Faith Partner Guide to Girl Scouting

FAITH PARTNER GUIDE TO GIRL SCOUTING “The work of today is the history of tomorrow , and we are its makers.” Juliette Gordon Low, Founder of Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts are big thinkers, ground breakers and role models. Girl Scouts is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. We offer every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker and Leader) TM a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success! With more than 100 years of experience in girl leadership development, we have a proven track record of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Welcome To GIRL SCOUTS

Girl Scouting Builds Future Leaders:

Girl Scouts is proven to help girls thrive in five key ways as they:

Our go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders are on a powerful mission to make positive contributions in their communities and world.

Develop a strong sense of self.

Our Girl Scouts alums include:

Display positive values.

• 52% of Female Business Leaders

• 69% of Female U.S. Senators

Seek challenges and learn from setbacks.

• 80% of Female Tech Leaders

• 90% of Female Astronauts

Form and maintain healthy relationships.

• 100% of Female U.S. Secretaries of State

Identify and solve problems in the community.

Everything a Girl Scout does centers around the outdoors, STEM, Money Management and developing Healthy Life Skills.

HOW GIRLS PARTICIPATE A lifelong leadership journey

There are many ways for girls to participate in Girl Scouts and benefit from the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE).

Girl Scout Tracks • Troops: Groups of girl members who experience the Girl Scout journey together • Juliettes: Individually registered girls who do not belong to a specific troop; these girls tend to be in grades 6-12 • Volunteers: Registered and background-checked adults who facilitate any Girl Scout activity/trip

Ways to Engage in Girl Scouting • Troop Meetings • Girl Scout Cookie Program • Camping

• Doing a Journey • Earning Badges • Attending Girl Scout Events • Earning Highest Award • Providing Community Service • Earning Faith Awards • Attending Faith-based Events

Girl Scout Grade Levels

Daisies K-1 st grades

Brownies 2 nd -3 rd grades

Juniors 4 th -5 th grades

Cadettes 6 th -8 th grades

Seniors 9 th -10 th grades

Ambassadors 11 th -12 th grades

Learn they can care for animals and themselves and to protect

Go on a quest to find the three keys to leadership. They explore their place in the wide world of girls.

Learn that leaders need power—their own, their team’s and their community’s. Juniors are encouraged to achieve their Bronze Award .

Develop relationship skills needed to be leaders in their life and their world. Cadettes are encouraged to achieve their Silver Award.

Have a vision and lead the world closer to it. Girls better the world by achieving their Gold Award, the highest community service award earned by a Girl Scout.

Raise their voices to advocate for an issue they care about. Girls are encouraged to achieve their

the earth’s treasures.

Gold Award, the highest community service award earned by a Girl Scout.

GIRL SCOUT Fundamentals The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a collection of engaging, challenging, and fun activities like earning badges, going on awesome trips, selling cookies, exploring science, getting outdoors, and conducting community service projects.

The idea is to learn by doing, and at Girl Scouts, girls do lots of it.

“Part of the power of Girl Scouts, for me, are the people. Those in my neighborhood and those who we help through service. Denny is the guy who does our April Showers truck. I’ve worked alongside him since I was in fifth grade. Every year when I go back, he remembers me. Everyone you meet through Girl Scouts is nice, genuinely nice.” Kimberly Cylne Adult Volunteer “Being involved in Girl Scouts, especially as a leader and role model, has given me an additional layer of accountability. I am even more conscious of how my own personal life journey will have an affect on, not only the girls I work with, but also their families for generations to come. Volunteering as a leader is my way of hopefully having a positive ripple affect in our society. ” Steph Sims Adult Volunteer

“I’ve been in Girl Scouts since third grade. I recently joined the SWENext Club because Girl Scouts has never had this club before. I’m building things and that’s cool. My favorite activity so far has been making cards that light up using circuits.” Mackenzie Williams 14-year-old Girl Scout

“Girl Scouts taught me how to be more selfless. I’ve recognized my own personal privilege and how best to help others.

I’m also a more confident individual because of Girl Scouts.”

Gabrielle Carmichael 18-year-old Gold Award Girl Scout

“I love Girl Scouts because I get hang out with my friends and fellow Girl Scout sisters. We get to do many things we wouldn’t normally be able to do.” Maylene 11-year-old Girl Scout

PROGRAM Pillars Girls are encouraged to discover their talents and passions in a safe and supportive all-girl setting. Girls join with other Girl Scouts and people in their community—and together, they’ll take action to change the world. Along the way, girls gain important skills in four areas that form the foundation of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience: • Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) With a focus on high-quality multi-year programs in engineering, computer science, and outdoor STEM, girls are encouraged at an early age to explore STEM subjects • Outdoor Through progressive outdoor programs for girls of all ages, girls experience nature, build skills, and take action in their communities as environmental stewards. • Healthy Life Skills By partaking in life skills programming, girls enhance the academic skills they learn in school through topics such as civic engagement, healthy living, communication skills, financial literacy, and global citizenship. • Money Management Starting with the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, this pillar explores ways in which girls can change the world by learning business skills and provides them with a variety of entrepreneurship opportunities Whether a girl is building a robotic arm, coding her first app, building a shelter in the backcountry, or packing for her first hike, a Girl Scout has an exciting array of choices to suit her interests at every age. Our program is designed to meet a girl where she is now and grow along with her—from kindergarten to 12th grade. Because community service is an important tenet of Girl Scouting—girls team up or work individually to identify a problem and do something about it by finding a creative solution, and creating a team plan to make that solution a reality.

