The Girl Scout Leadership Experience defines not only what girls do in Girl Scouting, but how they do it. We know from research that leaders are not only born, but can also be developed given the right environment and processes. Our new Girl Scout Leadership Experience integrates specific educational theories and processes that define each element needed to help girls become leaders, both of their own lives and of communities.
Girl led simply means that girls are playing an active part in figuring out the “what, where, when, how and why” of their activities. This means girls are more engaged in playing a critical role as decision-makers in the planning and implementation of their activities. As part of a girl-adult partnership, volunteers can use this process to strengthen girls’ empowerment and decision-making roles in activities. Adults provide age-appropriate facilitation, ensuring that planning, organization, set-up and evaluation of all activities are done jointly with girls. The girl led approach to ideas and activities ensures that girls are engaged in their learning and experience leadership and decision making opportunities as they prepare to become active participants in their local and global communities.
Learning by Doing is a “hands-on” learning process that engages girls in continuous cycles of action and reflection, resulting in deeper understanding of concepts and mastery of practical skills. As they actively participate in meaningful activities (e.g., trying new skills, solving real-life problems or role-playing) and reflect on them to evaluate what they have learned (e.g., by keeping a journal), girls get to explore their own questions, discover answers, gain new skills, and share ideas and observations with others. Throughout the Learning by Doing process, it is important for girls to be able to connect these experiences to their lives and apply what they have learned to their future experiences.
Cooperative Learning takes place when all members of a group are working together towards a common goal. Cooperative Learning is designed to promote sharing of knowledge, skills and learning in an atmosphere of respect and cooperation as girls work together on goals that can only be accomplished with the help of others. Additionally, working together in all-girl environments encourages girls to feel powerful, emotionally and physically safe, and to experience a sense of belonging even in the most diverse groups.
Take a look at the electronic interactive resource to help guide you through the key features and benefits of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
