All About Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts’ dreams are our dreams. A Girl Scout builds a better world—just as Girl Scouts have been doing for over a century. With programs coast-to-coast and around the globe, everyone can find their place in Girl Scouts and start creating the world they want to see.

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Girl Scout volunteers make up a dynamic and diverse group. Whether you’re a recent college graduate, parent, retiree, or, really, anyone—of any gender, who is 18 years or older and has passed their council’s screening process—with a sense of curiosity and adventure, your unique skills and experiences have the power to change lives. With you as their mentor, Girl Scouts will grow and thrive.

Girl Scout members and volunteers are united by the values in the Girl Scout Promise and Law and their shared commitment to embrace leadership in all forms. Each member agrees to follow Girl Scout safety guidelines and pay annual membership dues. Volunteers and adults also have the option to purchase a Lifetime membership .

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Young people can join Girl Scouts at any point from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Girl Scout Daisy (grades K–1)
Girl Scout Brownie (grades 2–3)
Girl Scout Junior (grades 4–5)
Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6–8)
Girl Scout Senior (grades 9–10)
Girl Scout Ambassador (grades 11–12)

Inclusion

Girl Scouts has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, and we welcome and embrace individuals of all abilities and backgrounds in our wonderful sisterhood.

Inclusion is at the core of who we are; it’s about being a sister to every Girl Scout and celebrating our unique strengths. This means that each Girl Scout needs to be able to feel seen for who they are and what they bring to the group.

Part of the important work you’ll do as a volunteer is modeling friendship and compassion for your Girl Scouts, and showing them what it means to practice empathy. By treating all Girl Scouts with kindness and respect, you can nurture an inclusive troop environment.

A critical component of inclusion is that everyone is able to participate. When scheduling, planning, and carrying out activities, carefully consider the needs of everyone involved, including school schedules, family needs, financial constraints, dietary requirements, religious holidays, and the accessibility of appropriate transportation and meeting places.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) toggle arrow

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE): A variety of activities plus supportive relationships plus the three Girl Scout processes equals the five Girl Scout outcomes. The GSLE is experienced in regular meetings, in activities, in emotionally and physically safe spaces, and through Girl Scout Traditions.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) is our research-based impact model that describes what members do in Girl Scouts, who they do it with, how they do it, and how they benefit. When planning your year, make sure you’re implementing all parts of the GSLE regularly.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience was designed to include a variety of fun and challenging activities to help Girl Scouts learn, grow, and thrive. These include activities associated with:

National Program Portfolio (badges, awards, and patches)
Outdoor and camping experiences
Community service and Take Action projects
Field trips and events
Girl Scout Cookie Program

The GSLE also emphasizes supportive relationships, seen in how volunteers care for the Girl Scouts they lead—encouraging their creative thinking, honoring inclusion, and nurturing a safe space overall. As a result, Girl Scouts develop positive relationships with their peers and feel a sense of belonging. When Girl Scouts feel supported and safe, they’re more likely to achieve the five GSLE outcomes described below and, ultimately, reflect the Girl Scout mission.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience draws on three unique processes that encourage Girl Scouts to try new things, write their own stories, and develop the skills and confidence to say, “I know I can do this!”

Girl-led. Girl Scouts take the lead, no matter their age. From selecting badges to organizing activities, they gain confidence while following their dreams.
Learning by doing. Participatory activities are fun for members of any age, but they also help Girl Scouts feel empowered to shape their own experience.
Cooperative learning. Girl Scouts experience firsthand that teamwork, respect, and collaboration can fuel them through any challenge that comes their way.

As a volunteer, you’ll draw on these three processes as you lead Girl Scouts.

Naturally, “girl-led” at the Daisy level will look very different from girl-led at the Ambassador level. What’s most important is that your Girl Scouts make decisions about the activities they’ll do together and make choices as they’re doing the activities together. As they learn from their successful and not-so-successful tries, they gain confidence.

All Girl Scouts should have the opportunity to lead within their peer group. By the time they’re Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors, they’ll be using the leadership skills they’ve developed to take on more ownership of their activities, mentor younger Girl Scouts, and take action to make the world a better place.

And finally, when a variety of activities, supportive adults, and the three Girl Scout processes are combined, Girl Scouts demonstrate the five GSLE outcomes:

Strong Sense of Self. Girl Scouts have confidence in themselves and their abilities and form positive identities.
Positive Values. Girl Scouts act ethically, honestly, and responsibly, and show concern for others.
Challenge Seeking. Girl Scouts learn to take appropriate risks, try things even if they might fail, and learn from mistakes.
Healthy Relationships. Girl Scouts develop and maintain healthy relationships by communicating their feelings directly and resolving conflicts constructively.
Community Problem-Solving. Girl Scouts desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, learn how to identify problems in the community, and create “action plans” to solve them.

