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What is Girl Scouts?
Girl Scouts is the nation’s premier leadership experience for girls. It is a safe place for girls to learn more about themselves and the world around them, develop an understanding and empathy for others, and take action to make the world a better place.
Through participation in Girl Scouts, girls gain courage, confidence and character alongside a group of girls who will be their friends for life. In Girl Scouts, girls are guided by committed, caring adults who make learning fun.
What is Girl Scouts of Colorado?
On Oct. 1, 2007, Girl Scouts of Colorado became the new face for local Girl Scouting. The five previous Colorado councils – Chipeta (Grand Junction), Columbine (Pueblo), Mile Hi (Denver), Mountain Prairie (Ft. Collins) and Wagon Wheel (Colorado Springs) – and the eight Colorado counties previously served by councils in other states – Archuleta, Dolores, Jackson, La Plata, Las Animas, Montezuma, Prowers and San Juan – came together to form this new council.
With Girl Scouts of Colorado, communities across the state have expanded opportunities for girls, enhanced services for adult volunteers, continued outreach to underserved populations and vibrant partnerships with the greater community to meet our commitment to girls. One of the early examples of how Girl Scouts of Colorado is making Girl Scouting better in the state is the opening of a new service center in Durango, Colo. in October. This is the first time that Girl Scouts in southwest Colorado have had an area Girl Scout office and staff person to help foster an increased Girl Scout presence in the region.
Fast Facts on Girl Scouts of Colorado
- 40,500 girl members
- 11,000 adult volunteers
- $12 million budget
- Four resident camp properties:
- Magic Sky Ranch, near Red Feather Lakes, Larimer County
- Meadow Mountain Ranch, near Estes Park, Boulder County
- Sky High Ranch, Woodland Park, Teller County
- Tomahawk Ranch, near Bailey, Park County
Who can be a Girl Scout?
Girl Scout membership is granted to all girls age 5 to 17 who make the Girl Scout Promise, accept the Girl Scout Law and pay annual membership dues. Financial assistance is available so every girl can participate in Girl Scouting, regardless of her family’s financial resources.
Girl Scouts isn’t just for little girls. Teen Girl Scouts have the opportunity to learn more about themselves, hone leadership skills and make a difference in the world. And they get to do this while traveling the world and participating in projects with meaningful and far-reaching impacts.
Today’s Girl Scout experience
- Girl Scouts focuses on girl-planned, hands-on learning made fun by experiencing the world all around us, together.
- Girl Scouts learn about healthy living; science, technology, engineering and math; the arts; literacy and financial literacy; and community service.
- Girl Scouts is active on the issues that affect girls, including environmental protection, anti-drug abuse education, literacy awareness and anti-violence initiatives.
- Girl Scout Cookies® and camp remain cornerstones of the Girl Scout experience. The cookie activity is our country’s leading business and entrepreneurial training program for girls. At camp, girls develop independence, self-confidence and leadership skills while gaining an appreciation for nature and making lifelong memories.
- Girl Scouts is cool. Girls can cut loose and relax together, creating their own spa experiences, designing their own fashions or developing hip Web sites.
Girl Scouts are leaders
Girl Scouts has been the nation’s leading expert on girls for nearly 100 years. No other activity helps each girl achieve her personal leadership pathway like Girl Scouting. In fact, 64 percent of the women listed in Who’s Who of American Women are Girl Scout alums, including Sandra Day O’Conner, Katie Couric, Laura Bush, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Elizabeth Dole.
As girls climb the Girl Scout “leadership ladder,” they build upon the skills, values and knowledge they have gained through their Girl Scout experience. Girl Scouts have the opportunity to progressively earn Bronze, Silver and Gold awards for leadership projects that improve their communities. Girls who earn these awards gain skills that can lead to college scholarships or spots at the country’s most prestigious colleges and universities.
Volunteering for Girl Scouts
- Did you know that nearly one quarter of girls have fewer than three adults they could go to if they needed help? By being a volunteer for Girl Scouts, adults can be one of those "go to adults" for a girl!
- Girl Scout volunteers are moms, dads, grandparents, young professionals, alumnae, retirees and other women and men 18 years of age and older who are interested in becoming role models and mentors for girls.
- Whether an adult can give an hour once a year or has several hours to give every week, there is a place for them to volunteer at Girl Scouts. Opportunities include leading a troop of girls, assisting with cookie sales, mentoring a struggling girl, teaching girls about careers, working at camp, helping at special events or at the council office, serving on a board or committee and more.
- No experience is necessary – volunteers receive specialized training and ongoing support and education from Girl Scouts.
- Girls cite their Girl Scout leader as one of the most important factors in having a great Girl Scout experience. Adult volunteers can make a difference in the life of a girl!
Fact Sheet on Realignment (pdf from Girl Scouts of the USA, 10/08/2007)
Fact Sheet on the Core Business Strategy (pdf from Girl Scouts of the USA, 10/08/2007)