GIRLS = BE VISIBLE at the In late 2017, Boy Scouts of America announced it would begin recruiting girls and began replacing = LEAD WITH GIRL SCOUTS references to Boy Scouts with the more generic term "Scouting." These changes have caused confusion and concern among many of our girls, families, volunteers and the general public, and has caused us to reevaluate our century-long collaborative relationship with Boy Scouts of CENTER America. VOLUNTEER ACTION GUIDE = GOOD TO KNOW Girl Scouts will continue doing what is best for girls and Girl Scouts—that means a strong girl- led, all-girl, girl-focused program. This Volunteer Action Guide shares actions you can take to keep the Girl Scout Movement strong with girls at the center of all we do. Below are guidelines that can help you as a volunteer to navigate these changes. Some of them may be new to you, but all are interpretations of existing rules in Volunteer Essentials, which will be updated this summer to provide more specific guidance in response to changes in the Boy Scout program. DO THIS TO KEEP UNDERSTAND THE AVOID DOING HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND WHERE TO GET HELP GIRL SCOUTS STRONG REASONS WHY THESE THINGS Sometimes this is the hardest part. As If there are resources or people who Doing these things will keep girls These might be changes on how you These actions are the “don’ts”—the Girl Scout representatives you may can help with this specific action, at the center and Girl Scouts strong. may have experienced Girl Scouts in things we need to avoid or in some have to explain these actions to others. we’ll list them here. the past. Knowing why can help you cases, stop doing, in order to protect This section will get you started on clarify for others. the Girl Scout Movement. what you could say or share. Boy Scouts of America is Do not refer to Girl Scouts as “Our official name is Girl Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta recruiting girls using the generic “Scouts” or “Scouting.” Scouts. Please do not refer staff are always here to help. term “Scouting.” Referring to Girl to our members as Scouts or Call 800-771-1139 or email Scouts as “Scouts” or “Scouting” our activities as ‘Scouting’, or [email protected]. may confuse families that do not know we are two separate refer to Boy Scouts and Girl Always use the full organizations with different Scouts together as ‘Scouts’ or ‘Scouting’.” names of Girl Scouts programs and make it seem like Boy Scouts is the primary scouting and Girl Scouting. organization for boys and girls. Girl This is especially useful to give Scouts is the #2 brand in the to journalists; they often get it world1, so we should be proud wrong. promoting our name brand to others! Speak-up for girls Our members and volunteers Do not use terms like “Scouting” “Over half of non-Girl Scout/ We’ve got you covered—use the and Girl Scouting. are a huge voice for girls. Use or “Scouts” to refer to Girl Scouts. non-Boy Scout families think Girl Scout Mythbusters your voice to make sure the that we’re one organization. resource on the Learning and Correct misinforma- Don't fear you're not being "nice" if correct information is shared Misinformation only adds to the Resouce Center. tion whenever it’s you correct misinformation you confusion. Please be a myth with the world! hear. possible. buster and share your story!” 1 2017 World Value Index 1 DO THIS TO KEEP UNDERSTAND THE AVOID DOING HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND WHERE TO GET HELP GIRL SCOUTS STRONG REASONS WHY THESE THINGS Visibility is very important so that Don’t hide your Girl Scout For your troop and families: Need a uniform? Visit our people can see that Girl Scouts pride! shops or shop online. Financial and Boy Scouts are two separate “In our troop we will wear our Assistance is available if cost is organizations with different ever combine uniform uniforms at all troop meetings a barrier to owning a uniform. Wear your uniforms purposes, values, and programs. N elements if girls or adults and activities. If you need one, proudly and publicly Uniforms give Girl Scouts a place to display their accomplishments are members of both you can visit our shops or order Uniform guides are available on whenever you are and talk about the unique badges, organizations. online. Here’s a guide to how to the volunteer site and Badge & acting as a Girl Scout! Journeys and high awards they assemble it. Our council offers Sash Stores, as well as online. have earned and the experiences financial assistance if you need You can search by program they have had in our program. help purchasing a uniform. I’d be grade level. happy to tell you how.” Girl Scouts of the USA prohibits Planning or joining recruitment In this