GSUSA

Girl Scout Leadership Experience

Frequently Asked Questions

April 2008

Highlights from the NEW Girl Scout "Change Your World" Leadership Journeys

This piece was put together based on questions asked by volunteers. The answers are based on the information that we currently have from GSUSA. This will be a working document which will be updated as we receive additional information. More information is in the April Notes To Leaders and additional information will be available in future issues of the Notes To Leaders.

www.girlscouts.org/for_adults/leader_magazine/2006_winter/setting_the_pace.pdf

www.girlscouts.org/for_adults/leader_magazine/2006_winter/tip_sheets.pdf

Who will be selling cookies?

All registered Girl Scouts are eligible to sell cookies.

Are Daisies selling cookies?

Yes, as of the 2008-2009 membership year all Girl Scout levels will be eligible to participate in Product Sales.

Can 2^nd year Daisies earn Try-Its?

No, Try-Its are awards for GS Brownies. Girls in 2 & 3 grade are GS Brownies. However, there are a lot wonderful program opportunities that GS Daisies will be able work on and complete.

What will the 2^nd year Daisies do if they earned all their petals the first year?

Trust us … there are so many things for your girls to do in GS Daisies. One of the most exciting new things is that GS Daisies will be able to participate in the Cookie Sale. The new “Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden” Journey will be available for them to work on. Girls will also continue to participate in council-sponsored events like: Daisy Sports Day, Daisy Tea Party, as well as the many programs that we collaborate with – St. Louis Science Center, The Children’s Museum, The St. Louis Zoo. Also don’t forget GSRBC has an extensive patch program. Check out the opportunities in the WHAT’s UP section.

Can Daisies earn petals on their own?

At this time we do not have any information regarding the status of petals for the fall. GSUSA will be launching the new “Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden” Journey in the fall. There are sessions in the Journey which will help girls learn the GS Promise & Law. There are also recognitions that girls will be able to earn by completing the session/requirements in the Journey. These include the Watering Can Award, the Golden Honey Bee Award, and The Amazing Daisy Award. However, if the petals are still in circulation then yes, we encourage girls to work on activities outside the troop meeting.  However, petals are not sold individually. All petals are sold as a unit along with the GS Promise Center. These are available in the shop. Remember leaders/facilitators (not parents) purchase awards.

Will troops still bridge? If so, when?

For Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Girl Scout 11-17 troops, leaders/advisors can use the Bridging requirements that are found in the current handbooks. If your troop will be moving from GS Senior to GS Ambassador, you can make this a special ceremony for the girls. Find out what the girls would like to do to commemorate this special time. The GSRBC Ceremonies Packet is a great resource.

Will 8^th graders bridge to Seniors next year?

Girls entering 9^th grade in the fall of 2008 will be GS Seniors. 8^th graders will be GS Cadettes.                  

New Grade Levels: Implemented in fall 2008

GS Daisy                     K-1                 2 year program

GS Brownie                 2-3                  2 year program

GS Junior                    4-5                  2 year program

GS Cadette                  6-8                  3 year program

GS Senior                    9-10                2 year program

GS Ambassador         11-12               2 year program

How many Journeys will there be for each level?

GSUSA will launch “The Change Your World Series” in the fall of 2008. This Leadership Journey will be for all grade levels. By 2010 GSUSA will have 3-5 Journeys per grade level.

“The Change Your World Series” Journeys

GS Daisy:                    Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden

GS Brownie:                The Brownie Quest

GS Junior:                    Agent of Change

GS Cadette:                 aMaze

GS Senior:                   GIRLtopia

GS Ambassador:        Your Voice, Your World, The Power of Advocacy

How do girls “earn” awards?

Girls will earn awards by completing the activities/requirements/sessions for each Journey.

What will a girl earn when she completes a Journey? What will it cost?

Girls will earn awards as they complete steps along the way within the Journey. In the new “Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden” Journey for GS Daisies, girls will have the opportunity to earn at least 3 awards. These are the Watering Can Award, the Golden Honey Bee Award, and The Amazing Daisy Award. At this time we do not know the cost. 

How will Journeys fit into Pathways?

Journeys will be the “what” girls do in Girl Scouts. Pathways will be “how” girls join Girl Scouts. There are currently six (6) proposed Pathways. These include: Camp, Events, Special Interest, Travel, Troops and Virtual. (Pathways are defined by GSUSA) 

• Camp – Girls participate in a day or resident camps with a focus on the out of doors and/or environmental education

• Events – Girls participate in events (e.g. career day)

• Special Interest- Girls participate in a series of programs with the same group of girls relating to a specific theme or purpose (e.g. high adventure teen group, completion of the “Change Your World” journey over a six-week period.)

