Q: At what age can a girl join Girl Scouting?
A: Girl
Scout membership is based on grade level rather than age: Daisy (grades
K-1), Brownie (grades
2-3), Junior (grades
4-5), Cadette (grades
6-8), Senior (grades
9-10) or Ambassador (grades
11-12). Girls attending summer camps or programs are considered to be
at the grade level they will be entering in the fall.
Q: How can a girl participate in Girl Scouting?
A. Girl
Scouting offers several “pathways”
in which girls and adults can participate. Some girls participate in
one pathway, while others may select any combination of the five:
- Troop – Girls meet regularly in their community with the same group of girls and adults on a year-round basis.
- Events – Different girls and volunteers at one-day programs sponsored locally or even over a series of days statewide or nationally.
- Series – Girls and volunteers attend multiple sessions to explore common goals or interests.
- Camp – Girls attend day or resident camp programs to meet new friends, learn new skills over a series of days or even weeks!
- Travel – Regional, national or international trips are available to girls and travel chaperones, guides or host volunteers.
Q: My daughter’s schedule doesn’t permit her to belong to a troop.
Can she still earn badges or awards?
A: Yes! In our
council, Girl Scouts who don’t belong to a troop are Indie
Girls (short for Individually Registered Girls.) An Indie Girl can
participate at any grade level and in any of our pathways. If she’s an
Ambassador, our Girl Scout Gold Award Committee can also help mentor
her, monitor her success and provide her with the advice she needs to
receive the highest
award in Girl Scouting.
Q: What does it cost to join?
A. Annual membership dues
are $25; and most troops charge minimal dues per girl for materials
and activities in the meeting place. Typically, parents or guardians
also pay for a girls’ uniform (components) or insignia, Journey books
or handbooks, and Girl Scout pathway opportunities that a girl wants
to do in addition to troop planned and budgeted activities. Troop
families often provide refreshments or transportation.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program and MagNut Program are designed to allow each troop to raise the monies they need to pay for field trips, events, troop camping, ceremonies, workshops, service projects, etc. These experiences also provide girls with five essential skills, like money-handling and goal setting.
Financial assistance is available so that every girl can benefit from the Girl Scout experience.