From Samoas to Carmel DeLights, the taste and popularity of Girl Scout cookies stay the same. However, Girl Scouts goes beyond just selling cookies.
Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912, and it’s become one of the largest girl-led entrepreneurial programs in the world. Low was inspired to start Girl Scouts after meeting with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Boy Scouts. At the time, Low focused on creating a movement allowing all girls to come together and embrace their unique strengths and passions.
Starting in 1938, Girl Scouts was split into three levels: Brownies, Intermediates, and Seniors. In 2008, the levels were adjusted and remain the same today: Daisies (K-1st), Brownies (2nd-3rd), Juniors (4th-5th), Cadettes (6th-8th), Seniors (9th-10th), and Ambassadors (11th-12th).
Girls of all levels have found more ways to help their communities and express their passions and strengths through the prevalence and advancement of technology.
“I believe that girls need an understanding of all things cyber,” Girl Scout CEO of California’s Central Coast Tammie Helmuth said. “Girls need to own that space. We need to see females in that space.”
Girl Scouts aims to help the community and turn girls into self-sufficient women. It allows girls to explore programs and jobs they may not know about and promotes equality in the workforce.
“I am a strong believer of female leadership and equity at the table. When I walk into a boardroom and there’s 15 men, [I think to myself] we have a problem.” Helmuth said. “Women should be in the room where the decision was made.”
Girl Scouts brings together girls from different cultures and backgrounds and allows girls to create new friendships, which can help develop strong bonds and skills.
“It stands out to me as an adult how much Girl Scouts as an organization strives for inclusivity,” AGHS Ceramics and Drawing teacher Lauren Gable said. “Really being leaders [and] including all girls, from all walks of life. There’s badges that celebrate all kinds of diversity.”
Girl Scouts learn life skills such as money management, leadership, and collaboration by selling cookies and earning badges. The funds made through selling cookies are used for community projects or trips that Girl Scout troops plan.
“We want to do more backpacking,” Brielle Schmidt (‘28) said. “[Personally] we don’t do a lot of badges in our troop. We like doing trips together [instead of the badges].”
Similar to an Eagle Scout, the Gold Award allows girls to use something they’re passionate about and make a difference in their community. The Gold Award involves completing at least 80 hours of work on a sustainable project to help solve a problem in their community or make a lasting change in the world.
“Three percent of our membership gets the Gold Award, [according to] national stats,” Helmuth said. “We went from 16 to 29 percent [in our council, California’s Central Coast].”
Girl Scouts is more than just selling cookies, and that’s what makes it so DeLightful. Girl Scouts is an organization created by a woman for girls. However, Girl Scouts is not just for younger girls, it grows with the girls as they age up and bridge to different levels. From badges to the Gold Award, there is something every girl can do and make a difference in our world.
