Choosing a Girl Scout Troop

With the imminence of the annual Girl Scout cookie sale upon us, parents across the nation will be inspired to register their daughters in the 97-year old Girl Scouts organization (note: a generic "scouting" organization is not acknowledged by Girl Scouts, who operate separately from Boy Scouts and other scout-based groups). The Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) holds corporate offices in Manhattan, is present in all 50 states, and is encompassed in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGS), which operates in 145 countries across the globe.

Yes, the girls who stand in front of your local grocer proudly clutching boxes of Thin Mints represent something "much bigger than themselves" (as actresses like to say when they win awards). Despite the organization's prominence, parent perceptions of Girl Scouts are - perhaps ironically - typically based solely their personal experiences with their daughters' troops. If a girl and her parent (commonly her mother) have an unsavory run-in over what is generally a correctable issue, the family's opinion of Girl Scouts is sometimes tainted into the next generation. Therefore, the importance of choosing the right troop for your daughter cannot be understated.

Where to begin? First off, it's worth noting that the troop you bought cookies from is not necessarily the troop your daughter will be placed in. The leader who takes down your information at the time you express interest will likely pass along your number to a service area manager, who places girls in troops all over your city. Your home address, daughter's school, and troop availability are all factors she considers when assigning your daughter to a local Girl Scout troop. When assigned, you may opt to pay a visit to the troop's weekly meeting before officially registering your daughter as a Girl Scout. If so, the following factors are important to consider:

What do you want out of Girl Scouts?

Is it extra socialization? Primary socialization (for a homeschooler)? How about learning new skills, community involvement, or exposure to the outdoors? Every Girl Scout troop operates a little differently than the next; therefore, these are important things to mull over. One of the most hotly debated issues of the day, for example, is the official uniform.

The Girl Scout uniform - does it matter to you?

Yes, we've all seen nostalgic images of neatly uniformed vintage Girl Scouts, clad in regalia from beanie to knee socks with a flatly-starched sash and clusters of pins in between. For some Girl Scout leaders, this is an important tradition to carry on - for others, not so much. Recent GSUSA marketing campaigns have purported an edgier image, where official sloganed t-shirts (e.g., "Defy Conformity" and other 21st century mottos) sufficiently replace uniform pieces, particularly for teenage girls. Rather than arguing for or against the merits of this, I'll simply put it out there: If the uniform is important to you, check out what the other girls wear to troop meetings before committing your daughter to that troop. The cuteness factor is pretty much nil if she is the only girl who shows up in uniform week after week.

Troop activities: the end-all-be-all of your daughter's experience

As previously implied, skill-building and nature exposure are hallmarks of the Girl Scout tradition. For many mothers, especially those who were Girl Scouts themselves, camping, knot-tying, and other time-honored scouting practices are the activities they long for their daughters to participate in. If you would include yourself in this category, a word to the wise: Ask the leader how important these things are to her. Don't worry - the Girl Scout program still offers badges for these activities - however, troops are free to choose which badges they will or will not earn. To that end, it may be worth doing your research on a troop's activities.

What if I prefer to find a troop that embraces more modern trends?

Then, great! You're in luck, as Girl Scouts currently places significant focus on helping girls develop living/learning skills, social/emotional strategies, and professional career goals. You should probably ask the leader how she feels about that, too (some love it, some don't), and observe the girls working on a badge in one of those categories. I have personally witnessed some great breakthroughs in girls' confidence and competence after working on these types of badges.

What if I want to find a troop with girls predominantly of our faith?

Well, this isn't impossible -- but as you can likely guess, it should not be requested when going through your local Girl Scout council or service area (as Girl Scouts does not endorse or espouse a specific religion. However, a note to atheist moms: The promise your daughter will recite each week contains the phrase "to serve God and my country." If this is a problem for you, perhaps Girl Scouts is not right for your family). To those who do practice a faith (also known as "the majority of Americans"): If you are seeking a troop that is primarily made up, for example, of Christian, Jewish, or Muslim believers - or, perhaps one that is mostly comprised of your ethnic group - the easiest way to find what you want is through referrals. Ask friends who they know in Girl Scouts, and what their troop is like. Your place of worship may be a resource for this as well (and some troops do meet in them). If for some reason the demographic you hope for just isn't out there, don't despair; because modern Girl Scouting is so inclusive, you may be surprised at how well your daughter acclimates to a "diverse" troop. Yes, it's a buzzword - but there is some value to it, even at this level. Your daughter will be exposed to a variety of individuals throughout her life, and with your guidance and support, it isn't likely to harm her if that starts now.

Choosing a Girl Scout troop for your daughter doesn't have to be a scientific process; the suggestions here aren't meant to overwhelm you. Hopefully, I've armed you with information and strategies that can help you navigate the waters more easily. Finally, a note to any current or former leaders who may or may not agree with portions of the content therein: I welcome your comments, but might I offer the gentle reminder of the obligation we take to "be a sister to every Girl Scout."