Featured

This Alum Promotes Anti-Bias in Tech

Dr. Nicki Washington’s Brownie troop in Durham, North Carolina, was one of the first settings outside of school in which she engaged with people of a variety of backgrounds and identities. She expected, whether on a whitewater rafting trip, campout, or cookie sale, the experience to be inclusive.

Most of the kids in the group lived in predominantly white neighborhoods and Nicki lived in a predominantly black neighborhood, but when it came to troop activities, everyone worked together as a team.

“It forced all of us to start engaging with each other at a young age outside of school,” said Nicki.

Today, all of Nicki’s work emphasizes inclusion. Next month she’ll take on a new position in the computer science department at Duke University, where she will teach a course on race, gender, and computing. Nicki will also continue to research cultural competence in computer science—a focus of her work for years.

The first Black woman to receive a PhD in computer science from North Carolina State University, Nicki never planned to go into academia. She did however grow up tinkering with computers, which were always around because her mother was a programmer for IBM.

“I graduated from grad school in 2005 and worked for a year. Then I decided I was going to apply to teach part-time at Howard [University]—just one course. At the time, Howard was also looking for someone for a full-time position,” she explains.

“I never had any desire to go into higher education, but Howard had never had a Black woman on the faculty in computer science. I thought, this is an opportunity for young women who didn’t have a mom like mine to see themselves in me.”

In 2018, after nearly a decade at Howard, Nicki wrote and self-published the book Unapologetically Dope: Lessons for Black Women and Girls on Surviving and Thriving in the Tech Field, which led to her recognition by Essence magazine as one of 15 Black women in America disrupting the tech industry.

As part of her research today, Nicki explores how the lack of cultural competence in computer science results in the creation of biased environments, that in turn lead to biased technologies.

“People are responsible for the irresponsible technology that’s created,” she explains, citing facial recognition programs that are biased against darker skin tones as an example of an irresponsible technology.

“I hope to correct this bias by teaching students early in their academic careers about bias and racism,” she says. “Then they graduate and know what to look for and what not to do, even if they [aren’t part of] a marginalized group.”

She’s excited about this next phase of her career.

“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and even the last few weeks have called attention to that,” she says, referencing the protests and marches nationwide that continue to call for racial justice and equality.

“There’s a lot of work I can do in this space to create impactful change that isn’t just for a fleeting moment.”

Featured

Learning the Truth, 30 Years Later

When 40-year-old Evelyn Adele looks back on her campouts as a Girl Scout growing up in Detroit, she has only fond memories. Memories of sleeping bags, making finger puppets in the shadows, and working toward outdoor badges.

Recently, however, she learned that when her predominantly Black Girl Scout troop went camping, the troop leaders and mothers took turns staying up at night to keep watch, since the Ku Klux Klan was active in the area where the camp was located and they wanted to make sure the girls were safe.

Evelyn Adele Alum Photo

“To me, a little girl somewhere between the ages of 8 and 12, camping was simply summertime fun. To our mothers, camping was potentially dangerous,” Evelyn explains. “But they wanted us to have all the experiences Girl Scouts have. They also had a duty to ensure our physical and emotional safety. So they stood watch—all night. In the ’90s.”

Her story—of how brave mothers and troop leaders protected not only their girls’ safety but also their innocence—is an eye-opening must-read for any Girl Scout with fond memories of campfires and s’mores. You can read Evelyn’s account in her own words on Medium.

Here at Girl Scouts, we want to help build a better, safer world for girls. We’re taking steps with our leadership and staff, volunteers, and girls to create a more equitable environment for all. Learn more and sign our pledge to join us in our commitment to fighting racism.

*Evelyn Adele is a pseudonym.

Featured

Entrepreneur Deanna Singh Fights for Marginalized Communities

Although Deanna Singh spends her days advocating for others, one of her most vivid memories of Girl Scouts was a day that she had to advocate for herself.

Her Southeastern Wisconsin Brownie troop was creating crafts as presents for Mother’s Day, and her troop leader wanted to cut a little lock of her hair to attach to a poem as a gift.

“I’m biracial,” explains Deanna. “My mom is African American and my Dad is Sikh, and in the Sikh culture, we don’t cut our hair. But I was in kindergarten or first grade, and I didn’t have the words to explain it.”

“When my mom came to pick me up, I was running around in a circle, and all the women [troop leaders] were chasing me!” she recalls.