• Travel- Girls plan, earn money, prepare, and participate in regional, national, and international trips

• Troops- Girls participate in a series of programs with the same group of girls over the course of an academic year

• Virtual- Girls participate in interactive, high-quality program activities in a safe, secure, online environment supplemented by live events

How will the new model affect the Gold/Silver/Bronze awards?

At this time we do not know how the New Girl Scout Experience Model will affect the GS Bronze, GS Silver, GS Gold Awards. Be assured that if changes do occur, girls working on projects will be grandfathered in and a transition period will take place. During the transition period, trainings for all awards will reflect all changes. Girls will need to follow the new guidelines/ requirements to earn that specific award. 

Will the Bronze award be a two year program now?

• According to the information that we currently have the Bronze Award will be a two year program. Girls that have initiated work on the GS Bronze Award while in 5^th or 6^th grade will have until September 30, 2009 to complete this award.

• Beginning October 1, 2009, the only girls that will be eligible to work on the GS Bronze Award are girls in 4^th and 5^th grade. Please be aware that girls cannot work simultaneously on requirements for the GS Bronze Award and the GS Silver Award. If GSUSA releases additional information than this will be amended. 

If there is a 5^th grade troop working on the Bronze Award and it will not be finished this year, can they continue working on this award after they bridge to GS Cadettes?

• Girls that have begun work on the GS Bronze Award while in 5^th or 6^th grade will have until September 30, 2009 to complete this award.

• Beginning October 1, 2009, the only girls that will be eligible to work on the GS Bronze Award are girls in 4^th and 5^th grade. Please be aware that girls cannot work simultaneously on requirements for the GS Bronze Award and the GS Silver Award. If GSUSA releases additional information than this will be amended. 

If a girl is a 6^th grader next year, can I still work on the Bronze Award?

See previous question.

When can I expect program materials to be available? Will leaders have it in time to plan over the summer?

GSRBC program staff will be distributing a new year-long program book. This will include programs/events/girl trainings for all grade levels. This will be distributed in August 2008. GSUSA has stated that they plan to have the Journey “launch” in the spring of 2008.  GSUSA has indicated that we will have the books available by July 1^st.

If there is a Daisy & Brownie troop, can they sign up for Daisy or Brownie programs?

No.  GS Daisies will have many Daisy program opportunities and GS Brownies will have many of their own program opportunities. Currently GSRBC is not offering any programs for GS Daisies and GS Brownies together.

What are Ambassadors going to work on?

All grade levels, included GS Ambassadors, will have more GS program opportunities. At this time, nothing is being taken away. Therefore, GS Ambassadors will be able to work on the new “Your Voice, Your World, The Power of Advocacy” Journey, Interest Projects, Focus Books, GS Gold Award program, Leadership program, destinations, extended trips, council sponsored programs, etc.. 

Will Studio 2B go away and if so, when?

We don’t know. However, until GSUSA makes that decision, girls can continue to work on all the wonderful Focus Books. The program staff will still continue to use the Focus Books as resources/references for our programs/events.

Can my Girl Scout Daisy troop opt to bridge to Girl Scout Brownies next year?

NO – all levels must conform to the new membership levels designed by GSUSA.

Will GSUSA allow GSRBC to supplement training workshops?

Yes, GSUSA has developed nationally consistent training which allows the councils to provide supplemental information specific to our geographic/council area.

When will we have new materials for trainings?

According to GSUSA, new nationally consistent trainings will be available in paper form by spring 2008 and online by the fall 2008. Subsequent trainings will be released through 2010.

How will we train adults on Journeys so they will know how to use them and feel comfortable?

The new Leadership Essentials training will encompass a hands-on approach to learning the Journeys where volunteers will search and learn the new program material.

Who will be required to attend the new training? (new volunteers, existing volunteers, or both).

Both new and experienced volunteers will attend the courses.

Where will we get the manpower to deliver all the new trainings?

We will deliver the trainings within the service units utilizing council trainers and staff to ensure that all volunteers are aware of the new materials.

Will an existing leader have to attend the same training as a new volunteer?

Yes.

How and when will I receive the new information?

You will receive information at your service unit meetings, in the Notes to Leaders, Training Calendar, and the council website.

How long do you have to get your training?

6 months

When will the new trainings be offered?

According to GSUSA the new trainings will be available by the fall 2008.

Girl Scout Junior – Agent of Change Journey

Girl Scout Cadette - aMAZE Journey

This page last edited on Thursday April 24, 2008.