Why do girls drop out of Girl Scouts in the 5th, 6th, 7th grades?

[Anonymous]

This is what girls have said to me: Don’t like being forced to talk about and then sell cookies for weeks and months on end. Don’t like crafty activities with cheap materials. Don’t like being told no about camping and the outdoors. Don’t like preachy and self-righteous writing in journeys and advancement materials. Don’t like controlling personalities of the volunteer and professional overseers That boss around my mom. Don’t like being in a shrinking group as others bail. Don’t like the leader’s girl always being the favored and precious kid. Don’t want to go to another school class on STEM in my free time. The reason this thread keeps coming back is that these same things keep being said and the program and attitudes just remain the same.

[Anonymous]

I have a 14yo and a 10yo in GS.

My 14yo joined when she was 9. She just got her silver award a few months ago.

She likes having a peer group that's not especially connected to her school friends (only one girl in the group is in her high school). I think it's nice for them to have some neutral ground.

She LOVES camp. She loves the service projects they've done, too.

10yo - seems to go back and forth. That troop is a lot bigger and I think she's still finding her footing in it. She loves camping and wishes this troop did more. We have a son who's in Boy Scouts and honestly that would be a more exciting curriculum for my 10yo.

Our council offers "Journey in a Day" programs where you can go to an event that's 6-7 hours long and knock out all the requirements.

I don't believe in forcing kids into things they don't like--and all 3 of my kids enjoy scouting. But I have to say... if I as an adult were concerned with scouting making my kids uncool... or if that was their reason for not wanting to do something... I'd probably want to take a good hard look at my values. I also hope they would replace that activity with something more enriching than spending more time on snapchat or video games.

[Anonymous]

I hope my kid drops out by 5th grade. I hate it - the cookie and candy selling, filling out forms, camping, all of it. I encouraged my daughter to drop out this school year but she wanted to stick with it, something about wanting to finish what she started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a 14yo and a 10yo in GS.

My 14yo joined when she was 9. She just got her silver award a few months ago.

She likes having a peer group that's not especially connected to her school friends (only one girl in the group is in her high school). I think it's nice for them to have some neutral ground.

She LOVES camp. She loves the service projects they've done, too.

10yo - seems to go back and forth. That troop is a lot bigger and I think she's still finding her footing in it. She loves camping and wishes this troop did more. We have a son who's in Boy Scouts and honestly that would be a more exciting curriculum for my 10yo.

Our council offers "Journey in a Day" programs where you can go to an event that's 6-7 hours long and knock out all the requirements.

I don't believe in forcing kids into things they don't like--and all 3 of my kids enjoy scouting. But I have to say... if I as an adult were concerned with scouting making my kids uncool... or if that was their reason for not wanting to do something... I'd probably want to take a good hard look at my values. I also hope they would replace that activity with something more enriching than spending more time on snapchat or video games.

Which council is this? I know my daughter's troop would love to do this. They're itching to get started on their silver award, but not looking forward to slogging through the journey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope my kid drops out by 5th grade. I hate it - the cookie and candy selling, filling out forms, camping, all of it. I encouraged my daughter to drop out this school year but she wanted to stick with it, something about wanting to finish what she started.

Ugh. As if!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 14yo and a 10yo in GS.


Our council offers "Journey in a Day" programs where you can go to an event that's 6-7 hours long and knock out all the requirements.


Which council is this? I know my daughter's troop would love to do this. They're itching to get started on their silver award, but not looking forward to slogging through the journey.

It's North Carolina Coastal Pines. I realize that isn't too helpful since it's out of state, but maybe the programming could be duplicated by your council? I think doing it in one day is the best approach!

[Anonymous]

GSCNC offers a ton of Journey in a day programs. Just get on the rallyhood—they are offered all the time. We also had a mom in our troop that offered to do one at her house. There are tons of resources online to help with that.

[Anonymous]

I was a leader for girls thru 12th grade. Here are a few suggestions.

By 4th grade, the meetings should be 100% girl led. Everything. Either one girl rotates or they all decide together.

By 5th grade tell the girls the troop will be what you make of it. If you want to do the Junior and Cadette awards, great. I will help you. If you don't and just want it to be a more social gathering - that is fine too.

