Celebrating Halloween and Founder's Day!

Today is a special day—a time to think about who we would like to be, let our imaginations run wild, and turn those dreams into a reality. On this one day, we can truly transform ourselves into something different—something bigger, bolder, and more daring than we ever thought possible.

Of course, for Girl Scouts across the country, today is also Founder’s Day—the 153rd birthday of Juliette Gordon Low, who started the Girl Scout Movement in 1912. It’s fitting that Juliette’s birthday coincides with the most creative, imaginative, and fun day of the year. She was the original visionary: someone who dreamed about what was possible and took action to bring her vision to life.

Juliette started the Girl Scout Movement at a time when the idea of a girls’ leadership organization was as silly as the idea of seeing a ghost. Before women could legally vote, and before many women were able to own property or even work outside the home, Juliette envisioned a movement that would inspire girls to believe in their abilities, develop leadership skills, and gain the courage, confidence, and character to make their world a better place.

Check out the video above to get a glimpse of Juliette’s world—the world Girl Scouting was born into!

Today, Juliette’s incredible vision lives on as the Girl Scout Movement, and her impact on the world can be seen every day in the girls we help develop into tomorrow’s leaders. Juliette would be so proud of today’s Girl Scouts and the innovative ways we continue to reimagine our Movement.

So on this special day, Girl Scouts everywhere say happy birthday to this remarkable woman who created our Movement. We can honor her memory and celebrate her birthday by imagining who we want to be, today and in the future, and by working every day to turn our dreams into a reality.

Have a fun, safe, and imaginative Halloween!

Happy Founder's Day!

We're rocking party hats to celebrate the birth of the incredible woman who started the Girl Scouts movement over 100 years ago. Happy birthday Juliette Gordon Low!

Dove and Girl Scouts Bring You 'Free Being Me'

Check out the Free Being Me Teaser Activity!
 
Images of girls and women in the media are of great interest to girls today. Through a partnership with Dove and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Girl Scouts of the USA will be launching Free Being Me, a global leadership initiative focused on helping girls better understand global definitions of beauty, define beauty for themselves and boost their self-confidence in the process.

Free Being Me will help girls understand from a global perspective that a greater diversity of beauty exists and give them opportunity to take action to promote this diversity to girl locally and globally. Importantly, Free Being Me can be used to introduce or enhance girls’ experiences along the It’s Your Story—Tell It! leadership journey series.

We encourage you to use the teaser activity at your upcoming I Can’t Wait recruitment events and share it with volunteers to build excitement for this new global leadership initiative.

Download the Free Being Me Teaser Activity here to help us keep track of how many teaser activities we can share!

For more information and background to Free Being Me, go to www.free-being-me.com. Get your volunteers and girls ready to enjoy more activities like this in January 2014.

Tricky Tips and Ghoulish Guidelines

Girl Scouts Take Action During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Guest Post: A Message from Anna Maria Chávez

A special message from Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Girl Scouts across the country are working to raise awareness and money to help find a cure and foster an environment supportive of greater breast cancer education and research.

On October 20, girls from the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana council cheered on walkers in the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Valparaiso, Indiana, holding up posters and encouraging participants. Girls and staff from the Girl Scouts Heart of the South council have worn pink ribbons throughout the month to raise awareness of the ongoing fight against breast cancer and serve as volunteers for the North Mississippi Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. And a Girl Scout troop from Des Moines, Iowa, decorated bras that will be auctioned off for charity.

Breast cancer, which is genetically linked in only about 10 percent of cases, is one of the most misunderstood cancers in the world. It can affect both women and men, and claims the lives of more than 400,000 people every year. Among women, it accounts for almost 15 percent of all cancer-related deaths. A healthy, active lifestyle; education; regular screenings; and early detection are key to ensuring fewer women and men succumb to this deadly disease.

Healthy living and an active lifestyle are core tenets of Girl Scouting. Through our Healthy Habits Journey booklet, girls learn how to take care of their bodies and be health conscious their entire lives through, for instance, hiking, trying new sports, and preparing nutritious meals. At Girl Scouts, we aim to give girls the information they need to make informed decisions about their health and the leadership skills they need to take care of themselves and others.

To learn more about breast cancer, or to make a donation for a cure, visit: http://www.bcrfcure.org/.

