Girl Scouts - Is It a Good Idea to Sign My Daughter Up??

I was in girl scouts growing up and have some GREAT memories. The troops that are local to my area, are not so good though. So I think it is more of a hit or miss. But if you get involved in a great troop, it would be a lot of fun!!

Good luck, my experience is that Girl Scouts can get very clicky and it's not always the leaders fault, some of the moms go nuts over it and have caused some nasty problems.

My daughters (a sophmore and freshman) have been in GS since 1st grade. We've had our ups and downs throughout the years, but overall it's been a great experience. A lot depends on the leader and the troop dynamics. I would recommend you sign her up. You'll never know if it's something she'll enjoy until you give it a try.

I usually don't read other responses first, but I did this time. Regarding the planned parenthood, yes, it's possible that this would have occurred with an older troop. However, the parents would have been required to sign a special release and encouraged to attend with their daughters. I attend an event with my daughters regarding being safe on line. It was presented by a police officer and delt in detail about sexual preditors - it was excellent!!!!

Absolutely! My daughter, now a sophmore in HS has been in scouting since 1st grade. It has been a wonderful experience for her. The activities she's been able to try are too many to count -- everything from camping and kayaking to dogsledding, sewing lessons and workshops in theater and money management. What she loves the best (aside from the close friendships she's built) are the community service activities. She's worked toy drives and food drives, picked up litter, help out at an old folk's home and helped teach games to younger scouts. Look for a leader who is really involved and enthusiastic about scouting. We've had a few bad ones over the years -- ones who do the bare minimum and only became leaders so their daughters could be scouts. But for the most part, our experiences with Girl Scouting has been wonderful.

The number one most important issue is the leader. The good leaders sometimes don't accept new people unless they know them because they already have a lot of girls. Find out what troop you want to be in and go ask the leader directly.
You want to be in a troop with kids from your school if possible. If there is only one troop, offer to help the leader make it a great troop.
We had two BORING years with bad leaders, but switched troops and it is finally what we imagined scouts would be.

Yes!
we are in our first year of Brownie Girl Scouts and my daughter loves it.
I can't imagine that the Planned Parenthood story is correct because Girl Scouts is a religious organization. There are a lot of fundraisers so be prepared for that. GS is a non profit orginazation , dues are low and the money from the fund raisers go to purchasing patches, and money that goes to activities, camps, etc.

I have found my local council (service unit?) to be awesome. I've been a leader in it for 9 years (Daisy for one, Brownie for 3, Junior for 3 and Cadette going on second year). The experiences your daughter will have will be as positive and enriching as the leaders and parents make them.

I say sign her up. My daughter was in Daisies last year and is a Brownie this year. She loves it and many of the girls from school are in her troop. They do a ton of fun stuff and earn patches for trying. We pick and choose what activities to participate in because we have such a busy troop. It is great for the girls and can keep them very busy. Give it a try, it may be something that your daughter will enjoy and the cost is very low.

Girl Scouts are as good as the mom who runs the troop. One can be excellent, anotehr cliquish, another does tons of outings, another stays in.
Check out what the Daisy troop is like, Daisies are kindergartener and first graders. They do sell cookies now.
My daughters have both been in Girl Scouts. We have had good troops and not so good troops, My 12 year old is in her 7th year and is now a Cadette. She loves it. My older one was in it for a while but I was the leader in 5th grade and got no support from the parents and had to quit.
All in all it is an excellent organization.

Hi F.,
I was a Brownie, Girl Scout and a Cadette. If there is a push towards feminism I never felt that. Being a Scout was the best experience I had as a youth. I wasn't athletic either and I am an only child so being a Scout was a great outlet. I made lots of friends and had a very good experience.

The best part was camping. Every Spring we went camping. We stayed in tents and had to help cook our meals. In our Troup we also learned sewing, and cooking. If this group was so feminist I'm sure sewing and cooking would have been dropped.

My advice would be to try it. Visit a meeting and make sure you are comfortable with the troup leader and the activities they are providing. If you think it's not a good fit then you will know that organization is not for you. It was a good fit for me and other people I know. Give it a try. Good luck with your decision.

My daughter is in her 3rd year...Daisy for 1 year, now starting her 2nd year as a Brownie. All you can do is give it a shot! You could find out who the Service Unit Leader is in your area and she can help you find the right troop.
Please don't let anyone discourage you as I've seen a couple of postings about clicks and other problems. I don't find that to be the case...but I will say you find clicks and/or problems in every single organization out there. So if you want to NEVER encounter something like that, enjoy staying at home!
Also, I have serious doubts about a Girl Scout troop of any sort bringing in Planned Parenthood! The person who posted that even said herself she "thinks" it happened. PLEASE....if you don't know for sure and haven't seen/heard it yourself, keep your comments to yourself!!!!! Drives me crazy!

So I say yes...sign her up! It's not like you are forced to stay with it if she or you don't like it! Give it a chance...my daughter loves it and has made some friends from other schools! You don't have to be with a troop that only has girls from your school. We have 5 elementary schools in our district and there are a few girls from each school in our troop!

Have fun!

When my 4 year old announced she wanted to be in Girl Scouts after my son came home from Cub Scout day camp a year ago, I was very hesitant and non-committal. I was a Brownie in 2nd-3rd grade and >hated< it. It was boring, we never did any of the cool stuff you see advertised for Girl Scouts -- it was all just meeting at someone's house and doing crafts a couple times a month.

