Last month’s World Cup win by the U.S. Women’s National Soccer team sent a strong message of “Girl Power” to girls and young women everywhere. But, did you know that the Girls Scouts of the USA has been empowering girls for over 100 years? It provides girls, ages five to 17, with the courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place.
Girls Scouts offers programs for girls from kindergarten through high school with Daisies (kindergarten and first grade), Brownies (second and third grade), Juniors (fourth and fifth grade), Cadettes (middle school), Seniors (ninth and tenth grade) and Ambassadors (eleventh and twelfth grade). Girls can join at any time and at any age.
“Every girl deserves a place where she can be her best self and unleash her inner GIRL (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) and that place is Girl Scouts,” states Kelsey Otocki, marketing specialist with Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “Girls in our program get to choose their own path and make decisions about what they want to learn in a safe, judgement-free space. Girl Scouts offers hands-on, girl-centered learning in STEM and empowers girls to get out into their communities to make real change.”
One place you regularly see Girl Scouts in the community is at cookie booths outside local stores. “The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world!” boasts Otocki. “Girls who participate in the cookie sale program learn skills essential to leadership, to success and to life, including goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. On top of it all, girls get to put their cookie earnings to good use whether it is for a special trip, supplies for a community service project, or even donating to a worthy cause – the girls get to choose.”
Personal choice is particularly important as girls get older and start pursuing interests that may shape their future career. “Everything a Girl Scout does centers around STEM, the outdoors, development of life skills, and entrepreneurship, and is designed to meet her where she is now and grow along with her,” explains Otocki. “The inclusive, all-female environment of a Girl Scout troop creates a safe space where girls can try new things, develop a range of skills, take on leadership roles, and just be themselves.”
Older girls can take advantage of Girl Scouts’ Bronze, Silver and Gold Award programs, which are all very prestigious achievements. These awards can lead to national recognition and scholarships for higher education.
- Interested families can learn more about Girl Scouts by visiting www.gssef.org, emailing [email protected] or calling 561-427-0177.