Girl Scouts of the United States of America
Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls, serving 2.8 million girls and young women within the United States annually.
The mission statement of the Girl Scouts of the USA is “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.” To make this mission a reality, Girl Scouts of the USA works through local councils and dedicated volunteers across the nation to provide a program to help girls and young women develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.
This is an exciting time for programming within Girl Scouts as GSUSA undertakes a modification of their program materials to highlight a focus on leadership. Built around the three pillars of “discover, connect, and take action” the new program materials will permit girls to experience a variety of activities that will allow them to gain knowledge of themselves, reach out to others, and to take action to contribute to society in sustainable ways, ultimately making a difference in the world. With this stronger focus on leadership tied so clearly to service, Girl Scouts presents the perfect opportunity for youth service interaction by Alpha Phi Omega chapters across the nation.Currently on a national level, Alpha Phi Omega is working to create a closer relationship with the Girl Scouts of the USA and to develop a better understanding and formal relationship between the two national organizations. Chapters across the Fraternity participate in a variety of activities and projects through their local Girl Scout councils, and on a national level, the Fraternity participates in the Girl Scout National Convention.
For additional information to assist your chapter in developing and expanding its interaction with the Girl Scouts of the USA, check out the following:
- Girl Scouts of the USA Fact Sheet – This document has been assembled by the National Scouting and Youth Services Committee to assist chapters with their interaction with the Girl Scouts of the USA. It details basic information on GSUSA history, program, age levels, etc. that would be useful for a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega planning a project.
- Girl Scouts of the USA Project Profiles – This document is a summary of several recent GSUSA related projects undertaken by chapters across the country. Each of these projects, among others, is detailed within the Service Project Database.
- Girl Scouts of the USA Project Idea Sheet (this guide is still in development) – An idea sheet developed by the National Scouting and Youth Services Committee to provide basic project ideas to chapters looking to plan a project with their local Girl Scouts of the USA council.
- Girl Scouts of the USA Official Website – Visit the Girl Scouts of the USA official website for links to additional information on GSUSA and for current news and activities of the organization on a national level.
- Girl Scouts of the USA Council Finder – Use this link to assist in locating contact information for the GSUSA council in your area.
