Unleash the G.I.R.L. in you!

Melisabeth A Johnston

At Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland, we believe there is a G.I.R.L. (Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk Taker, Leader) ready to be unleashed inside every girl. That’s why we were so excited to experience G.I.R.L 2017/ 54th National Council Session with eight of our local Girl Scouts. With excitement and enthusiasm, we traveled to Columbus, Ohio for G.I.R.L. 2017. Accomplished women and girls from every aspect of public life and private business inspired us with their stories of grit, determination, and courage. Presenters at the epic Hall of Experiences introduced girls to experiences ranging from the large (scuba diving!) to the very small (little free libraries!) and everything in between. Breakout sessions provided our attendees a deeper understanding of topics like self-defense, civic engagement, and bullying prevention.

Incredibly, this massive event with over 8000 attendees, was organized by a team of Girl Scouts. How is that possible? It’s because Girl Scouts is the best leadership experience for girls in the world, created specifically with and for girls. Our secret sauce? The Girl Scout Leadership Experience—a one-of-a-kind leadership development program that pairs girls with strong female role models and mentors who help each girl unleash her potential. At Girl Scouts, girls find a safe space where they are free to just be themselves and take the lead.

In no other program can girls have their voices heard and amplified. Two of our girl participants were elected as National Delegates representing Girl Scouts of the Missouri Heartland. “It was amazing, being a part of the voting experience, and seeing how the board does things was one of the best parts,” said one of the girl delegates, “It gave me a new outlook on how they make decisions.”

The options for amazing girl-led experiences are endless: outdoor adventures like hiking, camping, and canoeing; learning life skills; traveling the world to places like Ohio, Texas, Costa Rica, and Europe; taking the lead in the world of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on learning by doing; gaining financial literacy skills through our iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program; and leading positive change through civic action.

And of course, only Girl Scouts gives girls the chance to pursue the most challenging, rewarding, and life-changing award for girls in the world: the Girl Scout Gold Award. The Gold Award requires girls to demonstrate their leadership skills by addressing a local or global community issue. Girls typically spend one to two years on their project and must establish sustainability that benefits the chosen community in the long term. Girls’ take on issues ranging from poverty to illiteracy to environmentalism.

Through vigorous, interactive programs, Girl Scouts take the lead in a variety of activities as they learn more about themselves, their peers, and the world around them. With more than a century of experience, the Girl Scouts program provides cornerstone experiences for girls that last a lifetime. Put simply, Girl Scouts works. It’s the best leadership experience for girls in the world because it’s girl-led, girl-tested, and girl-approved!