Once Deanna’s mother explained that her daughter’s insistence on not participating in that part of the craft was for religious reasons, the adults were receptive and understood where the misunderstanding happened.

“But it was a moment of leadership for me,” Deanna explains, “because . . . I ran!”

As an adult, Deanna has worked to shift power to marginalized communities from a variety of positions—as a lawyer, a middle school principal, and the CEO of multiple foundations.

And she’s always drawn attention for her work; she’s been recognized by the Milwaukee Business Journal as one of the most influential “40 under 40” leaders in the community and by the University of Wisconsin’s School of Business as one of “8 Under 40” leaders to watch.

Four years ago, she left her last job to write Purposeful Hustle: Direct Your Life’s Work Towards Making a Positive Impact (Bookbaby, 2018). The book’s goal is to help readers uncover their own purpose and determine what to do with it.

After she finished writing the book, she decided to lean into her entrepreneurial instincts. Within a year, she had launched three new businesses.

“I have three companies that fit under Flying Elephant; it’s an umbrella org for three social enterprises. Uplifting Impact provides coaching and training around leadership, DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion], and entrepreneurship. I have a children’s book imprint called “Stories to Tell” books that publishes books that have positive images of people of color. And Birth Coach Milwaukee provides doulas for coaching before, during, and after birth,” she explains. “We’re trying to eliminate the disparities for women of color in labor.”

When asked if launching three companies felt like a lot to take on in a short period of time, she laughs.

“I’ve always had some sort of entrepreneurial venture,” Deanna says. “Start-up is the space I feel most comfortable in.”

She’s also most engaged when she’s helping people who have been pushed to the margins—whether that’s women, people of color, children, or senior citizens.

“I’m the type of person, if I see something I don’t like and I am not satisfied about the solution,” she says, “I am going to do something about it.”

Badges and Patches

Three Steps to Unlocking Your Limited-Edition Ranger Patch

BIG NEWS: Girl Scouts is continuing our exciting partnership with the National Park Service and the “Girl Scout Ranger Program,” a joint venture connecting girls with National Park Service sites throughout the United States, including monuments, seashores, and urban sites.

This year Girl Scouts will be awarded a limited-edition commemorative patch for participating in activities focusing on the significance of the 19th Amendment. This special program will offer pathways for Girl Scouts to learn about women’s history and the suffrage movement through discovering, connecting, and taking action to make the world a better place.

So, how exactly do you earn your special patch and learn more about women’s rights?

1. Choose a National Park Service Site or Explore Online.
Visit http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm. Choose a national park or any of 419 sites protected by the National Park Service. Research and consider exploring areas of national parks connected to women’s history and the suffrage movement in your area. Not able to visit a park in your area? No problem! Take a look at the park or historic site’s webpage and virtual tours. These are often full of photos, videos, history, and other educational resources. Many also have Facebook and Instagram accounts. Another great source of information is the NPS women’s history webpages.

2. Answer Questions, Conduct Research, and Get Outdoors.*
Once you’ve selected your site, complete one or more of the following:

a. With help from an adult, research the site’s webpage.
b. Visit the site and take a tour or attend a ranger-led program, if that’s available. Please first make sure the site you choose to visit is open to the public!
c. Look for books or trusted websites that explain the history commemorated at the site.

Then choose fun activities listed in the 19th Amendment Centennial Program Activity Guide here to earn your patch! Best part? All the activities have a women’s rights historical tie-in!

3. Unlock Your Limited-Edition Patch.
Your special 19th Amendment Centennial Patch will be available for pick up as soon as National Park Service offices officially open for business. To receive your patch, present the completed activity log at the park where you completed your activity.

Are you ready to explore women’s history through the national park lens? We certainly are! Share your best shots on Instagram and Twitter using #gsoutdoors (don’t forget to tag @GirlScouts!) and invite your entire troop to do the same! We will feature some of your social media posts on our national channels.

*GSUSA encourages all Girl Scouts to respect social distancing rules. Follow your state’s guidelines about stay-at-home measures and enjoying public nature spaces.

Featured

Top 3 Reasons to Celebrate Bridging Virtually

Bridging—that is, when a girl celebrates “crossing the bridge” from one Girl Scout level to the next—is one of the most important moments in a Girl Scout’s life. And although the COVID-19 pandemic may have us continuing to pause our in-person meetings and ceremonies, you can still find ways to honor all the good things your troop has done this year and get excited for everything you’ll experience next year!