Erika Yee—A Hero Goes For Gold

Guest Post: A Message from Anna Maria Chávez

A special message from Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of meeting high school senior Erika Yee when I returned to my home state of Arizona to attend the Girls and Women of Distinction Celebration with the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona council. During the celebration, I was honored to present Erika with a Lifesaving Achievement award for her heroic act that saved the life of one of her fellow students at University High School in Tucson, Arizona.

On October 15, 2012, Erika, a Tucson native, was at band practice when her band mate Chris Miller suddenly collapsed. Erika had recently learned a technique known as Continuous-Chest-Compression CPR as a Girl Scout Junior at her local Girl Scout camp, Camp Fury. According to research, Continuous-Chest-Compression CPR is about twice as effective as traditional CPR in resuscitating patients who suffer sudden cardiac arrest.

Responding with the courage, confidence, and character emblematic of a Girl Scout, Erika took charge of the situation, administering Continuous-Chest-Compression CPR to Chris until paramedics arrived on the scene. Today Chris is alive and well, and both he and the medics credit Erika’s quick thinking and swift action with saving his life.

Erika turned her incredible story into her Girl Scout Gold Award project, working in conjunction with the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center to provide Continuous-Chest-Compression CPR training to high school students throughout Tucson. She also produced a short videoabout her experience, highlighting how easy this technique is to administer in an emergency.

At Girl Scouts, every day we create leaders like Erika—courageous young women with the tenacity and the determination to make our world a better place. Thanks to Erika and the skills she learned as a Girl Scout, a young man’s life was saved. Erika takes her place in a long line of incredible Girl Scouts who are serving as role models for their peers and for generations of girls to come, and our Movement is so incredibly proud of her.

An Interview with Teach For America’s Kathleen Fujawa, Senior Managing Director at Teach For America

Kathleen was a member of Troop 105 out of Fairport, New York and received her Gold Award in the spring of 1989.  She is a Senior Managing Director on Teach For America’s human assets team, and works outside of Boston, Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband and 4-year-old daughter.

When and why did you decide on a career in education?

Learning has always been a passion of mine. This started very early in my life and was certainly fostered by being raised in a loving household by parents who understood the joy and power that comes from getting a great education. My brother and I always assumed we would not only go to college, but would also earn graduate degrees. It was in Girl Scouts and then in college, where I had experiences that highlighted that these opportunities were not available to everyone. Access to education was something I valued but very much took for granted.

Music was one of my most passionate areas of study. My interests in music and the arts led to a fascination with the business end of it all, so I started working in non-profit and for-profit education, mostly in development, marketing and human resources.  I joined Teach For America’s staff in 2005, and was one of the first members of our human assets team.  My focus is making sure that our 2000+ staff members thrive and lead at Teach For America. Supporting their efforts is an important part of the critical work that we are doing to create positive change in communities across the country.

Both Girl Scouts and Teach For America are about leadership and change.  How did your Girl Scout experience translate into your current experience?

Many people think of leadership as something intimidating. A leader is big, powerful, and charismatic.  That has never felt like me.  But I think what was so wonderful about Girl Scouts is that it gave me a multitude of models of amazing leadership, and allowed me to really understand myself and my strengths, while also challenging me in ways that I never realized I could be strong.  I was a pretty shy child, and I found myself having the opportunity to test myself and lead others in a way that was very uniquely mine.

My Gold Award project foreshadowed the work that I now do.  It was focused on bringing music to a variety of underserved populations in my community, and connected the performers with the participants.  I feel like that was the beginning of what is very meaningful to me in my day to day work – making a difference, giving back, and building lasting partnerships built on mutual respect and trust. 

What skills and/or characteristics did you learn as a Girl Scout that you still use today?

There are so many!  I think first off, my time in Girl Scouts contributed to my love of learning, which is such a big part of how I work and live my life. It took this love of learning and helped me take my passions and strengths and apply them in new ways, growing my self-confidence and leadership skill by facing experiences may be unfamiliar or challenging.

My senior troop had a focus on canoeing, which I loved, but they competed and I had never done that before.  We trained each spring as soon as we could get outside and competed in a regatta every Memorial Day weekend, which really emphasized my discipline and work ethic strengths, as well as my ability to build strong relationships – you need to really know and trust your partner and team when you are racing down rapids!  

Girl Scouts also gave me a better understanding of diversity and my place in this very unique world.  It gave me the sense of humility, of duty and obligation along with the self-confidence, leadership and love of service to be able to act on them. And clearly it was the start of my love of service and my desire to see that as an important part of my life’s work.

In your opinion, why do you think a Girl Scout would make a good Teach For America corps member?

