Click Here to Return To Milestones Vol 8 No 3
Girl Scouting is probably one of the most lowkeyed, yet most influential organizations in both Beaver and Lawrence County. When anyone thinks of a Girl Scout, the word "cookie" automatically pops into their mind. While we are noted for our cookie sale, the impact that the program itself has on the girls and leaders in this area is phenomenal.
When a girl becomes a member of the organization, she belongs to a "family" that has members in every part of the United States and nearly 100 other countries around the world. In some countries the members of this family are called Girl Guides.
In the United States, girls who are 6 through 17 or in the first through the twelfth grade, can become Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts are of all races and include all religious groups. To become a Girl Scout, a girl must learn the promise and laws of the organization.
Girl Scouts wear different uniforms at different ages - Brownies (grades 1 through 3); Juniors (grades 4 through 6); Cadettes (grades 7 through 9); and Seniors (grades 10 through 12). Adult leaders are also proudly known as Girl Scouts.
The Girl Scout program is divided into the following five worlds:
1. the world of well-being which focuses on what is special about the girl and her home;
2. the world of people which helps a girl learn about her family, friends, community, country and people all around the world;
3. the world of today and tomorrow which tells about the way that people can change the world, why things work the way they do and what the future holds for girls;
4. the world of the arts which explores all the arts including painting, sculpture; dancing, dramatics, puppetry, singing and making musical instruments; and
5. the world of out-doors which enables a girl to understand, appreciate, live in and protect the natural world.
As Brownie scouts the girls work on Brownie "B" patches. They learn to "be discoverers", "be readyhelpers" and "be friend-makers" in each of the five worlds of scouting. They sing songs, do crafts and participate in various activities.
As Junior Girl Scouts, troop members learn the meaning of troop government by settingup troop rules and making troop decisions. The most widely used form of troop government is the patrol system which divides the troop into small groups. Patrol members share work, make plans and work on badges. The badges in the different worlds include such badges is First Aid, My Heritage, Aerospace, Computer Fun, Architecture, and Ecology. Junior scouts may also work on the Sign of the Rainbow, the Sign of the Sun, and the Sign of the Satellite which were designed to explore the variety of activities available in scouting.
Cadette and Senior Girl Scouts are reaching out for greater competence and independence in their teen years. They do this through the following four programs emphases:
1. deepening self awareness; 2. relating
to others; 3. developing values; and 4. contributing to society.
Their program too is based on the five worlds of scouting. Cadettes
and seniors have a greater voice in their troop and follow through
in many of the decisions that are made. Volunteer community service
and leadership is stressed. Interest patches that may be earned
by a cadette or senior include Auto Maintenance, Emergency Preparedness,
Outdoor Survival, Money Management, or Music. Outside community
advisors may visit the troop to aid in the patches.
Cadettes may also earn the Silver Leadership Award and the Silver
Award. To receive the Silver Leadership Award a Cadette must complete
25 hours of leadership in a combination of various requirements.
The Silver Award is earned by completing the Challenge of Being
a Girl Scout including five preparation steps to the challenge.
The challenge takes the form of a community service project which
the girl herself chooses and carries out.
Senior scouts may earn the Gold Leadership and the highest award a Girl Scout may receive -the Gold Award. To earn the Gold Leadership Award a scout must put in 25 hours within a four month period in some kind of leadership capacity. The Gold Aw&d is achieved by completing the Challenge of Living the Promise and Law, earning four interest project certificates, earning the Dreams to Reality Pilots certificate and by having the Gold Leadership Award. Seniors who have not earned the Silver Awards as cadettes also have the option of working on them.
Career exploration is stressed on all levels of scouting. There is the Careers To Explore book for Brownie and Juniors, and From Dreams To Reality or Cadettes and Seniors.
The Beaver-Castle Girl Scout Council is comprised of leaders and girls who are vital and interesting to know. They may be found in their community working on such projects as clean-up days, serving meals to the blind, aiding in the special olympics or making favors for the Geriatric Center. These are but a few of the things we accomplish. We are proud of the job we are doing and of the girls we are serving. After all, today's Girl Scouts are tomorrows leaders.