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| Our Mission Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts ayuda alas ninas a desarrollar la confianza en si mismas, el valor, y los principios para hacer del mundo un mejor lugar. The Girl Scout Purpose
The purpose of Girl Scouting is to inspire girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service that they may become happy and resourceful citizens. Girl Scouting seeks to accomplish this by providing girls opportunities to develop their potential and have fun with their peers in a supportive, all-girl setting. Girl Scouting Is A movement that gives girls from all segments of American life a chance to develop their potential, to make friends, and to become a vital part of their community. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912. It is a not-for-profit, youth serving organization chartered by the United States Congress. Based on ethical values, it opens up a world of opportunities for girls, working in partnership with adult volunteers. Its sole focus is to meet the needs of girls. The founder of Girl Scouting, Juliette Gordon Low, organized the first Girl Scout troop in the United States on March 12, 1912. She lived for a time in England, and it was there that she met Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Boy Scouts, and his sister Agnes, who had started a similar movement for girls called Girl Guides. Juliette Low was so impressed with this concept for girls that she decided to bring the organization to the United States. She held the first American Girl Scout meeting at her home in Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912. Juliette Low set a standard for Girl Scouts and people everywhere who want to work actively to make the world a better, friendlier, and more peaceful place. The Girl Scout program, based on the ideas of Juliette Low, gives girls and adults opportunities to understand themselves and others, to develop skills, values, and ethics, and to extend and contribute their special gifts and talents. Throughout its 90 years, the Girl Scout movement has played a key role in helping girls prepare for their futures. In keeping with founder Juliette Gordon Low's vision, the Girl Scouts remain committed to meeting the unique needs of girls. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. continues to offer girls opportunities to explore new career paths and prepare for expanded roles in a changing society, while retaining the timeless values that have made the Girl Scout experience rich and meaningful for all girls. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. (GSUSA) is the largest voluntary organization for girls in the world. It's headquarters are in New York City. Councils are the local units chartered by GSUSA to administer the Girl Scout program within an assigned jurisdiction. The organization serves girls ages 5 - 17 (or grades kindergarten to 12th) who subscribe to its ideals as stated in the Girl Scout Promise and Law. GSUSA forms part of a worldwide family of girls and adults in 140 countries through its membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). WAGGGS is an international organization whose purpose was to encourage friendship among girls. Today, 8.5 million girls and adults belong to WAGGGS. The World Association Pin is worn to show membership in this international movement. WAGGGS is headquartered in London and operates four world centers: Pax Lodge (England), Our Chalet (Switzerland), Sang (India), and Our Canbana (Mexico). Membership Today there are approximately 3.7 million Girl Scout members.
The Girl Scout organizaton has 986,000 adult members (women and men), including volunteer leaders, consultants, board members, and staff specialists in such areas as child development, adult education, outdoor education, and administration. Employed executives account for less than 1 percent of total adult membership. The Girl Scout Program: A Learning Experience for All "The Girl Scout program is an informal educational program designed to help girls put into practice the fundamental principles of the Girl Scout Movement as set forth in the Preamble. The program is adapted to meet the developmental, educational, emotional, and social needs and interests of girls at five age levels. It is carried out in small groups with adult leadership and provides a wide range of activities developed around the interests and needs of girls." It is a continuous adventure in learning that offers every girl a broad range of activities which address both her current interests and her future role as a woman. Through activities that stimulate self-discovery, girls are introduced to the excitement in the worlds of science, the arts, the out-of-doors, and people. Girls grow in skill and in self-confidence. They have fun, they make new friends, and through meaningful community service they acquire understanding about themselves and others. The Girl Scout program is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law: The Girl Scout Promise On my honor, I will try:
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
friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do,
respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout. Girl Scouting's Goals for Girls The goals of Girl Scout program are stated in the four program emphases. These emphases express the ways girls may benefit from their Girl Scout experiences. Developing Self-Potential Developing self to achieve one's full individual potential: Foster feelings of self-acceptance and unique self-worth; promote her perception as competent, responsible, and open to new experiences and challenges; offer opportunities to learn new skills; encourage personal growth; allow girls to utilize and practice talents and abilities. Relating to Others Relating to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect: Help each girl develop sensitivity to others and respect for their needs, feelings, and rights; promote an understanding and appreciation of individual, cultural, religious, and racial differences; foster the ability to build friendships and working relationships. Developing Values Developing values to guide her actions and to provide the foundation for sound decision-making: Help her develop a meaningful set of values and ethics that will guide her actions; foster an ability to make decisions that are consistent with her values and that reflect respect for the rights and needs of others; empower her to act upon her values and convictions; encourage her to reexamine her ideals as she matures. Contributing to Society Contributing to the improvement of society through the use of her abilities and leadership skills, working in cooperation with others: Help her develop concern for the well-being of her community and its people; promote an understanding of how the quality of community life affects her own life and the whole of society; encourage her to use her skills to work with others for the benefit of all. * The motivating force in Girl Scouting is a spiritual one. Each girl is encouraged to become a better member of her own religious group and respect the varying religious beliefs and practices of others. * Girl Scout program promotes cooperative learning experiences. Girls and adults form a working partner ship in planning, decision-making, and evaluating progress. The development of leadership and decision-making skills is encouraged through specific activities, experiences with self-government, and the influence of adult role models. * Girl Scout program encourages girls to develop qualities of responsible citizenship. A girl's service to the community and to her own religious group, as well as positive interaction with her family and friends, is used to lay a foundation for responsible action as a woman. * Service is an important element of Girl Scout program and is performed to better the quality of life for others, without regard for personal reward. * Girl Scout program contains a system of progressive, earned recognitions designed to develop skills and to symbolize accomplishments. Girl Scouting's Special Days October 31, Juliette Low's Birthday (also known as Founder's Day) February 22, Thinking Day. The birthday of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell has become a day for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides all over the world to think about each other. March 12, Girl Scout Birthday.
On March 12, 1912, Juliette Low and two other women met with 18 girls
to for the first Girl Scout troop in the United States. Girl Scouts celebrate
the birthday of this first Girl Scout meeting for an entire week. The
week in which March 12 falls is recognized as Girl Scout Week.
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