If you can’t organize an in-person ceremony this summer, consider holding a virtual bridging celebration or taking part in one of GSUSA’s National Virtual Bridging Ceremonies, which will be held August 1 and 8.

Here are three reasons your troop will want to get in on the virtual bridging fun:

Keep the groove going. Everyone’s daily routine has been upended in recent months, and marking this incredible point in your troop’s Girl Scout experience is so important in helping everyone feel some forward momentum. Putting a virtual bridging ceremony on your calendar and counting down the days is going to feel so good!

ALL 👏 YOUR 👏 SISTERS👏 Being a Girl Scout means having sisters across the country and around the world ready to cheer you on! Taking part in one of the national virtual bridging events is a powerful reminder that everyone in the troop is part of a big sisterhood made up of resilient girls and adults who are staying strong and doing good in their communities. Whatever comes our way, we’re never alone!

Celebrate your achievements. The last few months have been challenging no matter where you live, but that’s all the more reason to lift up everything the troop has achieved this year! You earned badges and Journey awards, made our communities better, and continued to shine your brightest. Most importantly, we all stayed Girl Scout strong in the face of hardship—and that’s worth celebrating here and now.

The best part? You can bridge virtually and amp up the experience with an in-person event when it’s safe. Like everything in Girl Scouting, it’s all about what the girls want! And you can make the occasion even more special with an official bridging kit from the Girl Scout Shop.

We can’t wait to see you on August 1 and 8 and create more special memories together!

Bullying

10 Times She Shouldn’t Say “Sorry”

You’re raising your girl to be responsible for what she says and does, and know when and how to give a sincere apology when she messes up. But is she apologizing more than she needs to?

Studies show women are more likely than men to presume they were in the wrong or think their own actions might have upset someone, and those patterns start early. There could be many reasons for this, but some think girls and women are quick to apologize because they’re taught to “keep the peace” and be nurturers who put the emotional wellbeing and happiness of others first.

So often, girls and women start talking by saying, “I’m sorry, but I feel like [fill in the blank]”—and that sentence structure can literally become a habit.

The problem? When your girl apologizes for something that wasn’t her fault, others might start to see her as someone who is at fault. Someone whose shortcomings inconvenience others, even if that’s far from the case.

Read this list with your girl, and remind her that although it’s important to make amends when she’s truly done something wrong, apologizing when she hasn’t can undermine how others see her and damage her self-worth.

There’s no need to say “sorry”…

1. When someone bumps into her. She has just as much of a right to take up space in this world as anyone else.

2. When she tried her best. Maybe she didn’t win the science fair or make the basketball team, and that’s OK. Nobody’s perfect.  

3. When she’s not feeling well, even if it messes up plans for others. It’s not like she went around looking for germs.Help her focus on getting better instead of apologizing.

4. For leaving when someone makes her feel uncomfortable or unsafe. One of the most important things to explain to your girl is that she doesn’t need to “be polite” or stay in the same vicinity as someone who makes her feel uncomfortable or unsafe. She just needs to get out of there and tell a caring adult as fast as possible.

5. For her feelings. Some might be uncomfortable with your girl’s anger, sadness, or disappointment, but that doesn’t mean those feelings are bad or wrong.

6. For sticking up for herself. It takes guts to take a stand and defend yourself or others against bullies. Doing the right thing is never something to apologize for.

7. For having high expectations. Expecting the people in her life to follow through and keep their word isn’t a crime.

8. For setting boundaries. Whether a friend wants to cheat off her homework or someone is invading her personal space, she has every right to say no.

9. For sharing knowledge. Knowing her stuff and using information to help others is awesome. Someone else’s insecurity is not your girl’s problem.

10. For her appearance. Who does she get dressed for in the morning? Herself. If others don’t like it, that’s fine.  

So what can she say instead of sorry? Tell your girl to start by saying how she’s feeling in short, declarative sentences. So instead of “I’m sorry, I have a question,” she could say, “I have a question.” Skipping the apology doesn’t make her rude—in fact, it puts apologies back in their rightful role as a way to make amends when she’s actually done something hurtful or wrong.

Stress to your girl the importance of speaking with intention. Apologizing for no reason or when she’s not at fault dilutes the sentiment. Have her save it for when it counts. When it’s heartfelt and for the right reasons, the power of “sorry” will be more meaningful both to her and to the person on the receiving end!

