Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is making its fall push for girls and adult volunteers to join Girl Scouts, the country’s preeminent leadership development organization for girls. With the school year underway and families already thinking about how to use their free time, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has released new data showing the organization’s benefits for both girls and volunteers.
Results of a summer 2014 pulse poll conducted with more than 3,500 volunteers and parents of Girl Scouts in the K−5 age range shows Girl Scouts has helped create new and exciting experiences, taught new skills and helped girls feel special. Ninety-seven percent of parents agree that Girl Scouts has been a positive activity for their daughter.
And it’s not just the girls who benefit. Volunteers say they have formed new friendships, and have improved their own lives, personally and professionally through their work with Girl Scouts. Ninety-five percent of Girl Scout volunteers are happy knowing they are making girls’ lives better.
“Girl Scouts has provided a safe, fun, and engaging place for girls and adult volunteers to lead and thrive for over 100 years,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “We know the majority of volunteers feel their Girl Scout experience has helped them both personally and professionally, but in many places throughout the country, the lack of volunteers is what keeps girls on waiting lists. Every adult who volunteers for Girl Scouts can help us bring fun, new experiences to at least five girls. Imagine what that can do to shape the next generation of female leaders.” Girl Scouts gives girls a place to explore topics of interest in a judgment-free space outside of classroom confinements; it cultivates cooperative and self-directed learning, as well as the growth mindset (the understanding that intelligence and talent can be developed)—all of which help foster a lifetime passion for learning. The variety of experiences and the value for the money the Girl Scout program provides are also popular selling points. Eighty-nine percent of parents say their daughter gets a greater variety of experiences from Girl Scouts than she does from other extracurricular activities, and the majority of parents feel Girl Scouts is a great value for the money compared to other extracurricular activities.
Overall, parents consider Girl Scouts one of the most beneficial extracurricular activities for their daughter.
“Our volunteers help enrich the lives of girls through Girl Scouts,” said Rose González Pérez, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. “They are the strength of our movement locally. The more opportunities we have to teach girls to be leaders with strength of character the more our entire community benefits. And our Girl Scout volunteers are the leaders behind the leaders.”
Girl Scouts is open to all girls from kindergarten through grade 12. The more adults who step forward to volunteer, the more girls will get the chance to be a Girl Scout. Adults over age 18 may become volunteers; both girls and adults volunteers can join at any time of the year. Girl Scout volunteers come from all walks of life; they are men, women, young professionals, retirees, college students, and more. To join or volunteer, please visit: www.girlscouts.org/join.
Camp Metro day camps are held at the West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center, which provides a fun and exciting place for girls to enjoy their summer with a gymnasium, outside play equipment, STEM lab and art studio as well as a stage for performances and make believe. At Camp Metro, girls explore skills and interests in a variety of thematic areas such as community service, cultural arts, healthy living, environmental awareness and much more. Girls get the necessary guidance from adult volunteers and camp staff to develop their skills and understand how those skills can be used to make a difference in the world.
About Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas (GSSWT): Based in San Antonio, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas serves more than 33,000 girl members and adult volunteers in Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Maverick, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson and Zavala counties. Girl Scouting helps girls in grades K-12 develop the courage to experience new adventures, the confidence to defy self-doubt and the character to impact a community.
Download the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas 2014 Summer Fun Camp Guide and register for your favorite camps today!