Girl Scout Troop #477
"Where Girls Grow Strong"
About Girl Scouts of the USA
Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls—all girls—where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop qualities that will serve them all their lives, like leadership, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth.
Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts' membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Georgia, to 3.6 million members throughout the United States, including U.S. territories, and in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas.
Our Structure
Girl Scout national headquarters is located in New York City, with over 400 employees dedicated to supporting the Girl Scout Movement. In partnership with more than 300 local Girl Scout councils or offices, 236,000 troops/groups, 986,000 adult volunteers, our National Board of Directors, and countless corporate, government, and individual supporters, Girl Scouts is helping today's girls become tomorrow's leaders.
Girl Scout national headquarters is located in New York City, with over 400 employees dedicated to supporting the Girl Scout Movement. In partnership with more than 300 local Girl Scout councils or offices, 236,000 troops/groups, 986,000 adult volunteers, our National Board of Directors, and countless corporate, government, and individual supporters, Girl Scouts is helping today's girls become tomorrow's leaders.
Girl Scouts of the USA was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950. Through membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, GSUSA is part of a worldwide family of 10 million girls and adults in 145 countries. Girl Scouts of the USA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Program Goals
The Girl Scout program can change the way girls see the world and their place in it. Girls learn the importance of personal responsibility, the value of goal-setting, the spirit of teamwork, and the thrill of accomplishment. The Girl Scout program is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law and four fundamental goals that encourage girls to:
Develop to their full potential. Relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect. Develop a meaningful set of values to guide their actions and to provide for sound decision-making. Contribute to the improvement of society. Girl Scouts are divided into Daisy Girl Scouts (ages 5-6), Brownie Girl Scouts (ages 6-8), Junior Girl Scouts (ages 8-11), and STUDIO 2B® for girls ages 11-17.
Girl Scout Promise and Law
The Girl Scout Promise and Law are shared by every member of Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Promise is the way Girl Scouts agree to act every day toward one another and other people, and the Law outlines a way to act towards one another and the world.
The 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.
To serve God* and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
The 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.
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.
* The word "God" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is okay to replace the word "God" with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.
Program Opportunities
What do Girl Scouts do? The answer is almost anything a girl would like to do!
The Girl Scout program is girl-driven, reflecting the ever-changing needs and interests of participating girls. It provides girls ages 5-17 with a wide variety of opportunities and activities available in Girl Scout handbooks, award books, the Girls Only and STUDIO 2B Web sites, and other program resources.
The program encourages increased skill-building and responsibility, and also promotes the development of strong leadership and decision-making skills. All program activities are age-appropriate and based on the Four Program Goals, as well as on the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
Every girl who registers as a Girl Scout can enjoy the many activities organized by her local Girl Scout council. Each Girl Scout council offers activities that meet the needs and interests of girls within their jurisdictions. Some program activities are shared by all Girl Scouts; others may only be available locally, require girls to apply, or be restricted by age.
No matter what age, girls learn the value and the fun of sharing experiences in an all-girl environment, with caring, trained adults to serve as mentors and models. All activities are designed with girls in mind to spark their interests, address their concerns, build their skills, and explore the world around them.
Leadership and Self-EsteemToday's Girl Scouts are tomorrow's leaders. Through activities that build self-confidence, creative decision-making skills, and teamwork, girls develop real-world leadership abilities that will last them a
lifetime. By working towards such earned age-level awards as the Lead On Badge or the Leadership
Interest Project Award, girls can interview female leaders, set goals, build team spirit and
communication skills, develop successful problem-solving techniques, and learn to trust themselves in
any situation.
Community Outreach and Education
Girl Scouting builds community. By giving a voice to the under-represented and reaching out to those in need, girls bridge gaps, heal wounds, and create lasting connections. Whether working towards earned age-level awards like the Citizen Near and Far Try-It or the My Community Badge, girls improve their schools and neighborhoods and develop an understanding of their important place in a complex world. Girl Scouts of the USA is committed to ensuring that all girls have an opportunity to build extraordinary lives and join with those around them in making the world a better place.
Environmental Awareness
Through Girl Scouting, girls see the earth as their home. Whether they're learning about endangered wildlife, developing creative recycling projects, or working towards such earned age-level awards as the Environmental Health Badge or the Eco-Action Interest Project Award, girls focus on care, conservation, and responsibility and ensure the safety of our planet for future generations.
Financial Literacy
The practical skills girls develop in Girl Scouting will serve them for the rest of their lives. Financial literacy can help girls set financial goals and gain the confidence they need to ultimately take control of their own financial future. By developing money management skills early in life, girls learn how to increase their income, become responsible consumers, create a budget, build and manage credit, and save and invest for whatever's next. Girls can learn the importance of managing money through such earned age-level awards as the Business-Wise Badge, the Dollars and Sense Interest Project Award, and the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Activity Pins and cookie awards.
Health and Wellness
Every girl deserves to live a healthy life—emotionally and physically. Whether they're working
towards such earned age-level awards as the Eat Right, Stay Healthy Try-It or the Stress Less
Badge, or talking with leaders or advisors about issues of concern in their lives or in their
communities, Girl Scouts build the skills they need to keep their bodies healthy, their minds
engaged, and their spirits alive.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)
Girls push boundaries, test limits, and look at the world around them with inquisitive eyes. They're natural scientists! Girl Scouts introduces girls of every age to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities that are relevant to everyday life. Whether they're discovering how a car's engine runs, becoming math whizzes, or learning about careers in STEM fields, girls are moving forward into the future. They can host science fairs, design Web sites, plan for space exploration, visit geological sites, and more.
The Arts
Girls see infinite possibilities—and participation in the arts enables them to express what they see. Girl Scouts encourages girls to view the world through the eyes of discovery by helping them develop their creativity, follow their instincts, and hone their communication skills. Whether they're painting a landscape, composing a song for a Creative Composing Try-It, telling stories, or putting the finishing touches on a sculpture for a Ceramics & Clay Badge, Girl Scouts open the world up for their interpretation. From photography to playwriting and acting, activities in the visual, performing, and language arts encourage girls to trust themselves and create whatever they dream up!
Travel
Every girl deserves a chance to see the world. Girl Scouts offers many different travel opportunities so girls can see new places, meet new people, and learn about different cultures and ideas. Whether exploring their own neighborhoods, going on overnight camping trips, participating in community service projects, or flying to one of the four world centers, Girl Scouts are continually expanding their horizons.
Camping
The Girl Scout camping experience allows girls to live together in simple outdoor settings, to learn how to make their own decisions, and to do fun activities with other girls their own age. The most important benefits for the camper are the opportunities to make new friends, to enjoy the outdoors, to gain confidence in herself as she tries new activities and gains new skills, and to be a member of a caring community.
Camping is a great way to build new skills, get a sense of community, and develop a deep appreciation for nature. Whether you go for a day, a week or longer, Girl Scout camping gives you an opportunity to grow, explore, and have fun—always under the guidance of caring, trained adults. Every girl should have a chance to camp!