Bullying

Making Friends: 7 Simple Icebreakers Even Shy Girls Will…


Being reserved or even shy shouldn’t stop your girl from having a super fun social life! If she’s having trouble making friends, suggest some of these oh-so-simple ice breakers that will help her meet new kids and hopefully form lifelong friendships!

  1. “The cat on your shirt is so cute! I love cats, too—do you have one?”
    Teach her to look for cues that she and the other person have something in common, like a character that might be on her clothing or lunch bag.
  2. “Have you read anything cool lately?”
    Asking about something particular, like a book she may have read or a movie she may have seen, gives them a clear subject to talk about and can lead to plenty of other topics. Just make sure she has a book in mind to talk about in case the girl wants to know what she’s been reading, too!
  3. “I thought the story you wrote was awesome! What made you write about outer space?”
    Everyone loves a sincere compliment, and following it up with a question about what she’s accomplished will show a genuine curiosity and hopefully lead to a great discussion!
  4. “I’m signing up for Girl Scouts this year—are you?”
    Bringing up a potential shared experience will get the girls talking, even if they’re not both doing the same activities.
  5. “Do you want to share my orange?”
    Being generous with toys or snacks is a universal offering of friendship, and will likely spark a conversation between the two girls.
  6. “How did you feel about today’s game?”
    If the girls are on the same soccer team, or even in the same classroom in school, they’ll have plenty of shared experiences they can discuss. All it takes is your daughter to bring one of them up!
  7. “Want to study for the vocab quiz together?”
    Suggesting tackling an activity that both girls have to do anyway will make the task easier on both of them, and give them a chance to get to know each other better.

Having to make new friends might be intimidting to your child, so go over these ideas and see if she can come up with more on her own. Of course not every person your girl wants to be friends with will feel the same way, and that’s OK, but the more she puts herself out there and connects with other kids, the more opportunities she’ll have to grow her social circle. 

Leadership

World Thinking Day: It’s Our Time to Lead

Girl Scouts work every day to make the world a better place. It’s just what we do! 

But there’s one day a year that’s extra special, a day when girls from more than 150 countries around the planet come together to explore the global dimensions of Girl Scouting and take action to change the world for the better. 

Of course, we’re talking about World Thinking Day! It’s coming up on February 22, so let’s get ready to make it one of the best ever. 

The theme for World Thinking Day 2019 is leadership—now, that’s an idea we can all support. 

This World Thinking Day, let’s take the opportunity to:

Honor the leadership of Girl Scouts and Girl Guides worldwide, and celebrate what it means to be part of this global sisterhood.  

Advocate for positive change on global issues that girls and their supporters care about. 

Support international opportunities for girls and young women by contributing to the Juliette Low World Friendship Fund. 

A project of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), World Thinking Day is the perfect opportunity for girls to think globally and take action. But first, let’s take a moment to understand why and how World Thinking Day came to be. 

The Origins of World Thinking Day

It all dates back to 1926, at the fourth World Conference of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts held at Girl Scouts’ very own Camp Edith Macy (now Edith Macy Conference Center) in New York. The conference delegates agreed that there should be a special day every year when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world think of one another and celebrate global sisterhood. They decided to call it Thinking Day and chose February 22 to celebrate it. (Fun fact: the date was picked to honor the birthdays of Girl Guide founders Lord and Lady Baden-Powell.) 

Then, in 1999, at the 30th World Conference in Dublin, Ireland, delegates from around the world wanted to emphasize the international aspect of the day and the global nature of the Girl Scout Movement, so they changed the name to World Thinking Day. 

Every year since, World Thinking Day has called for Girl Scouts and Girl Guides to unite and take part in activities that promote changing the world for the better.  

How You (and Your Troop) Can Participate

World Thinking Day is for everyone—from the youngest, mightiest Daisy to the Ambassador working toward her Gold Award. And it’s super easy to find your inspiration for how to take action in your community and the world at large. 

Check out these World Thinking Day resources to get started: 

Activity Guide for Girl Scout Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors (PDF)  

Activity Guide for Girl Scout Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors (PDF) 

In these convenient, downloadable resources, you’ll find age-appropriate activities for younger girls as well as older girls. The activities fall into three categories: discovering your leadership style, celebrating a sisterhood of leaders, and taking on leadership roles. When girls complete one activity from each category, they’ll earn the World Thinking Day 2019 Award. Although only one activity in each category is required to earn the award, don’t let that stop you—you can do as many as you like! 

