Engaging Girl Scouts and Families
Engaging Girl Scouts by level
Creating the kind of environment in which Girl Scouts are unafraid to try new things and to be who they want to be starts with you! By meeting them where they are, you’ll help them develop the leadership skills they’ll use today and in the future.
Understanding Healthy Development in Youth 
It sounds simple, but just being attentive to what Girl Scouts are experiencing as they mature is a big help to them—and to you, as you guide and mentor them! You’ll experience different joys and challenges with each Girl Scout level, but here are some guidelines for meeting their needs and abilities at different grade levels. Keep in mind that these guidelines reflect neurotypical experiences.
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Girl Scout Daisies |
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At the Girl Scout Daisy level (kindergarten and first grades), many Daisies… |
This means… |
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Have loads of energy and need to run, walk, or play outside. |
They’ll enjoy going on nature walks and outdoor scavenger hunts. |
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Are great builders and budding artists, though they are still developing their fine motor skills. |
Encouraging them to express themselves and their creativity by making things with their hands, if they are able. They may need assistance holding scissors, cutting in a straight line, and so on. |
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Love to move and dance. |
They might especially enjoy marching like a penguin, dancing like a dolphin, or acting out how they might care for animals in the jungle. |
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Are concrete thinkers and focused on the here and now. |
Showing instead of telling, for example, about how animals are cared for. Plan visits to animal shelters, farms, or zoos; meet care providers, or make a creative bird feeder. |
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Are only beginning to learn about basic number concepts, time, and money. |
You’ll want to take opportunities to count out supplies together—and, perhaps, the legs on a caterpillar! |
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Are just beginning to write and spell, and they don’t always have the words for what they’re thinking or feeling. |
That having them draw a picture of something they are trying to communicate, or picking from images of feelings, is easier and more meaningful for them. |
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Know how to follow simple directions and respond well to recognition for doing so. |
Being specific and offering only one direction at a time. Acknowledge when they have followed directions well to increase their motivation to listen and follow again. |
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Girl Scout Brownies |
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At the Girl Scout Brownie level (second and third grades), many Brownies… |
This means… |
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Have loads of energy and need to run, walk, or play outside. |
Taking your session activities outside whenever possible. |
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Are social and enjoy working in groups. |
Allowing them to team up in small or large groups for art projects and performances if they would like to. |
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Want to help others and appreciate being given individual responsibilities for a task. |
Letting them lead, direct, and help out in activities whenever possible. Allow them as a group to make decisions about individual roles and responsibilities. |
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Are concrete thinkers and focused on the here and now. |
Doing more than just reading to them about the Brownie Elf’s adventures. Ask them questions to gauge their understanding and allow them to role play their own pretend visit to a new country. |
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Need clear directions and structure and like knowing what to expect. |
Offering only one direction at a time. Also, have them create the schedule and flow of your get-togethers and share those at the start. |
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Are becoming comfortable with basic number concepts, time, money, and distance. |
Offering support only when needed. Allow them to set schedules for meetings or performances, count out money for a trip, and so on. |
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Are continuing to develop their fine motor skills. Most can tie shoes, use basic tools, begin to sew, and the like. |
Encouraging them to express themselves and their creativity by making things with their hands, if they are able to. They may need some assistance, however, holding scissors, threading needs, and so on. |
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Love to act in plays, create music, and dance. |
They might like to create a play about welcoming a new student to their school or to tell a story through dance or creative movement. |
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Know how to follow rules, listen well, and appreciate recognition of a job well done. |
Acknowledging when they have listened or followed the directions well, which will increase their motivation to listen and follow again. |
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Girl Scout Juniors |
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At the Girl Scout Junior level (fourth and fifth grades), many Juniors… |
This means… |
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Want to make decisions and express their opinions. |
Whenever possible, allowing them to make decisions and express their opinions through guided discussion and active reflection activities. Also, have them set rules for listening to others’ opinions and offering assistance in decision making. |
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Are social and enjoy working in groups. |
Allowing them to team up in small or large groups for art projects, performances, and written activities, if they would like to. |
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Are aware of expectations and sensitive to the judgments of others. |
Although it’s okay to have expectations, the expectation is not perfection! Share your own mistakes and what you learned from them and be sure to create an environment where they can be comfortable sharing theirs. |
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Are concerned about equity and fairness. |
Not shying away from discussing why rules are in place and having them develop their own rules for their group. |
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Are beginning to think abstractly and critically and are capable of flexible thought. Juniors can consider more than one perspective as well as the feelings and attitudes of another. |
Asking them to explain why they made a decision, to share their visions of their roles in the future, and to challenge their own and others’ perspectives. |
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Have strong fine and gross motor skills and coordination. |
Engaging them in moving their minds and their bodies. Allow them to express themselves through the written word, choreography, and so on. |
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Love to act in plays, create music, and dance. |
They might like to tell a story through playwriting, playing an instrument, or choreographing a dance. |
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May be starting puberty, which may include beginning breast development, skin changes, and weight changes. Some may be getting their periods. |
Being sensitive to their changing bodies, possible discomfort over these changes, and their desire for more information or total avoidance of the topic. Create an environment that acknowledges and celebrates this transition as healthy and normal for them. |
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Girl Scout Cadettes |
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At the Girl Scout Cadette level (sixth, seventh, and eighth grades), many Cadettes… |
