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Community service project guidelines
Want to find a community service project for your troop? Visit the events & activities finder tool and search type as community service.
Community service philosophy
Service is inherent in the Girl Scout Promise and Law, and is given without expectations of payment or reward. All girls take part in service activities or projects, from Safety-Wise, Program Standard #5.
Purpose of service projects
Service activities give girls:
- An understanding of the part of the Promise that states "to help other people."
- Actions to back up the Girl Scout slogan, "Do a good turn daily."
- A way to feel pride about and express a commitment o their community.
- Opportunities to share their interests and skills to meet the needs of others.
- A tangible way of expressing interest in others through unselfish giving when and where needed.
- A way to feel good about themselves.
- An opportunity to develop "caring values" and to grow up as caring adults.
How to choose a good service project
Adult troop leaders can guide the girls in determining:
- Girls' interests and skills
- Community needs or wants
- If outside help or resources are needed
- How much time the project will take
- Safety considerations
Criteria for a good service project
As a troop leader ask yourself these questions:
- Is it age appropriate?
- Is it within the skill level of the girls?
- Does it provide learning opportunities?
- Does it allow the girls to see the results of their efforts?
- Does it introduce girls to others in the community?
How to determine if a project works for your troop
- Identify a problem - Have the girls identify issues or needs of the community, problems observed or experienced first hand or learned about from media or bulletins in places of worship. Ask girls to select one in which they have a genuine interest and narrow it to a scope and size they can handle.
- Look at possible solutions - What can girls do to help? What other community groups might be able to participate? What resources or skills do the girls have that might make a difference? How much time are they willing to spend? Identify a target population and the number of girls available to serve. Evaluate practical aspects like transportation, safety, equipment, budgets, etc.
- Make a commitment - Community service should be ongoing, not isolated. One time projects are not as effective as continued opportunities to serve. All projects need not be large or time-consuming but rather provide a series of experiences that help girls become responsible citizens.
- Reflect on the impact of service - Giving service can change the way we look at our own lives. Service can influence career plans and promote new attitudes. Beyond evaluation, reflection allows girls to consider what the experience has meant personally.
Safe and sound service projects
Refer to Safety-Wise for health and safety guidelines for all Girl Scout activities. Each troop is given a copy of this book in their initial troop packet. Check with your service team or membership manager if you need a Safety-Wise book.
Avoid these projects
Projects involving specialized training such as lead paint removal are prohibited. Roadside or highway trash pickup, stream cleanup and general litter pickup projects are not encouraged. These projects present possible disposal liabilities, traffic risks and potential for serious disease contamination. See Safety-Wise, page 43, for details about the inherent health and safety risks involved in trash removal.
Runs, races and walkathons
Girl Scouts cannot raise money for other groups. They can help with water stations, hand out finisher ribbons, stuff envelopes, count T-shirts or do other tasks that do not involve handling money. Runs, races, walkathons, etc., usually are fundraisers for the sponsoring organization. See Safety-Wise, Program Standard #33, for the acceptable level of participation of Girl Scouts in events that involve raising money for other organizations.
Return Addresses
For security reasons, be careful when correspondences is part of the project. Use only the troop number and the girls' first names on cards and Internet contacts. Use the adult leader's name and address for the return address.