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Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for
girls, with 3.6 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts
of North East Ohio serves more than 45,000 girls and 15,000 adults in
an 18-county region. Membership is extended to all girls and adults
who accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Girl Scouts travel the world, learn 21st-century business skills and
prepare for a high-tech future. Girl Scouting is the leading authority
on girls’ healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence
and character who make the world a better place.
In the Girl Scouts, they discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together; and through the many enriching experiences provided by the Girl Scouts, they can grow courageous and strong.
Membership in the Girl Scout Movement is open to all girls (ages 5-17), and adults (women and men) who subscribe to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. The Girl Scout organization actively seeks members of all races, religious beliefs, nationalities, and socio-economic backgrounds. Registration and troop formation takes place by October 1st of each year, however, new members can join at any time.
Age
Levels of Girl Scouts:
Daisy
Girl Scouts Ages 5-6 or K-1st grade
Brownie Girl Scouts Ages 6-8 or grades 1-3
Junior Girl Scouts Ages 8-11 or grades 4-6
Cadette Girl Scouts Ages 11-14 or grade 6-9
Senior Girl Scouts Ages 14-17 or grades 9-12
Mission
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who
make the world a better place.
History
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) was founded on March 12, 1912 by Juliette
Gordon Low. Today, nearly four million girls and adult volunteers enjoy
the Girl Scout experience throughout the United States.
Governance
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio is governed by a volunteer board whose
guidance ensures Girl Scouting is available for all girls who want to
participate, now and in the future.
Services
• Values-based programming for girls
• Leadership and personal development training for girls and adult
volunteers
• Citizenship and international opportunities to provide girls
with an understanding of the world around them
• Camping opportunities and program resources
• Financial assistance for members
Program
Three keys to leadership form the basis of the entire Girl Scout Program.
They are:
• Discover: Girl Scouts explore their world, envisioning and preparing
for a positive future
• Connect: Girl Scouts understand and care about the needs of others
• Take Action: Girl Scouts act to make the world a better place
Fees
Individual membership dues ($10) paid annually by girls and adults go
directly to GSUSA. They provide activity insurance, support services
and program material. Financial assistance is available for those who
qualify.
Jurisdiction
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio serves girls and adult volunteers in
Ashtabula, Carroll, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake,
Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Sandusky, Seneca, Stark, Summit,
Trumbull and Tuscarawas Counties. Each
school district organizes troops for their area. For
more information, please call your daughter’s school office or the Girl
Scouts of North East Ohio Central Service Center at 1.800.864.9933 or
visit their website @ www.girlscoutswr.org
Funding
It costs, on average, $215 per girl to provide a quality program.
Girl Scouts of North East Ohio depends on income generated from both
its membership and the community to facilitate council-wide programs
and events; provide adult recruitment and training; enhance outreach
opportunities and maintain the council's service centers and camp/environmental
education facilities.
There are several areas where membership and communities can contribute.
An Annual Giving campaign is supported by parents, staff, volunteers
and friends of Girl Scouts. Special giving opportunities are available
to individuals through Tribute Funds or Memorial Gifts. Income is also
generated by United Way allocations, corporate sponsorships, grants,
program fees and two product sales.
Girl Scouts may earn Religious Awards in their faith. Below are programs that are the official religious recognition programs of the US Roman Catholic Church for the various age levels of the Girl Scouts of the USA, Camp Fire, Inc., 4-H, Junior Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and the Catholic Daughters of Isabella. Members of other girl's organizations, please inquire.
The Family of God program is an activity series developed for use with girls ages 7-9 and in grades 2-3. Over a 3-4 month time period, each child discovers the presence of God in her life by exploring a wide range of activities, in her daily life as a member of her family and parish. Family involvement is encouraged. Program activities are simple and varied, encouraging a climate of openness, flexibility and love in the relationship between the family at home and God's family. The Family of God Pin is awarded on the parish level.
The I Live My Faith program is designed for use by girls ages 9-11 and in grades 4-6. Over a 3-6 month time period, the program helps each girl develop an awareness of her potential as an ever growing human person so she can more deeply appreciate, in her life, the place of God and religion. I Live My Faith is an action-oriented program accenting the experiential dimensions of faith life, including the child's new roles as a person, a friend, a member of her family, a citizen and a participant in the community of faith. The involvement of the parents is an important part of the process of faith-sharing. The Spirit Alive Pin is awarded on the parish level.
The Marian Medal program has been written for use by girls ages 12-15 and in grades 7-9. The projects are completed over an approximate one year's time. The program is designed to enable young Catholics to "proclaim the greatness of the Lord." This is done through a series of activities by which an understanding of Mary, as the model of openness and spirituality - a woman of the Church is developed. Through various projects, each young woman will be given an opportunity to develop new insights and continue in developing her individual Christian spirit of hope and faith. The Marian Medal must be supervised by a Diocesan counselor and is awarded on the diocesan level.
The Spirit Alive is a program for girls ages 15-18 and in grades 10-12. This program provides opportunities for each participant to discover the Holy Spirit acting in her life through a program of research, dialog, and activities. During the course of this program, participants will be invited to explore the Scriptures and also to examine the documents of the church in order to discover some ways that the Spirit is Alive today. The Spirit Alive award must be supervised by a Diocesan counselor and the pin is presented on the diocesan level.
The
Diocese of Youngstown, Catholic Committee on Scouting and Camp Fire
is dedicated to providing quality religious recognition programming.
Activities may include opportunities to participate in writing workshops,
retreat days, Family Sharing Nights, service projects, and various other
activities at all age levels.
The certificates, pins and medals designed for each of these programs
serve as both a reminder of the experience and as symbols of commitment
of faith through prayer, service, and responsible community participation.
Persons interested in information on Catholic scouting programs may
visit the web,
telephone 330.455.1600, or write:
Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting & Campfire
Diocese of Youngstown
c/o Leo Koller, 2510 Tenth Street NW
Canton, OH 44708-4227
Last Updated May 9, 2008