Individual Girl Scout Handbook
Transcription
Individual Girl Scout Handbook
Girl Scouts–Dakota Horizons Individual Girl Scout Handbook 2014-2015 Welcome to Girl Scouts! We are glad you are here! We look forward to bringing fun, friend-filled adventures for your girl that will build lifelong leadership skills. This Individual Girl Scout Handbook provides an overview of our program specifically for individual participants. Please contact us if we can be of assistance in helping you get started. Again, welcome to the Girl Scout Family! Who We Are Girl Scouts – Dakota Horizons (GSDH) is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA-the largest organization for girls in the world–to provide direct services to girls and the volunteers who work with them throughout all of North Dakota and South Dakota as well some surrounding counties in Minnesota and Iowa. The Girl Scout Promise 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 Girl Scout Law I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout. *When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, Girl Scouts may substitute wording appropriate to their own spiritual belief for the word “God.” Our Mission Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. What We Do In Girl Scouts, girls develop their leadership potential through activities that enable them to discover their values, skills, and the world around them; connect with others in a multicultural environment; and take action to make a difference in the world. 100+ years of leadership • 59% of women in the United States Senate are former Girl Scouts. • 60% of women in the House of Representatives are former Girl Scouts. • 53% of all women business owners are former Girl Scouts. • 76% of all Girl Scout alumnae report that Girl Scouts had a positive impact in their lives. 2 Who can join? Any girl—from kindergarten through 12th grade—can join Girl Scouts. What all members share, whether girls or adults, is the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Each member also agrees to follow safety guidelines and pay the annual membership dues. Grade Levels Girl Scouting is age-appropriate and designed to meet girls’ unique needs and interests at various stages in their lives. Girl Scout Daisy Grades K – 1 Girls learn more about themselves in relation to others. Girls participate in activities that help them understand the Girl Scout Promise and Law. Girl Scout Brownie Grades 2 – 3 Girls gain cooperative and team building skills. Girls participate in activities that help them try new and challenging things to expand their horizons. Girl Scout Junior Grades 4 – 5 Girls learn about being part of a larger community while gaining a clearer sense of individual identity. Girls participate in activities that help them explore new skills and ideas, plan and evaluate, and make healthy choices. Girl Scout Cadette Grades 6 – 8 Girls strengthen existing relationships and seek new connections. Girls participate in activities that help them examine and address issues, practice and promote healthy behavior, and challenge themselves. Girl Scout Senior Grades 9 – 10 Girls recognize and address challenges to build healthy relationships and teamwork. Girls participate in activities that help them apply critical thinking skills, engage in and advocate for inclusiviness and mobilize others. Girl Scout Ambassador Grades 11 – 12 Girls increase independence, seek community connections, and strengthen relationships. Girls participate in activities that equip them to pursue goals, live their values, and refine their leadership skills. Adult Girl Scout & Volunteer Girl Scout volunteers add meaningful days to girls’ lives and to their own. Share your personal passions and create experiences together that will never be forgotten. There are endless, flexible ways to participate. Choose to work directly or indirectly with girls on a short-term or long-term basis. Volunteers receive instruction, guidance, and support. Learn more at gsdakotahorizons.org/for-volunteers or contact your local Girl Scout– Dakota Horizons Volunteer Specialist to get involved. 