It's true...Girl Scouting works! All of us in the Girl Scout family are already well aware of the value and benefits we've received as girls, and as adults, in Girl Scouting. Now we have proof for everyone else.

According to the latest Girl Scout Research Institute report Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, women who were Girl Scouts as youth volunteer more, vote more, have a higher education level, rate their satisfaction with life higher, and even get paid more than those who weren't Girl Scouts.

Almost one-quarter of the United States population has been directly touched by Girl Scouts. Approximately one in every two adult women (49%) in the U.S. has at some point been a member of Girl Scouts, with the average length of time spent in Girl Scouts four years.

There are currently an estimated 59 million Girl Scout alumnae living in the U.S. If we apply the 49% Girl Scout alumnae rate to Alaska, there could be as many as 167,046 Alaskan women who have gained the benefits of a Girl Scout experience.

Girl Scouts makes our country stronger, and we make Alaska stronger, by building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place...who grow up to be women who make a difference.

How long a girl is in Girl Scouts does have an effect on life outcomes. But even women who were only Girl Scouts 1-2 years have higher volunteer and community engagement rates than non-alumnae. That's great news, since taking action to make the world a better place is central to the mission of Girl Scouting, which is predicated on valuing oneself and others.

Women who are longer-term alumnae display a stronger sense of self: 71 percent consider themselves capable and competent, compared to 55 percent of shorter-term alumnae. In addition, 62 percent of longer-term Girl Scout alumnae think of themselves as leaders while 52 percent of short-term alumnae think of themselves as leaders.

We already know that more than two-thirds of women business owners and CEO's, and U.S. senators and congresswomen, were Girl Scouts.

But two-thirds of too few is not enough, which is why in its 100th anniversary year, Girl Scouts of the USA has affirmed its unwavering commitment to girls’ leadership with the launch of ToGetHer There. This multi-year effort will seek to create balanced leadership—the equal representation of women and men in leadership positions in all sectors and levels of society—within one generation.

Girl Scouts is uniquely positioned to help millions of highly qualified young women launch and sustain careers, overcome barriers that confront them, enter the ranks of senior leadership, and thrive there. Our goal is for Girl Scouts to be the catalyst for the gender-balanced leadership that this country needs.

One kind of support we know girls need is role models—successful older women they can learn from and emulate. There is no group of women better suited to do that than our Girl Scout alumnae.

Are you a Girl Scout alumnae? Would you be willing to talk to girls who want to be leaders but may not be sure how to go about it?  If so, there are many ways you can help.  Become a Girl Scout leader, volunteer to present at a Women of Science event, or just give a one-time talk about the work you do and how you got where you are. Please join our alumnae association, and contact our office to let us know how you might like to help.  http://alumnae.girlscouts.org/

You know Girl Scouting works. Won’t you help us spread the word?”

Building Girls of Character

By Amanda Block, Girl Scouts of Alaska Statewide Camp Director
Even if you’ve never been to camp yourself, we all know that summer camp is amazingly fun.  At Girl Scout camp girls experience new things like cooking over a fire for the first time or going on a 6 day, 30 mile backpack trip.  They make new friends.  They laugh and sing and play.

To an adult, summer camp might seem to be just simple, wholesome fun.   But for girls there is also important work happening – the work of character development. It isn’t just program activities like canoeing, hiking and outdoor cooking that contribute to a camper’s growth.  Often, it is by way of the small, seemingly insignificant happenings that girls gain the most. 

Through free play (like building gnome homes) and helping with camp chores (setting tables in the dining hall and cleaning latrines) girls build character – the type of character vital to future success.   For example, when girls live together at resident camp or spend all day together at day camp, character issues are bound to arise.  How girls handle these situations (with the support of their counselors), is how character is built. 

Christopher Peterson, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan, has narrowed to 7 the list of critical character traits that children need to develop into successful adults.  Our camp programs have always helped girls build four character traits:

·         A sense of wonder/curiosity about the world:  Our natural, inborn fascination with the world that makes us want to explore, learn and discover all we can about it; The delight we take in seeing the wonders of the world revealed to us.

·         Social intelligence: The ability to read other people’s emotions and connect with tem in meaningful ways; Our awareness of others; Knowing when and how to negotiate, collaborate and compromise with others. 

