New Leadership Development Model

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 their commitment to girls, they are renewing the Girl Scout experience by making it compelling, relevant and impact-driven for 21st-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. Girl Scouts of the USA will phase in some exciting program changes beginning fall of 2008.

Program activities are organized around the Girl Scout three keys to leadership and are based on the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Discover activities engage girls in exploring their values, skills and world. Girls develop a strong sense of self, positive values, gain practical skills, develop critical thinking and seek challenges in the world.

Connect activities engage girls in teaming up and relating with others in a multicultural world. Girls develop healthy relationships, learn to resolve conflicts, feel connected to their communities, locally and globally, help advance diversity in a multicultural world and promote cooperation and team building.

Take Action activities engage girls in making a difference in the world. Girls identify community needs, become resourceful problem solvers, learn to advocate for themselves and others, locally and globally, educate and inspire others to act and feel empowered to make a difference in the world.


What's Changing Now

Beginning in the Summer of 2008 GSUSA will begin to phase in it's program changes. Those areas affected first will be the girl levels, new program materials, and training modules.

Girl Levels -  Levels are now set by grades instead of ages. Grouping by grade allows girls to be with peers who share a closer level of emotional and social maturity. Girls have said that it’s important to be with other girls their age, and currently, they get bored by too much repetition. As one 13-year old Girl Scout wrote in, “It makes us more comfortable to be with the same age group as ourselves.” GSUSA research found that girls learn best and have the most fun when they are with the right developmental/social grouping. The new grade-level groups are:

Grades K-1   Grades 2-3 Grades 4-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-10 Grades 11-12
Daisies  Brownies Juniors  Cadettes    Seniors Ambassadors

New Program Materials - Due out in August of 2008 is the "It's Your World, Change It" Journeys for Daisys through Ambassadors. These initial journeys invite girls to explore a specific leadership theme for their level. Cost will be $7 for the girl's book and $15 for the adult facilitator guide which consists of two books.

 

In the Future

For the next three years GSUSA will continue to add new journeys and update current materials until 2011 when everything is scheduled to be completed. Program schedule is:

2008

First journey series introduced, girl levels change and training module modified
2009

Second journey series introduced, badges are updated and the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are updated, Uniforms will begin to modify. Troop and other pathways packets released.
2010

Third journey series introduced along with more updated badges. Uniforms will continue to modify.

By 2012 when GSUSA celebrates it 100th birthday the New Leadership Model will be completely phased in. The three new Journeys will have been introduced. Current program materials will have been updated to reflect the three keys to leadership: Discover, Connect and Take Action.   Girls at each of the six grades levels will have one official uniform item (e.g. tunic, vest and sash) for the display of official pins and awards. Girls will be required to wear this item with their own white shirts and khaki pants or skirts when they participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement. Teen girls will also have the option of wearing a scarf connecting us to our global sisterhood, WAGGGS.