I can t wait to Be a dancing machine Be the best picture taker ever Be a spy on a mission Be a hula-hooping queen Be a Girl Scout.

Transcription

1 I can t wait to Be a dancing machine Be the best picture taker ever Be a spy on a mission Be a hula-hooping queen Be a Girl Scout. Family Guide to Girl Scouting

2 It s Your Girl s Experience Share It! As a member of the Girl Scouts, your girl will have experiences that build her courage, confidence, and character and which will ultimately result in her making our world a better place. As a parent/guardian, I know you have hopes and dreams for your daughter. There are days when I imagine you wish you could wrap up good decision-making skills or joy or a sense of belonging in a box with a pretty bow and your daughter would automatically have that gift forever...if only it could be that easy. By making the decision to enroll your girl as a Girl Scout, you are providing her with experiences that will help her learn how to make good decisions, friends who will bring her joy, a worldwide sisterhood where she can experience a sense of belonging, and so much more. Brand new in the fall of 2011 was the Girl s Guide to Girl Scouting developed by Girl Scouts of the USA. This Guide has received awards because of its relevance to girls and the fact that the materials are steeped in research conducted by the Girl Scout Research Institute. There is a special version of the guide for every Girl Scout grade level - Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador. I hope you ll invest in a guide for your girl because she will love having one of her own and it will be a place for her to keep track of all her Girl Scout awards and memories and thoughts about her future. Lastly, check out our website to learn more about the amazing camp properties owned by the Girl Scouts. We learned from our own local research over the last two years that girls want to have outdoor experiences and that adult volunteers believe they should have them, but time constraints seem to be an obstacle. We will be looking at ways in the coming year to provide you with opportunities to visit and enjoy these camps and as always you ll receive a camp brochure inviting your girl to participate in a summer camp opportunity. I ll close with some of the words to a favorite Girl Scout song I learned when I was a camper... I know a place where no one ever goes, there s peace and quiet beauty and repose. It s hidden in a valley beside a mountain stream, and lying there beside the stream I find that I can dream... I hope that one of the gifts we can together give your girl is an outdoor experience at one of our properties where she can dream about the wonderful future that awaits her. Sincerely, Pam Hyland, CEO

3 A girl is a song ready to be sung. A girl is a mind ready to run. A girl is a light that s always on. All she needs is a little spark to realize it all. That s where we come in. At Girl Scouts, she ll laugh, she ll explore and she ll make strides all with her friends by her side. A moment when she tries something new can be the moment she discovers something amazing about herself that will carry her towards future success one that s all her own to share with the world. Whether she s 5 or 17, we can help her grow brighter and brighter from day to day, month to year together. We ve been helping girls shine for over 100 years. GSNYPENN 3

4 At Girl Scouts, Every Girl Can SHINE! Your girl will learn new things every day in Girl Scouts by: Participating in girl-led activities Having hands-on experiences Working with others on a common goal She can engage with Girl Scouts in one or more of the following ways we call Pathways to Leadership: Join a troop Engage in a series of program sessions Explore the outdoors at camp Attend an event Travel to new places Enjoy Girl Scouts via the internet Visit gsnypenn.org/join for more details. 4 Family Guide

5 To find out more about the Girl Scout Leadership Journeys and the National Program, visit gsnypenn.org>who We Are>National Program. Girl Scout Grade Levels Girl Scout Daisies, grades K-1 Girl Scout Cadette, grades 6-8 Girl Scout Brownies, grades 2-3 Girl Scout Junior, grades 4-5 Girl Scout Senior, grades 9-10 Girl Scout Ambassador, grades GSNYPENN 5

6 You Can Be Part of Girl Scouts Too! Make an impact in your girl s Girl Scout experience simply by volunteering with her troop. You can: Be a First Aider Provide transportation for trips Chaperone Trips Keep troop records Create a troop newsletter Assist with Journey and skill badge activities You can also take on the more exciting role as: Troop Leader Troop Co-Leader Troop Treasurer Troop Product Sale Manager Series Pathway Volunteer (six to eight week sessions) Benefits of Family Involvement Provide insight as activities are planned Ease the workload of your volunteer leaders Understand the Girl Scout Mission Make an impact on your girl s experience Connect with your girl and her friends 6 Family Guide

7 Virtual Pathway Coordinator Love to communicate and explore via the internet? This flexible position brings Girl Scout meetings to where girls already are...online! Engage girls with new and exciting opportunities made available through the latest in technology. Troop Leader This iconic position will allow you to be the positive role model in the lives of girls. You ll have fun with your troop throughout the year, while empowering them to be leaders. Trip Advisor/Travel Chaperone Is travel your passion? See the world through the eyes of girls. In these positions, you will help girls widen their vision of themselves and others as they explore the world. Outdoor Events Coordinator /Outdoor Series Facilitator/ Day Camp Coordinator Share your love of all things outdoors! Whether it s at one of our beautiful properties, or another magical place, this opportunity allows you to engage with a variety of girls of all ages who are excited to discover more about the great outdoors. Event Coordinator/Assistant/Guest Presenter/Series Facilitator Foster discovery and joy in girls by sharing with them your passion for hiking, chess, decorating, race car driving, or whatever you are enthusiastic about. Relive the best times of your life with the people who really want you Girl Scouts. Three Steps to Becoming a Volunteer Complete an Adult Volunteer Application and Background Check. gsnypenn.org/volunteer_app Complete Girl Scouting 101 Online. training.girlscouts.org Password: aboutgs101 Interview and Orientation. GSNYPENN 7

8 Jump START your Girl Scout s experience by purchasing a STARTER Kit! The Starter Kit is built with the essentials to outfit your Girl Scout and provide her with the tools she needs to have the best Girl Scout program experience! The Girl s Guide to Girl Scouting allows your girl to have all her Girl Scout fun and learning in one place. The Guide complements the Journey program so she can have a successful Girl Scout experience. The Starter Kits include your girl s grade level Girl s Guide to Girl Scouting, the Journey book of your choice, a vest/tunic or sash, the Council ID set, Troop numerals, Insignia Tab for pins, the American Flag for the vest/tunic or sash AND a FREE I Can t Wait to bag. Visit one of our boutiques, or shop on line at girlscoutshop.com/nypenn-pathways-council Every girl deserves her own starter kit! 8 Family Guide

9 Girl Scouts has partnered with LeanIn.org to launch Ban Bossy, a public service campaign with the mission to encourage leadership in girls through banning the word bossy. Research shows that calling girls bossy a word almost never used to describe boys is one of the many ways we discourage girls from leading at home, at school, and at work. By middle school, girls are less likely than boys to assume leadership positions; research indicates this trend continues into adulthood. As parents, educators, and friends, we can make small changes that have a big impact on a girl s ambitions, whether that girl seeks to be the CEO of the world s largest company or the CEO of her family at home. To find out more on how you can help Ban Bossy, visit girlscouts.org/banbossy GSNYPENN 9

10 The Girl Scout Mission Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try: To serve God and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law. The Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout. Girl Scout Service Centers 8170 Thompson Road Cicero, NY Colonial Drive Horseheads, NY Oakdale Mall Suite 52, Harry L Drive Johnson City, NY French Road New Hartford, NY State Street Watertown, NY Family Guide

11 A year with us will be filled with: New friends Tons of fun And more WOW moments than you ve ever imagined We design activities to teach girls about themselves and their world. A year with us is filled with the kind of moments she can t wait to tell everyone about. GSNYPENN 11

12 Stay Connected Sign up for the e-newsletter at: gsnypenn.org or text GSNYPENN to gsnypenn.org/shop Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Inc Thompson Road Cicero, NY 13039