One last tip: Tuning in to what interests your Girl Scouts and sparks their imaginations is much more important than completing all the activities on your list. 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. What matters most is the fun and learning that takes place as they make experiences their own—so don’t be afraid to step back and let your Girl Scouts take the lead.

To learn more about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, view our training on gsLearn.

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Reflection is the necessary post-activity debrief that reinforces what’s been learned and gives Girl Scouts the confidence they need to make connections between the activities your troop tries and future challenges they might face.

Keep in mind that reflection does not need to be a formal process, though you can kick-start the conversation with three simple questions: 1) What? 2) So what? and 3) Now what?

First, go over the “what” of the activity. For example, ask:

What did we do today?
What part was your favorite?
If we did it again, what would you want to do differently and what would you want to repeat?

Next, move to the “so what.” You might ask:

So, what did you learn by doing this activity?
So, what did you learn about yourself?
So, what did you learn about your community (or environment, school, or others) that you didn’t know before?
Why do you think this activity was important?
What key learning can we take with us?

For the “now what?” say something like:

Now that we’ve done this, what would you like to do next?
Now that you know [thing learned] about yourselves, what would you like to try next?
Now that we’ve completed this Take Action project, what could we do to make sure it continues to have impact?
Given this experience, what’s more of a priority to you now?
What are you curious to learn more about?
Where would you like to go?
Who would you like to meet?

This form of reflection, or however you choose to reflect with your Girl Scouts, is a powerful component of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. It helps girls carry with them what they’ve learned throughout the rest of their lives.

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Girl Scout programming grows with girls! While some activities—like outdoor adventures or learning business skills—are part of every Girl Scout grade level, each group experiences them in their own way. Brownies and Juniors won’t be doing the same things as Seniors and Ambassadors, but with your support, they’ll be ready when the time comes.

At Girl Scouts, progression is key, whether girls are camping, on a troop trip, or running their cookie businesses through the cookie program. Our programming is designed to build confidence and skills year after year, helping girls feel excited to try new things and take on bigger challenges. As a volunteer, you’ll help create a safe, supportive space where girls can explore, make mistakes, and grow—every step of the way.

The Girl Scout Program: National Program Pillars toggle arrow

Girl Scouts' four Program Pillars—STEM, Life Skills, Outdoors, and Entrepreneurship—form the foundation of the Girl Scout program.

STEM. Girl Scouts are naturally curious and have a strong desire to help others. Whether they’re building a robot, developing a video game, or studying the stars, Girl Scouts become better problem-solvers and critical thinkers through STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and gain the confidence to turn their ideas into breakthrough inventions to help others.

Life Skills. Girl Scouts’ life skills programming equips girls with practical skills and tools that foster financial literacy, civic engagement, and community service. It’s programming that helps them discover that they have what it takes to raise their voices as community advocates, make smart decisions about their finances, and form strong, healthy relationships—skills that inspire them to accept challenges and overcome obstacles, now and always.

Outdoors. Girl Scouts have been building outdoor confidence and skills for over 100 years! They do this through a variety of outdoor adventures like camping and nature-focused badge work that have them spending time outdoors and developing a lifelong appreciation of nature. This appreciation sparks Girl Scouts’ desire to take action as environmental stewards in their community and beyond.

Entrepreneurship. Starting with the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program and including Girl Scouts’ fall product program and a series of entrepreneurship badges, this pillar instills and nurtures an entrepreneurial mindset in girls. It fuels their curiosity and confidence as they learn the essentials of running their own businesses and how to think like entrepreneurs.

Important Differences: Patches, Badges, and Awards toggle arrow

Patch, badges, and awards are designed to give Girl Scouts different leadership-building experiences, all while they have fun!

Patches are about sparking interest. Often called fun patches or participation patches, Girl Scouts receive them for participating in a special event or activity, like troop activities, events or activities that are part of council-sponsored programs… It could even be a trip to the zoo. Patches are worn on the back of a Girl Scouts’ uniform.

Badges are about skill building. When a Girl Scout earns a badge, it shows they’ve learned a new skill, such as how to make a first aid kit, build and test a toy race car, or take great digital photos. Badges may even seed a future career. Badges are worn on the front of a Girl Scout’s uniform.

Awards are about deepening understanding. Whether they’re focused on leadership, service, or earning the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award (Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards), by earning an award, Girl Scouts show their commitment to growth and making a meaningful impact. Awards are often pins and worn on the front of a Girl Scout’s uniform.

