Girl Scouts have lost their way

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Problem with Girl Scouts: girls are taught to sit around and TALK (and talk and talk) about things while boys are our DOING things. Not a fan of Girl Scouts.

Yes! If you look at the Journeys for Seniors and Ambassadors (Grades 9-12!) they are truly ridiculous.

Here's a guide to implementing the Senior Journey (meant to cover many, many sessions) for girls in grades 9 and 10

http://www.girlscoutshcc.org/gshccadmin/site1/adult/pdf/adult/Senior_GIRLtopia.pdf

Talk talk talk.


Ambassadors: Grades 11-12

http://www.girlscoutshcc.org/gshccadmin/site1/adult/pdf/adult/AmbassadorJustice.pdf

"Take a nature walk. Go camping" Where are the skills, though? The requirements to actually do something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was a GS, they did have more outdoor badges for sure.

To me, the Journey's seem to be written to be used with kids who are in less well off areas. I am not be snobby but if you read them, they include very basic activities that are normally covered around here in school, after school programs, or extra curricular activities. It was tough to Daisies and Brownies interested in the activities because they were often dumbed down repeats of activities they had done many times.

Thanks for the links PP to the other badges btw. I am going to share them with our troop leaders.

You can do those badges, PP, but be forewarned they have been retired and most shops are out of them! It is very hard for me to find any of the ones I want now -- they were phased out maybe 2-3 years ago.

Girl Guides in Canada look like they have great badges but they will only sell to leaders in Canada.

Which ones are you trying to get? I know lots of councils that have retired badges and the GS facebook page for swap/sell has lots of retired badges for $1 each. The ones that are near impossible to get are the horse ones and the camping ones (but at least the new badges for Juniors have a very similar camping badge.). The Brownie Water Everywhere is also very hard to get. Tell me which ones you are trying to get and I'll help you out. (I was told the same thing last year "you won't be able to get the old badges" and I found about 14 badges that I wanted (I got each of the 14 retired badges for the 12 girls in my troop). Some are harder to find than others but there are still sources out there.

I also don't know about your statement that the Canadians only sell to leaders in Canada b/c on the Babycenter GS moms list the other leaders were talking about how some of them just drive over the border to get them and how much shipping is if you can't drive. So, it was implied that anyone can get them. I haven't done that myself, so I can't say for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP who is doing the Aerospace badge, etc.

The new programming is too much like school b/c they made a decision to align it with Common Core -- i.e. SCHOOL principles. So they made a decision to get rid of a lot of interesting badges to focus on more school curriculum types of ideas. We find that our FCPS students have done a bunch of the badge/journey requirements already.

PP, OP here. I agree with the rest of your post 100% except the changes in GSUSA have, IMO, nothing to do with "Common Core" (which focuses on reading and math.) I know that somewhere on the GSUSA website there's a link to each Journey and badge activity and how it correlates to Common Core standards but (a) they don't really (b) most badge requirements are optional anyhow and (c) Girl Scouts has also tried to link badges work to earlier state standards -- something about trying to convince principals and school districts and grant funders that Scouts is about more than just "crafts, cookies and camping" -- that it can be educational and result in increased test scores for girls.

I only mention this because a lot of people have a knee jerk reaction against "Common Core" and I just think it has nothing to do with what is wrong with Girl Scouts! They made these mist

That said, the new badges and especially the Journeys are WAY too much like school. We just finished the Brownies Wonders of Water and the girls were so bored -- they studied the water cycle in school this year so there was nothing new for them. We had to change it up a lot to make it interesting.

For people who don't know what the new Journeys look like, take a look here at the Wonders of Water. This is one council's suggestion of how to "teach" the "lesson plan".

http://www.girlscoutshcc.org/gshccadmin/site1/adult/pdf/adult/Brownie_WOW.pdf

Well, GSUSA says they did base the new program on Common Core standards. See http://www.girlscouts.org/program/national_program_portfolio/curriculum/.

FWIW, I'm not bashing Common Core at all -- I favor having consistent standards for education across the states (including Common Core). I'm just making the observatiion that by using the Common Core standards in creating badges and the underlying requirements, the new program overlaps some of what is being taught in school --- which makes some of it redundant and boring to girls who don't want to go to "school" during non-school time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Well, GSUSA says they did base the new program on Common Core standards. See http://www.girlscouts.org/program/national_program_portfolio/curriculum/.

FWIW, I'm not bashing Common Core at all -- I favor having consistent standards for education across the states (including Common Core). I'm just making the observatiion that by using the Common Core standards in creating badges and the underlying requirements, the new program overlaps some of what is being taught in school --- which makes some of it redundant and boring to girls who don't want to go to "school" during non-school time.