case, you’ll likely be Your service unit director, your events co-sponsored or co- events with Boy Scout packs, explaining why you can’t community engagement branded with other scouting dens, or units is not allowed. coordinate a recruitment event specialist, or your volunteer organizations like the Boy with a Boy Scout volunteer. Say support specialist can help. Ensure that Girl Scouts or American Heritage something like this: Call 800-771-1139 or email Scouts is present Girls. [email protected] if you don't “Since the Boy Scouts have know how to reach these and highly visible at started using the name Scouting school open houses, Recruiting together can resources in your area. reinforce the myth that there’s and are recruiting girls, there community events, only one “Scouting,” that all has been a lot of confusion and other recruit- scouting organizations are the about Girl Scouts. To help ment opportunities. same, and/or that Boy Scouts reduce that confusion and be and Girl Scouts are merging. clear that we a separate organization for girls, we need to plan our recruitment events separately.” Girl Scouts is the only Do not participate in, allow, or This one may be hard, because The Volunteer Toolkit (which it could require changing long- Plan and offer girl-led leadership program promote any co-sponsored or troop leaders can access exclusively for girls! Research co-branded events or programs standing traditions. Say something through LARC) also provides amazing Girl Scouts- shows that single-gender that use either Girl Scouts’ like this: troop leaders with a variety of only events! spaces remain essential for name, logo, colors, or likenesses program planning resources “In response to the Boy Scouts of girls to realize their together with Boy Scouts. America's decision to admit girls, that could be used for Be loud and proud leadership potential. Girl Scouts of the USA has planning events. This includes long-standing about what you, prohibited co-sponsored or co- Visit us at The strength of our events like Scouting for Food your troop, and your branded events with the Boy program is unmatched! Only and Pinewood Derbies. Scouts. We know not all Boy Scout training.gsgatl.org fellow volunteers are Girl Scouts has 23 new members agree with that change. offering. outdoor and STEM badges However all Girl Scouts must be that help girls Discover, clear about our girl-centered Use Girl Scouts’ Connect and Take Action to mission and activities, and we are make the world a better place! not able to continue co-sponsoring name, logos, events with any den, pack, or unit.” likenesses for Girl Co-sponsored or co-branded Remember that these rule changes Scouts-planned events reinforce that there’s are in response to the actions Boy events only. one “scouting” program. This Scouts took—not due to any change works to the Boy Scouts’ Girl Scouts made. advantage, not Girl Scouts'. 2 DO THIS TO KEEP UNDERSTAND THE AVOID DOING HELP OTHERS UNDERSTAND WHERE TO GET HELP GIRL SCOUTS STRONG REASONS WHY THESE THINGS Appearing with Boy Scouts in Don’t allow community If you are responding to an Need a uniform? Visit our the community reinforces the organizations or the media to invitation: shops or shop online at misperception that there is lump Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts Shop.GirlScoutsATL.org only one “scouting” program together. “Thank you for the invitation! Girl Scouts are—and always have been or that all Financial assistance is —active citizens engaged in their "scouting" organizations are Do not participate in joint flag available if cost is a barrier to communities. the same. ceremonies. Girl Scouts has its having a uniform. own long and proud tradition As you may have heard, Boy Scouts If you are invited and girls can and should provide of America began recruiting girls to community events these honors at community this year. This has had the effect of events! such as parades, flag confusing people, who may think Boy ceremonies, or festivals, Scouts and Girl Scouts are the same thing, or that the two organizations request your own booth are merging. I assure you they are or marching space if not! possible. Would it be possible to ensure that we have our own [booth space] or Make sure everyone is [parade space] when we attend wearing their Girl Scout your event, and that we’re listed by uniforms and that you our full name—Girl Scouts—in any have your own Girl Scout materials? That would really help us signs! keep confusion at bay and keep the focus where it should be—on girls.” If you are interviewed by journalists: Make sure you say “Girl Scouts” and tell the reporters or photographers to be sure not to use “Scouting” to cover both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.