Girl Scouts are divided into age levels, with program opportunities to meet the needs of each age group.
The Girl Scout age levels are defined by grade:
Grade Levels
Girl Scout Daisy: K - 1st grade
Girl Scout Brownie: Grades 2 -3
Girl Scout Junior: Grades 4 - 5
Girl Scout Cadette: Grades 6 - 8
Girl Scout Senior: Grades 9 - 10
Girl Scout Ambassador: Grades 11 - 12
Your daughter's Girl Scout troop Leader is a volunteer. Volunteers are the heart of Girl Scouting. Without their time, talents and resources Girl Scouting would not be available. They share their insight and sense of adventure with our today's girl. She spends a great deal of time attending training and preparing for and leading meetings. Girl Scouts is a team effort among leaders, girls, and parents working in partnership where parents can help in many ways:
- co-leader
- bring snacks
- arrange trips and events
- provide transportation
- record keeping
- nut-candy product sales manager for the troop
- cookie sales manager for the troop
- be the troop's outdoor ed person (so the troop can go camping)
- be part of the troop's support team
- first aid person
Your daughter's troop leader is a volunteer paid in smiles and hugs. There are many ways you and your Girl Scout can show your appreciation. Leader appreciation is celebrated throughout the month of April, the day of recognition is April 22nd. These thoughtful gestures would be appreciated at any time!
- just say "thank you"
- send a card or letter
- give a drawing or gift
- take a photograph of the troop and frame it
- make a home made treat
- offer to babysit
- prepare a meal
- make a donation to GSWO in her name
- provide a party during a troop meeting
How Does a Troop Get Money?
- troop dues
- council sponsored product sales
- "in-kind" donation
Meetings
Meetings are often bi-monthly with an average meeting time of 90 minutes. Meeting times are set according to the volunteer's time schedule and space availability of the sponsoring facility. It is your responsibility to make arrangements to get your daughter to and from meetings on time and Girl Scout policy states that girls must be picked up promptly at the end of a meeting or event or formal action could be taken.
Dues / How Does a Troop Get Money?
The national membership dues is $25.00 and covers the girls' insurance - the money goes directly to Girl Scouts of the USA. Troop dues average $20 - $25 for the scouting year and help with the day to day operating budget of the troop (office supplies, craft supplies, earned badges, pins, ect.) This money is usually / often collected at the beginning of the year. Each troop is self-supporting and is totally dependent upon the troop dues and product sales to function. Each troop has its own bank account and at the end of the scouting year, July 31, each troop leader is responsible for a detailed financial report of the troop's activities for one year August 1 to July 31.
Activity / Event Fees
The Girl Scouts of Western Ohio and Creekwood Service Unit Girl Scout Community makes every effort to provide low cost, high quality activities and events for the girls. Most girls attend events as a troop but most events can be attended by a scout/parent if the troop is not participating. If a leader or co-leader cannot attend a particular event then the scout and a parent may attend, and communicate this through the scout leader. All events/activities have deadlines which gives us the time needed to purchase supplies and plan. Each event/activity is also self supporting. There are events/activities planned by GSWO or Creekwood SU and your leader will have a list of these. When a child/parent signs up for an event, they are making a commitment. No refunds are made for those who do not attend.
Uniforms and Books
The uniform cost is covered by the parents, but this can vary troop to troop. Most girls choose a sash or vest to display their awards, badges and patches. Girl Scouts wear a uniform to show pride in belonging to a movement that has a mission held in high regard by the American people. A Girl Scout Daisy has a choice of a blue tunic or vest; Girl Scout Brownies wear either a brown vest or sash; Girl Scout Juniors a green vest or sash; and Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors and Ambassadors wear khaki vest or sash. Always buy uniforms with room to grow and check with your leader as to what additional items are needed. These components are often paired with a white shirt/blouse and khaki pants/skirt.
Where to buy Uniforms and Books
Cincinnati Service Center and Shop
4930 Cornell Road
Cincinnati, OH 45242-1804
Cincinnati Shop
T: 513-619-1384 (or ext. 141)
Customer Care
T: 888-350-5090
F: 513-489-1417
or online http://www.girlscoutshop.com/WESTERN-OHIO-COUNCIL
Product Sales
Girls will have the opportunity to participate in two product sales: candy -nut that begins September 15th and cookie sales that start on January 1st. The focus is to raise money for the Girl Scout troop, training our leaders, books for leaders, supporting Girl Scout camps (local Camp Butterworth, Whip poor Will and Libbey), programs and scholarships. We support the fact all girls and families have the responsibility to support their troop through these fund raisers, parent involvement is necessary for successful sales. Parents sign a permission form for their daughter to participate and to accept the responsibility for the number of candy-nut products and cookie boxes ordered.
Why We Have Product Sales
- troop is self supporting and depends upon product sales to function
- girls learn to set goals, for themselves and the troop and to formulate a plan of work to achieve goals
- girls develop managerial skills by coming up with strategies
- girls learn interpersonal skills necessary to communicate to a variety of customers
- girls grow confidence and pride
- girls learn how to manage money by setting monetary benchmarks to participate in specific activities
- girls learn to develop and work within a budget
- girls have fun - enjoying the fellowship with others
Badges / Awards
Girls will learn many new skills in a variety of interest areas including science, technology, art, citizenship, math, nutrition/fitness, ecology, outdoors and getting along with others. Girl Scout badges are worn on the front of the sash or vest and participation(fun) patches are worn on the back.
As the girls grow older, they have the opportunity to pursue individual awareness and community contributions. Junior Girl Scouts earn the Bronze Award, Cadette Girl Scouts earn the Silver Award, and Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts earn the Gold Award.
The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and helps a girl develop skills in leadership, career exploration, self discovery and service. The value found in the Girl Scout Promise and Law provides an essential framework for developing character. Service to the community allows girls to learn the value of helping others and contributing to society. They experience first hand through these Awards how their actions can positively affect others.
The Gold Award is recognized by many colleges and universities and often provides scholarship money towards tuition cost.
Responsibilities of Girls and Parents
Girls' Responsibility to the Troop:
- follow the Promise and the Law
- attend meetings and outings
- know that permission slips are signed by parent or guardian
- complete missed work
- pass along important information
- respect sister Girl Scouts
- actively participate in meetings
- conduct themselves in a safe manner
Parents' Responsibility to the Troop:
- to see that your daughter arrives and is picked up on time for all and outings, please escort your daughter in and drop in to pick her up
- help your daughter fulfill troop responsibilities (snack, dues, uniform, ect.)
- be supportive of your daughter's Girl Scout endeavors helping her complete missed work
- notify leader if daughter cannot attend a meeting/outing
- check with leader for any news, keep in contact
- assist troop leader
- be part of troop's support Team
- help troop leaders establish and maintain a positive environment within the troop, setting a positive example yourself
- attend parent meeting, group activities, special ceremonies
- let your daughter know that you consider her participation in Girl Scouting to be important and special, support her endeavors
- financial support of product sales/serve as troop product sales manager
- contribute to cost of troop activities/events
- pay for uniform, insignia tab, flag, council ID and troop #'s and books if requested
Troop's Responsibility / What Does Troop Pay For:
- material needed by the troop for troop's program
- supplies and equipment such as record books, troop flag/banner, some camping equipment, paper/craft supplies
- pins, patches, try-its, recognitions awarded by troop
- required training for registered leaders such as CPR/First Aid, fee for outdoor ed trained person for the troop
- many expenses related to outings, campouts and trips but this is totally dependent upon troop fund raising, the goal is for every troop to earn enough money to pay for anticipated programs/activities and events