No, they didn't "base" the program on Common Core standards. They wrote the new program, then after the fact, went through the various state standards AND Common Core Standards and tried to find ways they could link the Girl Scout Journeys and badge work with the state objectives, and the Common Core objectives. If there were county objectives they'd probably try to link them to the, too.

[Anonymous]

Relatively new GS leader here transitioning to Brownies this year...How do you all even know to look for certain badges? Or where to look? This is probably painfully obvious to everyone, but how on earth would I know to look at another Council's Own to find a patch for Bridges, for instance? (I read online last night an old post on BabyCenter about a San Francisco troop who did a CO badge from Mississippi for bridges.) How many Councils are there? I am sure there is no central location to find a listing of these, especially since they are being phased out...

[Anonymous]

PP, mostly word of mouth (and discussion forum). There's the yahoogroup Greenbloodgab and greenbloodnews, for instance, and a bunch of Girl Scout Moms listservs all over the place.

Older leaders know to look for retired badges and such because we maybe had girls several years apart and we want to provide for our younger girls the same experience their older sisters had. Or the same one we had as a Girl Scout for that matter!

Council's Own badges generally were meant just for girls in that one council. Before the internet it was hard to even know about badges from other councils. Now it is very easy. A few groups have sprung up to try to list them all to make it easier. Just google "List of Councils Own Badges" and you will find them but unfortunately they are mostly being discontinued, too. I think GSUSA is on to us that we hate the Journeys and new badges and are trying to cobble together a decent program with Council's Own badges and they don't like that. (-;

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Relatively new GS leader here transitioning to Brownies this year...How do you all even know to look for certain badges? Or where to look? This is probably painfully obvious to everyone, but how on earth would I know to look at another Council's Own to find a patch for Bridges, for instance? (I read online last night an old post on BabyCenter about a San Francisco troop who did a CO badge from Mississippi for bridges.) How many Councils are there? I am sure there is no central location to find a listing of these, especially since they are being phased out...

First, you need to go to training. Seriously, you get a lot of information in the training sessions and they are free.

Second, start going to your Service Unit meeting. Typically they meet once per month and again you gets lot of good information about your Service Unit and your Council. As well as having the opportunity to learn from seasoned girl scout leaders.

You are part of the Girl Scouts Nations Capital Council.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relatively new GS leader here transitioning to Brownies this year...How do you all even know to look for certain badges? Or where to look? This is probably painfully obvious to everyone, but how on earth would I know to look at another Council's Own to find a patch for Bridges, for instance? (I read online last night an old post on BabyCenter about a San Francisco troop who did a CO badge from Mississippi for bridges.) How many Councils are there? I am sure there is no central location to find a listing of these, especially since they are being phased out...

First, you need to go to training. Seriously, you get a lot of information in the training sessions and they are free.

Second, start going to your Service Unit meeting. Typically they meet once per month and again you gets lot of good information about your Service Unit and your Council. As well as having the opportunity to learn from seasoned girl scout leaders.

You are part of the Girl Scouts Nations Capital Council.

Really, I wouldn't have learned anything about other council's options through training or SU mtgs. I learned from the baby center GS moms group and from searching the internet on my own looking for "badge" and whatever topic I was hoping to find. And the council's correct name for this area is Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital (i.e. GSCNC). From clowning to caving, spa treatments to exploring nursing or fire-fighting... there ARE badges out there... but as previously mentioned, Nationals is doing all they can to squish them out of existence. If you have a specific area of interest, let me know and I may know of a badge resource.

[Anonymous]

My kids have been girl scouts for about 3-4 years and they are in 2 troops, 3 different ages. They are happier with the troop that doesn't bother with the badges. The troop leader just surveys the girls to make a list of what they want to do and then we do it (kayaking, ropes course, rock climbing, skiing, activities at local historical sites and museums). It's been a lot fun. I work fulltime and would never organize these trips for my kids if it weren't for girl scouts. And we're big fans of the summer sleepaway camps. They are inexpensive and well-organized.

I believe the troop leaders who have posted here that the problems exist but luckily we haven't suffered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have been girl scouts for about 3-4 years and they are in 2 troops, 3 different ages. They are happier with the troop that doesn't bother with the badges. The troop leader just surveys the girls to make a list of what they want to do and then we do it (kayaking, ropes course, rock climbing, skiing, activities at local historical sites and museums). It's been a lot fun. I work fulltime and would never organize these trips for my kids if it weren't for girl scouts. And we're big fans of the summer sleepaway camps. They are inexpensive and well-organized.

I believe the troop leaders who have posted here that the problems exist but luckily we haven't suffered.

