Where Exceptional Leaders Begin.
About the Leadership Institute
The Leadership Institute is Girl Scouts of Greater New York’s premier leadership program for Girl Scouts in grades 6–12, designed to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and help participants realize their full potential. Over the course of a nearly year-long experience, participants explore their strengths, connect with inspiring professionals, and gain real-world skills to help them lead with purpose.
Goals of the Leadership Institute
Discover your leadership style: Identify your unique leadership strengths, understand your personal leadership style, and learn how to confidently articulate what you bring as a leader.
Build leadership skills: Develop self-awareness, communication, collaboration, resilience, advocacy, and confidence in a supportive space.
Explore possibilities: Connect with diverse career pathways, professional women leaders, mentors, and role models through workplace visits and networking.
Your Leadership Journey
For Cohort 2027, the Leadership Institute has been redesigned to give Girl Scouts new opportunities to discover their strengths, explore future possibilities, and put their leadership into action in three phases:
Leadership Launchpad
Build your leadership identity, discover your strengths, and develop foundational leadership skills through team building and hands-on experiences.
Leadership Circuit
Step into real-world workplaces, meet inspiring professionals, and explore diverse career and educational pathways.
Leadership in Action
Put your leadership skills into practice, build your first professional résumé, and gain the confidence and tools to make a meaningful impact.
How to Join
The Leadership Institute is open to youth in grades 6-12 who live in New York City. Previous Girl Scouting experience is not required. However, upon acceptance to the Leadership Institute, participants will be required to purchase a Girl Scout membership for $85 if they do not already have one.
Applications for Leadership Institute are now open! Submit by Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Leadership Institute Cohort 2027 Booklet
The Leadership Institute Cohort 2027 booklet provides an overview of the program, including key experiences, opportunities, and activities participants can look forward to. It also provides guidance on the application and selection process for prospective participants.
Thank you to our partners!
