This is another in a series of stories on the member agencies of the Kewanee Area United Way, which is conducting its annual campaign now.
Editor’s note: This is another in a series of stories on the member agencies of the Kewanee Area United Way, which is conducting its annual campaign now.
Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low assembled 18 girls from Savannah, Georgia, on March 12, 1912, for a local Girl Scout meeting. She believed that all girls should be given the opportunity to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually. With the goal of bringing girls out of isolated home environments and into community service and the open air, Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars, and studied first aid.
Within a few years, Daisy’s dream for a girl-centered organization was realized. Today, Girl Scouts of the USA has a membership of over 3.2 million girls and adults, a significant growth from its modest beginnings nearly a century ago. In fact, more than 59 million women in the U.S. today are Girl Scout alumnae.
Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. It is the mission to meet the needs and challenges of girls today and beyond. Girl Scouts use their mission and vision to build the best leadership experience that defines activities and outcomes, is differentiated by age level, promotes constituency, and offers flexible pathways for participation for all girls ages 5-17.
In Girl Scouts, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Through a myriad of enriching experiences, such as extraordinary field trips, sports skill-building clinics, community service projects, cultural exchanges, and environmental stewardships, girls grow courageous and strong. Girl Scouting helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others.
Girl Scouts provides a comprehensive leadership program promoting positive youth development. The program is based on a model engaging girls in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. Girls benefit from a variety of fun and educational year round activities in a variety of topics: health, fitness, financial literacy, nutrition, body image, self esteem, the arts, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), the environment, and much more.
In order to deliver this program to all girls, it is essential to give girls and volunteers the highest quality experience. The United Way funded program Troop/Group Services is at the heart of all Girl Scout programming. Most Kewanee area girls participate in Girl Scouting through troops, from which they have the opportunity to further benefit from camp, events, higher award opportunities, and service activities. Girl Scouts currently serves 700 girls and 184 adults in the Kewanee area. By providing services to these troops, girls experience the highest quality program and have an opportunity to lead now and throughout their lives.