By middle school, change the meetings to Friday or Sunday night, no uniforms, laid back, and incorporate a movie or board game night afterwards. My only rule? Phones stay in a basket by the door. If you need it go to it and use it there and then rejoin us.


Pick the BEST trips to do. The ones kids will actually miss sports for. We never did long ones because they are always so busy. November and March are the best months because of no sports. Throw out 4 really cool ideas and let the girls vote. Our girls did Snow Dog Sledding, White water rafting, horseback riding weekend, Snowboarding, Murder Mystery Cruise on the Potomac. They did small things like learned how to use a pottery wheel and designed their own pot. We also went to cooking classes and then did a night of "Chopped" which was hilarious. We did one weekend where we rented a cabin in the woods and the girls were in charge of EVERYTHING. Supplies, packing, food, cooking, firewood, etc.. That was interesting and very eye opening to them how good they have it.

We also worked very close with Hero Dogs and about 20% of our cookie sales went to them. We would also go there a few times a year and play with the dogs, clean up, etc...

Most of our fundraising was thru cookie sales (we stopped doing booths in 5th grade) and throwing events for younger troops. The girls were very creative in ideas and made a lot of money.

The most important is to just chill and let the girls be a major part of their troop. I absolutely hated the journeys and never made them do them. I did have a handful of girls go all the way to a gold award and helped them a lot. Some girls would leave for a few months for sports or were barely involved. They were welcomed back in immediately. Junior year was basically once every 2 months and it was basically a gathering of de-stressing. Cooking and movie watching. The best was watching them all just enjoy their time together. Some years there was caddy stuff, issues, kids not talking here or there. But they were all super close in high school and different cliques would come together like old 1st grade friends. There was comfort there.

They are all 1st year college students and I miss them terribly. We are having a reunion over the winter holidays. Cookie exchange and watching Christmas movies.

[Anonymous]

Until they replace the "Journeys" sign-ups will continue to decrease and even more sharply in 5th grade. The girls have enough reading to do in school. No one wants to spend 7 hours one day or read a book the size of a novel to be able to get badges and awards. I am shocked GSUSA hasn't changed it yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 14yo and a 10yo in GS.

My 14yo joined when she was 9. She just got her silver award a few months ago.

She likes having a peer group that's not especially connected to her school friends (only one girl in the group is in her high school). I think it's nice for them to have some neutral ground.

She LOVES camp. She loves the service projects they've done, too.

10yo - seems to go back and forth. That troop is a lot bigger and I think she's still finding her footing in it. She loves camping and wishes this troop did more. We have a son who's in Boy Scouts and honestly that would be a more exciting curriculum for my 10yo.

Our council offers "Journey in a Day" programs where you can go to an event that's 6-7 hours long and knock out all the requirements.

I don't believe in forcing kids into things they don't like--and all 3 of my kids enjoy scouting. But I have to say... if I as an adult were concerned with scouting making my kids uncool... or if that was their reason for not wanting to do something... I'd probably want to take a good hard look at my values. I also hope they would replace that activity with something more enriching than spending more time on snapchat or video games.

Which council is this? I know my daughter's troop would love to do this. They're itching to get started on their silver award, but not looking forward to slogging through the journey.

GS of Central Maryland has a ton of those. Some offered through the council, but most offered through girl travel troops. I'm sure at least the travel troop ones would be happy to have girls from GSNC as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a leader for girls thru 12th grade. Here are a few suggestions.

By 4th grade, the meetings should be 100% girl led. Everything. Either one girl rotates or they all decide together.

By 5th grade tell the girls the troop will be what you make of it. If you want to do the Junior and Cadette awards, great. I will help you. If you don't and just want it to be a more social gathering - that is fine too.

By middle school, change the meetings to Friday or Sunday night, no uniforms, laid back, and incorporate a movie or board game night afterwards. My only rule? Phones stay in a basket by the door. If you need it go to it and use it there and then rejoin us.