That’s the Girl Scout journey, which we offer at every grade level.

BECOMING A Faith PARTNER We know how much you want to see your community thrive and grow. Your investment in Girl Scouts encourages girls to develop connections to their own spiritual and religious beliefs. Here are just a few ways we can partner. As our partnerships grow and develop so will our possibilities. Girl Scout Sunday and Girl Scout Sabbath Girl Scouts is committed to strengthening its relationship with faith communities and girls are encouraged to participate in service at their church or house of worship. Girl Scout Week, held each year around March 12th, the Girl Scout birthday, begins with Girl Scout Sunday and ends with Girl Scout Sabbath.

Ways to Partner

Girl Scout Week

Within Your Service

Troop or Group

Activity/Volunteer

Invite girls to teach a Girl Scout song to members

Host an opportunity after worship (ex: light reception/ refreshments)

Meeting space

Recruit adult volunteers

Share a supplied bulletin insert

Help prepare worship space Girl Scout programming during VBS

Provide volunteer as a resource to those earning awards

Encourage girls to wear their uniforms

Have reserved seating each week for Girl Scouts and their families

Establish a faith-based troop

Expand your youth programming to include Girl Scout religious awards

Post a sign welcoming Girl Scouts

Within your worship service provide Girl Scouts leadership opportunities

Coordinated service learning day with the Girl Scout troops in your community

Implement P.R.A.Y. awards for girls to earn

Allow girls to lead a flag ceremony

Hand out bulletins/ programs, read scripture

Host a short-term troop Host a one day My

Promise, My Faith Family Day Workshop

Share with Faith Community the service at Girl Scout(s) provide to the community

Seat/usher members

Host a one-time event awarding girls for their interfaith awards and/or My Promise, My Faith

CELEBRATING Spirituality AND FAITH Everything in Girl Scouting is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which includes many of the principles and values common across religions. So while we are a secular organization, Girl Scouts has always encouraged girls to take spiritual journeys via their faiths’ religious recognitions.

My Promise My Faith Girls of all grade levels can now earn the My Promise, My Faith pin, which complements existing religious recognitions and allows girls to further strengthen the connection between their faith and Girl Scouts. Once each year, a girl can earn the My Promise, My Faith pin by carefully examining the Girl Scout Law and tying it directly to tenets of her faith. Requirements for this pin are included in The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting for all levels.

Bible Basics RP3 “Bible Basics RP3” is a patch series from P.R.A.Y. It is designed to help families, Sunday school classes, and youth groups get into the Bible. The Bible is basic to the Christian life, which is why the Bible is the emphasis of this new patch series from P.R.A.Y. Girls are encourage to not only Read the Bible, but also to take the time to Picture the passage, Ponder its meaning, and Put it into action. That’s what “RP3” is all about. Families and groups taking part in the program will get to enjoy reading the Bible together, and become familiar with the RP3 outline and be equipped with a simple tool for Bible reading and study at the same time.

INTERFAITH Awards

Created by national religious organizations to encourage the spiritual growth of youth members, religious recognition programs reinforce many of the values integral to Girl Scouting and help girls grow stronger in and learn more about their chosen faith. Each religious organization develops and administers its own program. The brochure “To Serve God” (PDF) lists the religious recognitions created by various faith groups. You can find this brochure, a video explaining religious recognition programs, and other resources for collaborating with faith communities at P.R.A.Y. Publishing.

The Catholic religious recognition programs administered by the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire (NCCGSCF), under the auspices of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), encourage young people to explore and become more involved in their Catholic faith. All programs are designed to support and complement the catechetical efforts of Catholic parishes and schools. God is Love The God is Love program is designed for use with students in kindergarten or first grade. The program helps students discover an appreciation for God’s creation. A parent’s/leader’s guide is included in the program book. The companion prayer card invites children to embrace God’s love for them and the world, and to share that love with others. Family of God The Family of God program is designed for students in grades 2-3. The program helps children discover the presence of God in their daily lives as members of their family and parish. A parent’s/ leader’s guide is included in the program book. The companion prayer card encourages young people and their families to offer thanks for the blessing of family and church, and ask for continued strength and grace to grow and serve God. RELIGIOUS Recognitions FOR CATHOLIC YOUTH IN GIRL SCOUTS

