A Journey Defined… At Your Request!
A Girl Scout Journey represents a new way that girls can experience Girl Scouting. A journey is a fun and challenging experience spread over a series of sessions—usually six to eight, but with the potential to last far longer. The journey, which follows a designated theme, has a clear starting point (an invitation to explore and take action) and a definite ending point (with opportunities to enjoy closure through reflections, rewards, and a celebration). Along the way, girls follow a purposeful trail that allows them to have fun, get wiser, and experience all the joys of being a traveler—meeting new people, exploring new tastes and cultures, gathering keepsakes, and making memories—carrying everything in one “suitcase,” which is their journey book! No matter how much time girls spend on a journey, the whole is always greater than any single part. So when a Girl Scout Journey comes to a close, girls and their adult guides truly feel a sense of accomplishment.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Quicklinks
We invite you to come and learn about the upcoming additional resources being added to the Girl Scout program.
Click any of the links below to register for your Journey Update! All updates are from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. |
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June 17 |
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Merced |
June 19 |
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Orangevale |
June 23 |
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Sonora |
June 25 |
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Stockton |
June 30 |
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Rancho Cordova |
July 10 |
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Auburn |
July 14 |
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Cameron Park |
July 17 |
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Modesto |
July 22 |
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Yuba City |
July 24 |
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Sacramento |
Aug 6 |
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Angel's Camp |
Aug 7 |
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Still want more information?
Click here to download Transforming Leadership. You will learn about the Discover-Connect-Take Action framework of the 15 outcomes and understand how girls will benefit from the New Girl Leadership Experience today and tomorrow. |
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The Basics
Books
Awards
Uniforms
New Membership Levels
Volunteer Training
The Basics
Q: What is the Girl Scout Leadership Experience?
A: The Girl Scout Leadership Experience engages girls in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place.
Q: What are the three keys to leadership and how do they relate to the Leadership model?
A: Discover, Connect, and Take Action. These three keys are defined as:
- Discover: Girls understand themselves and their values and use their knowledge and skills to explore the world.
- Connect: Girls care about, inspire, and team with others locally and globally.
- Take Action: Girls act to make the world a better place.
In Girl Scouting, Discover+Connect+Take Action=Leadership. All Girl Scout experiences are intentionally designed to tie to one or more of the 15 national leadership outcomes, or benefits, categorized under the three keys to leadership. The three keys to leadership replace Girl Scouting’s “four program goals.”
Q: What is a journey?
A: The new age level appropriate journeys combines activities, discussions, team building skills, reflections, fun and challenges for girls in the specific age grouping. Journeys incorporate both the keys to leadership (Discover, Connect, and Take Action) and Girl-Led, Learn By Doing, and Cooperative Learning.
Books
Girl Scout Daisy
Journey
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Girl Scout Brownie
Journey
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Girl Scout Junior
Journey
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Girl Scout Cadette
Journey
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Girl Scout Senior
Journey
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Girl Scout Ambassador
Journey
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Q: What are the books for girls in the first series of leadership journeys?
A: The first books for girls are all part of the It’s Your World—Change It! series of leadership journeys. This series features one new book for girls at each grade level in Girl Scouting:
Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden
Brownie Quest
Agent of Change (for Juniors)
aMAZE (for Cadettes)
GIRLtopia: Toward an Ideal World for Girls (for Seniors)
Your Voice, Your World: The Power of Advocacy (for Ambassadors)
At every grade level, these books place great emphasis on inviting girls to “Take Action” on an issue they care about. The books also contain stories, inspirational material, Girl Scout history, traditions and values, facts and games, and open spaces for girls to fill in their own ideas and memories.
“How to” books have been created for adults corresponding to each of the girl books. These guides for adult volunteers offer plenty of support, including sample sessions to tailor with girls, to carry out the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
Q: What will happen to existing badge books, handbooks, and STUDIO 2B books?
A: These books remain available and viable Girl Scout resources. Girls may continue using them based on their interests.
