With changes, come questions!
Here are answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions.
Q: What will the new levels be?
A.
Grades K-1 Girl Scout Daisy
Grades 2-3 Girl Scout Brownie
Grades 4-5 Girl Scout Junior
Grades 6-8 Girl Scout Cadette
Grades 9-10 Girl Scout Senior
Grades 11-12 Girl Scout Ambassador
Q: Will Girl Scout Daisies this year (07/08) be Daisies again next year?
A: Yes. GSUSA will be designing new program resources specifically for the 1st grade.
Q: Will Girl Scout Daisies be able to participate in the cookie program?
A: Beginning in October 2008, GSUSA will provide age-appropriate guidelines for girls in K-1st grade on participating in the Girl Scout cookie program activities. We do not have any further information at this time.
Q: How will this affect the girls now?
A. It won’t. Girl in all age groups will continue enjoying the experiences they are already engaged in, earning awards and badges as they exist right now. Materials will continue to be available in Girl Scout council shops and online. When the transition timeframe is put into place, girls will have time to complete projects or awards they have already begun at their current age levels, using existing materials.
Q: What about the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards?
A. Don’t worry! The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards remain vital awards in Girl Scouting, and they are great awards to teach girls how to Discover, Connect and Take Action as leaders. The Girl Scout Gold Award will remain the highest award. Over the next few years, as the new program materials are developed, the awards will be updated based on the leadership model.
Q: How will the changes impact the volunteer experience?
A. Over the next several years, GSUSA will strive to improve the volunteer experience by:
• Making it easier for busy volunteers to join, stay involved and serve in flexible ways
• Providing user-friendly new materials, resources and training that make it easier for
volunteers to deliver a fun and impact-driven Girl Scout experience.
• Helping volunteers to better see (and show others) the difference they are making in girls’
lives.
Q: Why is Girl Scouts of the USA changing now?
A. Since 1912, Girl Scouts has risen to the challenge of meeting the unique needs of each generation of girls. Girls today are asking for compelling, relevant and impact-driven experiences. This change is part of the next-steps in the Core Business Strategy as expected since 2004. Imagining the power of the Girl Scout Movement speaking in one, consistent, national voice about what we do: leadership development for girls!
Girl Scouts of the USA adopted an updated mission statement at our National Council Session in 2005: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. To fulfill this mission and our commitment to girls, we are renewing the Girl Scout experience by making it compelling, relevant and impact-driven for 21-century girls. Thousands of members around the country have contributed ideas and perspectives, culminating in decisions by the National Board of Directors in August 2006. GSUSA will phase in some exciting program changes beginning in the fall of 2008. The most obvious changes will be regrouping the girls into ‘grade levels’, changing the number of years spent in each level and adding a new level called ‘Ambassador’. Uniform changes will come for the Junior level and above (including adults). You will also begin to hear some new phrases such as ‘The Leadership Model’, ‘Girl Scout Pathways’, and ‘Leadership Journeys’. It will be important to grasp these new concepts as GSUSA unfolds more information in the next 10 months. For now, here are some definitions to get started:
The Leadership Model: The leadership model is the new design for what girls do in Girl Scouting and how adult support can strengthen their experiences. It is the road map, displaying all the elements that must be in place to create a positive impact on girls’ lives.
Girl Scout Pathways: A pathway is the way girls and volunteers join Girl Scouting. They can choose from several pathways, including an ongoing troop, destinations, a short-term opportunity, a day or resident camp, a special-interest topic or event, or a virtual (online) connection.
Leadership Journeys: Journeys represent the experiences Girl Scouts engage in to achieve leadership outcomes. For each Girl Scout grade level, GSUSA is creating a series of leadership journeys accompanied by new resources and new awards. Each journey engages girls in exploring a theme through a series of linked experiences that, together, form a whole greater than any one journey activity. Each journey is tied to the Discover, Connect, Take Action format described below.
Keep in mind, GSUSA has defined Girl Scouts as the ‘premier leadership organization for girls’. The focus of every level of the girl program is leadership. The Girl Scout philosophy of leadership is for girls to become the leaders of tomorrow by participating in a 3-fold action plan:
DISCOVER: To understand their values, and use their knowledge and skills to explore their world,
CONNECT: To care about, inspire and team with others locally and globally, and
TAKE ACTION: To act to make the world a better place.
Be assured that GSSJC will pass on information as we receive it from GSUSA!
1 Have a Question or Comment?
Very interesting! Thanks for posting this info.
By
Heidi R, at March 22, 2008 5:21 AM
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