This means… |
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Are going through puberty, including changes in their skin, body shape, and weight. Many also will be starting their menstrual cycles and have occasional shifts in mood. |
Being sensitive to the many changes Cadettes are undergoing and acknowledging that these changes are as normal as growing taller! They need time to adapt to their changing bodies, and their feelings about their bodies may not keep up. Reinforce that, as with everything else, people go through puberty in different ways and at different times. |
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Are starting to spend more time in peer groups than with their families and are very concerned about friends and relationships with others their age. |
That many will enjoy teaming up in small or large groups for art projects, performances, and written activities as well as tackling relationship issues through both artistic endeavors and Take Action projects. If you’re noticing a pattern of isolation for any troop member, check in with them—are they content to work solo, or are they being excluded? |
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Can be very self-conscious, wanting to be like everyone else but fearing they are unique in their thoughts and feelings. |
Encouraging them to share, but only when they are ready. At this age, they may be more comfortable sharing a piece of artwork or a fictional story than their own words. Throughout the activities, highlight and discuss differences as positive, interesting, and beautiful. |
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Are beginning to navigate their increasing independence and expectations from adults at school and at home. |
Trusting them to plan and make key decisions and allowing them to experience “fun failure,” which is learning from trying something new and making mistakes. |
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Girl Scout Seniors |
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At the Girl Scout Senior level (ninth and tenth grades), many Seniors… |
This means… |
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Are beginning to clarify their own values, consider alternative points of view on controversial issues, and see multiple aspects of a situation. |
Asking them to explain the reasoning behind their decisions. Engage them in role-play and performances, where others can watch and offer alternative solutions. |
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Have strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills and are able to plan and reflect on their own learning experiences. |
They are more than able to go beyond community service to develop projects that will create sustainable solutions in their communities. Be sure to have them plan and follow up on these experiences through written and discussion-based reflective activities. |
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Spend more time in peer groups than with their families and are very concerned about friends and relationships with others their age. |
They will enjoy teaming up in small or large groups for art projects, performances, and written activities. They’ll also want to tackle relationship issues through both artistic endeavors and Take Action projects. Alter the makeup of groups with each activity so that they interact with those they might not usually pair up with. |
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Frequently enjoy expressing their individuality. |
Encouraging them to express their individuality in their dress, creative expression, and thinking. Remind them frequently that there isn’t just one way to look, feel, think, or act. Assist them in coming up with new ways of expressing their individuality. |
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Feel they have lots of responsibilities and pressures—from home, school, peers, work, and other sources. |
Acknowledging their pressures and sharing how stress can limit health, creativity, and productivity. Help them release stress through creative expression, movement, and more traditional stress-reduction techniques. |
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Are continuing to navigate their increasing independence and expectations from adults at school and at home. |
Trusting them to plan and make key decisions, allowing them to experience “fun failure,” which is learning from trying something new and making mistakes. |
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Girl Scout Ambassadors |
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At the Girl Scout Ambassador level (eleventh and twelfth grades), many Ambassadors… |
This means… |
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Can see the complexity of situations and controversial issues—they understand that problems often have no clear solution and that varying points of view may each have merit. |
Inviting them to develop stories as a group and then individually create endings that they later discuss and share. |
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Have strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills and can adapt logical thinking to real-life situations. Most will recognize and incorporate practical limitations to solutions. |
They are more than able to go beyond community service to develop projects that will create sustainable solutions in their communities. Be sure to have them plan and follow up on these experiences through written and discussion-based reflective activities. |
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Spend more time with peers than with their families and are very concerned about friends and relationships with others their age. |
They will enjoy teaming up in small or large groups for art projects, performances, and written activities. They’ll also want to tackle relationship issues through artistic endeavors and Take Action projects. Alter the makeup of groups with each activity so that they interact with those they might not usually pair up with. |
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Frequently enjoy expressing their individuality. |
Encouraging them to express their individuality in their dress, creative expression, and thinking. Remind them frequently that there isn’t just one way to look, feel, think, or act. Assist them in coming up with new ways of expressing their individuality. |
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Feel they have lots of responsibilities and pressures—from home, school, peers, work, and other sources. |
Acknowledging their pressures and sharing how stress can limit health, creativity, and productivity. Help them release stress through creative expression, movement, and more traditional stress-reduction techniques. |
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Are continuing to navigate their increasing independence and expectations from adults—at school and at home—and are looking to their futures. |
Trusting them to plan and make key decisions, allowing them to experience “fun failure,” which is learning from trying something new and making mistakes. |
Engaging families
You want your Girl Scouts to have fun, be inspired, take risks, and learn about themselves and the world—that’s why you’re a Girl Scout troop leader or troop volunteer! Parents and caregivers want the same thing for their children, but getting families to pitch in and play an active role in the troop while also enhancing the experience for their Girl Scout and themselves can be tricky for many volunteers. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Kick the Year Off Right by Engaging Parents and Caregivers
Parents and caregivers will feel most connected to the troop when you are proactive in engaging them early on. Express your desire for them to play an active role in troop life, and how that can contribute to the connection, joy, and sense of pride the Girl Scouts feel. At the same time, recognize that not all families have the same capacity to be involved for various reasons (don’t take it personally!). Be open with parents about your hopes for their involvement and listen to what can work for them.
