How Girl Scouting Helps Girls Become Courageous and Confident Women

Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? Yummy, weren't they? But do you know why Girl Scouts sell cookies? It's not just to make money, although that's an important part of it. Selling cookies also helps girls on their way to becoming courageous, confident and resourceful women.

The organization Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) released its newest mission statement in 2005. It reads "Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place." That's a lot more than just selling cookies and having fun. In fact, how does selling cookies fit in with any of that?

Well, first of all, it builds character. The girls are learning to develop skills in sales, relating to and communicating with people. Also, as part of the cookie program, the girls set goals. They determine why the need to raise the money. Will they be going on a camping trip? Organizing a service project? What do they need money for, and how much do they need? They learn to set and achieve goals, and to budget money.

They're also learning good conduct. They practice treating people politely and respectfully while selling cookies. They learn to be responsible for money and products. They also build confidence, by planning and doing the cookie sale work themselves, and by interacting with people.

All of the activities Girl Scouts do help to achieve the mission in some way, whether they are doing crafts, camping and hiking outdoors, or learning about careers in science and math.

Girls can now join Girl Scouting at age five, as Daisy Girl Scouts. Daisy Girl Scouts do activities to learn about the Girl Scout Promise and Law (which includes guidelines for character, conduct, patriotism and service), and earn Daisy petal patches for their uniforms. Daisy Girl Scouts don't sell cookies - parents fund the program at this level.

Brownie Girl Scouts are ages 6-8. They focus on trying a lot of different activities, according to their interests. Their patches are called Try-Its. Girl planning becomes an important part of the program. The girls are involved in choosing and planning their own activities. For instance, my troop recently planned and carried out a dance party for their Dancercize Try-It. They chose a date, made decorations, chose music, planned snacks, and taught each other different dances. Oh, and they got to sell cookies this year. Their money is going toward a campout at the zoo.

Junior Girl Scouts are usually ages 8-11. The Juniors are the ones in the traditional Girl Scout Green uniforms. They earn proficiency badges, which means they need to become proficient enough to teach a certain type of skill in order to earn a badge. For instance, to earn a Troop Camping badge, girls need to be able to teach younger girls skills like using a pocketknife or building a fire. Juniors do even more of their own planning and organizing. They might plan an entire meeting, instead of just choosing an activity or two. If they are going on an outing, they might actually make phone calls to find out about the location they want to visit. They are truly developing skills for independence.

Girls aged 11 to 17 have their own program within Girl Scouting - Studio 2B. Girls earn charms for a charm bracelet, rather than patches. They also have the opportunity to earn the highest awards in Girl Scouting, the Silver and Gold awards. Girls must plan and carry out a major service project as part of these awards. Also, girls in this age group have many opportunities for leadership. They can be in leadership roles within a troop, planning and carrying out activities under the supervision of adult leaders. They can also train to be Program Aides, who work with younger girls in camps and other settings, or enroll in a Counselor-in-Training program at summer camp.

Older girls also often go on trips through Girl Scouting - ranging from simple camping trips to trips across the U.S. to trips throughout the world. Special programs called Wider Opportunities are held in various locations in the U.S. and in other countries, and older girls can apply to take part in these programs. Some troops raise money to take international trips together, as well. There are very few limits on the possibilities.

Through all of the levels, and all of the activities, however, Girl Scouting does focus on the same basics. In addition to the mission statement above, Girl Scouting has four program goals. Activities are supposed to encourage girls to: develop to their full potential, relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect, develop a meaningful set of values to guide their actions and to provide for sound decision-making, and contribute to the improvement of society. Program is also built around the Girl Scout Promise and Law (see www.girlscouts.org for the Promise and Law)

Every activity in Girl Scouting is supposed to tie in to one of these goals, or to the Promise and Law. Every activity, while also being fun, is intended to help girls learn and develop into healthy, happy, and independent young women. It's not just about cookies.