Promise Girl Scout Law On my honor, I will try: I will do my best to be To serve God* and my country, honest and fair, To help people at all times, friendly and helpful, And to live by the Girl Scout Law. considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and *Individuals are free to substitute their own wording responsible for what I say and do, for “God” that best reflects their spiritual beliefs. and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and Girl Scout Mission be a sister to every Girl Scout. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Girl Scout Motto Be prepared. Girl Scout Sign Hold the right hand up at shoulder height with the middle three fingers pointed to the sky and the thumb Girl Scout Slogan pressed down over the pinky finger. Do a good turn daily. Make the Girl Scout sign while saying the Girl Scout Promise and the Girl Scout Law, and using the Girl Scout handshake. Girl Scout Handshake Shake left hands and make the Girl Scout sign with the right hand. Girl Scout-y Helpful Things to Know Quip: “Girl Scouts leave a place better than they found it.” Quip: “Once a Girl Scout, always a Girl Scout.” The quiet sign is the signal to be silent in a group. The person in charge raises their right hand high into the sky. All girls and adults raise their right hands, stop talking, and stay quiet. The buddy system is a safety practice to keep girls in pairs when they are outside of the troop meeting space. Trios are sometimes nicknamed a truddy, as in, “Girls, stay with your buddy, or stay with your truddy!” The Friendship Circle is a circle of Girl Scouts who clasp hands, crossing their right arm over the left. The circle represents the unbroken chain of friendship among Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all over the world. It’s often how troops close their meeting.
16 The Girl Scout Leadership Experience -from Volunteer Essentials, “The Girl Scout Leadership Experience”
At Girl Scouts, everything centers around the girl. It’s what makes Girl Scouts truly unique - our program is designed by, with, and for girls.
Three Keys to Leadership What girls do in Girl Scouting fits within the three keys: discover, connect and take action.
Discover When girls do exciting badge activities, earn a Girl Scout Journey award, attend an amazing event, or go camping, you are helping them discover who they are, what they care about, and what their talents are.
Connect Girls connect when they collaborate with other people, learn from others, and expand their horizons. This helps them care about, inspire, and team with others locally and globally.
Take Action With your guidance, these budding leaders will connect with and care about others, and they’ll be eager to take action to make the world a better place.
Three Girl Scout Processes How do girls learn in Girl Scouts? The GSLE draws on three unique processes that help girls unlock the leader within.
Girl-led This means girls of every age take an active and age-appropriate role in figuring out the what, where, when, why, and how of all the exciting troop activities they’ll do. The girl-led process is critically important to the GSLE—when girls know their voice matters, they feel empowered to make decisions and they stay engaged in their activities.
Learning by Doing Girls enjoy hands-on activities and learn by doing. Then, after reflecting on their activities, girls gain a deeper understanding of the concepts and skills the activities require.
Cooperative Learning Through cooperative learning, girls learn to share knowledge and skills in an atmosphere of respect and coopera- tion as they work toward a common goal.
As a volunteer, you’ll draw on these Girl Scout processes as you lead girls of any age. Girl-led at the Daisy level will look very different from the Ambassador level, of course. What’s most important is that girls make decisions about the activities they do together and make choices within that activity. As they learn from their successes and failures—and gain a major confidence boost in the process—their girl-led process will give them the opportunity to lead within their peer group. By the time girls are Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, they’ll be able to use the leadership skills they’ve developed to mentor and assist younger Girl Scouts.
17 One last tip about using the processes: Girls’ time in Girl Scouting isn’t a to-do list, so please don’t ever feel that checking activities off a list is more important than tuning in to what interests the girls and sparks their imaginations. Projects don’t have to come out perfectly—in fact, it’s a valuable learning experience when they don’t—and girls don’t have to fill their vests and sashes with badges. What matters most is the fun and learning that happens as girls make experiences their own, so don’t be afraid to step back and let your girls take the lead.
The Five Outcomes The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) is what girls do and how they do it. When girls participate in the GSLE, they experience five measurable leadership benefits or outcomes that will fuel their success. And although girls may start building their leadership skills in school and on sports teams, research shows that the courage, confidence, and character they develop as Girl Scouts stay with them throughout their lives.
Being a Girl Scout helps girls thrive in five key ways.
Strong Sense of Self Girls have confidence in themselves and their abilities and form positive identities.
Positive Values Girls act ethically, honestly, and responsibly, and show concern for others.
Challenge Seeking Girls take appropriate risks, try things even if they might fail, and learn from mistakes.
Healthy Relationships Girls develop and maintain healthy relationships by communicating their feelings directly and resolving conflicts constructively.
Community Problem Solving Girls desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, learn how to identify problems in the community, and create “action plans” to solve them.
As a leader, encourage the girls in these areas and praise them when they demonstrate these behaviors.
18 Girl Scout Glossary No doubt about it – there will be times you don’t understand what Girl Scouts are talking about! Here are definitions of frequently used terms in Girl Scouting.
Award: Official recognition for Girl Scout achievements and accomplishments. Awards are placed on the front of the uniform. They may be badges or pins.
Badge: Official recognition for Girl Scout achievement, to indicate increased knowledge and skill in a particular subject. Badges are placed on the front of the uniform.
Ceremonies: • Bridging: The move from one program level of Girl Scouting to the next (e.g. from Girl Scout Daisy to Girl Scout Brownie). • Court of Awards: A ceremony that can be held any time during the year to present earned awards of petals, leaves, Journeys, badges, awards, fun patches and any other kind of recognition the girls choose to include. • Girl Scouts’ Own: A quiet inspirational ceremony organized around a theme selected by the girls • Investiture: A special ceremony in which a new member makes her Girl Scout Promise and receives her membership pin. • Re-dedication A special ceremony for girls or adults, previously invested, to renew their commitment to the Girl Scout Promise.
