Leadership and Learning
Authoring Your Own Life (AYOL)
What to Expect from the Authoring Your Own Life Experience
We invite you to participate in a very special leadership retreat called Authoring Your Own Life (or AYOL). This will not be a retreat focused on learning new things about Girl Scouting. We will be focused on learning new things about ourselves and our own authentic leadership calling. This program design is based on work with The Ashland Institute. It will provide an experiential learning approach deliberately working with the whole individual – the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual dimensions – to encourage the personal and collective leadership skills and the deeper introspection that we think are critical at this juncture in our organizational and societal history.
With a focus on inner leadership in the Girl Scout movement, the AYOL experience guides participants to:
- Explore ages and stages unique to women's lives
- Review your own lives, sharing and witnessing others in small groups
- Explore different dimensions of yourself; using a "symbols process" to explore a meaningful situation, issue, and/or dilemma from these perspectives with the possibility of reshaping your understanding
- Identify important intentions you would like to make real in your lives
What Are the Expected Commitments
- Attend one of four very special leadership retreats called Authoring Your Own Life (AYOL) at the Edith Macy Conference Center
- Participate in a half-hour pre-AYOL interview with a small group guide, as well as read a couple of contemplative essays and poems on inner leadership prior to attending the AYOL
- Participate in a half-hour post-AYOL interview with your small group guide
What Have Others Said About Their AYOL Experiences
- The best aspect of this experience was coming to the realization that "I'm not finished yet…" It is so exciting to experience with others the possibilities for transforming our futures and building a supportive larger community. Women indeed have a unique contribution to make…at any age! The entire time of togetherness, bonding, and honoring each other in complete confidentiality was priceless.
- As Girl Scouts, we are always busy "doing." I think the experience of "being" and reflection are very important to finding our leadership skills. If we can model this for girls, it will be a skill that helps girls center themselves in a very fast-moving society.
- The whole experience was incredible. Having the opportunity to spend time exploring myself, my attitudes and expectations and my blind spots without feeling guilty about spending time on myself!
Course Date: No courses at this time
Learning and Development Conference
How we prepare our volunteers is critical to the successful launch of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for girls. Discover what is being done nationally and locally to help volunteers partner with girls in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Leave with a plan to enhance and support volunteer learning in your Council. Come and be a part of this vital learning experience for you and your council!
This conference will focus on three perspectives of learning geared toward council staff and volunteer learning facilitators:
- To increase ones personal facilitation "tool kit"
- To facilitate the learning of others
- To be able to fully interpret and support the Girl Scout Mission and implement those changes on the council level
Be inspired by keynote speakers. Learn from council representatives who were part of the "Leadership Experience Coaching" position pilot about how to implement and measure the positive outcomes of coaching. Network with others who are facing similar opportunities and challenges. Share best or promising practices in the Learning Showcase. You'll find out more about the Learning Showcase once you register, for example, how to submit your best or promising practice for review and consideration, the criteria for deciding which best or promising practices will be invited to the Learning Showcase, and how to prepare your best or promising practices for display.
Immerse yourself in important and relevant workshops including building the infrastructure to support the learning needs of the short term volunteer, bringing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to life, and application for the volunteer – recruiting, supporting and retaining volunteer facilitators. There will be a selection of workshops for each perspective; oneself, others and the organization. All this and more…!
With all of the changes occurring with our Girl Scout Movement and adult learning, this is one conference you need for yourself and your Council.
It's AFFORDABLE!
Augmented Travel Scholarship Reimbursement Rate
In addition to the usual reimbursements of 85% of actual travel costs and 35% of actual lodging costs at Macy; we are able to provide an additional 5% reimbursement for travel and 55% for lodging at Macy for this conference. In effect, you'll be reimbursed 90% of actual travel costs and 90% of actual lodging costs (for participants who stay at Macy).
Who should attend?
Adult Development Managers and Volunteer Facilitators
Course Date: No courses at this time
Outdoor Skills/Certification Conference
Girls often say that outdoor activities are a highlight of their Girl Scout experience. Whether it's a hike in the woods or a wilderness experience, a successful adventure for girls requires capable, enthusiastic, purposeful leadership. This conference explores how to facilitate cutting edge outdoor activities that are aligned with the new Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Learn how to model interactive outdoor skills and environmental education for adults that can be a springboard to more engaging activities for girls. Dig into the meaning of the Camp Pathway. Enhance your own skills while networking with others from across the country who have come to share their best outdoor practices.
We're also working with the American Red Cross to try to bring the Lay Responder First Aid and CPR/AED Instructor certification course to you. It is 16 hours of instruction, giving you an extra bit of time to sample some of the other offerings. Of course, committing to this instructor certification will allow you to return to your council and train many others to be first aiders!
Who should attend?
Outdoor trainers/facilitators, volunteers interested in outdoor experiences, and staff interested in building their outdoor/environmental/camp program options through the GSLE.
Content
- Using the GSLE framework to enrich outdoor experiences
- Exploring the ins-and-outs of the Camp Pathway
- Focusing on safety and risk management including info on ACA accreditation
- Gaining hands-on practice with new technologies for outdoor recreation
- Learning innovative ways to engage girls in the outdoors
- A wide variety of environmental education activities, including Leave No Trace
Travel Scholarship reimbursement is available
Course Date: No courses at this time
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