Girl Scouts is, as it always has been, the organization best positioned to offer girls the tools they need to be successful leaders now and throughout their lives. As Girl Scouting approaches its 100th anniversary, the Movement is using its expertise and input from girls to create a completely new approach for what girls do in Girl Scouting, how they do it, and how they will benefit.

Girls say a leader is defined not only by the qualities and skills one has, but also by how those qualities and skills are used to make a difference in the world. The New Girl Scout Leadership Experience identifies three “keys” to leadership – Discover: Girls understand themselves and their values and use their knowledge and skills to explore the world. Connect: Girls care about, inspire and team up with others locally and globally. Take Action: Girls act to make the world a better place.

When Discover, Connect and Take Action activities are girl led and involve learning by doing and cooperative learning, girls achieve the desired and expected short-term leadership outcomes, ultimately resulting in Girl Scouting achieving its mission.

Discover
1. Girls develop a strong sense of self.
2. Girls develop positive values.
3. Girls gain practical life skills.
4. Girls seek challenges in the world.
5. Girls develop critical thinking.

Membership as a Girl Scout is granted to any girl who makes the Girl Scout Promise, accepts the Girl Scout Law and pays annual membership dues of $12. Financial assistance is available to those in need.

Girls can enter and progress at any of the six grade levels and through any pathway they enjoy and find program activities designed to appeal to their interests. Girls are usually organized according to the following program level and grade level breakdown:

Girl Scout Daisies             Grades K – 1
Girl Scout Brownies           Grades 2 – 3
Girl Scout Juniors              Grades 4 – 5
Girl Scout Cadettes           Grades 6 – 8
Girl Scout Seniors             Grades 9 – 10
Girl Scout Ambassadors    Grades 11 – 12

There are many ways girls can participate in Girl Scouts. Girls have the freedom to choose from any of the pathways and may participate in multiple pathways within a membership year. No matter where and how they participate, girls get the necessary guidance from adult volunteers and council staff to develop leadership skills. The flexible pathways from which girls can choose are:

Camp – Girls participate in day camps with a focus on the outdoors, environmental education and more.
Events – Girls participate in fun council or national events.
Special Interest Groups – Girls participate in a series of programs with a group of girls relating to a specific theme or purpose (e.g., a high-adventure teen group, an advocacy group or even a soccer team could double as a Girl Scout group).
Travel – Girls plan, earn money for and participate in regional, national and international trips.
Troops – Girls participate in a series of programs with the same group 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.