When my six-year old daughter joined Brownie Troop #3056 in the fall of 2005, I thought it was cute, but I was doubtful it would last. I got a kick out of purchasing her little vest and beanie, but was skeptical that she would wear them. Three years later, she is days away from her Bridging Ceremony where she will "cross over" from a Brownie to a Junior Girl Scout. In those three years, she experienced opportunities she would not have otherwise: walking in the Fredericksburg Christmas Parade, leading the St. Patrick's Day Parade under a Chinese dragon, daddy/daughter dances, hiking, camping, roasting s'mores over a campfire. She has learned new and valuable skills such as sewing, constellation reading, making Brownie Stew and taco soup, identifying plants and practicing first aid techniques. And she has grown in confidence, because of her badge work and selling nuts in the fall and Girl Scout cookies in the spring. She wears her try-its badges and fun patches with pride, and even that cute little beanie. I am eager to see how far she will go and grow in this fabulous program. If you are the mother of daughters, consider Girl Scouts as an extracurricular activity. It's much more than cookies and nuts!

Cabell Smith Melson is the mother of four in Stafford and educator professionally.

The following statistics and information were taken from two official Girl Scout websites: www.girlscouts.org and www.comgirlscouts.org. Visit those sites for more information about programs, membership information, and additional opportunities.
Girl Scouts, brief overview:

Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts' membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Georgia, to 3.7 million members throughout the United States, including U.S. territories, and in more than 90 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas.

Founded in 1913, Girl Scout Commonwealth Council services over 18,000 girls in 30 counties and the six cities of Richmond, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Emporia and Fredericksburg. This year will mark the 95th Anniversary of the council. For more information about this and other Girl Scout programs visit www.comgirlscouts.org.

Updated Mission for Girl Scouts: Courage, Confidence and Character

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
To fulfill this mission and our commitment to girls, we are designing new programs to adhere to the new Girl Scout Leadership Program. The leadership model is the new design for what girls do in Girl Scouting and how adult support can strengthen their experience. It is the road map for determining what a girl will learn and how she will be impacted.

GSUSA Leadership Development: Discover , Connect, Take Action
The Girl Scout approach to leadership is based on the three principles- Discover, Connect, and Take Action.

Discover: As a Girl Scout discovers her world, she:
•Develops a strong sense of self
•Gains practical and healthy life skills
•Strengthens her values

Connect: As a Girl Scout connects with others in a global community, she:
•Forms caring relationships
•Promotes cooperation and team building
•Embraces diversity

Take Action: As a Girl Scout takes action in the world, she:
•Feels empowered to make a difference
•Identifies and solves problems she cares about
•Becomes an advocate for herself and others

Through the Girl Scout Leadership Development Program girls will discover their personal best and prepare for a positive future, connect with others in an increasingly diverse world, and take action to solve problems and improve their communities. Girls will continue to have fun, friendship, and exciting adventures.

Girl Scout Awards: Going for the Bronze, Silver and Gold!

Girl Scout Bronze Award
Highest Award for Junior Girl Scouts ages 8-11

The Girl Scout Bronze Award requires the Jr. Girl Scout to learn the leadership and planning skills necessary to follow through on a project that makes a positive impact on her community. Working towards this award demonstrates her commitment to helping others, improving her community and the world, and becoming the best she can be.

Girl Scout Silver Award
Highest Award for Girls ages 11-14

The Girl Scout Silver Award represents a girl's accomplishments in Girl Scouting and her community as she grows and works to improve her life and the lives of others. The first four requirements of the Girl Scout Silver Award help girls build skills, explore careers, gain leadership skills, and make a commitment to self-improvement. The Girl Scout Silver Award Project can be undertaken when the first four requirements are completed and can be done as an individual or with a group. (If done with a group, a girl must be responsible for a specific part of the project and evaluate her contribution to the project and the group.)

Girl Scout Gold Award
Highest Award for girl ages 14-17

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout 14-18 may earn. Someone once described the Girl Scout Gold Award as being "what you really want to be remembered for" in Girl Scouting. For many, the leadership skills, organizational skills, and sense of community and commitment that come from "going for the Gold" set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship.
For more information contact Mary Elmore-Rice at (804) 764-3329, melmore@comgirlscouts.org

In addition to the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, the Commonwealth introduced two new leadership programs and opportunities in May 2007:

Girl Scout Leadership Scholarship and the
Teen Girls of Distinction Scholarship Program.

Girl Scout Leadership Scholarships are awarded annually to girls who have been in the Girl Scout program for three consecutive years, including the current membership year. The Girl Scout must be a graduating senior with at least a 2.5 grade point average and have gained admission to an institute of higher education such as a college, business, trade or technical school.
For more information contact Sheila Johnston, at (804) 520-5577, ext. 371 or 1-800-4SCOUT-4.

The Teen Girls of Distinction Scholarship is the only scholarship for graduating high school seniors that accepts applications from non-Girl Scouts in Richmond, Hopewell, Petersburg, Colonial Heights, and the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Prince George, and Powhatan who hold a cumulative B average. The categories are: Athletics; Advocacy/Community Service; Humanities/Communications; Math, Science and Technology; and Performing and Visual Arts. Past honorees are ineligible. In recognition of this honor, each award recipient will receive a $1,000 continuing education scholarship.

For more information contact Tamara Johnson at (804) 764-3346, tjohnson@comgirlscouts.org

Get Involved with Girl Scouts:
Whether volunteering directly with girls or providing behind the scenes support, there are many volunteer opportunities within the Girl Scouts. To volunteer or have your daughter placed in a troop call Maryclaire Kozlow (540) 898-4717 ext. 4 or visit www.comgirlscouts.org

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 Scout Levels:
All Girls ages 5-17 are welcome!

Daisy Girl Scouts (Grades K-1)
Brownie Girl Scouts (Grades 2-3)
Junior Girl Scouts (Grades 4-5)
Cadette Girl Scouts (Grades 6-8)
Senior Girl Scouts (Grades 9-10)
Ambassador Girl Scouts (Grades 11-12)