Girl Scouting is a movement that gives girls from all segments of life a chance to develop their potential, to make friends, and to become a vital part of their community. Based on ethical values, it opens up a world of opportunity for girls, working in partnership with adult volunteers. Its' sole focus is to meet the special needs of girls.
The purpose of Girl Scouting is to inspire girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service that they may become happy and resourceful citizens. Girl Scouting seeks to accomplish this through an innovative program that provides girls opportunities to develop their potential and have fun with their peers in a supportive, all girl setting.
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is the largest voluntary organization of girls in the world. It is open to all girls ages 5 through 17 (or in kindergarten through grade 12) who subscribe to its ideals as stated in the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
It is part of a worldwide family of girls and adults in 136 countries through its membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
GSUSA has approximately 3.5 million members
2,670,692 girls in five program levels:
Daisy Girls Scouts - ages 5-6 (kindergarten or first grade)
Brownie Girl Scouts - ages 6-8 (grades 1-3)
Junior Girl Scouts - ages 8-11 (grades 3-6)
Cadette Girl Scouts - ages 11-14 (grades 6-9)
Senior Girl Scouts - ages 11-17 (grades 9-12)
854,733 adult members (women and men), including volunteer leaders, consultants, board members, and staff specialists in such areas as child development, adult education, outdoor education, and administration. Employed executives account for less that 1 percent of the total adult membership.
Girls & leaders participate in Girl Scouting through group activities in troops. There are 223,129 troops, including USA Girl Scouts Overseas in over 80 countries. Members of overseas troops come from U.S. military and civilian families living abroad.
Girl Scout troop are organized by Girl Scout council. There are 319 councils in the U.S.A. Councils are local units chartered by the national organization to administer and develop Girl Scouting in a council's jurisdiction (a specific geographic area).
