Girl Scout levels (USA)

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The Girl Scouts of the USA have six age levels: Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador. Girl Scouts move or "bridge" to the next level usually at the end of the school year they reach the age to advance. Previously completed years and levels are shown on the uniform by small, golden, five pointed membership stars (one per year) with colored background discs to represent level and wear similar uniforms to other groups in WAGGGS.

Contents

[edit] Daisy Girl Scouts

Daisy is the initial level of Girl Scouting. Named for Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, Daisies are in kindergarten.[1] In August 2006 the National Council of GSUSA voted to change the level system so that as of 1 October 2008, Daisies will include girls in kindergarten and 1st grade. They typically meet in groups of five to ten and have adult leaders that plan activities to introduce them to Girl Scouts. Daisies earn the Promise Center and Petals, which focus on the Girl Scout Law and are placed on the front of the tunic in a daisy design. They may also earn or receive patches for the back of their uniform, which consists of a light blue tunic, a blue membership disk, and the Daisy Pin. They use the Daisy Girl Scout Activity Book to work on activities, may camp only with a parent present, and have the option to sell Girl Scout cookies.

[edit] Brownie Girl Scouts

Brownies are in grades one, two and three,[1] and earn triangular shaped Brownie Girl Scout "Try-Its". In August 2006 the National Council of GSUSA voted to change the level system so that as of 1 October 2008, Brownies will include girls in grades 2 and 3. Try-Its are designed to introduce girls to new activities and let them try it out - proficiency is not required or expected. Their uniform consists of a brown vest or sash, with green membership disks, and the Brownie Pin. Brownies go by the Brownie Girl Scout Handbook and earn badges from the Try-Its for Brownie Girl Scouts book.

Unlike some of the other levels, the name Brownie is commonly used with Girl Scout/Girl Guide organizations around the world and has its origin from Brownies in the British Girl Guides.

[edit] Junior Girl Scouts

Juniors are in grades four, five and six.[1] In August 2006 the National Council of GSUSA voted to change the level system so that as of 1 October 2008, Juniors will include girls in grades 4 and 5. The Junior Girl Scout uniform is a green vest or sash with yellow membership disks. Junior Girl Scouts is the first level to wear the official Girl Scout Pin on their uniform. They also use the Junior Girl Scout Handbook and earn badges from the Junior Girl Scout Badge Book. Badges require more skill at this level as the girls gain proficiency. Juniors may also work on other awards including the Leadership Award, Junior Aide, and the Junior Girl Scout Signs and are eligible to earn the Bronze Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting available at this level.

[edit] Cadette Girl Scouts

Cadettes are Girl Scouts who are in grades seven and eight.[1] In August 2006 the National Council of GSUSA voted to change the level system so that as of 1 October 2008, Cadettes will include girls in grades 6 through 8. Cadettes earn Interest Projects or work on STUDIO 2B Focus booklets, and wear khaki sashes or vests as uniforms, along with white membership disks. Cadettes may use the Cadette Girl Scout Handbook for background information on topics, while Interest Projects may be found in the book Interest Projects for Girls 11-17 or online at Studio2b.org. New IPs have been designed by older girls and any IP can be completed using the new LEARN, SHARE, DO model. Besides IPs, Cadettes may work on Program Aide, the Leadership Award, the Career Award, and the Challenge. Cadettes are eligible to earn the Silver Award, which is the highest award available to girls at this level.

[edit] Senior Girl Scouts

Seniors are currently the highest level of active Girl Scouting, with its members in grades nine through twelve (but see Ambassador Girl Scouts below for planned changes).[1] Seniors wear the same khaki colored vest or sash as the Cadettes — however, they all wear red membership disks. Although they earn the same Interest Projects and STUDIO 2B Focus booklets, Seniors may utilize the Senior Girl Scout Handbook and work on Program Aide, Leader-in-Training, or Counselor-in-Training, along with the Leadership Award, the Career Award, and the 4Bs Challenge appropriate for their level. Senior Girl Scouts are eligible to earn the Gold Award, Girl Scouting's highest honor. In August of 2006, they voted on changing the level of Senior Girl Scouts, and as of 1 October 2008, Seniors will be grades 9th and 10th.

[edit] Ambassador Girl Scouts

On August 26, 2006 the National Council of GSUSA voted to change the level system as of October 2008. The Senior level, which previously included girls in grades 9 through 12, will split, and girls in grades 11 and 12 will become Ambassador Girl Scouts, the new highest level; girls in grades nine and ten will remain Senior Girl Scouts. Ambassadors will continue to wear the traditional uniforms.[1]

[edit] Adult members

Adults, both men and women, can join Girl Scouts also and participate as leaders or in other volunteer roles. Adult do not need to have a child in the program in order to volunteer with Girl Scouts.

[edit] Campus Girl Scouts

Young adults who attend an institute of higher learning may join or start a Campus Girl Scout group on their campus. While Campus Girl Scouts are full adult members in Girl Scouts and do not form a troop or sell cookies, joining Campus Girl Scouts allows them to get involved with their campus community and beyond. They may lead troops, volunteer for Council events, help with paperwork or the cookie sale, complete service projects - their activities are driven by the members of the group..[2]

[edit] The Girl Scout uniform

Due to the 2006 changes by GSUSA, beginning with the 2008 Girl Scout year, all Girl Scout uniforms will change to unify the different levels. All Girl Scouts will now wear white shirts with a pair of khaki pants. Official uniform components, including tunic, sash or vest, will be available for all levels still to display insignia. Daisies and Brownies will still have a full uniform selection available. Girls that are in high school will have the option to wear scarfs to conform with the rest of WAGGGS groups. The adult uniform will also change, with men and women wearing navy blue business attire. Men will have a tie available, while women will have a scarf.[1]

[edit] History

Initially the United States Girl Scout program, started in 1912, had one level for girls ages ten through seventeen, but it soon added two more levels. Brownies for younger girls was officially recognized in the mid 1920s though it had existed earlier. At the same time older girls (over eighteen or over sixteen if First Class Scouts) became known as Senior Scouts.

In 1938 age divisions were set as

  • Brownies (ages seven through nine)
  • Intermediates (ages ten through thirteen)
  • Seniors (ages fourteen through seventeen)

In 1963 this was rearranged to

  • Brownies (ages seven through nine)
  • Juniors (ages nine through eleven)
  • Cadettes (ages eleven through fourteen)
  • Seniors (ages fourteen through seventeen)

In 1984, the Daisy program for kindergarteners (age five) was introduced, and around 2003 the Studio 2B program for girls eleven through seventeen was introduced as a way to give older girls more options in Girl Scouts -- though many girls still call themselves Cadettes and Seniors.

Outside the age level programs, there have been somewhat separate programs for Mariner Scouts (1934-present) and Wing Scouts (1941-1970s).

In addition, there are Girl Scouts known as Juliettes, who are independent of any troop due to lack of a troop to join or because other commitments don't allow them to actively participate with available troops.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g What was Approved?. Columbia River Council (GSUSA). Retrieved on 2007-02-01.
  2. ^ "Campus Girl Scouts". "Girl Scouts of the USA". Retrieved on 2007-02-12.

[edit] See also

Scouting Portal

[edit] External links

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Scouting Topics
 
Scouting in the United States