Girl Scouts have a unique combination of perseverance, humility and leadership, which our corps members need to succeed in the classroom.  Inherent in the program is a true love for education and learning, which would translate wonderfully to working as a teacher. It is a natural fit!

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Girl Scouts is proud to be a national partner of Teach For America.

Teach For America corps members commit to teach for two years in 48 regions across the country.  They work relentlessly to lead their students to the academic success that can put them on a dramatically different life path. You can be one of the thousands of leaders committed to achieving educational excellence for all. You can shape our future. Learn more about why you should join the corps.

Join the movement and apply to the 2013 Teach For America corps.

Next Application Deadline: This Friday, October 25, 2013.

About the Alcoa Chuck McLane Scholarship

Congratulations to Gabriella Smith, Gold Award Recipient from Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and Kaitlyn Kanis, Gold Award Recipient from Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana, for winning the inaugural Alcoa Chuck McLane Scholarship! In June, Girl Scouts of the USA partnered with the Alcoa Foundation to present the inauguralAlcoa Chuck McLane Scholarship available to Gold Award recipients who completed projects in STEM.

The scholarship honors Chuck McLane, a retired Alcoa Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. McLane, a GSUSA Board member, championed this program in support of young women pursuing a STEM education. Concluding a 40-year career with Alcoa and Reynolds Metals Company, Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation share McLane's commitment to inspire girls, women, and other under-represented groups on the journey to STEM-related careers.

Through 2017, Alcoa Foundation will provide $10,000 scholarships to two girls a year. In addition to financial support, an Alcoa employee will mentor the scholarship recipient during her freshman year of college.

Gabriella Smith earned her Gold Award with her project on Haggett's Pond in Andover, Mass. Her project focused on mapping Haggett's Pond's many trails, constructing a kiosk to house the park and pond map and providing a website so visitors can access the map on their smartphones and share photos.

Kaitlyn Kanis earned her Gold Award with her project focused on Churubusco Community Park in Churubusco, Ind. Her project focused on building 12 bat houses in the park to create an environmentally friendly solution to the millions of mosquitoes in Churubusco Park.

Stay tuned for instructions on how to apply for the 2014 Alcoa Chuck McLane Scholarship!

Twin Girl Scouts Honored with Presidential Award!

In Kansas City, MO, KMBC TV 9 reports that Girl Scout twin sisters Maggie and Sophie have been doing community service for half their young lives, and their work recently earned them recognition from the White House.

The two Girl Scouts from the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri were recently awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their many community contributions. From cooking food for local shelters to initiating book drives and much more, these are two very busy girls. Cogratulations to Maggie and Sophie!

The President’s Volunteer Service Award program is a great way to thank and honor those who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.

Awards are given to youth ages 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have completed 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have completed 200 or more hours. Lifetime achievement is recognized with a special President's Call to Service Award, which honors those who have provided more than 4,000 hours of service during the course of their lifetime.

(photo: screen-grab KMBC TV 9)

Interbrand Collaborates with Girl Scouts of the USA on Acclaimed New Recruitment Campaign

Girl Scouts of the USA, which celebrated its centennial in 2012, has more than 2 million youth members nationwide. While roughly 50 percent of American women are Girl Scouts alumni, the number of new members and troop leaders has been declining over the past few years. With a goal of increasing the number of both youth members and adult troop leaders, the organization tapped Interbrand New York to create a campaign that would drive participation and engagement across America’s increasingly diverse demographics.

To motivate and inspire girls and adults to join, the hero line, “I can’t wait to,” was developed to spark curiosity and anticipation. Setting the tone of the campaign, the hero line is supported by copy that is simple and playful – underscoring the ease and accessibility of becoming a Girl Scouts member and the fun girls and adults have when they join.

Leveraging Girl Scouts’ 101-year history, Interbrand reimagined the brand’s iconic Girl Scout Trefoil symbol. Using it as the starting point, Interbrand incorporated layers of images, colors, and illustrations to create the Kaleidoscope Girl Scout Trefoil – a dynamic storytelling device that serves as a metaphor for the ever-changing experiences girls can have with their troops. Accompanied by a vibrant color palette and bold, bright typography, each kaleidoscope trefoil includes photography of real Girl Scouts and/or volunteers exploring and connecting with each other through various activities.

