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On August 26, 2006 the GSUSA board approved the final national realignment of Girl Scout councils, including our anticipated move to one high-performance Girl Scout council in the state of Colorado. All Colorado counties are included in this new jurisdiction.
In addition, GSUSA is developing the "Girl Scout Leadership Development Program" - the official name of the unique Girl Scout experience (what girls do in Girl Scouting).
The change of the program that is underway is a "renewal" and/or "revitalization" of the Girl Scout experience. It is not an entirely new program. Read more about program below.
The Girl Scout Leadership Development Program
These decisions will go into effect October 1, 2008, and there will be a transition time for girls and volunteers.
The National Board of Directors also endorsed a more contemporary leadership philosophy, and renewed an organizational commitment to develop leadership skills based on the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law and the new mission statement. The leadership model is the new design for what girls do in Girl Scouting and how adult support can strengthen their experience. It is the road map for determining what a girl will learn and how she will be impacted.
Girl Scouting has identified the core tenets of its leadership philosophy - discover, connect and take action - which will form the basis of all Girl Scout activities beginning in October 2008. For more details, visit www.girlscouts.org/strategy/report_holistic_leadership.asp.
Girl Scouts is revitalizing the ways we serve girls to enable the largest number of girls and volunteers to participate. To achieve this goal, we are making three key changes: First, we are adding shorter participation cycle options; second, we are offering more flexible time commitments for volunteers; and third, we are ensuring that Girl Scouting is a very full and consistent experience for girls and adults nationwide.
Membership Grade-Level Groups and Names
Girls have told us that it's important to be with other girls their age, and they get bored by too much repetition. Our research found that girls identify with social groups based on grades. GSUSA received and tested thousands of ideas on level names, but a common theme arose to place emphasis on strengthening the existing Girl Scout brand rather than focusing energy on new level names. As of October 2008, the new grade-level groups and names will be:
| Grades | Names |
| K-1 | Girl Scout Daisy |
| 2-3 | Girl Scout Brownie |
| 4-5 | Girl Scout Junior |
| 6-8 | Girl Scout Cadette |
| 9-10 | Girl Scout Senior |
| 11-12 | Girl Scout Ambassador* |
*The grade-level name Girl Scout Ambassador was added to adjust the newly-separated 11th -12th grade level. The word ambassador represents young women leaders, paving the way in a global world.
Uniforms/Clothing
Girl Scouting will balance our tradition of unity with practicality to meet the needs of today's girls and their families.
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Girls at each age level will have one official uniform item (e.g. tunic, vest, and sash) for the display of official pins and awards. Girls will be required to wear this item with their own white shirts and khaki pants or skirts when they participate in ceremonies or officially represent the Girl Scout Movement.
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Teen girls will also have the option of wearing a scarf connecting us to our global sisterhood, WAGGGS.
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Girl Scout Daisies and Girl Scout Brownies will continue to have the full uniform ensemble available as an option.
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The adult uniform will be the membership pins worn with a scarf for women and a tie for men coordinated with navy blue business attire.
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Girl Scouts of the USA will continue to evolve and offer a range of appealing casual wear for girls and adults.
What do we do now?
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Talk it up! Share your enthusiasm about the changes we're making to better serve girls.
Find ways to emphasize leadership using existing Girl Scout materials. -
Encourage girls to select existing Girl Scout activities, books, and awards that give them the opportunity to discover their personal best and prepare for a positive future, connect with others in an increasingly diverse world, and take action to solve problems and improve their communities.
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Check out new courage, confidence and character awards as well as new Interest Project Patches and charms on the GSUSA Web site at
http://www.girlscouts.org/for_adults/leader_magazine/2006_summer/program_model.asp.
This article also has more info on how you can build leadership development with your troop this fall. -
Stay tuned for tips throughout the year with suggestions for using the existing materials to carry out the renewed leadership development approach.
Learn more
- Why do we need a new program model? Top 10 Reasons We're Doing This Work (pdf, Apr 2006)
- What is the unique Girl Scout experience? (pdf, Apr 2006)
- What are the elements of the unique Girl Scout experience? (pdf, Apr 2006)
- What are the approaches for the unique Girl Scout experience? (pdf, Apr 2006)
- FAQ's about the Program Model (pdf, Apr 2006)
- We will begin the transition to the new program in 2008/2009.