3 Ways to Participate as an Individual Girl Scout One $15 membership, 5 ways to get involved! With guidance from parents/ guardians, girls choose how they want to experience Girl Scouts. Individual Girl Scouts do activities individually with a parent, guardian or other adult mentor known as a Girl Scout Program Partner. An Individual Girl Scout is not part of a troop, but participates in all other Girl Scout pathways and activities for her grade level with her Girl Scout Program Partner. Girl Scout Program Partner are discussed more on page 6. Camp: Explore the outdoors, participate in a weekend camp program, or build skills at day or resident camps during the summer. Event: Choose from day or weekend-long events. Series: Attend short-term group events where the same girls participate for the entire program. These are typically multi-week. Girls build on the skills learned at each session. Travel: Plan, prepare for, and participate in regional, national, and international trips. Virtual: Coming soon! To check out all program opportunities, visit gsdakotahorizons.org/for-girls. What do Girl Scouts do? Girl Scout Leadership Experience The Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) is the engine that drives Girl Scouts. Girls discover themselves and their values, connect with others in their community and take action to make the world a better place. Discover, connect and take action are the three keys to leadership that focus on ‘what’ girls do. The second part of the GSLE model focuses on the importance of ‘how’ girls participate in activities: girlled, cooperative learning and learning by doing. It is all about what girls do, how they do it and what they get (fifteen national outcomes). The National Program Portfolio delivers the GSLE through two fun and engaging resources: the National Leadership Journeys and The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting. 4 Journeys Journeys are the core leadership program for Girl Scouts. Journey books are available to girls at each program grade level and are accompanied by easy-touse how-to guides for adults. Girls experience the traditions of Girl Scouting, from ceremonies and songs to earning prestigious awards that recognize their growing leadership skills. There are 3 themes to choose from with age appropriate programming for every grade level. It’s your World—Change It! invites girls to develop a deep understanding of themselves, understand how powerfully they can act when they team with others who share a vision, and make a difference in their communities by inspiring, educating, and advocating. It’s Your Planet—Love It! invites girls to make sense of the wealth of environmental information available so that they can act for the betterment of Earth and its inhabitants. In this series, girls tackle issues like conservation, pollution, and renewable and reusable resources—all while focusing on leadership development. It’s Your Story—Tell It! made possible in part by a generous grant from Dove, it is designed to strengthen a girl’s sense of herself and boost her capacity to seek and meet challenges in the world—all by giving her the opportunity to hear, create, and tell stories in a range of creative mediums. The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting In addition to the Journeys leadership curriculum, The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting and each SkillBuilding Badge Set complement the Journeys at each grade level. Through fun activities, girls can earn a variety of badges to build their skills and gain the confidence they’ll use to change the world. They can even develop and complete activities to make their own badge—a great way to explore a topic of personal interest. In addition, girls who make their own badge will learn how to learn, which is an important skill to have in school, on the job, and in life! The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting and Journeys are available at Girl Scout Retail Stores. 5 The Individual Girl Scout Girl Scout Program Partner There are many adventures awaiting your Individual Girl Scout. To ensure her ability to share in these opportunities, Girl Scouts–Dakota Horizons recommends that Individual Girl Scouts have a Girl Scout Program Partner – a parent, guardian or an adult (18 or older) who is a special mentor to the girl. The Program Partner will help shape the girl’s involvement. Girl Scout Program Partners are not assigned – they are chosen by the girl and her family. Responsibilities of the Parent/Guardian: • Sign the girl membership form (either electronically or paper copy) and pay the annual $15 GSUSA membership fee. • Pre-register for activities as required. • Sign parent/guardian permission slips to attend camps, events, or other activities. • Insure any necessary forms (health and permission form, etc.) are submitted in a timely manner to the appropriate person. • Provide transportation, arriving and picking your girl up on time for all Girl Scout activities. Responsibilities of the Girl Scout Program Partner: • Explore the Girl Scout Leadership Experience materials – the Leadership Journeys and The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting. • Assist your girl in purchasing