Other Important Differences: Community Service and Take Action Projects toggle arrow

As your Girl Scouts look for meaningful ways to give back to their community, you can help sharpen their problem-solving skills and expand their definition of doing good by discussing community service and Take Action projects. Both projects serve essential needs, but at different levels.

When a Girl Scout performs community service, they are responding to an immediate need in a one-off, “doing for” capacity. In other words, they are making an impact right now.
Through Take Action/service learning, Girl Scouts explore the root causes of a community need and address it in a lasting way; they truly make the world—or their part of it—a better place.

If your troop members want to pursue their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award, they’ll develop a Take Action project on an issue that’s close to their hearts. To make Take Action projects even more impactful for your Girl Scouts, set time aside for them to reflect on their projects. When they take time to internalize the lessons they’ve learned, they’re more likely to find success in their future projects—or anything else they put their minds to.

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Time-honored traditions and ceremonies unite Girl Scout sisters and the millions of Girl Scout alums who came before them—around the country and around the globe—and remind them how far their fellow trailblazers have come and just how far they’ll go.

A few of those extra special days, when you will want to turn up the celebrations, include:

Juliette Gordon Low's birthday or Founder's Day, October 31, marks the birth in 1860 of Girl Scouts of the USA founder Juliette Gordon Low in Savannah, Georgia.
World Thinking Day, February 22, celebrates international friendship. It is an opportunity for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to connect with each other and explore a common theme around the world.
Girl Scouts’ birthday, March 12, commemorates the day in 1912 when Juliette Gordon Low officially registered the organization's first 18 girl members in Savannah, Georgia.

At Girl Scouts, we embrace our rich cultural legacy. Whether they’re working on a new badge, making new friends, or closing meetings with a friendship circle, your troop can learn and incorporate traditions, ceremonies, and special Girl Scout days—which are a few of the ways we remember and honor our long and cherished history.

Know that we continually review Girl Scout norms and traditions to ensure they’re relevant and inclusive. At times this may lead to our modifying or discontinuing traditions to make way for new ones.

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The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards honor Girl Scouts who become forces for good and create a lasting impact in their communities, nationally and around the world.

As your Girl Scouts discover the power of their voices, they’ll want to take on an issue that is close to their hearts and meaningful to them. Encourage them to turn their ideas into reality by pursuing Girl Scouts’ highest awards.

The Girl Scout Bronze Award can be earned by a group of Juniors.
The Girl Scout Silver Award can be earned by Cadettes, either individually or in a small group.
The Girl Scout Gold Award can be earned by Seniors and Ambassadors. Girl Scouts work individually to earn this award.

Every Girl Scout can earn our Highest Awards. Learn how to get started!

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Girl Scouts love to explore—and travel is a big part of that adventure! Whether it’s a local field trip or a journey across the globe, Girl Scout travel is special because the girls take the lead. They decide where to go and what to do, and they take on more responsibility as they grow, building lifelong skills along the way. From short outings to international trips or council-led Destinations, these experiences help Girl Scouts gain confidence, learn to plan, and discover the world in exciting new ways. Field trips and overnight adventures bring learning to life—connecting badge work to real-world experiences like exploring new cuisines, budgeting for a trip, and diving into nature.

Want to add a special Girl Scout touch? Consider visiting the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah or one of the WAGGGS World Centers around the globe. Many councils also offer camps that troops can rent—perfect for staying local or going far!

As your troop plans its next journey, your role is to guide and cheer Girl Scouts on—not do the work for them. Share ideas, ask thoughtful questions, and support their decisions with enthusiasm. With your encouragement, they’ll build confidence and create unforgettable memories!

Planning Overnight Adventures

Girl Scout travel starts with day trips. Learn more through the Field Trips & Travel course on gsLearn or by reviewing our Day Trips Checklist.

Contact your council as soon as you start thinking about planning an overnight trip to find out more about their approval process. They also likely have training programs to boost your confidence as a chaperone.

Not sure where to begin? Check out the Girl Scout Guide to U.S. Travel. This resource is designed for Juniors and older Girl Scouts who want to take extended trips—that is, longer than a weekend—but also features tips and tools for budding explorers who are just getting started.

Once Girl Scouts have mastered planning and embarking on trips in the U.S., they might be ready for a global travel adventure! Global trips usually take a few years to plan, and the Girl Scout Guide to Global Travel can guide you through the entire process.

Safety First

If you’re planning any kind of trip—from a short field trip to an overseas expedition—the “Trip and Travel” section of Safety Activity Checkpoints is your go-to resource for safety. Your council may also have additional resources and approval processes that can be found in Safety Activity Checkpoints.

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