·         Zest/love of life: An exuberance or upbeat feeling about life and the opportunity to witness the wonders of the world; Zest is key to a positive outlook on life.

·         Optimism:  The ability to see the positive opportunity in situations; Optimism is key to self-confidence and a positive outlook on life. 

This summer our camps will focus on further developing the remaining three character traits which experts have determined are the “silver bullets,” which result in children (and adults) having not just happy but meaningful and fulfilling lives:

·         Grit:  The ability to hang in there, to tough it out, persevere and recover from a setback.

·         Self-control:  The ability to regulate feelings and impulses; to recognize and manage them, edit them, not be run by them.

·         Gratitude:  An essential feeling of recognizing and being appreciative of what we have been given; Gratitude is key to a positive outlook on life. 

Imagine the grit it takes a camper to face a 35 foot tall climbing tower for a first time.  Picture the self-control a camper develops when trying to light a fire in the rain.  Consider the gratitude a camper experiences when another camper who is excitedly involved in an activity, stops and offers to be her buddy to the latrine. 
This summer, we will help campers recognize their character by not only pointing out when they express those traits but by consciously reflecting on them.  For example, every camper group will end their day by sharing what they were grateful for during that day. 

As you think about registering your daughter for camp (or come to understand the character she developed while at camp) here are some examples of how campers have expressed their character growth on their end-of-camp evaluations:

“I learned that I can stay strong even when times are hard.”  A 7^th grader expressing grit.

“Never juje [judge] somwon [someone].”  A 4^th grader expressing self-control and social intelligence.

“I think when our group was the happiest was rock clim[b]ing because we all were cheering each other on and encouraging [each] other to climb higher” A 5^th grader expressing gratitude.

At camp, girls experience vital engagement – the type of engagement that allows for deep learning and meaningful relationships.  It also allows for the character development that is essential for children.
 

To register your daughter for camp go to www.girlscoutsalaska.org/programs/camps where you will find the online registration link (and can download the full camp catalog).  If you have questions about summer camp contact Amanda Block at 907-273-0316 or toll free at 800-478-7448.  You can also reach her by email at ablock@girlscoutsalaska.org. 

Amanda Block, Girl Scouts of Alaska Camp Director, is an American Camp Association certified camp director with fifteen years experience working with American Camp Association camps, mostly Girl Scout camps.  Amanda recently completed her Master’s Degree in Camp Administration.

Leadership - More Than Just Talk

By Anne Gore, Communications Manager

Leadership is a word we hear a lot in Girl Scouting. For 100 years, Girl Scouts has been helping girls discover, and fulfill, their leadership potential.

Yet how often do we have conversations about leadership -- especially the sometimes sensitive issues around women and leadership?

In early February, Girl Scouts of the USA launched its Year of the Girl campaign and the "ToGetHerThere" cause -- a multiyear effort to bring attention to and change the fact that too few women serve in leadership positions. One aspect of the campaign encourages learning and talking openly about what holds girls back, as well as what helps them succeed.

So, on the afternoon of February 7, 2012, that's exactly what we did.

Girl Scouts of Alaska invited the members of "Troop 49," an honorary Girl Scout troop comprised of Alaska's women legislators, commissioners, and the first lady, to join a small group of Juneau Girl Scouts for a dialogue about women and leadership. 

With the help of facilitators Sharon Gaiptman and Sally Saddler, who themselves are successful women leaders in the Juneau community, a lively discussion took place for over an hour.

Rep. Anna Fairclough speaks, as Rep. Berta Gardner and Rep. Tammie Wilson listen.

 The legislators began by telling personal stories about what motivated them to run for office. They were then joined by the commissioners as they explained what routes each took to get where they are today.

Then, the Girl Scouts were given a chance to weigh in, responding to questions such as "What do you think it takes to be a leader?" with answers like "courage" and "determination."

Juneau Girl Scouts listen intently as members of Honorary Troop 49 share their perspectives on leadership. 

In addition to the enthusiasm of the participants, and the heart-felt advice given by the members of Troop 49, what struck me as most interesting about the conversation was the girls' response to questions about access and opportunity. When asked if girls and boys have equal opportunities to become leaders in our country, every girl in the room agreed without question that yes, girls and boys do have the same opportunities. That was encouraging to hear.

