Girl Scouts calling for new members and volunteers
ZANESVILLE – Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council is making a call for girls and adult volunteers to join Girl Scouts, the country’s preeminent leadership development organization for girls. With families already thinking about how to allocate their free time during the 2014-15 school year, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has released new data showing the organization’s benefits for girls and volunteers.
Results of a summer 2014 pulse poll conducted with more than 3,500 volunteers and parents of Girl Scouts in K−fifth show positive effects on members of all ages. Ninety-seven percent of parents agree that Girl Scouts has been a positive activity for their daughter, that she has had fun and exciting new experiences (95 percent), and that she has learned or tried something new (96 percent). In addition, 94 percent of parents say that because of Girl Scouts their daughter feels special, has more friends (95 percent), and is happier (89 percent).
The data shows it is not just girls who benefit: 94 percent of volunteers have made new friends, 88 percent believe their life is better because they volunteer with Girl Scouts, and two-thirds believe their volunteer experience has helped them professionally. Ninety-five percent of Girl Scout volunteers are happy knowing they are making girls’ lives better.
“We know the majority of volunteers feel their Girl Scout experience has helped them both personally and professionally, but in many places throughout the country, the lack of volunteers is what keeps girls on waiting lists. Every adult who volunteers for Girl Scouts can help us bring fun, new experiences to at least five girls. Imagine what that can do to shape the next generation of female leaders,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA.
“Locally, our need for volunteers is great, especially within our troops,” said Tammy Wharton, CEO of Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland. “Getting girls involved in Girl Scouting is an amazing first step toward bettering a girl’s future, but it doesn’t end there. I invite anyone who has ever had an interest in volunteering with Girl Scouts to come explore our huge variety of opportunities. It all starts with a few volunteers who believe in the power of every girl.”
Girl Scouts gives girls a place to explore topics of interest in a judgment-free space outside of classroom confinements; it cultivates cooperative and self-directed learning, as well as the growth mindset (the understanding that intelligence and talent can be developed)—all of which help foster a lifetime passion for learning. The variety of experiences and the value for the money the Girl Scout program provides are also popular selling points. Eighty-nine percent of parents say their daughter gets a greater variety of experiences from Girl Scouts than she does from other extracurricular activities, and the majority of parents feel Girl Scouts is a great value for the money compared to other extracurricular activities. Overall, parents consider Girl Scouts one of the most beneficial extracurricular activities for their daughter.
Exciting upcoming area council events, include: T.A.G: Wild Animal Escape (a Team Adventure Game) – Sept. 20 at Zanesville Service Center (Muskingum County) and Teen Camporee: Mystical Mythology – Oct. 10 –12 Camp Wakatomika (Licking County). For details about these events and more, visit www.gsoh.org.
Girl Scouts is open to all girls from kindergarten through grade 12. The more adults step forward to volunteer, the more girls will get the chance to be a Girl Scout. Adults over age 18 may become volunteers; both girls and adults volunteers can join at any time of the year.
Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council, headquartered in Columbus, serves more than 29,701 girls and more than 7,744 adult members and volunteers in 30 counties: Adams, Ashland, Coshocton, Crawford, Delaware, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Gallia, Guernsey, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Knox, Licking, Madison, Marion, Morrow, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Richland, Ross, Scioto, Union, Vinton, Wayne and Wyandot.
To join, volunteer, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 1-800-621-7042 or visit www.gsoh.org.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
