The Ultimate Girl Scout Experience:
STUDIO 2Bdestinations

"I got to actually shadow real live people in their real life occupations. I came thinking I wanted to be a surgeon, but I now realize that I want more patient contact than a surgeon has and am going to look at another specialty."
—Ashley, 16, Careers Rx participant
Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana Council

By MariClare Krzyzewski

	From the deep space (simulated) to deep sea, girls can reach destinations with new heights at the Aerospace Career Explorer, U.S. Space and Rocket Center (above), or take the plunge with the Aquarius Project, 2005, Key Largo, Fla. (below).

Opportunities for girls to explore new places and interests while connecting with their peers around the state, country or world are an exceptional part of what makes Girl Scouting for teens so unique and valuable! STUDIO 2B destinations, as almost any girl who's been will tell you, changed her life because she had the chance to be herself—apart from familiar surroundings—and test her skills outside of her everyday experience. This has been true since the 1950s when this kind of option was introduced, no matter what we've called it throughout the years.

All the latest information on destinations (including application information) can be found on the STUDIO 2B destinations Web page.

As a Girl Scout activity for girls ages 11–17, destinations goes beyond the troop/group experience, representing those special activities that lead to broader perspectives for individual members and enhanced visibility for Girl Scouting. These events, sponsored by Girl Scout councils, Girl Scouts of the USA , and other collaborators, are open to all Girl Scouts who meet the qualifications. A special category of destinations allows councils to list their events as "Getaways." which can be regional or national in participation.

Many girls have returned home from a STUDIO 2B destination with their eyes opened to a different interest or career path. Quite a few girls come home inspired to find out about college programs focusing on the topic that destinations introduced them to. Girl Scout leaders and advisers can play a significant role in helping girls follow up on new interests after the experience. Some girls take advantage of the career-based apprenticeship or topic-focused events to learn more about an interest they already have. On more than one occasion, listing attendance of a destination on an internship, college or job application has helped a girl be the winning candidate.

Over the years, these opportunities evolve to keep pace with girls' needs and wants and streamline the way councils and GSUSA administer them. For 2006, the application process is more typical of those girls will find throughout their lives, such as college and university applications, employment or study/research grant applications, etc. In this way the application process itself is beneficial.

	Girls can still reach for the sky (above) on a mountain bike in Nevada, at "Hiking Boots and Swimming Suits," or in Traverse City at "Expedition Michigan." Career exploration and an experience at a resident camp are opportunities for girls with disabilities at the Juliette Low Camp, Kansas City, Mo. (below, top). Many destinations accommodate those with disabilities; check the destinations web section for contact information.
	The crunch of snow under the boots, or under the tent, may be just the destinations girls want. Girl Scouts joins with Outward Bound Wilderness experiences such as this one in the North Cascades. (Photo by Joe Talbert.) Or girls can build a home for someone, like the Chilean project of the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School. (Photo by Erik Jacobs.)

Girl Scout advisers and leaders have a crucial role to play in helping girls find their destination and enjoy the experience of a life-time. The following tips will help you help the girls you work with find their way:

Know Your Options

Go to www.studio2b.org/escape/destinations. This landing page of the destinations Web section has many search options to locate events of interest. Girls can search by the type of event (outdoors, science, people, international, apprenticeships or getaways), by the events that accept their age level, by keywords, dates of the event, or by event locations. Girls say they start their search by reading about events and then enjoy daydreaming about the descriptions before they decide. If a girl has questions, encourage her to contact event sponsors by e-mail or telephone. Contact information is listed at the bottom of the event page.

Maximize Opportunity

Encourage girls to complete more than one application and make a final decision after they are accepted. This is a great time to help girls learn prioritization skills as well as the steps involved in making decisions for themselves. Be alert to the tendency that with so many events to consider, girls might feel that they cannot make a decision and then not apply to any events at all.

Make Applying Fun

Encourage girls to plan an application writing party where they can help one another create their essays and decide whom they will ask to write a reference. While each event requires a separate application—each application will look basically the same when it is ready—except for the essay. Girls may use the same references for each application. By making the process fun, the application process won't seem so much like work. Usually, girls can answer most of the questions in less than 15 minutes.

Think Beyond Money

Encourage them to think beyond the money. While STUDIO 2B destinations are not cheap, comparatively speaking, they are a travel bargain. Many Girl Scout councils offer financial assistance as well as money-earning activities. If your council doesn't have a group money-earning plan, check out www.girlscouts.org at Girl Scout Central for tips on fundraising individually or with a group.

Bring It Back Home

Encourage girls to consider attending a destinations as a way to further their own interests and to then share it with their community when they get home. Often their interests tie into community initiatives and programs.

No exception has yet been found to the rule that all STUDIO 2B destinations change girls' lives by teaching them skills and enriching their character. This is another way that Girl Scouting demonstrates its value to girls and the world they live in.

To learn more, read Rock Climbing in a Jungle. All the latest information on destinations (including application information) can be found on the STUDIO 2B destinations Web page.

Adapted from LEADER, Fall 2005. © Girl Scouts of the United States of America.