Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is getting a makeover.

Realizing that today’s Girl Scouts are tomorrow’s leaders, GSUSA is unrolling a new Girl Scout Leadership Experience in 2008.

The Leadership Model incorporates three key values derived from the GS Promise and Law:

  1. Discover - Girls are encouraged to learn about themselves and others, and to explore the world.
  2. Connect - Girls learn to interact with, and care for, others locally and globally.
  3. Take Action - Girls are supported in their efforts to make the world a better place.

Girls are learning to be leaders by undertaking projects that are:

  1. Girl-Driven - Projects are designed by girls, with adult support.
  2. Learning by Doing - With each project, girls gain new skills and experience.
  3. Cooperative Learning - All-girl teams work together toward shared goals.

In the past, Girl Scouts could register in troops or as independent Juliettes. In the future, there will be several pathways for girls and volunteers to join Girl Scouting:

  • An ongoing troop
  • Destinations
  • A short-term opportunity
  • Day or resident camp
  • A special interest topic
  • A safe virtual (online) connection

In my opinion, the most exciting initiative that is in the works is the new Leadership Journeys Program:

Journeys represent the experiences Girl Scouts engage in to achieve leadership outcomes.

For each Girl Scout grade level, GSUSA is creating a series of leadership journeys accompanied by new resources and new awards.

Wow! I can’t wait.

I would like to add a few suggestions for the designers of these Leadership Journeys:

Girl Scouts 10 and older have crossed the digital divide, but they aren’t using old-fashioned email. If you want to reach them, figure out how to speak to them on IM or the social networks. Click on Media Habits of 12-24 Year-Olds vs. 25-54 Year-Olds — Key to Shaping Your Nonprofit Marketing Agenda for more.

Take a look at the Coins for Change program on Club Penguin for a virtual demonstration of how to encourage giving by youths. Sam Davidson, on CoolPeopleCare, explains that you have to: get digital, get relevant; get simple; get practical; and get original.

Most Girl Scouts older than 8 know how to surf the net, play online games, and communicate with IMing. Find ways to teach them the computer skills that they need so that they can help shape the next Web 3.0. Older girls should be able to go beyond chatting to building websites, wikis, and whatever is “the next thing.”

Older Girl Scouts worry that they won’t be able to balance a career and family. Some choose to opt out of the career track for this reason. Help young girls learn how to find a balance between conflicting goals and objectives. (While you’re at it, help us adult volunteers figure it out as well.)

Consider internships and other learning opportunities that appeal to a wide range of interests: music; performing arts; visual arts; writing clubs; and opportunities in business, science, non-profits, etc.

And, because this is Girl Scouts, I expect a lot of fun leadership experiences indoors and outdoors.

Be sure to visit CoolPeopleCare’s roundup of “best practices about communicating with and attracting young people. What has worked? What doesn’t? Why does it matter that nonprofits seek out this demographic?”

Also, keep in mind What Do Youth Volunteers Want?

Other Living By Learning posts about Girl Scouts:

Hunger 101: It’s The Season to be Merry and Hungry!

Girl Scouts Mix It Up!

Inspiring Girl Scout Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Girl Scouts Help Save the Earth

Be a PAL - Protect A Life Patch Program

Other Living By Learning posts about Learning in the Wired World:

Tween Virtual Party

Wired On the Road

Living By Learning In The Wired World

10 Ways To Bond With Your Children

Do you you have a suggestion for developing Leadership Journeys? Please post a comment to share your suggestion.

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