Well, that's just it -- the leaders that know better say screw the official program, we'll just do exciting and adventurous things. But the new leaders don't realize that the program (especially the Journeys) STINK so they start out trying to follow the program, and then the girls hate it and all drop out.

My Service Unit never talks about anything useful and the training I attended made it sound like the Journeys were THE program and were required. Turns out, they are just required if your girls want to earn "the highest award in Girl Scouting" but from my point of view, the requirements for those awards are pretty meaningless so I don't care if my daughter earns them or not.

I'm sure some Service Units and training sessions are better than others, though.

[Anonymous]

I was a Girl Scout and also got my Silver Award, I had been looking forward to my daughter being old enough for scouting. But reading this thread has me rethinking it. I LOVED camping and its the about the only thing that really sticks out for me about scouting. What are other organizations for girls that really focus on the outdoor stuff? This journey stuff sounds kind of dumb. Kids, ALL Kids, need way more time outside, getting dirty, solving problems, or just being silly with friends around the campfire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relatively new GS leader here transitioning to Brownies this year...How do you all even know to look for certain badges? Or where to look? This is probably painfully obvious to everyone, but how on earth would I know to look at another Council's Own to find a patch for Bridges, for instance? (I read online last night an old post on BabyCenter about a San Francisco troop who did a CO badge from Mississippi for bridges.) How many Councils are there? I am sure there is no central location to find a listing of these, especially since they are being phased out...

First, you need to go to training. Seriously, you get a lot of information in the training sessions and they are free.

Second, start going to your Service Unit meeting. Typically they meet once per month and again you gets lot of good information about your Service Unit and your Council. As well as having the opportunity to learn from seasoned girl scout leaders.

You are part of the Girl Scouts Nations Capital Council.

I am the poster who posed the questions. I actually go to all of my SU meetings, thankyouverymuch. And I am the only leader in my troop who has actually attended in-person training. Not once has this been mentioned. I know about the current activity badges offered by national and GSCNC. I am talking about retired badges and badges from other Councils.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I was a Girl Scout and also got my Silver Award, I had been looking forward to my daughter being old enough for scouting. But reading this thread has me rethinking it. I LOVED camping and its the about the only thing that really sticks out for me about scouting. What are other organizations for girls that really focus on the outdoor stuff? This journey stuff sounds kind of dumb. Kids, ALL Kids, need way more time outside, getting dirty, solving problems, or just being silly with friends around the campfire.

girls can join Venturers when they are 14.

http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/Venturing.aspx

And there's the Baden Powell Service Association for boys and girls of all ages.

http://bpsa-us.org

[Anonymous]

So, any suggestions or possibility for an ad hoc organization for girls who want to do outdoor things, gain skills, etc?

A list serving thing for sharing and organizing outings?
I don't care if my daughter earns badges, but I know she'd like to spend more time with girls outside camping, camp firing, canoeing and kayaking. Going rock climbing, etc.

And yes, she's too busy with a million other things too.

We ' re in the desiring independence stage, but still needed cparents for organization and transportation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: I was a Girl Scout and also got my Silver Award, I had been looking forward to my daughter being old enough for scouting. But reading this thread has me rethinking it. I LOVED camping and its the about the only thing that really sticks out for me about scouting. What are other organizations for girls that really focus on the outdoor stuff? This journey stuff sounds kind of dumb. Kids, ALL Kids, need way more time outside, getting dirty, solving problems, or just being silly with friends around the campfire.

Me, too. I LOVED Girl Scouts and especially the summer camps. We had a very active troop thru high school and most of us made it to Cadette and then the troop died because we hit high school and discovered BOYS. But I am so disheatened to read this thread. I felt a strong need to "give back" to Scouts and was active on the local advisory board and gold awards selection program for a number of years. I had hoped my daughter could participate but her private got out too late for us to participate in the local troops which started in the public schools at 3:15. Eventually, I gave up trying to find a program that would mesh with DD's school but our son is strong in Boy Scouts and has made Life and is going for Eagle this year. To make Eagle you must have 20 nights of camping, only six of which can be made through a summer camp - the additional nights have to be met separately at two or three night campouts. In other words: lots of camping. I have been so impressed with what he has learned. And the leadership skills the boys gain is not to be believed. He is in a "boy run" troop now, meaning the boys have to run everything, from meetings, to campout planning. And the badges are HARD and require PLANNING. You can't knock most of the badges off in a few weeks. We're in the midst of "personal health" or something like that now so everyone is measuring guts and working out. Any boy who makes "life" or "Eagle" has my admiration. There's a reason why colleges seek them out. It takes planning, tenacity and leadership skills to get through it. I thought GSA was still the same. Pity.