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7. ATTEND all parent meetings.
8. HELP by being the troop cookie chair, treasurer, or take
outdoor skills training, and be the outdoor skills expert for your daughter’s
troop.
9. TALK to your troop leader and let her know that you’re
willing to help and find out how you can contribute to the troop.
10. JUST DO IT! Join the troop and take a couple of hours a
week to be involved in your daughter’s life and prepare to have the time of
your life as you watch her grow into a wonderful young lady!
Parent FAQs
How much does it cost to be in Girl Scouts?
The registration fee is a $10 annual national membership fee
that includes Girl Scout activity insurance. Troop dues are decided upon by
each troop based on upcoming plans and activities. These are usually in the
range of $1 to $2 per week. Uniforms may be purchased from the Council shop if
desired. Girl Scouts is a uniformed agency but uniforms are not required for a
girl to participate in Girl Scouting. Girls do need a sash or vest to showcase
any badges earned. Girl handbooks are helpful but again are not required. These
are available for purchase from the Council shop.
When and where do the troops meet?
Troop leaders choose to meet weekly, every other week, or
monthly at a time that is convenient for them (after school, in the afternoon,
or on the weekend). Troops meet in schools, churches, civic centers, business,
and at Council program areas.
Does my daughter have to be in a troop?
No, she may be registered as an Individual Girl Scout. These
girls are known as IGM’s or Juliettes. These registered girl members may not
have the time to participate in troop meetings or may have activities that
conflict with troop meeting times. Juliettes receive support that is geared to
their needs. A Juliette may attend council events, area events, and work on
badges. She will receive all mailings about Council programs.
Why is an all girl environment important?
The Girl Scout program is designed for girls to develop
critical life skills. Girl Scouts encourage girls to try new things, experiment
with new ideas, make decisions, and be leaders. The all-girl environment
increases female performance, achievement, and leadership. That’s why former
Girl Scouts make up half the women in Congress and two thirds of the women
listed in Who’s Who. Troop leaders serve as female role models. They can help
girls develop the skills and self-confidence they will need to succeed in
tomorrow’s world. They can get this in Girl Scouts. Having positive adult role
models helps girls move from girlhood to adult hood.
What type of activities will my daughter get to do in Girl
Scouts?
The choices of activities are endless but the troop program is
determined by the girls in partnership with their leaders.
What can you say to persuade me that Girl Scouts would offer
my daughter as much as piano class, soccer team and/or ballet?
Think of the Girl Scouts as the crown of you daughter’s
activities. Within Girl Scouts, they can certainly pursue music, sports, and
other activities. But Girl Scouts adds an extra dimension. This is an
organization by girls, for girls, devoted to building self-esteem, strong
values, and social conscience. The inner strength and sense of self-assuredness
they gain through Girl Scouts will stay with them long after they have hung up
their ballet slippers and soccer spikes.
What can you say to reassure me that my daughter will be in a
safe environment?
Girl Scouts is the one place that has been synonymous with the
word safety. This is a reputation that we do not take lightly. Girl Scout troop
leaders undergo comprehensive training to enable them not only to conduct
activities in a safe manner, but also to make each girl feel safe and secure in
the troop environment. Girls are also taught and encouraged to make the right
choices for themselves.
Does my daughter have to wear a uniform?
Although we are proud to have the identity and sense of a team
that can come from wearing a uniform, the uniforms are optional and it is up to
the troop and the girls themselves to choose what to wear. There are many ways
for girls to identify themselves-from full uniforms to just vests or sashes, to
t-shirts, and all the accessories to go with them. The point of the uniform is
that it says that they are a member of this great organization committed to
girls, the number one girl’s organization in the world. The bottom line is that
Girl Scouts are always in style!
Why is Girl Scouts worth my daughter’s time and money?
At Girl Scouts, we develop leaders through dedication to and
development of character, conduct, and community service. At a time of
increasing demands and diminishing dollars at schools, Girl Scouts continues to
be a major player in character development. With all the social pressures on
girls today, it’s vital to have a haven for our daughters to go to learn, earn,
and turn into the strong women of tomorrow.
Do Girl Scouts have a particular religious affiliation?
Girl Scouts are non-sectarian. In fact we welcome Girl Scouts
from diverse backgrounds. Diversity is the fabric that helps weave the rich
tapestry known worldwide as the Girl Scouts.
How do I sign my daughter up?
Contact one of the Council offices and we will mail you a
registration form and get you in contact with someone in your area to get your
daughter involved in a troop. Each county has a staff Membership Specialist to
assist you and your daughter in joining the wonderful world of Girl Scouting.
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