In Girl Scouting, girls get to try new activities, build leadership skills, make new friends and have fun. Girl Scouts are not only going camping and selling Girl Scout cookies, they are programming robots and performing important community service projects in their towns.
GLEN CARBON — Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is making its summer push for girls and adult volunteers to join Girl Scouts, the country’s preeminent leadership development organization for girls.
With families already thinking about how to allocate their free time during the coming school year, Girl Scouts has released new data showing the organization’s benefits for girls and volunteers.
Results of a summer 2014 pulse poll conducted with more than 3,500 volunteers and parents of Girl Scouts in the K−5 age range show positive effects on members of all ages. Ninety-seven percent of parents agree that Girl Scouts has been a positive activity for their daughter, that she has had fun and exciting new experiences (95 percent), and that she has learned or tried something new (96 percent). In addition, 94 percent of parents say because of Girl Scouts their daughter feels special, has more friends (95 percent), and is happier (89 percent).
The data show it is not just girls who benefit: 94 percent of volunteers have made new friends, 88 percent believe their life is better because they volunteer with Girl Scouts, and two-thirds believe their volunteer experience has helped them professionally. Ninety-five percent of Girl Scout volunteers are happy knowing they are making girls’ lives better.
“Girl Scouts has provided a safe, fun, and engaging place for girls and adult volunteers to lead and thrive for over 100 years,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “We know the majority of volunteers feel their Girl Scout experience has helped them both personally and professionally, but in many places throughout the country, the lack of volunteers is what keeps girls on waiting lists. Every adult who volunteers for Girl Scouts can help us bring fun, new experiences to at least five girls. Imagine what that can do to shape the next generation of female leaders.”
Girl Scouts gives girls a place to explore topics of interest in a judgment-free space outside of classroom confinements; it cultivates cooperative and self-directed learning, as well as the growth mindset (the understanding that intelligence and talent can be developed) — all of which help foster a lifetime passion for learning. The variety of experiences and the value for the money the Girl Scout program provides are also popular selling points. Eighty-nine percent of parents say their daughter gets a greater variety of experiences from Girl Scouts than she does from other extracurricular activities, and the majority of parents feel Girl Scouts is a great value for the money compared to other extracurricular activities. Overall, parents consider Girl Scouts one of the most beneficial extracurricular activities for their daughter.
“In Girl Scouts, girls are always counting down to the next adventure she will go on,” said Villie M. Appoo, GSSI Chief Executive Officer. “Maybe it’s artistic. Maybe it’s programming a robot. Maybe it’s going to camp or selling Girl Scout Cookies. It may even be providing community service to her town. In Girl Scouts, your daughter will make a bunch of new friends and have a ton of new experiences,” Appoo added. Appoo said Girl Scout volunteers are also needed so all girls can benefit from the Girl Scout Advantage.
Girl Scouts is open to all girls from kindergarten through grade 12. The more adults step forward to volunteer, the more girls will get the chance to be a Girl Scout. Adults older than 18 may become volunteers; both girls and adults volunteers can join at any time of the year. Girl Scout volunteers come from all walks of life; they are men, women, young professionals, retirees, college students and more. Volunteer opportunities are diverse, flexible and can be tailored to meet personal availability and interests.
To join or volunteer, visit www.girlscouts.org/join.