United States of America

Promise:

On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times, and
To live by the Girl Scout Law.

(The word ‘God’ can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one’s spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is acceptable to replace the word ‘God’ with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.)

Law:

I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do, and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Age groups:

Girl Scout Ambassador, grades 11-12 

Girl Scout Senior, grades 9-10

Girl Scout Cadette, grades 6-8

Girl Scout Junior, grades 4-5

Girl Scout Brownie, grades 2-3

Girl Scout Daisy, grades k-1

Development of the movement:

Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912, for a local Girl Scout meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. With the goal of bringing girls out of isolated home environments and into community service and the open air, Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid.

Within a few years, Daisy's dream for a girl-centered organization was realized. Today, Girl Scouts of the USA has a membership of over 3.2 million girls and adults, a significant growth from its modest beginnings nearly a century ago. In fact, more than 50 million women in the U.S. today are Girl Scout alumnae.

Programme:

The National Program Portfolio has two main parts – the National Leadership Journeys and The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting. Complemented by the Girl Scout Cookie program, Girl Scout travel and Girl Scout awards, the National Program Portfolio is designed to help girls develop as leaders and build confidence by learning new skills. It also ensures that Girl Scouts at every level are sharing a powerful, national experience—girls together changing the world!

There are three different Leadership Journeys series – It's Your Story – Tell It!, It's Your Planet – Love It! and It's Your World – Change It! Each series has separate books and awards for each grade level and a corresponding adult guide.

The Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting is where girls can find badges, the 100th Anniversary handbook, information on bridging and Bronze/Silver/Gold Awards, Girl Scout history, tradition and much more!

Research:

The Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), formed in 2000, is a vital extension of Girl Scouts of the USA. The GSRI conducts original research, evaluation, and outcomes measurement studies, releases critical facts and findings, and provides resources essential for the advancement of the well-being and safety of girls living in today’s world.

The GSRI also informs public policy and advocacy for Girl Scouting.

Visit the Girl Scout Research Institute’s Publications List for a complete listing of all research reports.

Advocacy:

Girl Scouts of the USA first established a Government Relations office in 1952. Since that time, the organization has worked to build strong relationships with members of Congress, as well as with officials at the White House and federal departments and agencies. Through its advocacy efforts, GSUSA informs and educates key representatives of the government's legislative and executive branches about issues important to girls and Girl Scouting and lobbies for increased program resources.

We have established an important partnership in Congress with the Honorary Congressional Girl Scout Troop, Troop Capitol Hill, comprised of women Members of Congress. Members of Troop Capitol Hill have made a commitment to help Girl Scouts substantively address issues important to girls and Girl Scouting on a national level.

Girl Scouts of the USA's advocacy efforts help demonstrate to lawmakers that Girl Scouts is a resource and an authority on issues affecting girls. Based on almost 100 years of experience and developed from extensive research, the Girl Scout Public Policy and Advocacy Office:

• Encourages girls' healthy living through combating Relational Aggression and promoting girl-positive media images;
• Ensures girls feel emotionally and physically safe;
• Promotes girls' involvement in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM);
• Develops financial literacy skills; and
• Gives a voice to girls in underserved communities.

Projects

• Usa-Kenya Twinning Partnership
• "uniquely ME! - THE GIRL SCOUT/UNILEVER SELF-ESTEEM PROGRAM"
• Hispanic Outreach Initiative
• Girl Scouting Beyond Bars
• Task Force on Volunteers

Micro-site

Visit the WAGGGS' micro-site for this Member Organization.