I Live My Faith The I Live My Faith program is designed for students in grades 4-5. The program is designed around the themes of belief, sacraments, Catholic Christian living, and prayer. As the students work through the program, they will reflect on what we believe, how we celebrate those beliefs through sacraments, and how prayer fits into our lives. A parent’s/leader’s guide is included in the program book. The companion prayer card encourages young people and their families to seek God’s guidance and help, while asking for greater understanding, grace and wisdom. Mary the First Disciple Mary, the First Disciple, is designed for students in grades 6-8. The program teaches them more about Mary, and about themselves. They will meet Mary in Scripture as a young teenager, follow her journey, and watch her grow into the woman known as the Mother of God. A step-by-step guide for adults contains detailed instructions for guiding students through the program. The companion prayer card encourages young people and their families to ask for Mary’s intercession for openness to all the possibilities God has in store for them. The Book of Mary-Prayers in Honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a resource for the Marian medal program and is sold separately. Spirit Alive The Spirit Alive program is designed for students in the 9-10 grades. The program assists them in discovering how the Holy Spirit moves in their lives, calling them to greater participation in the church’s ministry. A Spirit Alive Mentor Handbook is a step-by-step guide for adults that contains detailed instructions for guiding students through this program. The companion prayer card encourages young people and families to turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance, wisdom, and commitment to the Gospel message. Missio Missio is designed for students in grades 11-12. The program invites young people to explore missionary discipleship and their own religious identity. Missio was jointly created by the Pontifical Mission Societies in the U. S. and the NFCYM. The guide for adults contains detailed instructions for assisting students through the program. A companion prayer card is also available. The Missio bilingual book and prayer card include text in Spanish as well as English.

Highest AWARDS

As girls progress in Girl Scouts, they can earn our high awards: Bronze Award as a Junior, Silver Award as a Cadette and the Gold Award as a Senior or Ambassador.

All three awards give girls the chance to do big things while working on an issue they care about. Whether they want to plant a community garden at a local school and encourage others to eat healthy for their Bronze, advocate for animal rights for their Silver or build a career network that encourages girls to become scientists for their Gold, girls will inspire others and themselves.

Girl Scout Bronze Award The Girl Scout Bronze Award is earned by girls in fourth and fifth grade. They commit at least 20 hours to making a difference in their community. As girls pursue their project, they put the Girl Scout Promise and Law into action. Girls develop confidence, meet new people and have fun along the way. Ascension Catholic School Nine Girl Scouts organized a money-earning event at Ascension Catholic School and raised $1,000. Using these funds, the Girl Scouts purchased activity books, toys and other items to assemble gift boxes. They donated these gift boxes to patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

St. Ambrose Catholic School Eight Girl Scouts organized a collection drive for Karen House, donating items like canned goods, personal care items and blankets to the organization. Girl Scout Silver Award Girl Scouts in sixth through eight grade can earn the Girl Scout Silver Award. Girl Scouts spend at least 50 hours solving a community need. Going for the Silver Award gives girls the chance to show that they are a leader who is organized, determined and dedicated to improving their community.

Girl Scout Gold Award The Girl Scout Gold Award is the most prestigious award in the world for girls— and the most difficult to earn—and it is only available to Girl Scouts in high school. Girls spend at least 80 hours working on a sustainable project in their community. After earning the Gold Award, girls join a robust network as they enter their post-high school lives, enabling them to distinguish themselves in the college admission process, earn college scholarships and enter the military one rank higher.

Ursuline Academy Catherine F. created a nook at Normandy High School for students to de-stress.

Cor Jesu Academy Allison L. partnered with Nurses for Newborns and created a new organizational system for donations to be easily accessible. She also made an educational pamphlet for new parents.

Claire L. built a lending library at the Feed My People food pantry and hosted readings at a library.

Rosati-Kain High School

Dominique N . taught young patients at St. Louis Children’s Hospital basic origami patterns to help them relax, cope and express themselves through art therapy. Annagrace V. purchased multiple recycling bins and placed them around her school in addition to creating signs and producing educational materials so fellow students understand the importance of recycling.

Clarissa E. created an elective retreat sponsored by her school. She organized a three-day retreat with activities like meditation, tight- rope talk and a trust walk.

Nerinx Hall High School

Visitation Academy Molly F. created and distributed STEM tinker boxes to ensure students in second, third and fourth grade were given opportunities to explore STEM-related fields. She also organized a week-long engineering camp.

Laura S. hosted technology classes at a local retirement community, helping residents connect with family members across the country.

MEMBERSHIP

40,327 Girl Members Across the City of St. Louis and 28 surrounding counties

13,611 Adult members and volunteers Strong leader engagement makes the troop experience an impactful one

HIGHEST AWARDS 885

eastern Missouri G.I.R.L.s (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) TM Earned Girl Scouts’ highest community service awards: Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. The awards acknowledge the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making a permanent and positive mark on our world.

SERVICE

OUR JURISDICTION

Girl Scouts are committed to making a difference in their communities.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA, a national organization, to administer the Girl Scout program in 28 counties across eastern Missouri. With support from dedicated adult volunteers, parents and staff, we deliver the best Girl Scout experience to girls in St. Louis City and the surrounding Missouri counties of Adair, Audrain (Van-Far School District), Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Iron, Jefferson, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Macon, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Reynolds, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Sullivan, Warren and Washington.

872,768 Hours of service

1.5 million Personal care items collected

April Showers is our annual Council-wide community service project. Girl Scouts and their families collect personal care items for local families and individuals in need.

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