By Bobbie Legg of the GSACPC Authentic Leadership Community (ALC)
Each February 22, Girl Scouts and Girl Guides across 150 countries celebrate World Thinking Day. It is a day of international friendship and a time to stand up for causes that could improve the lives of girls around the globe. The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), which you—as a Girl Scout—are part of, has celebrated World Thinking Day since 1926. – GSUSA
“The good life is built with good relationships.” – R. Waldinger
Every year, I received a big “think” envelope in the postal mail filled with letters from my Girl Scout friends from around the globe. We had all worked together at Our Chalet, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Center in Switzerland and promised to stay in touch every World Thinking Day -and we did. We met as 20-year-olds full of adventure with a thirst for living life. Decades later, I still find joy in their connection—we’ve attended each other’s weddings, met on different continents, and cheered each other on during the toughest times.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development—the longest study on happiness and life satisfaction– shows that meaningful human connection is primary key to happiness, physical health and a longer life! One of those connections are friendships that act as stress regulators, allowing our bodies to heal and re-balance amidst the challenges of life. And if there’s something I’ve learned from Girl Scouting, is that Girl Scouts are experts at creating, nurturing, and keeping close friendships.
The truth is, I worry that many Girl Scout volunteers may struggle with feeling disconnected as they scroll through pictures online or gaze at others hiking or brunching together.
What does it take to make connections as an adult? Vulnerability and courage. It takes courage to put yourself out there and meet new people. It takes prioritizing relationships and engaging in fun recreation with friends and loved ones instead of being consumed by a never-ending to-do list. At the Authentic Leadership Community (ALC), we believe in nurturing friendships and caring relationships to experience full, healthy connection and community. Our passion is using Girl Scouting to support girls and adults in being true to themselves, so we can all build happier and healthier lives.
As we reflect on another World Thinking Day that has past, The Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) wants you to know that we are here, we care about supporting you and would love for you to join us.
I will leave you with this excerpt from John O’Donohue’s poem, A Friendship Blessing:
May you be blessed with good friends.
May you learn to be a good friend to yourself.
May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where there is great love, warmth, feeling and forgiveness.
When my oldest daughter was a Daisy running her cookie business for the first time, I helped her write her very first handwritten thank-you cards to cookie customers – a tradition that has continued with both of my daughters every year during cookie season and fall product program. The only thing better than buying a package of Girl Scout Cookies is receiving a handwritten letter of gratitude. I’ve heard many customers comment on their delight after receiving thank-you cards, and I’m convinced that these are a factor in cookie customers returning.
There’s something intimate and delightful about receiving a hand-written card, especially one that arrives in the mail. On one level, it’s just scribbles on processed tree pulp; on another, it is magic. A handwritten note takes effort, time, and intention. It says that the person writing it stopped everything for a few moments of their day to think of you and offer their appreciation.
What better way to engage in self-care during cookie season than to write yourself a handwritten card?
This form of self-care has seven steps that can be done with others or in solitude, depending on your preference.
1. Take yourself on a trip, in-person or virtually, to a store that sells stationery. I like to visit local bookstores like Changing Hands in Tempe/Phoenix, but any bookstore, drugstore, dollar store, or online seller will do. Find some stationary or thank-you cards, something that delights you, even if (perhaps especially if) someone else would find it silly.
2. Find yourself a fancy pen, a marker, a colored pencil, or a crayon. The brighter and more unusual and more fun the color is, the better.
3. Scavenge for stickers. Splurge on a pack if you don’t already have some.
4. Write yourself a thank-you letter. Consider writing in your non-dominant hand if you’d like to invoke the spirit of your younger self or write with your dominant hand if you love how your handwriting looks on the page. Be specific as you’re writing: what are you thankful for? Why is this person that you’re writing to so amazing? Consider making a list of five things that you’re thankful for. Then consider expanding it to ten. The quicker you write, the better (and the easier the gratitude will flow). Add stickers for emphasis.