My daughter persisted this summer (when she turned 5) and got very excited because she was going to be in kindergarten and could be a Daisy. My husband and I decided she could join but I also decided that I would try to be the Troop leader so I could make sure all the girls, including my own, would be able to do a wide variety of stuff and be happy with it. At the registration night, none of the other 10 moms wanted to be Leader, so I spoke up.

That was 2 months ago. Since then, we've added a few more girls (now to 13) and all of them (as far as I know anyways) are having a blast. We meet every other week but we also meet randomly to do other stuff, too. We've gone on a fall hike in the woods at a park looking at the colorfulful leaves and saw some animals, went to a pumpkin farm (hayride, picked own pumpkins, corn maze, etc), played games/relay races in a park, did a couple cool crafts, learned some funny songs, etc. We're attending our first Camporee next weekend that the Service Unit is planning. We're attending a PJ party at the school that the school unit is planning the next weekend.

My daughter has always been social and outgoing and she >loves< it. There are other girls that are much more shy. Some hardly said a word at the first meeting but now are just as loud and crazy as the rest of them. :-)

The first thing the girls learn is the Girl Scout Promise (promise to help others and live by the Girl Scout Law). They learn the law in steps in Daisies - for each part of the law (there are 10), they earn a Petal patch to put on their vest. These are great values for anyone to learn - respect others and yourself, respect authority, leave the planet in a better condition, be friendly, caring, considerate, etc etc.

My son joined Cub Scouts as soon as he was able to (1st Grade for Cub Scouts). We saw a change in his behavior for the better after just a few weeks. We're noticing the same with our daughter. When they made choices you can ask them if their behavior is reflecting the Cub Scout or Girl Scout Promise. :-) They'll say no, apologize and try better. It's also good before a meltdown or something occurs because you can ask - "what should a Girl Scout do? or Think about the promise you made. No decide what to do?".

Anyways... give it a shot. If she doesn't like it, you can always quit. It's rather inexpensive as far as children's activities are concerned. Registration fees for the year are just $12. Many of the places they go on field trips are free (police station, fire station, city/county parks, etc) or greatly discounted. The pumpkin place we went normally costs $8/child but we paid just $4/child because it was a Girl Scout Troop. We also do alot of carpooling to activities so parents don't have to drive as much. You also have access to any Girl Scout campgrounds and facitilies -- there are several in the Central Indiana Council. You may live in a small town, but she'll have more opportunities to explore and see and do more in an activie Girl Scout Troop.

I have signed my daughter up for this year and she loves it so far and I am really impressed with the leaders and the activities they do. All the other girls in her group are just great also- I know there can be some out there that aren't very good- but I think for the most part it is a great organization.
~C.

I was a very shy kid. My mom signed me up for girl scouts to help me socialize more and join in activities. I loved it. I had a ton of fun. I can remember all the badge earnngs, and cookie sales, etc. I met two girls who were also in my class (whom I had never spoken with) and they became my best friends will around 7th grade when one home schooled and one moved.
I read Tonya's response and I am shocked. There was none of that in my scout troop. I was a girl scout years ago though, maybe stuff has changed and you should look into it. I still can't believe it! If it all checks out though, I had tons of fun and made alot of friends!

I think Girl Scouts is a great idea. I would, however, become an active part of the troop as a parent. If you are not comfortable leading, you may want to become a co-leader. I have found many people who are unhappy with Girl Scouts were not involved in planning or facilitating activities. If you are a leader, you have more control over what the troop does and how the meetings are facilitated. I have been a leader for both of my girls for over 4 years. It is a lot of work, but so worth it when the girls look forward to all of our activities! Good luck.

Girl Scouts are fabulous. Eleven years ago I went from, not being sure I was going to sign my daughter up to becoming one of the leaders. GirlScouts is based on good values. So as long as you have a leader who follows the "Law" you will be a part of something really fun and great. My daughter is now 16 and working on her Gold Award project. She has enjoyed her many years as a GS and I as her leader. So stay involved, even if you are not one of the leaders. It is a great opportunity for you to do something together.

The Girl Scout Law

I will do my best to be
honest and fair,
friendly and helpful,
considerate and caring,
courageous and strong, and
responsible for what I say and do,
and to
respect myself and others,
respect authority,
use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.

Make sure you have a good feeling about the leader/leaders but then sign her up! Girl Scouts has been a great experience for our daughter. She will have lifelong friends from her troop. You will probably meet some great parents through this group as well. Girl Scout cookies are THE EASIEST thing to sell, so that is a bonus.

Hi F., I say yes!!!! As a matter of fact tomorrow evening I have a GS function to recruit new girls for our troop. We are having a "spa event" at the elementary. We will be doing face painting, nail polish, etc., I was a scout growing up for many years and could get teary eyed if I think of all the wonderful memories we had! My girls, 7 and 5 love it!!! So, please don't listen to the negative comments. It was a life changing experience for me. It builds confidence, friendship, character. Good luck!

I think it would be fine as long as you know what they're telling her. There was a case this year, I think, where parents found out that the girl scouts had let Planned Parenthood come in to talk to them about sex and condoms and whatnot. I cant imagine that they would do that with 5 year olds, though.

If you only have the one child and are a SAHM or on a flexible work schedule, sure! However, it is alot of running. She'd love it, I'm sure.

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved girl scouts when I was growing up. I learned a lot, had fun, and made some great friendships. I can't think of any reason NOT to sign your daughter up.

K.
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