Girl Scouts: Harnessing the Unique Power of G.I.R.L.

If I had to name only one thing that girls learn when they’re involved with Girl Scouts, it’s that they become capable of tackling pretty much anything. From building robotic hands to creating libraries that teach new immigrants how to read English, girls in Girl Scouting have done amazing things for more than 100 years. With the right encouragement, guidance, training, and confidence, Girl Scouts grow into women who lead by example and undoubtedly do great things in the world.

Girls are the key to our collective future, and Girl Scouts of the USA harnesses that knowledge and puts it front and center. Gender balance in the workplace and in the public sphere are vital to ensuring that every voice is heard and every view considered. One of the best things we can do to ensure the long-term strength of the United States is to invest in girls. Women bring an invaluable perspective to the courtroom, the classroom, the caucus room and every room.

Girl Scouts was created specifically with and for girls, making it the preferred leadership experience for girls in the world. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind, not-to-be-duplicated, leadership development program that pairs girls with strong female role models and mentors who help each girl discover and develop her potential. At Girl Scouts, girls can find a safe space where they are free to just be themselves without the pressures and social angst that can come from a mixed-gender environment. This leadership model is designed to meet a girl's interests, places importance on a diversity of perspectives and it is collaborative.

We all know that creating more female leaders means starting young and making sure today’s girls are acquiring the skills they will need to take on the 21st century leadership roles of their futures. Through more than 100 years of experience, Girl Scouts of the USA has become the experts at giving girls the tools they need to empower themselves by teaching them that their voices count, that what they feel and think matters, and inspiring them to stand up for what they believe in.

Girls of all backgrounds and interests who want to develop the courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place are always welcome. Girl Scout programming bolsters the benefits of school by fostering a safe, inclusive, girl-led, and all-female environment where they are free to practice different skills and take on leadership positions. Research shows that girls learn best in an all-girl, girl-focused, and girl-friendly environment where their specific needs are addressed and met. Girl Scouts fills that need.

Leaders, camp counselors, and volunteers are all thoroughly vetted, and although family members are always welcome, the focus in Girl Scouting remains on the girls. The girl-defined and girl-led aspects of Girl Scouts is a crucial key to what is offered. And the fact is, most of a girl’s life is coed, making the safe space that Girl Scouts offers imperative for nurturing collaboration instead of competition. With this encouragement, girls stretch beyond their limits and transfer knowledge, experiences, and skills to any environment, both now and in the future.

The options for exploration, and leadership are endless, and transform with the times. Girls can participate in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, canoeing, and archery all while learning critical life skills. At Girl Scouts, it is ensured that every girl has an opportunity to take the lead in the world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on learning. And the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program is unrivaled in its ability to teach girls financial literacy skills for today and tomorrow. Additionally, one-of-a-kind civic engagement programming gives girls the chance to take the lead on issues they care about in their communities and be recognized by their peers and neighbors as the societal champions they are.

And, of course, only Girl Scouts gives girls the chance to pursue the most challenging, rewarding, and life-changing award for girls in the world: the Girl Scout Gold Award. Earned by fewer than 6 percent of Girl Scouts annually, the Gold Award requires girls to demonstrate their leadership skills by addressing a local or global community issue. Girls typically spend one to two years on their project and must establish sustainability that benefits the chosen community in the long term. Girls’ projects range from ones that address poverty to illiteracy to environmentalism.

With more than a century of experience, Girl Scouts brings a wealth of knowledge to programs that provide cornerstone experiences for girls that last a lifetime. It’s the best leadership experience for girls in the world because it has been, and always will be, girl-led.