Leader to Leader
Advice from leaders just like you!

"I'm a Junior Girl Scout leader getting ready to move into the STUDIO 2BSM materials. I would love some ideas for helping girls set goals around the Focus books."

Goal-setting is an important topic for girls in the STUDIO 2B age range. The following ideas are from advisers, leaders and councils, as well as from Girl Scout publications.

Accentuating the Positive

Taking an adviser's role means expecting that girls will be engaged in setting goals. Setting their own goals is part of learning to lead their own lives. And usually, girls set ambitious goals and get a feeling of self confidence.

By Girls, for Girls

In a "By Girls, for Girls" approach, advisers move into a girl-adult partnership based on coaching and facilitation. The focus is more on girls making their own decisions and the most of their time in Girl Scouts. And girls are happy to share what they want their adviser's role to be. Just ask.

The training offered by councils for working with girls in this age range is the best foundation before transitioning to STUDIO 2B, along with reading the STUDIO 2B Guide for Advisors. Meeting with advisers and girls from another successful group to see how they use the materials is also helpful.

Goal-setting—It's Their Game

Although goal-setting is a learned skill, girls often begin by dreaming and brainstorming. To gain focus they can use this acronym to help clarify their goals: Goals should be SMART—Specific, Manageable, Attainable, Realistic, and Tangible.

In the goal-setting process, girls develop their concept of working as a group, working on one's own, the value of having an alternative plan, and the value of cutting losses, the ability to avoid making value judgments too early in the planning process, and to appreciate rather than to discount "failure." The adviser's role, as coach, may not be to ensure that girls always succeed in attaining their goals—but to help them evaluate and appreciate their progress.

Going for Awards

When considering STUDIO 2B Focus books and Interest Project Awards, encourage girls to set group or individual goals using some planning starter questions such as:

• Why is this goal important?
• How will the goal help you?
• What are the steps to reach this goal?
• How can you work with others to achieve this goal?
• How long are you willing to commit to working on this goal?
• How will you know when you have met your group and personal goals?

Often these questions open a door that leads to a multitude of paths, creating the possibility that multiple projects will be going at the same time.

Go to the Resources

A complete listing of all resources is available on www.girlscouts.org and www.studio2b.org, or in the Girl Scout catalog. Girls will find ideas to keep them intrigued with their personal Girl Scout experience—and that's what STUDIO 2B is all about.

A Volunteer Camp Director Asks:

"When summer is over, what do you suggest we do to provide outdoor program activities for girls?"

How Would You Answer This Question?

Send your ideas to:
GSUSA
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New York, NY 10018-2798
Attn: Program Development
Leader to Leader

leader2leader@girlscouts.org
Include your name, address, and telephone number.

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Adapted from LEADER, Summer 2005. © Girl Scouts of the United States of America.