But, one girl noted, our country has never had a female President. And, another girl observed that there aren't any women candidates for President, either. That's when a parent clarified that there are women candidates, but perhaps we don't hear about them because the media treats women differently. The legislators chimed in to share specific examples of how the media often focuses on a woman's appearance, rather than the substance of her remarks.  This prompted a Commissioner to note other challenges women can face in achieving positions of leadership -- and not just in politics. For example, men often have access to social networks and mentors, and women aren't always included.

Both adults and girls were so engaged in the discussion that time passed quickly and everyone seemed disappointed when it was time to go. The room was still buzzing with excitement as everyone gathered in a friendship circle, then posed for a group photo.

 
Before leaving to return to their busy lives as leaders, the members of Troop 49, along with the other adults in the room, signed the ToGetHerThere pledge, a commitment to become informed, to speak up, and to invest in girls. Already, Troop 49 members' willingness to attend the event and speak so openly with girls has made a difference.  Because, as we know in Girl Scouts, sometimes the real lessons aren't the ones that you can talk about or put into words.  

Almost every legislator referenced the things that helped them get where they are today -- the support of a parent or a friend, the encouragement of a mentor, or the simple presence of a role model to look up to. Now they in turn are serving as role models for today's girls to look up to.

Girl Scouts of Alaska is eager to organize more events like this around the state during our 100th anniversary year, and beyond. If you want help organizing an event with women leadership role models in your community, please contact Marge Stoneking or Anne Gore at the council office (907-248-2250).

Rep. Lindsey Holmes and Sen. Bettye Davis create a friendship circle 

with Juneau Girl Scouts.

Who Says Girls Don't Like Science?

By Anne Gore, Communications Manager

On February 4, the University of Alaska Anchorage campus was swarming with more than 800 Girl Scouts attending the 20th annual Women of Science and Technology Day.

It's not surprising why this event draws such a crowd.  What kid wouldn't love dissecting moose poop, playing with magnets, meeting a Great Horned owl, designing a mini roller-coaster, or drilling a hole in a tooth?  

To the casual observer, this might seem like just another great hands-on learning experience. But, there's a reason the event recruits only women presenters, and why its target audience is middle-school and younger girls.  Because behind all the fun, some serious life lessons are taking place.

Although women in the United States have made great strides in education and the work force since Girl Scouts was founded by Juliette Gordon Low 100 years ago, they haven't advanced as far as we might have expected.  Especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math, collectively referred to as STEM, women continue to be underrepresented.  

Studies show that girls perform equally well, if not better, in science and math than boys at all grade levels. But by middle school, girls start to lose interest in STEM subjects. A number of factors may be at play, including lack of confidence and outdated stereotypes that girls aren't good at math or aren't suited for jobs in science.  

The good news is that when girls receive encouragement from adults and are exposed to someone working in a STEM field, they are more likely to remain interested and involved in STEM. A Girl Scout Research Institute survey released today also found that teen girls who self-identified as being interested in STEM were more likely to have done hands-on science activities when they were younger than girls who did not express an interest in STEM.   

With this knowledge in hand, Girl Scouts of Alaska is working to bridge the gender gap in STEM fields by connecting girls with women scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in their own communities.  

Check out these upcoming Women of Science events in your community.  (And a BIG thank you to BP for making all of these events possible!)

March 3 - Soldotna

March 10 - Bethel

March 31 - Juneau

March 31 - Wasilla

April 14 - Kodiak

April TBA - Cordova

By bringing unique events and experiences like this to Girl Scouts and other girls across Alaska, Girl Scouts of Alaska is inspiring future generations to do great things.  

Do you have a daughter interested in science, math, engineering or technology?  Has she attended a Women of Science event?  What other things can we do to support our girls in pursuing STEM careers?

What can a cookie buy? The experience of a lifetime.

Girl Scouts of the USA is the premier leadership organization for girls, and the $700 million Girl Scout Cookie Program -- the largest girl-led business in the country -- generates immeasurable benefits for girls, their councils and communities across the nation.

The activity of selling cookies is directly related to our purpose of helping all girls realize their full potential and become strong, confident, and resourceful citizens. Girl Scouts learn life skills and realize their goals, and also have fun!

Furthermore, customers get a great product and get to support girls in their own communities. All of the proceeds of cookie sales support Girl Scouting. 

Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program girls develop five essential skills: 

1. Goal setting
2. Decision making
3. Money management
4. People skills
5. Business ethics

Why do these skills matter? Because when your Girl Scout has learned these, she’ll be poised for success in her career or whatever path she chooses to follow in life.

Think about it...When employers interview job candidates, they all look for the same things. This is true whether the employer is a bank, high-tech company, university, hospital, publishing house, car dealership, accounting firm - or even the local pet store! They want:

·  Someone who can set goals and meet deadlines. Blowing a deadline can mean blowing a deal!

·  Someone who works well with others. Who wants to deal with strife and complaining in the workplace?

·  Someone who understands customers. It doesn’t matter whether the “customers” are hospital patients, TV viewers, or other companies—every business has to know its customers and what they want.

·  Someone who can influence others. This doesn’t just mean selling a product. Employers want people who can sell ideas, pitch projects and convince other employees to help out.

·  Someone who is honest, trustworthy and reliable. This kind of goes without saying—or it should!

Sound like anyone you know? That’s your Girl Scout, using the 5 Skills she learned in the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

  

All of the proceeds—every penny—from the Girl Scouts of Alaska cookie program stays in Alaska to benefit girls. Some of the revenue is used directly by remaining in the Girl Scout troop treasury, and some of it indirectly by subsidizing the cost of providing Girl Scout programs in our communities.

Money from Girl Scout Cookies helps Girl Scouts of Alaska:

• Recruit and train volunteer adults to work with girls.
• Provide financial assistance needed to make Girl Scouting available for all girls.
•  Improve and maintain camp and other activity sites.
•  Keep event/camp fees for all members to a minimum.
•  Sponsor special events and projects.

For every $4 box of cookies the money is distributed as follows:

• $1.01 goes directly to Little Brownie Bakers for the cookies themselves.
• $0.45 to $0.50 goes to troops directly, depending on the per girl average (Troops receive the $.05 increase when the troop girl average is 212 boxes or more).
• $0.04 goes to individual Service Units/Communities.
• $2.50 to $2.55 is Council revenue. Girls Scouts of Alaska uses these proceeds to pay for cookie incentives, day and resident camps, girl assistance, volunteer training and support.

$2.99 or 75% of each dollar received stays in the Girl Scouts of Alaska community to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.

This year, for the first time, Girl Scouts involved in ways other than troops can participate in the Girl Scouts of Alaska Cookie Program and earn program credits, in addition to camp or travel credits, individually. Contact our Product Sales Manager, Tricia Matyas, to find out how: tmatyas@girlscoutsalaska.org

Happy cookie time, Girl Scouts! Thank you for giving girls the experience of a lifetime through the Girl Scout Cookie Program.

My Promise, My Faith

December is a month of religious, spiritual, and cultural holidays for all of the world's major religions. It is therefore an opportune time to update you on how Girl Scouts can interface with any faith.

Although Girl Scouts is a secular organization, and Girl Scouts recognizes that religious instruction comes from the home and one's faith community, we are values based and encourage faith in God, as defined by each member and her family. The Girl Scout Promise and Law are in alignment with many faith organizations’ teachings.

On my honor, I will try:

To serve God* and my country,

To help people at all times,

And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

*The flexible wording of the Girl Scout Promise means that a member may substitute another word that more closely represents that member’s spiritual belief for the word God.

The Girl Scout organization has transformed itself in recent years to focus on leadership development for girls in the 21st century, and the new Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting reflects that transformation. The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting is the new national curriculum, a combination of handbook, badge and award book, and guide to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The program builds the critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship that the next generation of leaders will need to make the world a better place.

One of the new awards in The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting is the My Promise, My Faith award.  Some of you are familiar with  the PRAY religious awards. PRAY is an outside vendor. So now, My Promise, My Faith is Girl Scouting’s own national faith recognition.

Here's what our volunteer Council Historian, Cindy Littel, from Soldotna reported back from the official launch of My Promise, My Faith at National Convention last month.

"I am so glad you asked me to attend the My Promise, My Faith Launch Event. Being the daughter of a minister, this subject is definitely something I care about very much. I had picked up some materials at the PRAY booth in the Exhibit Hall the day before. The PRAY program, for the most part, is sponsored by/geared to specific churches/religions. The new program will appeal to those GSUSA members who are not [actively] involved in a local church but want to explore their faith. This "faith journey" may lead them to look within themselves and become more involved in a church/synagogue. It is also nice that the pins for the new program are colored differently for each program level and can be earned [every year]. For example, a Brownie can earn [the pin] both in 2nd and 3rd grade." 

