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Girl Scouts

Empowering girls through STEM, civic engagement, and more

Article by Kimberly Blaker

Photography by Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council

Originally published in Meridian Lifestyle

The beginning of a new school year also marks the opportunity for girls to join Girl Scouts. If your daughter is already a Girl Scout, she's probably eagerly anticipating the start of a new year with old and new friends and adventures.

Girl Scouts is the largest entrepreneur organization for girls. GSUSA and the local Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council is open to girls from kindergarten through high school. They begin as Daisies, and eventually become Ambassadors. Along the way, girls enjoy countless experiences in which they can acquire proficiency badges, pins, and at the highest level, gold, silver, and bronze awards. Even more valuable though, is the knowledge, skills, and character development these opportunities bring to girls.

Field trips are a big part of Girl Scout activities. Trips can range from visiting museums, touring a manufacturing plant, or going on a hiking adventure. In high school Girl Scouts might take trips to another state or travel abroad.

Meridian Lifestyle reached out to the regional Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Council, who provided the following highlights for us:

  • Our council serves 35 counties and was top 10 council growth nationwide this year.

  • We have two resident camps (CAP and TAM) and one day camp (ECHO). Most councils do not offer a day camp option, but we have one located just outside of downtown Boise. 

  • We have a Girl Scout store located in our council office carrying clothing, outdoor gear, patches, and more.

  • This year we had 3 gold, 51 silver, and 64 bronze awards earned by our council, and over 1,000 girls participated in council STEM events. 

STEM

GSUSA recognizes the importance of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to girls' futures. Therefore, GSUSA has initiatives, partnerships, and sponsorships with several organizations, such as the National Science Foundation (NSA) and NASA, as well as corporations including Google, Dell, and AT&T. Through these opportunities girls are able to experience STEM and plan for their futures in STEM industries.

Girl Scouts can also earn a variety of badges through STEM activities. These badges include innovation, digital art, financial literacy, science and technology, and naturalist. 

  • iCode/Code Ninjas are the two community partners we work with for coding nights.

  • We partner with Idaho Women in Technology to put on FEMSTEM, an women run STEM community event. 

  • We partnered with Teton Science School to provide girls with a STEM centered spring break trip.

ENVIRONMENT

Developing an appreciation and respect for our environment is another crucial part of being a Girl Scout. Through several programs and activities, girls can learn about nature and environmental issues. Girl Scout camping has also been a long tradition that provides the opportunity for girls to experience the great outdoors.

In the Girl Scout Ranger Program girls can earn a variety of badges by visiting national parks and participating in activities.

  • Discover Girl Scout events

    • These events are exclusively for those interested in becoming a Girl Scout. For girls we have a campfire with s’mores, songs, and games. For parents we provide time to answer any questions about the organization. 

  • Paint and sip (…juice!)

  • Climbing nights

  • Roller-skating nights

  • Snowshoeing/skiing

FAITH

GSUSA is a secular organization, meaning girls of all faiths, as well as those of no faith are welcome. In recognizing the importance of faith and spirituality to many girls and their families, Girl Scouts are encouraged to take spiritual journeys through their own religious path. Through their journey, they can earn the My Promise, My Faith pin.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Because GSUSA aims to help girls develop leadership skills, the organization encourages civic duty. Girl Scouts hold a wide variety of beliefs and values and are encouraged to think for themselves and form their own opinions and ideologies. GSUSA has created a nonpartisan initiative called G.I.R.L. Agenda through which girls are inspired, prepared, and mobilized to create positive change.

  • Our “Cookies from the Heart” is a big community engagement. While selling cookies, girls ask their customers if they’d like to donate a box of cookies to the Idaho Foodbank. The customer pays for the cookies, then we arrange for them to go to the Idaho Foodbank at their location here in the Boise area and also in Pocatello.

    • 16,051 boxes were donated this year.

    • We also work with Dairy West on this program. They donate milk to the food bank for every box of cookies donated.  

  • We are partnering with the Boise Hawks for a fundraising event on August 5th.

  • We partner with EverWild Forest School to put on community events for families.

  • We work with Vertical View on our climbing nights.

  • The Discovery Center is a year-round partner for Camp ECHO and council events.

HOW TO JOIN

If your daughter would like to join Girl Scouts, she can sign up for the Girl Scouts of Silver Sage troop by visiting GirlScouts-ssc.org.

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