Since 1912, when we were founded by trailblazer Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts has given young people the tools to lead, break barriers, and create positive change.
We are the largest girl-led leadership development organization in the world and a member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts , a sisterhood of nearly 10 million across 150 countries. With programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl the chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.
Girl Scout Volunteers 
Girl Scout Grade Levels
Inclusion
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE)
Everything centers around the Girl Scout: Activities are girl-led, which gives Girl Scouts the opportunity to take on leadership roles and learn by doing in a cooperative learning environment. Research shows that the courage, confidence, and character they develop as Girl Scouts stay with them throughout their lives.
What girls do in Girl Scouting all fits within three keys: discover, connect and take action.
When Girl Scouts 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.
Girl Scouts 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.
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.
As for how they do it? The GSLE draws on three unique processes that help Girl Scouts unlock the leader within.
Girl-led means Girl Scouts 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 Girl Scouts know their voice matters, they feel empowered to make decisions and they stay engaged in their activities.
Girl Scouts enjoy hands-on activities and learn by doing. Then, after reflecting on their activities, they gain a deeper understanding of the concepts and skills the activities require.
Through cooperative learning, Girl Scouts learn to share knowledge and skills in an atmosphere of respect and cooperation as they work toward a common goal.
As a volunteer, you’ll draw on these processes as you lead Girl Scouts 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 Girl Scouts make decisions about the activities to do together and that they also 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 Girl Scouts are Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, they’ll be using the leadership skills they’ve developed to mentor younger Girl Scouts.
One last tip about using the processes: 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 Girl Scouts 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 Girl Scouts don’t have to fill their vests and sashes with badges. Because what matters most is the fun and learning that happens as Girl Scouts make experiences their own. Don’t be afraid to step back and let your troop take the lead!
Reflection
Progression
The Girl Scout Program: National Program Pillars & More
Important Differences: Journeys and Badges
Important Differences: Community Service and Take Action Projects
Traditions, Ceremonies, and Special Girl Scout Days
Highest Awards
Girl Scout Travel
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