Welcome to the Journeys

A key part of the New Girl Scout Leadership Experience is the leadership journey, a coordinated series of activities grouped around a theme. Each journey is tied to some of Girl Scouts' 15 national outcomes for girls, as defined in the Girl Scout Leadership Model. These outcomes are integral to the three leadership keys, Discover, Connect, and Take Action (PDF, 31KB).

This year GSUSA will be rolling out one leadership journey for each grade level. These initial journeys invite girls to explore a specific leadership theme for their level. Subsequent journeys will layer on more multidisciplinary content, like science and technology, healthy living, and the outdoors.

This first series of journeys, It's Your World—Change It!, has lots to offer.

Watch the Transforming Leadership video.

1. Customize!
Journeys provide "sample sessions" to give girls and volunteers ideas about sequencing experiences, discussions, and earning awards so that the "whole" feels like one big adventure. The adult books corresponding to the journeys contain many examples and encouragements to engage volunteers in creating the journey experience with girls. The journey will be much more fun and relevant as girls make it their own!

2. Stretch!
Sample sessions in the journeys have been created to show how it is possible to have a Girl Scout leadership experience in 6-8 gatherings. Many girls and volunteers will quickly find there is more they will want to do! Those who have more time in Girl Scouts (a whole troop year perhaps!) can make the journey longer. The journey books are filled with tips for you to stretch out the experience. As their imaginations take hold, girls will have many more ideas about how to extend the journey with guidance from volunteers.

3. Link!
Through the It's Your World—Change It journey series, Girl Scouts at each level will be engaged in exploring some of the same themes. Consider, all the ways that girls networking together can increase the benefits of the journey. Are Ambassadors in the region interested in advocating together? Imagine every Girl Scout Senior in the region creating and exhibiting a unique vision for GIRLtopia. As Cadettes navigate the maze of relationship issues, what could they teach Juniors? What if Brownies link up on some of the steps of their quest? As Daisies in one area of the council engage in "growing something" how could they benefit from a family field trip to meet Daisies doing something similar in another area? These are just a few ideas of how expanding the connections Girl Scouts can make will contribute to powerful journey experiences around the country.

4. Explore Stories!
Stories inspire girls (and adults!) to put values into action. The journey series engages girls in stories—real and fictional—of girls and women taking action in the world. Make use of these stories and expand upon them whenever you can—in any way that you and girls will enjoy. Stories, after all, capture the imagination and motivate. Ultimately, girls will create their own stories on the journey, meeting new people and taking action in the world. What other stories are going on in the region, and how can girls connect to them? What can girls find in stories—in art or life—that add to the feelings and ideas along this adventure?

5. Leadership and You!
As a volunteer in Girl Scouts, your experiences—and your view of leadership—will influence and inspire girls Use the reflection exercises in your journey guide to think about the three keys to leadership (Discover, Connect and Take Action) and how you can best apply them as you team up with Girl Scouts on their leadership journey.

For questions and comments please email programideas@girlscouts.org.