the books and materials required to complete the badges and Journeys. • Verify that your girl has completed the requirements for the awards and badges and help her purchase them from the Girl Scout Retail Store. • Decide with your girl when to meet for Girl Scouts and related activites. Set a calendar and appointments to help both of you to fulfill your Girl Scout commitment to one another and help your girl to accomplish her goals. • Discuss with your girl how to create a budget to help her reach her goals and earn her way to all of the fun programs and camps available to both of you as Girl Scouts. • Help your girl decide to participate in Fall Product and Cookie Sale Programs and ensure she follows sale requirements and safety guidelines. By doing so, you will help her to learn the “5 Skills” and earn Dakota Certificates to help her pay for Girl Scout events, trips, camp and GSDH Retail Store items such as books, badges and uniforms. • Review the council Program Guide, emails, and GSDH website for adventures that your girl can attend with you (or attend on her own if program allows and she is ready). • Provide transportation, arriving and picking your girl up on time for all Girl Scout activities. 6 How do Individual Girl Scouts earn money? To finance activities, Girl Scouts rely on a combination of family partnership and Product Sales proceeds. As a Girl Scout progresses through the grade levels, her goal should be to become self-sufficient using the Product Sales proceeds she earns in the form of Dakota Certificates. Girl Scout Product Sales Programs Girls earn Dakota Certificates and learn these five skills: Goal Setting, Decision Making, Money Management, People Skills, and Business Ethics. GSDH has important policies and procedures to keep girls safe in the product sales programs: all families participating must follow these policies. As an Individual Girl Scout, you will receive information from your Service Unit Product Sale Coordinator or Service Unit Manager twice a year inviting you to participate in product programs. Any additional money earning campaigns must be pre-approved by your local District Director. Fall Product Sale Program: (October-November) Earn troop funds early in the year! Girls earn recognitions for magazines/photo products and nut/chocolate sales and funds for Girl Scout activities. Troops receive participation resources from their service unit. Visit the Fall Product tab of the Dakota Horizons web site for more information. Girl Scout Cookie Program: (February-March)The largest girlled business in the world. Troops receive participation resources from their service unit. Visit the Cookies tab on the Dakota Horizons website for more information. How are Individual Girl Scouts’ funds managed? Girls participating in Girl Scouting as Individuals (not involved with a troop) earn Dakota Certificates from Product Sales instead of Troop Proceeds. The Dakota Certificates are based on a range calculation for the Fall Product Sale and Cookie Sale Programs. The girl will also receive recognitions based on her sales. It is the Individual Girl Scouts’ responsibility to manage their earned Dakota Certificates. If lost or damaged, Girl Scouts–Dakota Horizons will not reissue. Any Individual Girl Scout who wishes to save their Dakota Certificates for a future trip or program must contact their Membership Specialist and receive written permission from the Council CEO in order to save Dakota Certificates past the expiration date. For more information regarding these policies, please contact your Membership Specialist. 7 General Information How much does it cost? Girl Scouts pay an annual registration fee of $15. This is sent to Girl Scouts of the USA for program development. This fee also allows supplemental activity accident insurance for each member while participating in Girl Scout activities. Other fees include uniform, insignia, books, and costs for program activities. Participation in the Fall Product Sale Program and Cookie Sale Program can help girls learn skills while earning funds. Family Partnership Please demonstrate your financial support of Girl Scouts – Dakota Horizons. Help develop and implement council sponsored events, offer trainings at little or no cost to volunteers, and provide scholarships to girls with need. Your gift of $20, $50, or more will help sustain Girl Scouting in our communities. Does my Girl Scout need a uniform? We are proud of our identity and the sense of belonging that comes from wearing a Girl Scout uniform. Girls display badges, pins, and other earned awards on official tunics, vests, or sashes (required when participating in ceremonies or