This year’s FOCALPOINT contains information about a wide variety of program-oriented services, our councilsponsored
program activities and the Adult Learning Course Schedule. Look for what’s NE W as we continue realigning our
resources to meet girls’ needs and interests and to compliment the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, the new framework
that Girl Scouts of the USA is rolling out across the country. You will see that we also incorporated the findings from our
program evaluation conducted last year by KALEIDOSCOPE.
The core component of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) is the leadership Journeys, a coordinated series of
activities grouped around a theme, each with a starting point and an ending point. This year there are two series of Journey
books for troops to choose from this year:
It’s Your World – Change It! and It’s Your Planet – Love It!
Each girls’ book immerses Girl Scouts in the topics that make up the Journey, while the adult guide features enriching, girlcentric
activities, coaching tips and sample session outlines you can customize to fit the needs of your group.
Once you get comfortable with how to guide girls as they experience the three keys to leadership and the three processes
that make Girl Scouting unique from school and other extracurricular activities, you will want to encourage your group to take
advantage of other exciting opportunities for personal growth and leadership development.
In addition to earning the prestigious, grade-level specific Journey awards, girls may be interested in completing the requirements
for earning Daisy Petals, Brownie Try-Its, Junior Badges, Interest Project Awards and STUDIO 2B charms. Some girls
may also be interested in pursuing the Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards – the highest awards for girls at the Junior
though Ambassador levels.
The Adult Learning Course Schedule, contains a wide range of adult learning opportunities, in addition to those required
for new leaders, that are available throughout the year in a variety of locations. A new course, “Enhancing the Journey,” is
designed to introduce leaders to the ins and outs of utilizing some of our other Girl Scout program resources to enrich the
Journey experience. “Enhancing the Journey” is offered for volunteers working with 5K-Grade 5 and for those working with
Grades 6-12.
With a renewed commitment to being girl-centric, we introduce our council-sponsored program plan for the 2009-10 membership
year. Please take some time to get acquainted with the variety of options that are planned. Participants will enjoy
some fresh, exciting variations of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience thanks to the involvement of high-quality facilitators,
facilities and resources. Since we have grouped these options to emphasize the diversity of opportunities offered, you may
find it helpful to refer to our handy program chart on page 12 to help you zero in on the council-sponsored events and workshops
that interest your Girl Scouts.
We will be continuously updating and adding information on our Web site as the year progresses. Our online registration
system is available 24/7 so you can conveniently register for all council-sponsored programs, learning opportunities and
camp offerings. We also provide a helpful link to Google Maps for directions to the activity locations.
The Volunteer Forum, accessible through our Web site, is a support tool that provides volunteers the opportunity to exchange
ideas and information to enhance their volunteer experience. The Volunteer Forum gives volunteers a place to ask each other
questions about working with girls, families and other volunteers; to offer suggestions or solutions to each other’s challenges;
and to share programs, community resources or other information that will enhance the Girl Scout experience.
Take advantage of the collection of resources available to you through our council and Girl Scouts of the USA to make this
a wonderful Girl Scout year to remember! Please contact a member of your service unit‘s volunteer service team, your staff
link, or our new Information and Referral Desk for assistance.
And please engage more and more individuals and organizations in Girl Scouting. There are all sorts of ways people can
volunteer to make the world a better place through their involvement in building girls of courage, confidence, and character.
If you know someone who would like to be involved on an occasional or short-term basis, or someone whose interest goes
beyond assisting with your troop/group, please refer her or him to one of our Volunteer Development Managers.
Enjoy your Girl Scout journey!
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