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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was a leader, and she made me do it until 5th grade, I think. It's considered dorky.

Because sports are cool. And if you're not a talented athlete, you aren't cool anyway. Drama is also dorky. Too bad the peer group gets to decide that camping and social service projects are dorky. I get so tired of the tyranny of the "popular" kids' opinions.

Yeah! to the second poster.

Of course, one way to be cool without being an athlete is be a cheerleader. If you can't be an athlete, you can be an athletic supporter.

Are you for real? Is life all about being cool to you? Are you still living in HS or are you living through your child? If you can't be an athlete, how about drama, band, FBLA, 4H (or whatever it might be called around here) or other after school activities? Life doesn't revolve around sports and cheer.

It was obvious sarcasm. That's a movie quote.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was a leader, and she made me do it until 5th grade, I think. It's considered dorky.

Because sports are cool. And if you're not a talented athlete, you aren't cool anyway. Drama is also dorky. Too bad the peer group gets to decide that camping and social service projects are dorky. I get so tired of the tyranny of the "popular" kids' opinions.

Yeah! to the second poster.

Of course, one way to be cool without being an athlete is be a cheerleader. If you can't be an athlete, you can be an athletic supporter.

Are you for real? Is life all about being cool to you? Are you still living in HS or are you living through your child? If you can't be an athlete, how about drama, band, FBLA, 4H (or whatever it might be called around here) or other after school activities? Life doesn't revolve around sports and cheer.

It was obvious sarcasm. That's a movie quote.

GREASE!!

[Anonymous]

Actually I don't think the part about "one way to be cool is to be a cheerleader" came from Grease. The second part of that about being an athletic supporter did come from Grease -- but the PP was not unreasonable for questioning the suggestion that one be "cool" by being a cheerleader. But maybe the cheerleader comment was all part of the quoted poster's sarcasm --- but it fell flat in this conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually I don't think the part about "one way to be cool is to be a cheerleader" came from Grease. The second part of that about being an athletic supporter did come from Grease -- but the PP was not unreasonable for questioning the suggestion that one be "cool" by being a cheerleader. But maybe the cheerleader comment was all part of the quoted poster's sarcasm --- but it fell flat in this conversation.

What's falling flat is your continued indignation over a joke. Move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was a leader, and she made me do it until 5th grade, I think. It's considered dorky.

Because sports are cool. And if you're not a talented athlete, you aren't cool anyway. Drama is also dorky. Too bad the peer group gets to decide that camping and social service projects are dorky. I get so tired of the tyranny of the "popular" kids' opinions.

Yeah! to the second poster.

Of course, one way to be cool without being an athlete is be a cheerleader. If you can't be an athlete, you can be an athletic supporter.

*WHOOSH*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually I don't think the part about "one way to be cool is to be a cheerleader" came from Grease. The second part of that about being an athletic supporter did come from Grease -- but the PP was not unreasonable for questioning the suggestion that one be "cool" by being a cheerleader. But maybe the cheerleader comment was all part of the quoted poster's sarcasm --- but it fell flat in this conversation.

What's falling flat is your continued indignation over a joke. Move on.

Yes, back to Girl Scouts. Make sure too look at the Teen E-editions.

[Anonymous]

My 10 yr. old DD and her friends must be "goody goody" girls because they have not lost the glow of being in scouting. DDs troop is a long established troop that resides outside of her school, although there is a troop at her school that is active. No girls in or outside the school, to my knowledge, have ever made DD feel that GS is corny or dorky. I was not in GS growing up and agree, it was not popular 20-plus years ago but has experienced a resurgence of popularity over the past 10 years. I agree that the leadership plays a big part in helping the girls maintain an interest and commitment to scouting. The girls in DDs troop adore the leaders, who plan fun activities that weave in community service and character service. I find the comments about girls not wanting to be in scouting because it is not "cool" speaks to the values they are being taught, which seems to be tacitly supported by the parents. Like I said I was not in Girl Scouts growing up but am supportive of DD and hope she can stick it out for the Gold Award. I will just have to make time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it really depends on the quality of the leadership and the program. If the leaders for older girls are doing the same old-same old (crafts, camping, horse back riding, cookie sales) a lot of girls get bored or just want to try new activities. They like Girl Scouts, but they've been doing the same thing since they were Daisies. If the older girls' troops have better programming and do more stuff, the girls stay longer.