Instead of implementing traditional advertisements on television, in newspapers and on billboards, the “I can’t wait to”campaign is unfolding in neighborhood initiatives and via social media channels as local Girl Scout councils directly target elementary-school girls and potential adult volunteers. For more information, please visit www.fchiase.com.

Girl Scouts CEO Anna Maria Chávez Honors Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan

“Girl Scouts of the USA congratulates sixteen year-old Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban after daring to speak out for the education of girls, for being the first girl to ever be in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “We recognize Malala as an Honorary Girl Scout, as she has made the world a better place through her remarkable courage, confidence, and character. Today not only marks an historic milestone for girls in the world, it is also International Day of the Girl, and regardless of the ultimate decision of the Nobel Committee, Malala has changed lives and opened eyes across the globe.”

On October 9, 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head and neck in an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen while returning home on a school bus. In the days immediately following the attack, she remained unconscious and in critical condition, but later her condition improved enough for her to be sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England for intensive rehabilitation.

In the April 2013 issue of Time magazine, Yousafzai was featured on the magazine's front cover and as one of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World". She was the winner of Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize and was nominated for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. On 12 July 2013, Yousafzai spoke at the UN to call for worldwide access to education, and in September 2013 she officially opened the Library of Birmingham. Yousafzai is the recipient of the Sakharov Prize for 2013.

Be the Video Game Developer is a Hit!

Adam Balkin reports for NY1that on September 18, 2013, Girl Scouts of the USA and Dell convened a think tank on innovation in today’s gaming industry as it pertains to girls, and the key skills girls need exposure to in order to succeed. The event centered on the release of Be the Video Game Developer, an interactive experience that puts girls in the driver’s seat of video game development.

"We realize although we're over 100 years old, we have to stay relevant for girls and families, and so, of course, girls are using technology on a daily basis, and we want to ensure them that we're here to support them in that activity. For girls and boys, game applications are something they use every day. But for girls, we want them to understand that there's a whole science behind it, technology, and even some engineering and some math," said Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez.

Be the Video Game Developer has netted some pretty impressive reviews in the gaming scene. Check out write-ups of it in Polygon, Games for Change, Escapist Magazine and Forbes.

Be the Video Game Developer is part of GSUSA’s Journey and Connect Through Technology program, and plays an essential role in introducing girls to ICT concepts and helping them gain skills that promote critical thinking.

Dell has been involved with Girl Scouts for more than 10 years and has worked extensively with the five Girl Scout councils that will receive the game upon launch. Dell team members have provided valuable mentorship, volunteering their time and expertise to these councils, which include Girl Scouts of Central Texas, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital, Girl Scouts of Northern California, and Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma.

Ten Reasons Why the World Needs More Girl Scouts

1. We are all inclusive. What is especially important about the Girl Scouts’ rich history of supporting women’s leadership is their insistence on being a voice for all girls, regardless of their background or neighborhood. Girl Scout membership does not discriminate on any basis, including race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

2. THIN MINTS

3. First Lady Michelle Obama, Honorary National President of Girl Scouts, filmed a video about how awesome Girl Scouts are. Check it out!

4. Girl Scout Cookies are endorsed by Ryan Gossling!

5. Girl Scouts really will rule the world someday. In 2011, ABC News The Flying Monkeys, a group of Girl Scouts from Ames, Iowa, developed a prosthetic hand device to help a 3-year-old toddler without fingers write. The device not only won the group the $20,000 FIRST LEGO League Global Innovation Award from the X Prize Foundation last month, it scored the scouts a provisional patent.

6. TROOP BEVERLY HILLS. Imitation truly is the highest form of flattery!

7. DOLLY PARTON! The most celebrated female country music singer and songwriter of all became a lifetime member in 2007!

8. Girl Scouts send Girl Scout Cookies to service members overseas. Every year Girl Scout councils send cookies by the tons to those serving overseas.

9. Girl Scouts is committed to supporting girls’ interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. With support from Dell, Girl Scouts just released Be the Video Game Developer, an interactive experience that puts girls in the driver’s seat of video game development. Through Be the Video Game Developer, girls consider what they would like to see in video games and make selections accordingly—choosing avatars, storylines, and other video game features.

10. Girl Scouts invented S’mores! Did you also know that Girl Scouts is credited with inventing the recipe? In fact, the original S'mores campfire delicacy was first introduced to the world 80 years ago in the 1927 Girl Scout Handbook.

So, JOIN NOW!!!!

Even More Awesome Recruitment Week Videos Available

Closing out a tremendously successful I can’t wait to… recruitment week, Girl Scouts of the USA has even more exciting videos to share!