5. Put the letter in an envelope, address it to yourself, stick a stamp on it, add another sticker (or three) to the envelope, and walk it out to the mailbox or take it to the post office. Take a selfie with the envelope before you drop it in the mailbox and post it on social media.
6. Check the mail like you’re waiting for a reply to fan letter you just sent to your favorite band. When it arrives, let your inside feelings come right out. Squeal, do a happy dance, do a cartwheel–whatever suits your mood. Then make yourself a yummy beverage, grab your favorite Girl Scout Cookies, and open that envelope. What’s it like reading those words? Journal about it or share it with your best friends, or both.
7. Put your letter somewhere close so you can read it as often as you wish. You’re worth it.
The Authentic Leadership Community (“ALC”) is centered around the idea of Authentic Girl Scout Leadership. We are committed to helping you discover, unlock, and develop your leadership superpowers so that you can guide and empower your girls as they grow into leaders themselves.
The new year is upon us, and as we brave into 2023, what better time to look to the future and set goals than now? The holidays are particularly tough for me, but I try to take time and reflect on the true treasures of life, like the people in my circle – the ones that see the authentic me.
Reflection is defined as a “serious thought or consideration,” though sitting in deep thought can be trying for me at times, I’ve learned to let my thoughts guide and lead me into the future. One of the people that changed my perspective on reflections was my father.
My dad and I used to get into passionate conversations, and I would tell him not to dwell so much on the past because we need to keep moving forward. Now, I wish I could have those conversations again with him because I now realize that it wasn’t about “dwelling in the past”; it was a time of reflection that led us to deep conversations about life, love, and so much more. This realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and I wish I could share my journey with the Authentic Leadership Community with him – he would have loved all the heartfelt conversations I get to share and be a part of within the Girl Scout community.
Something else I have been reflecting on is my time as a leader, which is ending after 16 years. Looking at the mistakes and victories of being a leader/volunteer (you all know what I am talking about), the girls make it all worth it. It’s been incredible watching Girl Scouts legacies form within my troop over the years. For example, one of my new Daisies is the daughter of one of my former Girl Scouts, this brings me pure joy!
Girl Scouts has changed me and touched my life so profoundly that all the volunteering in the world will never be enough. We have all faced many challenges in the past couple of years, and my Girl Scout Family has been consistently there. I look forward to the future and all the adventures it may bring, and am delighted to venture into it with a circle of friends of all ages, 99% of whom I met through Girl Scouts.
I ask all of you to take a moment and reflect on the past year. Look at your challenges and your successes – but don’t stop there. Look to the future, set a goal, even if it’s a small one, and write it down. It may change as the year progresses, but that is your journey and it consists of ever-changing paths. I encourage you to follow the one that speaks to you and feels authentic. I have a final request: show grace to yourself.
“Make new friends and keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. A circle is round it has no end. That’s how long I want to be your friend”.
This was the first song I learned when I became a Girl Scout leader in the early 2000s. As a new leader, I felt extremely overwhelmed trying to balance my home, work, and Girl Scout commitments perfectly. Little did I know the two women who invited me to join this amazing Girl Scout leader journey nearly 20 years ago would become my lifelong friends.
When I first met Tammy and Katie, they appeared to have their personal and professional lives in order. They could easily walk across any tightrope, and I wanted to do the same to alleviate the stress and anxiety that had been building up. I wanted to be the best Girl Scout leader for my girls and learned as much as I could from Tammy and Katie, Council, and other awesome leaders. Eventually, I found my way toward success and balance.
While on a recent trip with my two besties, I reflected upon how much the three of us practice Authentic Leadership in our personal lives. We are transparent, ethical, listen to one another’s thoughts, share our resources wisely and encourage each other to be better versions of ourselves.
Although they have not been involved with Girl Scouts for many years, I shared with them that I was writing this blog and asked for their thoughts on why they think our friendship has lasted so many years. Here’s what we discovered together:
1. We always live by the Girl Scout Law.
2. Over the years, we have created our own safe space, aka our circle, where we focus on what’s important inside – the care and custody of others and, most importantly ourselves.