I agree with you on throwing out the crafts and cookie sales (although selling the cookies can fund some pretty good high adventure activities) but why throw out horseback riding and camping? What is an example of "better programming"?

Better programming for older girls would include less 101 activities and more advanced work.

I wouldn't throw out horseback and camping. I would change it. My troop and troops that I've seen typically go to the same places for camping and horse back riding. They get an introduction to horseback riding and to camping, often in platform tents, and that's it. It's all very 101.

My brother's Boy Scout troop did more challenging hiking and camping as the boys got older. They took 10 mile hikes to remote camping sites and then hiked back the next day. They went to new locations that were farther away.

Better programming: in my area, when I was in GS, there was a specialty troop for water sports (Mariner Girl Scouts). Girl Scouts used to have Wing troops for girls who wanted to learn about flying. There are currently some troops that are learning robotics. If a troop wants to do Arts and Crafts, what about creating a business plan for a crafts business and trying their hand at some craft shows?

It's all about the leaders i.e. the parents. If the parents step up and help make these things happen, they can happen. However, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience Program isn't geared towards making any of these things happen.

[Anonymous]

I have found troops work best when each child/parent runs a badge, field trip or community service event.

[Anonymous]

lame because its lame i was one and it was plain old lame i was ashamed to where a sash

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think girls become very sensitive to the opinions of peers at that age. Girl Scouts is (sadly) considered lame and for goody-goodys by many older girls.

+1 When I was a kid, it was very uncool to be in scouts in middle school.

Absolutely!

[Anonymous]

My goody, goody middle school girl still loves Girl Scouts but I can appreciate the peer pressure. I am just glad she has not lost interest. Her twin brother is in Boy Scouts and although he thinks it's lame, his father is a scout leader and DS will have to continue. I think the values they teach are timeless and will carry them through life. I only wish I had been in Girl Scouts when I was coming up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 10 yr. old DD and her friends must be "goody goody" girls because they have not lost the glow of being in scouting. DDs troop is a long established troop that resides outside of her school, although there is a troop at her school that is active. No girls in or outside the school, to my knowledge, have ever made DD feel that GS is corny or dorky. I was not in GS growing up and agree, it was not popular 20-plus years ago but has experienced a resurgence of popularity over the past 10 years. I agree that the leadership plays a big part in helping the girls maintain an interest and commitment to scouting. The girls in DDs troop adore the leaders, who plan fun activities that weave in community service and character service. I find the comments about girls not wanting to be in scouting because it is not "cool" speaks to the values they are being taught, which seems to be tacitly supported by the parents. Like I said I was not in Girl Scouts growing up but am supportive of DD and hope she can stick it out for the Gold Award. I will just have to make time.

10 is still young. The change comes closer to 12 and 13.

I think it really depends on whether the adults and girls adapt to changes and the maturity of the girls in the troop. If the troop focuses on activities that are appealing to older girls, they likely retain more girls. As a PP mentioned, it would probably be good for troops to focus on specific areas - say high adventure type activities, or outdoor activities, or fashion activities - and have girls select troops that way.

[Anonymous]

My 6th grader is still in it, but they only meet once a month after school. I could see it ending though as her priorities change, she is so busy now between sports and activities and she is also one of those kids that is interested in so much she has a hard time limiting herself. With GS its a bit of a been there done that kind of thing with her.

[Anonymous]

Because there aren't as many offering for older girls from Council. And you have to fill out too many forms to just take them ice skating, which is considered "high adventure".