Pick the BEST trips to do. The ones kids will actually miss sports for. We never did long ones because they are always so busy. November and March are the best months because of no sports. Throw out 4 really cool ideas and let the girls vote. Our girls did Snow Dog Sledding, White water rafting, horseback riding weekend, Snowboarding, Murder Mystery Cruise on the Potomac. They did small things like learned how to use a pottery wheel and designed their own pot. We also went to cooking classes and then did a night of "Chopped" which was hilarious. We did one weekend where we rented a cabin in the woods and the girls were in charge of EVERYTHING. Supplies, packing, food, cooking, firewood, etc.. That was interesting and very eye opening to them how good they have it.

We also worked very close with Hero Dogs and about 20% of our cookie sales went to them. We would also go there a few times a year and play with the dogs, clean up, etc...

Most of our fundraising was thru cookie sales (we stopped doing booths in 5th grade) and throwing events for younger troops. The girls were very creative in ideas and made a lot of money.

The most important is to just chill and let the girls be a major part of their troop. I absolutely hated the journeys and never made them do them. I did have a handful of girls go all the way to a gold award and helped them a lot. Some girls would leave for a few months for sports or were barely involved. They were welcomed back in immediately. Junior year was basically once every 2 months and it was basically a gathering of de-stressing. Cooking and movie watching. The best was watching them all just enjoy their time together. Some years there was caddy stuff, issues, kids not talking here or there. But they were all super close in high school and different cliques would come together like old 1st grade friends. There was comfort there.

They are all 1st year college students and I miss them terribly. We are having a reunion over the winter holidays. Cookie exchange and watching Christmas movies.

I'm a second grade Brownie troop leader, and this post literally has me tearing up. Imagining all my little seven year olds as freshman in college... awesome. I just sent this post to my co-leader. I feel like there's a ton of wisdom in here we're going to need over the next 10 years (fingers crossed!)

[Anonymous]

For the leader looking for done in a day Journeys, here's the website where GSCM Travel Pathway troops can post their activities - a bunch of journey in a days are here:

https://sites.google.com/site/ggtgeicm

(The facebook group is a little more user friendly, but you have to join it)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a 14yo and a 10yo in GS.

My 14yo joined when she was 9. She just got her silver award a few months ago.

She likes having a peer group that's not especially connected to her school friends (only one girl in the group is in her high school). I think it's nice for them to have some neutral ground.

She LOVES camp. She loves the service projects they've done, too.

10yo - seems to go back and forth. That troop is a lot bigger and I think she's still finding her footing in it. She loves camping and wishes this troop did more. We have a son who's in Boy Scouts and honestly that would be a more exciting curriculum for my 10yo.

Our council offers "Journey in a Day" programs where you can go to an event that's 6-7 hours long and knock out all the requirements.

I don't believe in forcing kids into things they don't like--and all 3 of my kids enjoy scouting. But I have to say... if I as an adult were concerned with scouting making my kids uncool... or if that was their reason for not wanting to do something... I'd probably want to take a good hard look at my values. I also hope they would replace that activity with something more enriching than spending more time on snapchat or video games.

Which council is this? I know my daughter's troop would love to do this. They're itching to get started on their silver award, but not looking forward to slogging through the journey.

GS of Central Maryland has a ton of those. Some offered through the council, but most offered through girl travel troops. I'm sure at least the travel troop ones would be happy to have girls from GSNC as well.

My troop did it and I am not gonna lie. It was BORING. It really is a terrible idea. I do like the thought of getting it out of the way, but I rather the girls do most of it on their own. No one has an entire day to volunteer to do this and the kids can think of 1.2 million other things they rather do. It is a big turn off to girl scouting.

[Anonymous]

Because it is boring!

[Anonymous]

Mine dropped out after fifth grade because she found the journeys very boring and simply was not interested in finding a project for a Bronze award. She (and, quite frankly, I) got tired of doing cookie sales and then having 80+ percent of the money stay in the troop account. One day, the three remaining girl scouts will probably go to GS camp in Switzerland with all the money the other campers raised from grades 1-8. My daughter (now in 8th grade) is in two sports and found "her people" at a youth group in church that does a variety of service activities such as serving in a soup kitchen, putting together toiletry kits and lunches for the homeless, and helping out at the animal shelter. She doesn't have to commit to one activity and has made some very close friends, which was not the case in GS. We also occasionally go camping with another family, and she has learned some great skills. She had wanted to do this with Girl Scouts for years, but they never did.