Now It’s Your Turn to Take the Lead!

Looking for some extra inspiration to make World Thinking Day even more awesome? Check out this amazing story about a group of Brownies who reimagined World Thinking Day to build community. Or this story of a group of Muslim Girl Scouts extending friendship across cultures. That’s what we’re talking about! 

To earn your World Thinking Day 2019 Award, try some of our suggested activities. Then tell us how you’re taking the lead through Girl Scouts and Girl Guides—and how you’re celebrating. You can share your story directly with us or post it on social media with #WorldThinkingDay and #TimeToLead! 

On World Thinking Day 2019, let’s lead together for a better world.

Badges and Patches

Inventive Ways to Display Girl Scout Badges and Patches

There are two kinds of troop leaders: those who give girls their badges as they’re earned throughout the year, and those who save them for a badge ceremony. We’re always blown away by the creativity of our troop leaders, so when we asked how they display badges and patches for ceremonies, they had plenty to share! 

If you love finding creative new ways to switch up troop traditions, check out these inspiring ideas for displaying badges and patches from troop leaders across the country!
Some troop leaders attach badges and patches to ribbons:

Other troop leaders recreate Girl Scout uniforms out of paper bags or filing folders:

And then there are troop leaders who create very inventive displays for Girl Scout badges and patches!

Featured

We’re a Girl Scout Family and I Wouldn’t Have…

Chris S. is a troop leader from Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. A proud Eagle Scout growing up, he shared his volunteer experience with us and explained why he thinks Girl Scouts is the best leadership training for girls. 

Girl Scouts is a family affair for us. I’m one of six leaders in a multi-level troop of 27 girls; my wife is our troop treasurer; and my daughter, Luci, is a second-year Brownie. Our Girl Scout experience began when Luci joined as a Daisy in first grade. From our first parent meeting, I knew I wanted to get involved and be a resource for the energetic girls running around. In our troop, we’ve balanced fun activities with giving back—from cranberry picking in the fall to packing toiletries and personal items for “blessing bags” for those in need in our community. 

Luci loves astronomy and science, so she’s excited about the new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) badges. She’s even earned her Brownie Space Science Adventurer badge. She and her troop attended a council-wide cybersecurity event recently, and I love watching her eyes light up when she delves into a topic that excites her. I also love that she’s able to share her passion for STEM with her troop, because she might not talk about STEM as much when she’s with her school friends. Girl Scouts is definitely a platform for her interests. 

I became an Eagle Scout in high school and consider that one of the most valuable experiences in my life, but from everything I see now as a troop leader at Girl Scouts, I feel strongly that it’s the best place for girls to develop character and confidence. It’s so important for them to have a space to themselves where they can grow their confidence and follow their passions. It’s been amazing to watch the girls become comfortable with who they are, own their interests, and learn to rely on one another. In fact, it’s the most important thing for me to see as a dad and troop leader. For example, Luci hated bugs, but as she earned her Brownie Bugs badge, she looked for bugs under rocks and got close to them in a way I hadn’t seen before. If it were just the two of us hiking, she wouldn’t have done that; with her friends, she has more confidence and she pushes herself to do more. 

For the dads out there, I think if you want to spend high-quality time with your daughter and make meaningful memories, Girl Scouts is the perfect way to do so. There are so many incredible activities you can take part in, and you shouldn’t feel intimidated or afraid to do them. Actually, a majority of volunteers in our council wish there were more actively involved dads. Don’t get me wrong, many dads volunteer—one dad is a police officer who talked with the girls for their Brownie Safety Award pin—but I’m a delegate in my council, and I think it’s 95 percent women. I do a lot of our outreach to new members, and moms are usually surprised when they hear me on the phone. After they get to know me, however, they become more comfortable and they like the fact we have both male and female leaders. 

Girl Scouts being just for moms and daughters is a stereotype that needs to get squashed. Being a Girl Scout troop leader opened my mind to different things, and it’s made me more aware of the need for girls to empower themselves and of the unique issues that women face today. I feel passionately that girls should never think of themselves as limited because they’re girls; they should always know they can do anything they want. And for Luci, knowing that her dad is there to support her as she does her part to make the world a better place is what matters to me most of all.