President Barack Obama’s sister, Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng, has recorded two videos to support the “I can’t wait to…” recruitment efforts! In response to First Lady Michelle Obama's video, Dr. Soetoro-Ng and her daughter Suhaila talk about what they can't wait to do this Girl Scout year! The videos can be found here and here. Kudos to Girl Scouts of Hawai`i for making this a reality!

First Lady Michelle Obama’s recruitment campaign video is now available with Spanish-language subtitles. It can be found here. Enjoy!

What is the Position of the Honorary National President?

Girl Scouts of the USA’s Honorary National President post is a tradition that dates back almost 100 years. By accepting the position in 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama joined the ranks of every First Lady since 1917, when First Lady Edith B. Wilson became the first Honorary National President of the Girl Scout Movement.

In her tenure as Girl Scouts of the USA's Honorary National President, First Lady Laura Bush celebrated the 90th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA.

“This cultural exchange reminded me how important it is to reach out to others around the world, to explore our differences,'' Mrs. Bush said. “Girl Scouts has the perfect approach to reaching girls worldwide. The world is a better place because of Girl Scouts.''

She also remained engaged in Girl Scouting through the 100th Anniversary, even filming the below video.

Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to have First Lady Michelle Obama help with our recruitment efforts. In a video released this week, Mrs. Obama highlights the important role played by Girl Scout volunteers, coinciding with the launch of the organization’s new national campaign to increase recruitment of girl members and adult volunteers. The “I can’t wait to…” campaign highlights the fun, excitement, and anticipation that are part of the Girl Scout experience.

News of Girl Scouts Recruitment Campaign is Nationwide!

In Denver, Colorado, FOX 31 reports that there are plenty of girls who want to join Girl Scouts, but the organization needs more volunteers. The piece titled, "Girl Scouts looking for more troop leaders", highlights First Lady Michelle Obama's video in which she discusses the important role played by Girl Scout volunteers.

First Lady Michelle Obama currently serves as Girl Scouts of the USA’s Honorary National President. Since 1917, every First Lady has served in this post. Girl Scouts of Colorado serves more than 31,000 girls across the state. With the support of nearly 10,000 volunteers, we help girls discover more about themselves, connect with friends and take action to improve their communities.

Anna Maria Chávez Participates in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

Girl Scout National CEO, Anna Maria Chávez  participated in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s (CHCI) Public Policy Conference. Specifically, Chávez was a panelist on a panel that focused on early childhood education titled, Preparing Latino Students for Educational Success from Day One.  The session primarily focused on current early education policy while highlighting strategies that promote Latino achievement and how students, parents, the community, and corporations can work together to support a better early childhood education system. Representative Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico and Representative Albio Sires of New Jersey chaired the panel while Sr. Associate for the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector, Jacqueline Cossentino, and Vice President of the American Federation of Teachers Maria Neira, joined Anna Maria Chávez on the panel.

During her opening remarks, Chávez highlighted the challenges faced by girls, especially Latinas. Specifically, she highlighted many of the findings that effect Latina girls in the forthcoming Girl Scout Research Institute report, The State of Girls: Unfinished Business (Dec, 2013). Some of the key statistics that she touched on include Hispanic/Latina girl preschool enrollment, reading and math proficiency amongst Hispanic/Latina girls, and high school dropout rates. Unfortunately, Hispanic/Latina girls fair lower than girls overall in all of these areas. Chávez highlighted the role of Girl Scouts, and the leadership experiences it offers from an early age to engage girls as well as mothers and other family members. It is important to look at and strategize solutions that will allow Hispanic/Latina girls to be a key investment rather than just a risk factor.

Furthermore, Anna Maria Chávez expressed the importance of government combining its efforts with the nonprofit community to ensure that girls will not fall through the cracks and continue to be at risk. Also, it is important for the Latino community to discover what the issues around the community, and strives to not only connect with those in leadership positions but also to take action by being in a leadership position. This will help ensure that issues that face the community and early education issues remain in the forefront. In addition, she was able to highlight the work Girl Scouts and the Girl Scout Research Institute have done in addressing girls’ early interest in STEM and the need to keep them engaged so they will pursue STEM careers in response to a question from an audience member. Chávez engaged an audience that was full of former Girl Scouts and Girl Scout supporters while highlighting the organization’s efforts to provide girls from a young age with the tools that will enable them to succeed throughout their education career.