What Is a Parent and Caregiver Meeting?
It’s the first meeting you have to start each troop year—whether you are a new or returning troop, it’s valuable for all troops.
Why Hold a Meeting? Kicking off each year with a parent and caregiver meeting sets the troop up for success. Outlining clear expectations, building a team, and engaging parents in the Girl Scout experience is a great way to start off on the right foot. When parents are involved, leaders have support, the troop has a plan, and troop members benefit! The meeting helps:
- Families understand what Girl Scouting can do for their child.
- Families and leaders identify ways they will work as a team to support the troop.
- Families and leaders agree about what the troop pays for and what families pay for individually.
- You fill key troop positions—you never know which parent will make an awesome assistant leader or troop cookie manager.
- Families know how the troop will communicate things like upcoming events or schedule changes.
- Families learn about uniforms, books, and other important basics.
For even more tips on working with troop families, check out Girl Scouts’ Tips for Troop Leaders hub.
How to Keep Parents and Caregivers Engaged
Make the Ask(s).
The main reason people don’t take action is because they were never asked to in the first place. One out of three Girl Scout parents say no one had communicated expectations around involvement with their child’s troop—this is troubling! Parents may have many talents, but they’re certainly not mind readers. Ask for what you need. If you’re nervous about getting turned down, don’t be. Sure, a few parents might be unable to offer assistance, but the helpers you do get will be worth their weight in gold. And just because someone wasn’t available a month or two ago doesn’t mean they won’t be free to help now. Loop back, follow up, and ask again!
Make Sense of “Why.”
Explain that not only does the whole troop benefit with extra help from parents and other caregivers, but also that many Girl Scouts feel a special sense of pride in seeing their own family member take a leadership role. Getting involved can strengthen the caregiver/child bond and is a meaningful way to show them that they are a priority in their adults’ lives.
Find out What People Want to Do.
Start with asking what people enjoy doing and what they are good at. Does someone love coordinating events, making flyers, etc., or managing money? Does someone love using social media and could help promote cookie sales? Get a sense of the desires in the room that will energize people. Then talk about time commitment because it will really depend on what they are doing. It's easier to make time for something you find fun.
Make it Quick and Easy.
Continue the conversation by asking how much time each week they might be able to dedicate to the troop, then go from there. For instance, if a troop caregiver has 15 minutes each week to spare, they could organize and manage the calendar for troop snacks and carpools. If a grandparent has one to two hours, they could assist with leading the troop through a specific badge on a topic they’re already comfortable with. Be time conscious and consider the commitment.
Make Family Part of the Formula.
While Girl Scout programming is always focused on the Girl Scouts, it’s important and helpful to open up a few events to their families throughout the year. Inviting the whole crew to celebrate their accomplishments in Girl Scouting—whether at a holiday open house, a bridging ceremony, or a fun “reverse meeting” where Girl Scouts take the role of leaders and guide the adults, including caregivers, through an activity—will help parents and caregivers better understand the value of Girl Scouts and they’ll be more likely to invest their time and talents to the troop.
That said, there’s no need to wait for a special event to engage families in their Girl Scout’s life. Keep communication lines open throughout the year—whether it’s through your troop’s social media page, personal emails, or in-person chats—to keep parents in the loop on what the troop is doing and learning during each meeting. The first meeting is a great time to ask how they prefer to receive updates!
Encourage them to let their Girl Scouts “be the experts” at home, explaining or teaching the new skills they’ve learned.
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