officially representing the Girl Scout Movement). The tunic, sash, or vest is worn with a girl’s own solid white shirt and khaki pants or skirt. Our Girl Scout Stores also carry a white Polo shirt. Not sure where to place insignia on the Girl Scout uniform? Visit girlscouts.org, click on Our Program and Where to Place. Where do I purchase Girl Scout Merchandise? Visit your local Girl Scout Retail Store. Bismarck | Grand Forks | Fargo | Minot | Sioux Falls | Rapid City or online at girlscoutshop.com Let us help you get started (and save money) with a GREAT START KIT! See page 14 for details Is financial assistance available? Yes! Financial assistance (scholarship funds) are made available through the generosity of people who believe in the mission of Girl Scouting. No girl or adult is excluded from Girl Scout membership because of an inability to pay. For girls with a financial need, the council also provides assistance with essential Girl Scout uniform components, (sash/vest/tunic, Girl Scouts of the USA and Dakota Horizons ID set, troop numerals and World Association Pin) and a Journey book. Partial scholarships are also available for council-sponsored events and camp activities. Applications are available at gsdakotahorizons.org. 8 Will my girl be safe in Girl Scouts? Safety of girls in Girl Scouting is always top priority. To provide for the wellbeing of girls, volunteers are provided with Volunteer Essentials and Safety Activity Checkpoints. Girl Scouts of the USA supplies these resources that aim to create a safe and welcoming experience for all girls and adult volunteers. These resources, available on our council’s website, include national program standards and guidelines for common Girl Scout activities. All new volunteers complete a required application process, background check and are appointed by council for their roles. As a part of your annual membership dues, GSUSA provides supplemental insurance to each member when participating in Girl Scout sponsored activities. How do I stay informed about activities? There are several ways to get the “latest and greatest” Girl Scout news: 1. Get involved and volunteer with your girl. 2.Attend service unit* meetings. 3.Regularly visit our council’s website gsdakotahorizons.org to learn more about upcoming events, activities, and resources. 4.Become a Facebook Fan of Girl Scouts–Dakota Horizons to connect with other Girl Scout volunteers and families. 5.You may also be interested in the Girl Scouts of the USA website – girlscouts.org, and their Facebook and Twitter pages. 6.Watch your e-mail and mailbox for newsletters and other announcements. * A service unit is comprised of all active registered Girl Scouts, both girls and adults who reside in a given area. What events and activities are going on in my area? Check out our Program Guide at gsdakotahorizons.org/for-girls/events Contact your Service Unit Manager to find local service unit event. Update a Girl Scout and/or guardians personal information. Send updated information to [email protected] Updates include: name, address, phone number and type, email address, school grade, birthday and school name. Online Membership or Activity Registration Assistance View our quickguides at gsdakotahorizons.org/join-girl-scouts/online Email questions to [email protected] Call 1-855-424-0929 9 Badges & Awards Girl Scout Insignia Basics The insignia on a girl’s uniform is a record of her adventures and accomplishments as a Girl Scout. Insignia is the general term for all official items that girls and adults can wear on their uniforms. Girl Scout insignia are broken into five categories: 1. Insignia Showing You Belong: These insignia include such items as Girl Scout membership pins, the World Trefoil pin, GSUSA and council identification strips and troop numerals. 2. Earned Grade Level Awards and Badges: These Girl Scout program awards include Girl Scout Journey Awards from the three Leadership Journeys at each program level, Daisy Petals and Leaves, Girl Scout Brownie through Ambassador proficiency badges found in The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting at each program level, and Girl Scouting’s highest leadership awards (Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards). 3. Special Opportunity Awards: These are national awards earned through requirements determined by Girl Scouts of the USA or by another organization with whom GSUSA has a partnership agreement. These awards include the Girl Scout My Promise, My Faith Awards, Girl Scout Cookie Sale Pins, Girl Scout Safety Awards, and the President’s Award for Community Service. 