Despite continued remote learning, challenges, and other cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Girl Scouts is still here, helping girls and families stay connected to each other and their community. Our mission to build leaders—who can navigate good times as well as uncertain ones—is critical. In fact, we’ve taken this crisis and turned it into an opportunity to offer innovative and safe ways for girls to make new friends and learn life skills.
When your girl joins Girl Scouts, she gains immediate access to many exciting opportunities—even if her troop is unable to meet in-person right away.
Starting kindergarten is a rite of passage for children and families, but many of the usual ways teachers and caregivers prepare their kids for kindergarten have been cancelled. Our “Make New Friends” virtual event series is a free kindergarten readiness program to help your girl boost her social skills, giving her the self-confidence to thrive in a classroom or virtual school setting.
From topics like automotive engineering and STEM careers to civics and entrepreneurship, new badges released by Girl Scouts of the USA in July give girls more opportunities to practice ambitious leadership. Girl Scouts can even earn badges on their own, sharing what they have learned with their family. In fact, parents and caregivers are encouraged to join their girl as she learns new skills and explores careers, many of which are traditionally male dominated fields.
Families can also participate together in GSCO’s NEWDiversity, Equity, and Inclusion programming and earn the “Diverse. Inclusive. Together.” patch. This is an opportunity for families to not only have conversations about differences, race, and racism, but also for caregivers and siblings to learn more about Girl Scouts’ core values.
Our free virtual monthly badge series kicked off this summer with girls learning how to code and explore the outdoors. These series also give girls the opportunity to connect with Girl Scouts statewide and share what they learned in a safe, virtual setting. New topics are planned for this fall. Girls can earn badges in these series on their own or with their troop.
Karen Grealey leads her younger daughter’s Daisy troop, as well as her older daughter’s Junior troop. She has arranged for both troops to meet virtually over the summer, allowing the girls to earn badges, complete art projects, and most importantly stay connected. “It’s good for them just to be able to get together and be more social and less structured,” she said. “They are just so excited to see each other that I just let them organically interact with each other. ”
Virtual learning and training opportunities are also available for adults interested in volunteering. The Explore More Club connects adult volunteers statewide, allowing them to learn how to teach particular topics/badges to girls. The club focuses on a different program topic every month, giving volunteers the chance to connect and share with other statewide. We also have resources for troops to meet virtually, many of which are free and low-cost.