The Girl Scout Challenge

The Girl Scout Challenge is a new set of awards for Brownie Girl Scouts, Junior Girl Scouts, and Girl Scouts in middle school and high school (ages 11-17). These awards are part of a national effort to create a consistent, national Girl Scout experience. The awards unite girls across the country by age level, engaging them in similar learning experiences. When girls take THE CHALLENGE, they explore some of the values and leadership skills that are at the very heart of Girl Scouting: courage, character, confidence, and the ability and desire to make the world a better place.

To make these important new awards easily accessible to girls and their volunteer guides, the activities and requirements are available for free online. Click on the links below to go to the requirements:

Girl Scout Challenge 1 (Brownie Girl Scouts)
Girl Scout Challenge 2 (Junior Girl Scouts)
Girl Scout Challenge 3 (Girl Scouts 11-17)

Fun awards will be available in November/December 2005 so girls can celebrate their achievements after taking THE CHALLENGE. Download the Girl Scout Challenge order form for more info.

What Girls Will Learn

The activities for the Girl Scout Challenge are designed to engage girls in discovering key Girl Scout values, building leadership skills and taking action by applying these values and skills to their everyday lives.

The Girl Scout Challenge provides a meaningful experience for all girls regardless of their length of time in Girl Scouts. You can use THE CHALLENGE to shed new light on what matters most in Girl Scouts or introduce new girls to what makes Girl Scouts special and unique.

When Brownie Girl Scouts take THE CHALLENGE they will engage in:

• Working with others
• Sharing
• Trying new things
• Following directions
• Being a friend
• Clarifying their values
• Having an increased awareness of adults and peers outside of the family
• Gaining awareness through helping
• Celebrating similarities and differences

When Junior Girl Scouts take THE CHALLENGE they will engage in:

• Clarifying their own values
• Feeling competent
• Pursuing their own identity
• Identifying and managing stressors
• Speaking up for themselves
• Serving as a role model
• Developing initiative—the capacity to get things done
• Thinking critically
• Setting goals

When Girl Scouts 11-17 take THE CHALLENGE they will engage in:

• Possessing a positive attitude towards change
• Being comfortable making decisions
• Being accountable to others
• Identifying needs in their world
• Setting goals
• Creating plans
• Mobilizing others to implement plans
• Being a global citizen

What You Need To Know

Take Time to Reflect

More important than doing activities to perfection is helping girls process what they learn and apply it to their lives. Note each award has questions to guide girls to reflect on what they have learned through the activities. It's important to spend time discussing the reflection questions with girls. Conversations help girls harvest their insights and apply them to new situations in the future.

Expand Girls' World

Mix it up! Expand horizons by bringing in different adults to partner with girls on this award. Or, try matching up girls in your group with girls from other groups who are also taking THE CHALLENGE.

Use a By Girls, For Girls Approach

In Girl Scout Challenge 1, Brownie Girl Scouts will have choices on how to complete the activities.

• Provide girls with options.
• Have a discussion about the differences between the options.
• Let girls choose the fine details.

In Girl Scout Challenge 2, Junior Girl Scouts will spend time creating a pledge to live by.

• While girls create their own pledge, help them make the connection between the Girl Scout Law and their lives.
• Help girls understand what an activity entails and what can be accomplished realistically.

In Girl Scout Challenge 3, middle school and high school Girl Scouts will have more intense activities than the previous awards and will require planning time.

• Encourage girls to plan for themselves.
• Step in or back when needed.
• Make yourself available as a resource to girls, answering any questions or providing them with information they may need.

Make it Fun

The most important tip is to make it fun! Engage girls in enjoying the experience by having them try activities in pairs, being flexible with timing, and celebrating steps along the way. There's no need to rush. Girls can do these age level awards at any time while they are in that age range. If your first grade Brownies are not that interested, wait until next year. You can also stretch THE CHALLENGE out over a period of time.