3. We listen. We take the time to listen to one another, listen to our hearts (follow our passions) and listen to our bodies (Is this stress? should I eat? How am I feeling today?)
4. We reflect on our behaviors and actions and how it impacts ourselves and others positively or negatively. We are respectful and candid in our communication with one another.
5. We share (health, education, family, financial, and stress relief) resources and use them wisely.
6. We want better for each other and encourage one another to try new things, adventures and approaches.
As a member of The Authentic Leadership Community (ALC), I have met new and inspiring women whom I now call my friends. They, too, are committed to this journey – to support our Girl Scout Leaders and volunteers. To my silver and gold circles, I appreciate you.
Changes in the air are apparent. The mornings feel crisp and cool. We pull out our long-forgotten sweaters and graciously accept that fall has finally come to Arizona. Changes like these, we seem eager to embrace, even when we don’t know if it will be the most frigid winter we’ve ever had. We are simply happy about the change.
But if we parallel these changes to when our lives change drastically, our reactions and sense of preparedness are quite different. Instead of embracing, we tend to run for cover, fight the inevitable, or freeze not knowing what to do or how to adjust. Uncertainty and loss of control may cause anxiety and fear of the unknown. We knew the weather would change and even though we couldn’t control it, we knew how to prepare for it. It’s as easy as grabbing our sweaters and turning up the thermostat.
With the current economic, political, environmental, and social environments being so volatile, it’s unclear how we can prepare, and it’s definitely not an easy solution; however, we all know that change is coming, whether beneficial or detrimental. Uncertainty should not cause panic, but it should encourage action and bring people together to solve problems.
The Girl Scout motto is “be prepared,” and in the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook, the motto was explained like so: “A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency.”
Are we prepared in our lives? Are we preparing financially, emotionally, physically, and socially for these ambiguous changes? Are we preparing our children and our Girl Scouts?
As you reflect on these questions, be authentic with yourself. If the answer is no, start a plan to be more prepared. Start a financial plan with your family or your troop, plan emotional wellness days, social gatherings and wellness checkups!
As the end of the year draws near, we should prepare for the changes happening in our world, our country, and our individual lives as we do with the changing seasons. We don’t need to be happy about all the changes, but we do need to be prepared. That being said, grab your sweaters, and enjoy the beautiful warm moments over the holidays. Be thankful with family and friends. As you embrace your loved ones, embrace the inevitable changes because it’s true what the wise philosopher Heraclitus said, “nothing is permanent except change.”
“Mom, I want to join Girl Scouts.” That’s how it all started.
Thank you to my daughters Malissa and Jessica, who begged me to join Girl Scouts in grade school. While I wasn’t sure exactly what our journey would be like, I did see the program as a way for my girls to learn how to become effective, confident leaders in their own right while giving back to our community. Little did I know that I too, would be a Girl Scout (leader). I would have the opportunity to forge a path towards enhancing my leadership skills, collaborating, and working with incredible people to create a great girl and leader/volunteer experience.
As a Girl Scout leader, new or experienced, we are given many resources to help us live out the Girl Scout Law and traditions and get started. When I began my Girl Scout journey, I did what all leaders are guided to do; complete trainings, review Council rules, apply safety rules when traveling with our troops, and observe and practice traditions. This helped me become a confident troop leader and I quickly dov ein.
However, it wasn’t until I attended an Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) retreat called “Hit the Pause” in 2020 that Girl Scouts genuinely changed my life. Girl Scouts created a program that encouraged me to be my authentic self and develop into a better leader and person through discussions that involved the adoption of Authentic Girl Scout Leadership Methods in everyday situations.
As a member of the ALC, I am honored to be a part of a team that aims to help our leaders learn and experience the essential elements of Girl Scouting. Several of these elements may be familiar to you, and for those that may not be as familiar, you can learn all about it as well. Here is what ALC aims to provide:
Circles – Safe spaces where everyone is equal, heard, respected, and valued. There is no hierarchy. Examples include Friendship circles and Circle Agreements.