4. Meritorious Service Awards: These include the Girl Scout Lifesaving Awards awarded from GSUSA through council nomination. 5. Participation Patches and Pins: Supplementary insignia developed at the national or council level with a focus on participation. These are worn on the back of the sash or vest or Daisy tunic. For more information on Badges and Awards, visit gsdakotahorizons.org/for-girls/badgesawards 10 Insignia List Girl Scouts can earn or wear different insignia depending on their grade level. Browse a list of insignia by category or by level at girlscouts.org/program/basics/for_volunteers/ insignia/list. Lists are available for the following levels: Girl Scout Daisies (Grades K-1) Girl Scout Brownies (Grades 2-3) Girl Scout Juniors (Grades 4-5) Girl Scout Cadettes (Grades 6-8) Girl Scout Seniors (Grades 9-10) Girl Scout Ambassadors (Grades 11-12) Girl Scout Adults (Ages 18 and up) Where to Place Insignia on a Uniform Girl Scout badges, patches, awards, and other insignia should be presented, worn, or displayed only after Girl Scouts have completed the requirements outlined in the appropriate program materials. Find out where to place insignia on a Girl Scout uniform go to gsdakotahorizons.org/ gsdh-shop/official-uniform-guidelines. Bridging Awards Bridging awards mark a girl’s transition from one leadership level to the next. An exciting time in a Girl Scout’s life, the earning of the award and completion of the activities are designed to emphasize the continuity of one Girl Scout program and to welcome girls to an anticipated “next level.” To find grade level bridging requirements go to girlscouts.org/program/basics/for_ volunteers/bridging_awards. Girl Scouts’ Highest Awards The Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards are the highest awards Girl Scouts can achieve in Girl Scouting. Projects focus on taking action and making the world a better place. Characteristics of a take action project include: addresses a need, addresses the root cause of the issue and creates a lasting impact that can be measured and includes provisions to ensure sustainability. The time it takes to earn the awards will depend on the nature of the project, the size of the team, and the support of the community. Quality projects should be emphasized over quantity of hours. Go beyond blankets and collections. Bronze, Silver and Gold Award recipients are honored at the District Recognition Event held in the spring. The council provides the award pin and certificate. Final report deadline is February 1st. Find out more about Girl Scouts’ highest awards at girlscouts.org/program/highest_awards. 11 R K IT E VE RT E T WI H A RY S T GET STARTED WITH GREAT START KITS FOR NEW AND BRIDGING GIRL SCOUTS! Every girl deserves her own! Choose 1 Journey + The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting Binder Choose 1 Journey + The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting Binder Choose 1 Journey + The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting Binder Choose 1 Journey + The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting Binder Vest or Sash Flag Patch Insignia Tab Brownie Pin World Association Pin Council ID Set Troop Numbers Vest or Sash Flag Patch Insignia Tab Junior Pin World Association Pin Council ID Set Troop Numbers Vest or Sash Flag Patch Insignia Tab Membership Pin World Association Pin Council ID Set Troop Numbers Vest or Tunic Flag Patch Insignia Tab Daisy Pin World Association Pin Council ID Set Troop Numbers Styles May Vary Styles May Vary Free bag while supplies last Free bag while supplies last Price Range: $59.10 - $61.35 Prices vary by size Fargo 1-877-904-8168 Grand Forks 1-800-437-4399 Price Range: $50.60 - $62.85 Styles May Vary Free bag while supplies last Price Range: $52.10 - $63.35 Prices vary by size Bismarck 1-800-326-4745 Styles May Vary Free bag while supplies last Prices vary by size Minot 1-800-279-5306 Sioux Falls 1-800-666-2141 Price Range: $52.60 - $70.85 Prices vary by size Rapid City 1-800-658-3391 To purchase Girl Scout items, visit a local Girl Scouts—Dakota Horizons Retail Store or contact the Retail Operations Director at 1-800-666-2141 or shop online at gsdakotahorizons.org/gsdh-shop/. 