With the introduction of the My Promise, My Faith (MPMF) pin, GSUSA has provided a resource to help girls strengthen the connection between their faith and the Girl Scout experience. Girls pursuing MPMF will examine the Girl Scout Law and tie it to their faith. The specific requirements for this award are listed in The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting here.

Some leaders may have wondered what the connection is between the new My Promise, My Faith pin and the already existing Religious Recognitions. In fact, My Promise, My Faith does NOT replace Religious Recognitions. The My Promise, My Faith pin complements exisiting Religious Recognitions, and girls are encouraged to earn both.

 Girls are instructed to "find out if your faith community offers a recognition program for Girl Scouts." The Religious Recognitions are created by the faith communities to help girls grow in faith. Girls may earn both the MPMF and Religious Recognition and wear them on the front of the Girl Scout uniform.

Happy December from Girl Scouts of Alaska. Go forth to serve God and live the Girl Scout Law.

Yours in Girl Scouting,
Marge Stoneking, CEO

Girl Scouts of the USA; Houston was the Launchpad for the Next 100 Years

Imagine a place where everyone shares your values; where everyone lives by the Girl Scout Law. That is the world that a small group of Girl Scout adults and girls from Alaska lived in last week.

At the George Brown Convention Center in Houston, the Girl Scout flag flew, and the Girl Scout logo, colors, and imagery were everywhere. But, it was the feeling of being surrounded by 15,000 other Girl Scouts that made the experience magical.

As the closing ceremony keynote speaker, Robin Roberts said, “You might not remember who you saw or what they said, but you will remember how you felt.”
I felt serene, energized, safe, strong, and surrounded by loving care.
It was from this nest that we were inspired and empowered to embrace the second century of Girl Scouting. Within that environment of sisterhood we felt the courage and motivation to turn outward and share the power of Girl Scouts as wide and far as we can reach.

There is a saying, “If you teach a girl, you educate the world.” In Houston, we heard again and again how girls are an untapped resource, how their involvement in everything from science to politics is so valuable, and so needed. Yet, girls continue to be left out of, and opt out of, leadership opportunities.

That’s why there has never been a more exciting time to be a Girl Scout. Girl Scouts has the ability, and the opportunity, to inspire the gender balanced leadership that our country needs.

The world is in economic crisis, and we need leaders more than ever. If we continue on our current path, women won’t achieve parity in the U.S. Congress for another 400 years. We know that Girl Scouts provides girls with opportunities and experiences that inspire them to do great things. Girl Scouting gives girls the courage, confidence, and character to become leaders.

Indeed, more than 70% of the women leaders in our country are former Girl Scouts. But, two-thirds of too few is not enough. Every girl deserves the chance to discover the difference she can make. Imagine what the world would look like if every girl had the opportunities and experiences we provide in Girl Scouts?

Will you join me in realizing our biggest dreams for girls in the 21st century? Will you help me renew the promise of Girl Scouting for another 100 years?

In Houston, Kathy Cloninger, our outgoing CEO, asked us if we would do three things to ring in the second century of Girl Scouts. She asked us to:
1. Be informed about how girls define leadership and recognize how girls want to lead;

2. Take the message of the vast potential and importance of investing in leadership development for girls beyond the Girl Scout world; and

3. Encourage our fellow adults to lead; to find the leader in ourselves, and to help others to do the same.


Will you raise your voices and thereby inspire girls to also raise theirs? Will you join me and the Girl Scout Movement in renewing the promise to build another century of girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place?

The following inspirational words were shared in Houston by some of today’s women leaders. These are the kind of women we need more of, in order to provide role models for both girls and boys, and show them what gender balanced leadership looks like, and that it is possible.

“Courage + dreams = success” - Marlee Matlin
“Put yourself in a position for good things to happen.”
“Dream big, and focus small.” – Robin Roberts
“When you come to the end of the light of all you know, it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown. Faith will give you one of two things, something solid to stand on or wings to fly.” - Monique Coleman
Honorary Girl Scout Chair Michelle Obama shared by video address that she has three wishes for every girl: “That she lead a healthy lifestyle, pursue her dreams, and reach her goals.”