girl scouts of the colonial coast
Say hello to 42 NEW Girl Scout badges and one NEW Journey exclusively
for girls ages 5–18!
Excited?! The new badges and badge requirements are available in the Girl Scout Shop.
Excited?! The new badges and badge requirements are available in the Girl Scout Shop.
The new programming allows girls to make their own choices about how they want to experience and influence the world while preparing them to address some of society’s most pressing needs through hands-on learning and real-life problem-solving in cybersecurity, coding, space exploration, and citizen science. But wait, there’s more! For the first time ever, girls can choose between two ways of earning their Outdoor badges—it’s an adventure seeker’s dream come true!
Giving girls choices is important for developing their sense of self, their own voice, and gender equality: research from the World Bank Group shows that increasing women’s agency and decision-making abilities is key to improving their lives, communities, and the world. Additionally, Girl Scouts are more likely than other girls to take an active role in decision making (80% vs. 51%).
You’re invited to the blaze-your-own-trail adventure. We hope you love it as much as we do!
The new programming for girls in grades 6–12 includes:
·
Nine Cybersecurity badges, created
in partnership with Palo Alto Networks, through which girls learn about the
inner workings of computer technology and cybersecurity and apply concepts of
safety and protection to the technology they use every day. Activities range
from decrypting and encrypting messages, to learning proper protection methods
for devices, to exploring real-world hacking scenarios (funded by Palo Alto Networks).
·
Three Space Science badges,
through which girls explore topics such as the universe and their place in it,
properties of light, and inspiring careers in space science (funded by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and led by the SETI
Institute).
·
Think Like a Citizen Scientist, a Girl Scout
Leadership Journey during which girls participate in interactive
activities to practice observation techniques; collect data; and share their
findings with real-world scientists through an online network. As with all of
Girl Scouts’ Leadership Journeys, girls use their newly honed skills to take
action on a community issue of their choosing (funded by Johnson & Johnson and The Coca-Cola Foundation).
·
To prepare girls in grades 6–12 to pursue computer science
careers, Girl Scouts will launch the organization’s first Cyber Challenge events in select areas
this fall. At these events, which will take place October 19, girls will learn
crucial cybersecurity skills by completing challenges such as running
traceroutes and identifying phishing schemes (funded by Raytheon).
With the new release, all
Girl Scouts in grades K–12 will have the opportunity to earn their Cybersecurity and Space Science badges, as well as complete
the Think Like Citizen Scientist Journey. The new programming for girls in grades K–12 includes:
·
12 Outdoor High-Adventure badges,
designed for girls to explore nature and experience exciting outdoor adventures
like backpacking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, rock climbing, and tree
climbing—giving them the confidence to support one another, take healthy risks,
and spend dedicated time in nature. These are the first Girl Scout badges that
members can earn by choosing one of two self-directed paths (funded by The North Face).
Want to help girls earn their Outdoor High-Adventure badges? Consider becoming an Outdoor Program Facilitator! Click here to learn what it's like to be a Girl Scout Outdoor Program Facilitator from GSCCC volunteer, Theresa Wiggs.
·
18 Coding for Good badges, which
not only teach girls the basics of coding but also detail how every stage of
the coding process provides girls with opportunities to use their skills for
good. Girls will learn about algorithms through age-appropriate, creative
activities, such as coding positive memes to spread a message about a cause
they care about, designing a digital game to educate people about an issue, and
developing an app to promote healthy habits. Every Coding for Good badge
includes a plugged-in and unplugged version, so that all girls can learn the
foundations of coding, regardless of their access to technology (funded
by AT&T and Dell).
"We're so excited to have new badges that will strengthen girls' critical-thinking and problem-solving skills so they can create their own success," Tracy Keller, GSCCC's CEO, said. "As Girl Scouts, girls can work to earn badges in just about everything that piques their interest. From learning about cybersecurity to learning the business smarts and confidence they need today and tomorrow, our badge programs will introduce them to new things and help them achieve anything they put their minds to."
“Girl Scouts has ignited the power and potential of girls for
over a century, and we are committed to ensuring that today’s girls are the
future of American leadership,” said GSUSA CEO Sylvia Acevedo. “Girl Scouts is
where girls can explore new subjects, discover their passions, learn to take
smart risks, and become their best, most confident selves—whether they want to
become a NASA astronaut, an entrepreneur, a rock climber, a coder, or a
cybersecurity agent.”
GSUSA works with top organizations in fields that interest
today’s girls. Combined with Girl Scouts’ expertise in girl leadership, these
organizations and specialists advise and weigh in on content to provide the
most cutting-edge programming available to girls. Content collaborators include
codeSpark, the National Integrated Cyber Education Research Center (NICERC),
SciStarter, and Vidcode. In true girl-led fashion, girls also tested the new
offerings.
There’s just no doubt about it: Girl Scouts is the single BEST place for girls. Delivering a one-of-a-kind leadership development program (and the largest in the world for girls!), Girl Scouts provides girls with unlimited girl-led adventures found nowhere else.
Not a Girl Scout yet? No problem! Troops are forming now—join Girl Scouts today.