Reflection – Pausing to take time for self-discovery and awareness; helping girls and adults connect with their inner compass related to their life’s purpose. The ALC offers a variety of programming for adult leader development to identify personal core values, enhance interpersonal communication skills, and navigate /appreciate personality differences.
Ceremony – Recognizing, celebrating, and marking an accomplishment or beginning of a new program. Examples include bridging, investiture/rededication and candle lighting.
Co-Generational Community – All levels of girls and adults working together. No one outgrows their potential, and the profound effects it has on the whole community.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) – The unique differences of individuals that make up our Girl Scout Community – the intentional inclusion of every girl, family, and adult no matter their background, while also making sure every member belongs, and their inputs are valued. ALC offers a variety of programming for adult leader development to incorporate DEI thinking in your Troop / Service Unit activities.
ALC is currently offering an Introduction to Authentic Girl Scout Leadership for Service Units. If you would like to schedule this workshop please connect with your Service Unit Manager and complete this form.
It takes an exceptional person to be a Girl Scout Volunteer. The saying goes, “our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization.” Girl Scout Volunteers are essential to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place and have a tremendous impact on the girls we serve. Now more than ever, we are reminded of our volunteers’ unique qualities, and we want to express just how deeply your efforts are appreciated. Throughout the pandemic, you’ve provided spaces for girls to connect in so many ways, and continuing to do so keeps the Girl Scout Movement alive.
It is no secret that the pandemic created significant challenges for our volunteers and staff. Many troops and Service Units have had difficulties finding meeting spaces and have been navigating the presence of reentry anxiety. With the ever-changing environment, now is an excellent time to look at how you can grow your impact if you desire to do so.
Some Service Unit teams have experienced vacancies in critical positions. If you love leading your troop and would like to help make a difference on a larger scale, consider having a conversation with the Service Unit Team and your Member Support Executive to see where you can offer your skills and talents.
Another way you can grow your impact is to encourage the girls in your troop (Juniors and up) to plan and host an event for your Service Unit. You will be amazed at the ideas your girls come up with, and helping to bring their vision to life will give you a sense of pride and purpose. Reference Covid-19 protocols when planning.
Finally, consider finding out if your employer offers funds for volunteer hours or if they will donate to your charity of choice. To find out if your employer offers this opportunity, connect with your Human Resources Department. If your employer does have this possibility, consider having them donate to Girl Scouts! More on how to handle donations can be found in the Troop Money Management Guide.
What is Authentic Girl Scout Leadership and how does it impact you?
Join us and discover Authentic Girl Scout Leadership principles and practices.
Explore deeper into bridging perspectives and traditions with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Enhance your Girl Scout toolkit and take action to strengthen your leadership, communication, and relationships.
Complete this form to set up a visit with the ALC. All Service Units will receive a 30-minute demonstration of the workshop with instructions on how to successfully complete it at their monthly meetings. Service Units who complete the entire workshop will receive a special gift from ALC.
Over the last several years, GSACPC has been committed to the vital work of researching, evaluating, and implementing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the organization.
In that spirit, the Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) worked together to revise and update the Leadership from the Inside Out booklets, incorporating the principles of DEI. DEI refers to the practice of intentional inclusion regardless of one’s background or circumstances.
We’ll review how to add simple techniques that emphasize the concepts of communication, growth mindset, goal setting and more in your troop meetings to support inclusivity through a discover, connect, and take-action process.
Discover
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a person with a disability as “a person who has a physical or mental impairment, or a history of one, that substantially limits one or more life activities; or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.”
The Social Security Administration reports that more than 1 in 6 American children are living with disabilities. Most common among school-age was Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder, next Autism Spectrum Disorder, then learning disabilities, and mental health illness. This means that around 20% of girls ages 5-17 are living with a mental or physical disability.
However, not all disabilities are visible or physical. Cognitive disabilities and/or mental conditions, especially those with learning differences1 and neurodiversity2, may not be apparent just by looking at or talking to someone.
