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Why is Girl Scouts worth my daughter's time
and my money?
Answer:
At Girl Scouts, we develop leaders through dedication to
and development of character, conduct and community service. Through Girl
Scouting, your daughter will discover fun, friendship, and the power of
girls together. There are also benefits for you as a parent. A survey of
Girl Scout parents shows that these adults say Girl Scouting has improved
their relationships with their daughters. With all the social pressures on
girls today, it's vital to have a haven for our daughters to go to learn,
earn and turn into strong women of tomorrow.
How
much will it cost for my daughter to join Girl Scouts?
Answer:
The cost to join
Girl Scouts is $10.00 which is paid to Girl Scouts of the USA. This pays
for the girls activity insurance as well as their registration and helps
provide program development for girls.
What if we can’t afford to pay for her to join?
Answer:
Financial aid is
available for girls and adults as needed for the cost of registration and
basic uniform pieces. A full uniform is not required.
How
long does it last?
Answer:
Girl Scout
registration is renewable on an annual basis. Membership runs from
October 1st through September 31st. Troops normally
meet during the school year, but some troops are also active during the
summer.
How
often will a troop meet?
Answer:
How often a
troop meets depends on the leaders’ schedules and the girls’
availability. Usually troops meet on a weekly, co-weekly, or on a monthly
basis.
Does my daughter have to have a uniform?
Answer:
A uniform is not
required to belong to Girl Scouts. It is recommended that girls have a
sash or a vest in order to place her Try-Its, badges, and patches.
Financial aid is available for some uniform pieces such as a sash or
vest. A girl is considered “in uniform” if she is wearing her Girl Scout
pin.
Do
we have to pay dues?
Answer:
Dues will
depend on the decision of the girls. Some troops have dues, but a girl
should never be ostracized if she cannot pay dues.
What can you say to reassure me that my daughter will be in a safe
environment?
Answer: Girl Scouts is the
one place that has been synonymous with the word safety. And we do not
take this reputation for granted. Girl Scout troop leaders undergo
comprehensive training to enable them not only to conduct activities in a
safe manner, but make each girl feel safe and secure in the troop
environment. And we place emphasis on encouraging girls to make the right
choices for themselves.
What can you say to persuade me that Girl Scouts would offer my daughter
as much as piano class, soccer team and/or ballet?
Answer:
Think of the Girl Scouts as the jewel in the crown of your
daughter's activities. Within Girl Scout they can certainly pursue music,
sports and dozen of other activities. But Girl Scouts adds an extra
dimension. This is an organization by girls, for girls and of girls,
devoted to building self-esteem, strong values and social conscience. The
inner strength and sense of self-assuredness they gain through Girl Scouts
will stay with them long after they have hung up their ballet slippers or
soccer spikes.
There is a common perception that Girl Scouts is only about cookies and
camping; doesn't that make the organization outdated and irrelevant to
issues facing girls today?
Answer:
That would be news to the Brownie Girl Scout troop who's
wielding power tools and the Junior Girl Scout earning badges over the
internet. For example, to promote excellence in science, we have a program
called Science Magic where girls learn different science fields and
conduct safe experiments. To promote financial responsibility we have a
program called "An Income of Her Own" which helps teach girls how to
manage money. We are actively involved in the prevention of such problems
as substance abuse, teen pregnancy, teen suicide, and violence and in the
promotion of activities that contribute to a healthy mind, body and
spirit.
What do you offer girls to help mold them into responsible and productive
adults?
Answer:
We are an organization dedicated to conduct, character and
community service. The Girl Scout purpose, promise, and law all speak to
the goal of "serving country" and "making the world a better place". Girl
Scouting cultivates compassion, courage and cooperation -- character
qualities that last a lifetime. Just look at the women who have been
involved in Girl Scouting, from First Ladies to the first female space
shuttle pilot, all have personified courage, compassion, and cooperation
-- the qualities that count in Girl Scouting.
My
daughter is very shy -- how much pressure is there to sell a lot of
cookies?
Answer:
Although a highly visible program activity, the Girl Scout
cookie sale program is just a small part of what Girl Scouts really do.
It's really a team project where girls learn goal setting, financial
management, and teamwork - among other things. An important byproduct is
that the troops earn money to support activities of the girl's own
choosing -- activities such as trips, equipment, special events, etc. With
such an incentive in mind, girls usually find the cookie campaign a source
of camaraderie and fun, as well as an exercise in some basic level of
communications and finance skills. But again, selling cookies is neither a
focus nor requirement for being a Girl Scout.
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