General Information

OF WESTERN OHIO

VOLUNTEER RESOURCE GUIDE

GENERAL INFORMATION

FACTS ABOUT GIRL SCOUTING

WORLD ASSOCIATION OF GIRL GUIDES AND GIRL SCOUTS (WAGGGS)

Girl Scouts of the U.S.A is a member of WAGGGS. This worldwide organization has more than 10 million members in 144 countries.

GIRL SCOUTS OF THE U.S.A.

This nationwide organization has 3.7 million members - 2.7 million girl members and 928,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers.

It is the largest voluntary organization for girls in the world.

Membership is open to girls, ages 5 through 17, as well as adults, who subscribe to its ideals as stated in the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Juliette Gordon Low, founder, organized the first group of girls on March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia. Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. was incorporated in Washington, D.C. on June 10, 1915. The United States Congress chartered the organization on March 16, 1950.

National Headquarters

420 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10018-2702

1-800-223-0624

GIRL SCOUTS OF WESTERN OHIO

Serves 1 in 6 girls; approximately 53,000 girls.
Covers a 13,559 square mile area.
Serves a 32 county area in western Ohio and southeastern Indiana.
Welcomes girls from every ethnic, race, religious, and socioeconomic group, as well as those with mental and physical disabilities to participate in Girl Scouting.
Made up of over 120 service units. The primary method of delivery of the Girl Scout program is the troop.

Council Chair:

Council CEO:

Nancy C. Dawes

Barbara J. Bonifas

Administrative Headquarters

4930 Cornell Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242-1804

1-800-537-6241 513-489-1025 FAX: 513-489-1417

www.girlscoutsofwesternohio.org

council@girlscoutsofwesternohio.org

GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE GIRL SCOUT PROGRAM

The Girl Scout program meets the developmental, educational, emotional, and social needs and interests of girls, ages 5-17. The goals of the program represent the ways in which each girl will grow as a result of her participation in the program. In Girl Scouting, a key ingredient for girl development is the process in which girls and adults, in partnership, plan and carry out the Girl Scout program. Girls grow and learn through experiences that involve making decisions and discoveries for themselves. Troop interactions, other pathways, and activities support the aim of helping each girl develop to her fullest potential through the small group experience. The Girl Scout Promise and Law form the foundation of the Girl Scout program.

PREVENTION

The Girl Scout program is effective as a source of prevention in our crisis-oriented society. Girl Scouting combines activities that are fun, and of interest to girls, with methods that give girls the skills and experiences they need to positively maneuver through the pressures and conflicts of growing up. Girl Scouting provides a great opportunity for both the girls’ interests and their developmental needs to be met.

Girl Scout Mission

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Girl Scout Promise

On my honor, I will try:

To serve God and my country,

To help people at all times,

And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be

honest and fair,

friendly and helpful,

considerate and caring,

courageous and strong, and

responsible for what I say and do,

and to

respect myself and others,

respect authority,

use resources wisely,

make the world a better place, and

be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Spiritual Force

The motivating force in Girl Scouting is spiritual. The ways in which members identify and fulfill their spiritual beliefs are personal and private.

Open Membership

The Girl Scout Movement is open to all girls and adults who accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law and meet membership requirements.

Inclusion

Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is inclusive. We respect, value, embrace and celebrate differences.

Patriotism, Citizenship, & Community Service

Local, national, and global service and action are core elements of the Girl Scout experience.

Responsibility for the Movement and the Democratic Process

The ultimate responsibility for the Girl Scout Movement rests with its members. We govern by an efficient and effective democratic process that demonstrates our leadership in a fast-changing world.

Program Grade Levels

There is one Girl Scout program that is adapted to meet the developmental, educational, emotional, and social needs and interests of girls at different grade levels. The levels are as follows:

Girl Scout Daisy - Grades K-1

Girl Scout Brownie - Grades 2-3

Girl Scout Junior - Grades 4-5

Girl Scout Cadette - Grades 6-8

Girl Scout Senior - Grades 9-10

Girl Scout Ambassador - Grades 11-12

WAGGGS

The Girl Scout program supports the international sisterhood of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) through activities that encourage cross-cultural understanding.

Girl/Adult Partnership

Adults partner with girls to guide and inspire growth and achievement. Volunteers are essential to the strength and capacity of our Movement.

Community Partners

We take an active leadership role and are collaborative partners in the community.

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Administrative Office

4930 Cornell Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242-1804

T: 513-489-1025 or 800-537-6241, F: 513-489-1417