AUGUST 2020
GirlFriends is a publication of Girl Scouts of Nassau County
Leadership to Action The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) builds leadership in girls at all levels. It is the core of who we are. Through Girl Scouts, girls have the opportunity to discover, connect, and take action. Different than girls’ formal education in school, Girl Scouts “learn by doing”. Through this experiential learning, they also have a progressive experience, one that gets more complex as they age, all while trying new things in a safe environment with supportive adults. So many times I have heard stories from adult women who first learned their lifelong interest, both career and recreational, through Girl Scouts. The “doing part” is what sets Girl Scouts apart from just reading it in a book or hearing it in a lecture. Having friends with you while you try something new also makes the experience more fun and meaningful. Recently we have seen across the globe, young people taking civic action. Whether they are voicing their opinion about racial justice, gender equity, inclusion or the environment, young people are speaking out. Girl Scouts prepares our girls to be active citizens and to advocate for causes they believe in. That is the foundation of all of our highest awards. Achieving the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Silver Award, or Gold Award is about taking action and making a societal change in our community–no matter how big or small that change might be. As adults this can feel enormous, maybe a little out of scope and sometimes scary for our Girl Scouts. We are constantly telling the world we are more than cookies, camping, and crafts (not that there is anything wrong with any of those things). Spotlighting our core GSLE in times of societal change is exactly what we have been preparing our girls for. Girl Scouts prepares girls for a lifetime of leadership. The GSLE focuses on five key areas that seem abstract but are actually the foundational guide for the next generation of change agents. 1.
Strong Sense of Self—Knowing who you are and having a healthy sense of “you” empowers girls to accept differences in others.
2. Positive Values—The Girl Scout Promise and Law help girls with their decision-making skills and challenges them to stand up for good. 3. Challenge Seeking—The longevity and legacy of Girl Scouts give girls the ability to take on tough issues and make a change in the world. 4. Healthy Relationships—Building friendships and learning how to resolve conflicts prepares girls to speak out confidently and respectfully. 5. Community Problem Solving—Being able to assess community needs, develop and implement a plan, engage others and make a lasting change is every girls “take action” moment. At Girl Scouts, we continue to be the preeminent organization with girls at the center and are positioned to develop the leaders of tomorrow. Our 2020/2021 membership year will be our 102nd year in Nassau County. We not only stand on the vision of Juliette Gordon Low, but we reach forward to the leadership of the next generation of girls prepared to continue our legacy of change. The future is now and it is hers to lead. We are here for GOOD! rmb
TROOP Click
Girl Scout Junior Troop 3427 (Seaford) held their first virtual meeting in order to work on earning their Junior Drawing Badge. With the help of local art teacher Jennifer Turner (who is also a troop leader to her twin daughters), the girls from Troop 3427 learned about techniques used to create an optical illusion. Under Jen’s direction, the girls learned how to create an optical illusion of their hand. Since troops are still unable to meet in person, seeing one another through Zoom was the next best thing. The girls had a fun and memorable experience all while working to earn a badge as a troop. A very special thank you to Jennifer Turner for taking time out to create and lead this great lesson for Troop 3427. They are grateful. ❧