As Girl Scouts of Nassau County (GSNC) comes off its year-long centennial anniversary, it is encouraging girls from kindergarten to high school to join in on the history of the next hundred years. Girl Scouts offers programs to match almost any girl’s interests and help girls 5 to 17 years of age unleash their inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-Taker, Leader). Whether it’s camping, learning to code, exploring the outdoors, or building stronger friendships, girls discover all kinds of activities that stimulate their brains and strengthen their bodies, while also helping them discover who they are and what they are passionate about.
“Girl Scouts has a longstanding history of being girl-led and girl-centric,” said Rande Bynum, chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “Our programs are always evolving but our mission remains the same. We are the only organization that provides programs tailored specifically to the developmental needs of girls. Through our programs, girls flourish in a supportive, encouraging environment. We will continue to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.”
This year, Girl Scouts of Nassau County will offer 42 new badges that feature, for the first time in Girl Scouts’ history, two distinct activity options, letting girls choose how they want to earn each badge. Giving girls choices is important for developing their sense of self, their own voice and gender equality. The new badges focus on outdoor adventure, space science and cybersecurity, including teaching about encryption, password strength and cybercrime.
Girl Scouts focuses its programs on the Girl Scout Leadership Experience—a collection of activities and experiences girls have as they complete journeys, earn badges, sell cookies, go on exciting trips, explore the outdoors and create Take Action Projects that make the world a better place. Along the way, girls also build their confidence, and are more likely to seek out and solve challenges on their own.
Girls can join a troop based on geographic location and grade level. Girl Scouts are organized by troops that pass through six grade-specific levels: Daisies (kindergarten), Brownies (grades 1-3), Juniors (grades 4-5), Cadettes (grades 6-8), Seniors (grades 9-10) and Ambassadors (grades 11-12). If a troop is not available in your community, girls may still join GSNC by registering and taking advantage of Council-wide offerings and other opportunities.
As the largest girl leadership organization in the United States, Girl Scout alums make up more than half of women leaders in business. Girl Scouts’ legacy is one of girls and women supporting one another and effecting change through civic engagement. At Girl Scouts she’ll discover who she is, what she’s passionate about and what she wants to achieve—both today and in the future.
Join or volunteer at www.gsnc.org or contact Donna Rivera-Downey at 516-741-2550.
—Girl Scouts of Nassau County