A part of making Girl Scouts a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization is thinking about how the policy applies to this subset of our population. The umbrella term of “differently wired,”3 allows us to center on creating ways to make what we do inclusive for all girls. Often, when we make changes for inclusion, it benefits all.
Understanding the foundation of DEI is only the first step in achieving an inclusive troop environment. To ensure that all girls are given a safe space regardless of disability or background we must incorporate techniques which prioritize acceptance, joy, and celebration of self.
Fixed vs. Growth Mindset
Researcher Carol Dweck coined two terms when working around students’ attitudes about failure.
Fixed mindset refers to one’s belief that intellect and ability are stagnant -“I can’t recite the GS Promise and Law!”
Growth mindset refers to one’s belief in their ability to learn and develop skills – “It may take some time, but I’ll learn to recite the GS Promise and Law!”
As you can imagine adopting either of these mindsets can impact achievement throughout someone’s life.
Incorporating Growth Mindset
The power of “yet”
When girls say they “can’t” do something, simply add the word “yet” to their statement. This gives them the power to believe in themselves, which in turn activates the growth mindset.
Example: “I can’t tie my shoelaces…yet.”
KWL chart or similar visuals
One tool that can be used to incorporate the growth mindset is a KWL chart. Here is how you can utilize this during a troop activity:
Create a chart with three columns: One labeled K for “Know,” W for “Want to know,” and L for “Learned.”
At the start of an activity, ask girls what they already know about the topic and put it in the K column.
Write any questions regarding the topic in the W column.
After completing the activity, have the girls reflect and write what they learned in the L column.
This can be a great way to organize ideas while working on a take-action project.
Connect
One of the greatest gifts you can give girls is helping them attain self-knowledge – learning who they are, how their brain works, and what they need to do to create the life they want. You can empower them to understand this and feel good about who they are. All girls can use this knowledge to connect with others from different and varied histories, life stories, physical and/or developmental abilities.
Especially important to this discovery is the way you communicate with girls. Here are some suggestions of how to lead conversations, adapted from the novel Differently Wired:
Check your thoughts/beliefs. When faced with a challenge, identify the thoughts/beliefs that could influence the message you give your troop. Modeling authenticity, honesty, and transparency could be beneficial for your girls.
Make open and honest communication a core value and work towards it constantly. Commit to prioritizing this and create a safe place for sharing and discussing relevant topics; your girls get to choose what and how much to share. This is something that could be incorporated as a check-in at the beginning of meetings or events.
Make conversations about strengths AND challenges a part of the experience. Create a closing ritual to end meetings/events by asking, “What went well today and what was hard today?”
Don’t shy away from difficult conversations. Keep in mind how to talk with your girls in an age-appropriate manner but aim to have discussions that help them feel respected and seen. This will help them feel secure in coming to you when challenging topics/issues come up.
Within all of this, parents/guardians can be your best source of how to approach working with the challenges their child experiences; you don’t have to do it all alone.
Set girl-led troop goals. Connect what is learned (reference the KWL chart) to future goals. This can help the girls figure out what they would like to accomplish. A good example is product sales and what to do with the proceeds.
Use girls’ strengths to improve weaknesses. You can help your girls grow by using one of their strengths to support a weakness. Say a girl in your troop enjoys math but is unsure how to talk to others; they can collect money from a customer at a cookie booth to help strengthen their conversational skills. When your girl ventures outside of her comfort zone to grow, make a point to acknowledge it. They may not be aware of this accomplishment until you point it out!
Take Action
The above information and suggestions are non-specific. How you apply them will depend on the level of girls you’re working with, where they want to go, and what they want to accomplish.
This blog is written by Rebecca Oakes. Rebecca Oakes holds a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. She has been sharing her authentic self as a GSACPC volunteer for 14+ years, including various troop capacities, and seven years with our Authentic Leadership Community (ALC) group. Rebecca is also the mother of two neurodivergent children.
ALC is centered around Authentic Girl Scout Leadership principles, formerly known as Leadership from the Inside Out. “We are committed to helping you discover, unlock and develop your leadership superpowers so that you can guide and empower your girls as they grow into leaders themselves.”
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