12 How to Create a New Online Account New Online Account Activation Step 1: Go to gsdakotahorizons.org and click Register Now. Then click on the New Online Account button on the right side of the screen. Step 2: Enter the information as requested. This basic information will allow the system to search for your record and check if you already exist in our database. Step 3: One of the following will apply: • If the system finds you in the database you will see the following message: “Congratulations! We found you in the online system. Please go to your email and follow the instructions to activate your online account.” • If you receive the following message: “We have found you in the system, but in order to continue please contact us.” You can contact us at [email protected]. This message generally appears when there is no email address on record or if there is a potential but unconfirmed match. • If the system does not find you in the database you will be prompted to provide additional information to create your profile. Congratulations! You have created your Online Account. You may now manage your family or troop through Family Manager or Troop Management and register for memberships or activities. How to Search & Register for Activites • Log into your account. • Click on the Activities tab. • Search for the activity that interests you, your daughter or your troop by refining your results. Or if you know the name of the activity, search for the activity using the search field located in the upper right corner. • Select a Category, Geographical Location, Date Range and/or School Grade to filter activity results. • To view more details about an activity, click on the activity name. • Family Managers and Troop Leaders will be able to register their Family and/or Troop members upon clicking on the activity. • To register for an activity, click on the Register Now button. • You can continue shopping and add additional activities to your cart (you will have a separate shopping cart for My Family and any Troops of which you are the Troop Manager). • To complete registration, click Checkout and follow the instructions. Online Membership or Activity Registration Assistance View our quickguides at gsdakotahorizons.org/join-girl-scouts/online Email questions to [email protected] Call 1-855-424-0929 13 bridging kits Kits that adult facilitators give to girls. Each kit includes items that are presented to girls bridging to the next grade level. Just add the girl’s name to the sheet provided and you’re ready for your bridging ceremony! Bridge to Girl Scout Brownie $6.00 Bridge to Girl Scout Junior $7.00 Bridge to Girl Scout Cadette $6.00 Bridge to Girl Scout Senior $6.00 Bridge to Girl Scout Ambassador $6.00 Bridging Patch Membership Star & Disc Bridging Certificate Cover sheet ready to insert girl’s name & present at ceremony Fun Patch Bridging Patch Brownie Wings Membership Star & Disc Bridging Certificate Cover sheet ready to insert girl’s name & present at ceremony & Fun Patch Bridging Patch Membership Star & Disc Bridging Certificate Cover sheet ready to insert girl’s name & present at ceremony Fun Patch Bridging Patch Membership Star & Disc Bridging Certificate Cover sheet ready to insert girl’s name & present at ceremony Fun Patch Bridging Patch Membership Star & Disc Bridging Certificate Cover sheet ready to insert girl’s name & present at ceremony Fun Patch 14 Leadership Journeys + The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting = Girl Scout Leadership Experience Together, Girl Scout Journeys and The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting add up to the most comprehensive leadership program for girls. Ever. Contact Us Girl Scouts—Dakota Horizons Headquarters 1101 S Marion Road Sioux Falls, SD 57106 T 605.336.2978 or 1.800.666.2141 F 605.336.6841 NW District Office NE District Office NW District Service Center NE District Service Center 1002 43rd Street S Fargo, ND 58103 T 701.293.7915 or 1.877.904.8168 F 701.293.7962 735 Airport Road Bismarck, ND 58504 T 701.223.4525 or 1.800.326.4745 F 701.223.7840 525 31st Avenue SW Minot, ND 58701 T 701.852.5611 or 1.800.279.5306 F 701.838.1574 2525 Demers Avenue Grand Forks, ND 58201 T 701.772.6679 or 1.800.437.4399 F 701.772.6670 SW District Office SE District Office 1202 E St Francis Street Rapid City, SD 57701 T 605.343.6355 or 1.800.658.3391 F 605.343.9508 Dakota Horizons Camp Properties Girl Scouts – Dakota Horizons has nine camp properties available for Girl Scouts and community members. Visit gsdakotahorizons. org/for-girls/camps for more information. 1101 S Marion Road Sioux Falls, SD 57106 T 605.336.2978 or 1.800.666.2141 F 605.336.6841 Websites to Explore Girl Scouts of the USA girlscouts.org Girl Scouts–Dakota Horizons gsdakotahorizons.org For Girls forgirls.girlscouts.org 15 New Member Information This booklet belongs to Girl Scout Grade Level (circle one) Daisy (grades K-1) Brownie (grades 2-3) Junior (grades 4-5) and her family. Cadette (grades 6-8) Senior (grades 9-10) Ambassador (grades 11-12) Service Unit Name Service Unit # Service Unit Meeting Meeting Date Time/Place Volunteer Service Unit Manager Name Phone # E-mail