Girl Scouts really is great for everyone! While there are possibly too many positive outcomes associated with being a member of Girl Scouts to list, there is some compelling research which illustrates just how good Girl Scouts is.
Results of a summer
2014 pulse poll conducted with more than 3,500 volunteers and parents of Girl
Scouts in the K−5 age range show positive effects on members of all ages.
Ninety-seven percent of parents agree that Girl Scouts has been a positive
activity for their daughter, that she has had fun and exciting new experiences
(95 percent), and that she has learned or tried something new (96 percent). In
addition, 94 percent of parents say that because of Girl Scouts, their daughter
feels special, has more friends (95 percent), is more confident (90 percent), and
is happier (89 percent).
While GSUSA boasts more than two
million members nationwide, there are more than 30,000 girls on waiting lists
who want to join Girl Scouts but can’t because there are not enough volunteers
in local communities to help deliver the Girl Scout experience. Data shows it is
not just girls who benefit from participating in the organization: 94 percent
of volunteers have made new friends, 88 percent believe their life is better
because they volunteer with Girl Scouts, and two-thirds believe their volunteer
experience has helped them professionally. Ninety-five percent of Girl Scout
volunteers are happy knowing they are making girls’ lives better.
"Girl Scouts has
provided a safe, fun, and engaging place for girls and adult volunteers to lead and thrive for over 100 years,"
said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. "We know the
majority of volunteers feel their Girl Scout experience has helped them both
personally and professionally, but in many places throughout the country, the
lack of volunteers is what keeps girls on waiting lists. Every adult who
volunteers for Girl Scouts can help us bring fun, new experiences to at least five
girls. Imagine what that can do to shape the next generation of female
leaders."
Girl Scouts gives girls
a place to explore topics of interest in a judgment-free space outside of
classroom confinements, and it cultivates cooperative and self-directed
learning, as well as the growth mindset (the understanding that intelligence
and talent can be developed)—all of which help foster a lifetime passion for
learning. The variety of experiences and the value for the money the Girl Scout
program provides are also popular selling points. Eighty-nine percent of
parents say their daughter gets a greater variety of experiences from Girl
Scouts than she does from other extracurricular activities, and the majority of
parents feel Girl Scouts is a great value for the money compared to other
extracurricular activities. Overall, parents consider Girl Scouts one of the
most beneficial extracurricular activities for their daughter.
“The value of the
all-girl, girl-led environment offered by Girl Scouts cannot be overstated, and
is so important to the social-emotional and personal development of girls,”
said Dr. Andrea Bastiani-Archibald, Chief Girl Expert at Girl Scouts of the
USA. “Girl Scouts is a place where girls are free to be girls; to try new
things, experiment, and have fun learning from and leading one
another. There is no other leadership development program in the world
that offers girls this inclusive, safe space, without the distractions and
pressures of school and other social settings.”
Girl Scouts is open to
all girls from kindergarten through grade 12. The more adults step forward to
volunteer, the more girls will get the chance to be a Girl Scout. Adults over
age 18 may become volunteers, and both girls and adult volunteers can join at
any time of the year. Girl Scout volunteers come from all walks of life; they
are men, women, young professionals, retirees, college students, and more. To
join or volunteer, please visit: www.girlscouts.org/join.