Community organizer: A volunteer who oversees Girl Scouting in a community.
Customer Care: A team of staff ready to answer all your questions! Contact them at [email protected] or 888.747.6945.
Day camp: Girls attend summer camp during the day without staying overnight. Different Day Camp opportunities are offered each year.
Daisy Flower Friends: The Flower Friends represent the 10 different lines of the Girl Scout Law and guide Daisies through their Journeys and petals.
Girl Guides: The original name for Girl Scouts, and a term still used in many other countries.
Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE): The Girl Scout program model that engages girls by developing the skills, knowledge, and values needed to be leaders for today and tomorrow.
Grade levels: Daisies (girls in grades K-1), Brownies (grades 2-3), Juniors (grades 4-5), Cadettes (grades 6-8), Seniors (grades 9-10), and Ambassadors (grades 11-12).
GSUSA: Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the national organization which holds the charter for each regional council.
Highest awards: • Girl Scout Bronze Award: The highest award a Girl Scout Junior may earn. • Girl Scout Silver Award: The highest award a Girl Scout Cadette may earn. • Girl Scout Gold Award: The highest award a Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador may earn, the highest award in Girl Scouting.
19 Girl Scout Glossary
Holidays: • World Thinking Day: February 22, celebrated by Girl Guides and Girl Scouts throughout the world. It encourages girls to remember their sisters around the globe through special projects, international programs, activities, or pen pal correspondence. Girls can earn an award for the front of the uniform. • Girl Scout birthday: March 12, 1912 marks the first Girl Scout meeting in Savannah, GA. • Girl Scout Week: An annual celebration during the week of March 12, the Girl Scout birthday. • Girl Scout Leader’s Day: April 22, a special day to honor Girl Scout leaders. • National Bridging Week: A week to highlight girls in Girl Scouting as they move up, or bridge, to the next grade level. • Founder’s Day: Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday, October 31.
Journeys: A themed collection of activities and leadership exploration completed over several troop meetings. It ends with a Take Action project and the experience of creating a small change to make the world a better place. A Journey is a prerequisite to earning a Highest Award.
Journey Summit Award: A special award pin earned by girls who complete three Journeys in one grade level.
Juliette Gordon Low: The founder of the American Girl Scout movement. She formed the first troop meeting in Savannah, Georgia on March 12, 1912. Her nickname was Daisy.
Kaper chart: The Girl Scout version of a chore chart. They’re commonly used for troop meeting tasks or camping chores to encourage leadership, responsibility, and accountability.
Leaves: Awards earned by Girl Scout Daisies. There are two Cookie Business leaves and two Financial Literacy leaves.
MyGS: The online troop management portal to access digital tools available to members, including member profiles, the Volunteer Toolkit, events, and gsLearn.
My Promise My Faith: Girls in grades K-12 earn this award pin by exploring the Girl Scout Law and how it relates to the teachings of their own faith tradition.
Petals: Awards earned by Girl Scout Daisies. Each petal represents a line of the Girl Scout Law.
Program Aide: A Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, and/or Ambassador who has been trained to assist younger Girl Scout groups with songs, games, crafts, ceremonies, or outdoor activities.
Resident camp: A multiple-night camp experience at a Girl Scout camp facility. Different Resident Camp opportunities are offered each year.
Safety Activity Checkpoints: GSUSA’s safety program standards. Find them on our website at gsnwgl.org/Forms
School organizer: A volunteer who oversees Girl Scouting in a school.
Sit-upon: A handmade seat cushion to use outdoors. Use it when the ground is hard or damp to keep clothes clean and dry.
Service areas: A smaller geographic area within Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes. Each service area builds awareness of Girl Scouts within their community and hosts events for girls and leaders.
Service Area Manager (SAM): A volunteer leadership position for the service area. This volunteer partners with staff and other service area volunteers to support and strengthen Girl Scouts in that region.
20 Girl Scout Glossary
Service Area team: A volunteer leadership team member for a service area, working to support and strengthen Girl Scouts in that region.
SWAPS: “Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere.” These are keepsakes exchanged among girls to promote friendship, connection, and understanding.
Tag-a-longs: An informal name for a child who is not a Girl Scout but is present during a Girl Scout event.
Trainer: Sometimes called a facilitator, this experienced volunteer assists with regional and/or Council-wide trainings.
Trefoil: The international symbol of Girl Scouting; the three leaves of the trefoil represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise.
Troop camping: Camping with your own troop and leaders.
Volunteer Toolkit (VTK): The Volunteer Toolkit is a digital planning tool full of resources and content to plan your year and keep it going smoothly! Fully customizable, the toolkit is accessible by phone, tablet or desktop.
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS): An international educational association of more than ten million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 150 countries. Learn more at www.WAGGGS.org
World Trefoil Pin: A pin worn by all Girl Scouts and Girl Guides that symbolizes our global sisterhood.
World Centers: Five program activity centers owned by WAGGGS. The centers are located in Mexico (Our Cabana), England (Pax Lodge), India (Sangam), and Switzerland (Our Chalet). The fifth World Center (Kusafiri) rotates locations in Africa.
Thank you!
Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Since 1912, girls have explored new fields of knowledge, learned valuable skills, and developed strong core values through Girl Scouts. Today Girl Scouts is, as it always has been, the organization best positioned to help girls de- velop the important leadership skills they need to become successful adults. At Girl Scouts, guided by supportive adults and peers, girls develop their leadership potential through age-appropriate activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them; connect with others in a multicultural environment; and take action to make a difference in their world. These activities are designed to be girl led, cooperative, and hands- on processes that create high-quality experiences conducive to learning.
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