Girl Scout Recruitment Season Kicks Off in the Heart of the Hudson
Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson is kicking off its recruitment season with events at various locations throughout the lower Hudson Valley for girls and adult volunteers to join.
With families already thinking about how to allocate their free time during the coming school year, Girl Scouts of the USA has released new data showing the organization’s benefits for both girls and volunteers.
Results of a summer 2014 poll conducted with over 3,500 volunteers and parents of Girl Scouts in grades K−5 show positive effects on members of all ages; 97 percent of parents agree that Girl Scouts has been a positive activity for their daughter. It also revealed that Scouts had fun and exciting new experiences (95 percent) and that they have learned or tried something new (96 percent). In addition, 94 percent of parents say that because of Girl Scouts their daughter feels special, has more friends (95 percent) and is happier (89 percent).
The data shows it is not just girls who benefit: 94 percent of volunteers have made new friends; 88 percent believe their life is better because they volunteer with Girl Scouts; and two-thirds responded that their volunteer experience has helped them professionally. 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 andadult 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.
“The greatest single barrier to leadership among girls is low self-regard of their individual skills and qualities,” said Pamela I. Anderson, CEO of Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson. “According to the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), it is not race/ethnicity or income that drives leadership aspirations in girls, and youth for that matter, but attitudes, self-perceptions and experiences.”
The Girl Scout leadership experience changes the arc of a girl’s life and equips them to take on leadership roles in their communities. By helping girls discover who they are, connect with others and take action to make their community and world a better place, we’re developing the leaders of tomorrow by enabling them to experience leadership today.
To find a recruitment event at a convenient location, please visit http://www.girlscoutshh.org/join-us/recruitment/
Girl Scouts is open to all girls from kindergarten through grade 12. The more adults that 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 adult volunteers can join at any time of the year. Girl Scout volunteers come from all walks of life–men, women, young professionals, retirees, college students and more. To join or volunteer, please visit www.girlscouts.org/join.
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