As Girl Scouting phases in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, we will be determining which resources might still be needed to supplement the new approach between 2008 and 2010, or which resources might be needed beyond 2010. Information will be provided with advance notice as decisions are made throughout the transition period. Girls will always have a chance to complete existing plans and transition to new materials.
Awards
Q: What new awards can girls earn with the It’s Your World-Change It! journeys?
A: Girl Scouts at each of the six grade levels have a chance to earn new official awards as they complete steps along the journey. The awards are designed to be worn on the Girl Scout uniform. Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, and Cadettes have the chance to earn several badges along the journey. Seniors and Ambassadors can mark the completion of their journey with a pin or badge.
The steps for earning the awards are clearly explained in the “how-to” books for volunteers created for each journey. Girls have information about the awards in their books, too. The journey books for girls and adults also have suggested reflection and ceremony ideas related to earning the awards. The goal is to provide opportunities for girls to fully understand the achievement and growth the awards represent.
Q: Can girls still earn badges, apart from journeys?
A: Girls are welcome to continue choosing and earning badges that represent their varied interests. Earning badges is an important tradition in Girl Scouting and it is here to stay! As adults and girls become more familiar with the elements of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, they will even be able to see how the Discover, Connect, and Take Action leadership keys can be integrated into earning badges.
Of course, no matter what activities girls do in Girl Scouting, the experience is always best when it incorporates the Girl Scout processes: Girl Led, Learning by Doing, and Cooperative Learning.
Q: What is the future of badges?
A: Over the next several years, Girl Scouts of the USA will be updating some badges to ensure the learning experiences tie to the national leadership outcomes intended for girls. As new or refreshed badges become available and “old” badges are phased out, girls will have time to transition. They will not “lose out” on activities they have begun or planned.
Girl Scout members have expressed interest in the availability of badges online and GSUSA is considering and analyzing this possibility. Further information will be available in 2009.
Q: How do the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards fit into the Girl Scout Leadership Experience?
A: Girl Scouts of the USA is working to update the requirements for earning the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards and new guidelines will be available online in spring 2009. During the transition years (2008-2010), girls may continue earning the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards based on existing standards.
Uniforms
Girl Scouts Heart of Central California has always held to the practice that the Girl Scout membership pin is uniform. There is no plan to change this policy currently.
New Membership Levels
Q: What are the new grade levels?
A: The National Board of Directors approved these grade levels in 2006 to provide increased differentiation and advancement as girls experience Girl Scouting. The new levels are effective beginning in fall 2008. Depending on local needs , councils may transition to these categories up until fall 2010. Girl Scouts Heart of Central California is allowing troops to make a choice regarding the new grade levels. If you would rather stay a Girl Scout Junior troop, you certainly may. If you are bridging from Grade 6 Girl Scout Juniors to Grade 7 Girl Scout Cadettes, you may do that also. This year is very flexible to meet the needs of all troops.
- Girl Scout Daisies (Grades K-1)
- Girl Scout Brownies (Grades 2-3)
- Girl Scout Juniors (Grades 4-5)
- Girl Scout Cadettes (Grades 6-8)
- Girl Scout Seniors (Grades 9-10)
- Girl Scout Ambassadors (Grades 11-12)
Q: How will multilevel groups use the journeys?
A: Let’s use It’s Your World-Change It! series as an example. Girls at every level will be engaged in taking action. Taking action provides a unifying theme for multigrade level groups so girls at multiple grade levels can have their own grade- appropriate journey, yet they will be able to support each other in accomplishing goals. All the journeys encourage girls to share or “pass forward” some of what they are learning and experiencing with other girls. Multigrade groups offer a wonderful setting for this to happen.
Volunteer Training
Q: Will all volunteers have to take training again?
A: No. Girl Scouts Heart of Central California encourages all volunteers to attend the summer 2008 Girl Scout Journey updates, to be held in a variety of geographic locations throughout the council. These updates will give volunteers important information about the upcoming additions to the Girl Scout program.
Questions?
For more information please call the council office at (800) 322-4475 or (916) 638-4475 or e-mail us at info@girlscoutshcc.org.
