Girl-Adult Partnership
The Reality Show

By Harriet S. Mosatche, Ph.D.

As a leader, it may seem easier for you to make plans first, then consult with your girls. But girl-adult planning, the cornerstone of Girl Scouting, is too valuable a step to skip.

Yes, it's true that the 14- and 15-year-old girls in my Girl Scout troop have been trying for two years to find the right date to visit an amusement park. And I must admit that sometimes it takes more hours to plan a trip than take it. As a leader, I wonder from time to time: Wouldn't it just be easier to do the research on my own, present it to the girls, and tell them to start packing? The answer is: of course it would, but that's not the point. Girl Scouting is all about empowering girls and encouraging them to make their own decisions in partnership with adults.

When I became a volunteer ten years ago, I made a commitment that I would abide by the principle of girl-adult partnership, and I'm trying to uphold my end of the deal.

Worth the Effort

A few years ago, when the girls suggested scheduling an around-the-world cruise during the winter months of the school year, I recognized that I had an opportunity to help steer them in a slightly different direction—maybe something shorter, more local, on a weekend, less expensive. But anyone who is in touch with reality knows that the practice is a lot messier and a whole lot more frustrating than the concept.

Those of us who've tried the partnership model realize that the end result is worth the effort. The end result I'm talking about is not the wonderful sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C. or the fun ski weekend in Pennsylvania. Instead, I'm referring to the leadership skills that are developed and the self-confidence that grows when girls play a key role in group decision-making.

What's in it for me, the adult in the group? Plenty. I love watching girls brainstorm possibilities and elaborate on the pros and cons of particular plans, as I sit back, maybe taking notes and asking questions. Girl-adult partnership doesn't take me out of the picture. It just keeps the focus on the girls.

Partnering Tips

By being a volunteer for a decade, I've had time to learn how true partnership works. Here are some tips:

1. Recognize the amount of time needed for planning.

If you've just learned that your council has organized a trip to a championship basketball game with a deadline for getting tickets that's a week away, you won't have time to do anything more than inform the girls of this opportunity and take a quick yes/no vote. But if, when you open the fall program book, you notice several possible events that might be of interest to your group, all of which are months away, the girls will have time to look through the book, do research, hold discussions and figure out whether they will need to undertake money-earning activities.

2. Understand the difference between a trip that's been organized by your council or some other organization and one that your group will have to plan from beginning to end.

The more possibilities, the more time you'll need to devote to planning. If the only thing your group has figured out is that they want to spend a long weekend some place warm, planning can take anywhere from several hours to more than a year—depending on the number of girls in the group, their schedules, their personalities, their interests…and what's affordable. But if the girls decide they like the idea of going on a council-organized trip that includes transportation, meals and set activities, all they have to do is check with their parents to make sure the dates work and that they can pay for it.

3. Take into account the maturity level of the girls in your group as you guide decision-making.

When I was a leader of a Daisy Girl Scout troop, I was happy if I could get the girls to decide, before the end of a meeting, which colored pencil they wanted to draw with. Okay, that's a slight exaggeration, but you get the point.

Now, as an advisor to a STUDIO 2BSM group, the girls know what they want to do and when they can do it. The problem is they often have more ideas and enthusiasm than time to plan and do everything. I help them stay focused and remind them about deadlines.

4. Be sure that all girls get a chance to be part of the planning.

It's easy to forget about the quiet ones when a couple of outgoing girls monopolize the conversation. Make it a practice for everyone to share at least one idea when planning. Take votes so every person counts. Ask girls to pair up to discuss their ideas, which makes it easier for a shy child to voice her opinion.

5. Help other adults plan with girls not for them.

Parents and volunteers understand that girl-adult partnership is a cornerstone of Girl Scouting. If you need to, give the other adults a separate task or topic to discuss, preferably in another room, so the planning is largely girl centered.

By the way, at the end of this month, my troop is finally going on our long-planned-for weekend trip to the amusement park. And I loved being part—only part—of the planning process.

Adapted from LEADER, Winter 2003. © Girl Scouts of the United States of America.