Program
Essentials

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience: Program Essentials

Program Essentials is the core plan that girls and leaders use to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience in River Valleys. The national Girl Scout Leadership Journeys curriculum is the foundation of Program Essentials, which is complemented by additional skill-building activities.

Frequently Asked Questions about Program Essentials.

To download a copy of your specific Program Essentials core plan charts, click the appropriate link below based on your troop’s grade and tenure:

Kindergarten Daisies	1st grade Daisies	2nd grade Brownies	3rd grade Brownies	4th grade Juniors	5th grade Juniors
First-Time	First-Time	First-Time	First-Time	First-Time	First-Time
	Returning	Returning	Returning	Returning	Returning

Program Essentials: Meeting-by-Meeting Curriculum
River Valleys has developed a program year’s worth of fun and easy to use troop meeting plans for both First-Time Girl Scout Daisies and First-Time Girl Scout Brownies, which support Program Essentials.

Troop leaders of brand-new troops at the Girl Scout Daisy and Girl Scout Brownie program grade levels will receive their Meeting-by-Meeting Curriculum in their New Troop Welcome Kit.

Meeting-by-Meeting Daisy Curriculum

Meeting-by-Meeting Brownie Curriculum

Resources for Program Essentials

All Program Grade Levels:
Annual (2009-10) GSUSA Girl Scout Cookie Sale Activity Pin requirements

Girl Scout Juniors:

Girl Scout/Dove Self-Esteem Program’s “uniquely ME! Guide for Facilitators”

Council-Sponsored Program Events: Activity Options for Program Essentials

Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin River Valleys offers more than 300 council-sponsored program events that incorporate the outcomes of the Discover, Connect, and Take Action leadership keys and help troops complete Program Essentials.

Informational flyer that explains what council-sponsored program events are.

Online listing of council-sponsored program events.

The Girl Scout Leadership Experience: Philosophy
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience model begins with a definition of leadership that girls understand and believe in: a leader, girls say, is defined not only by the qualities and skills one has, but also by how those qualities and skills are used to make a difference in the world.

Research highlights that girls want leadership opportunities that are girl-led, where they can learn by doing, and that are cooperative learning experiences. This more inclusive and empowering model of shared leadership is also the one most valued by girls. It encourages girls to take increased responsibility, and this results in opportunities for them to see how their actions can impact the lives of others.
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience invites girls to participate in journeys to explore three “keys” to leadership:

Discover – girls understand themselves and their values and use their knowledge and skills to explore the world.
Connect – girls care about, inspire, and team with others locally and globally.
Take Action – girls act to make the world a better place.

Girl Scout Leadership Experience Outcomes
To develop and evaluate the program model objectively, 15 anticipated benefits or measurable outcomes were identified within the three keys to leadership. Tying the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to measurable outcomes serves three vital functions:

measure the impact of Girl Scouting,
determine what future modifications are needed, and
communicate with others how girls are benefiting from their Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

To Learn More about The Girl Scout Leadership Experience
Find out more information posted by GSUSA. The “Transforming Leadership” video can also be found at the end of the Leadership Experience page.

Girl Scout Leadership Journeys
Leadership Journeys are the exciting way Girl Scouts is moving from single-interest awards and activities to a series of themed program activities focused on building specific leadership skills and interests for each of the six Girl Scout program grade levels.

Leadership Journeys ensure a consistent core Girl Scout experience nationwide, tie activities to 5-8 of the leadership experience outcomes, incorporate the Girl Scout processes: Girl Led, Cooperative Learning, and Learning by Doing, and make it easier for Girl Scout volunteers to guide girls through fun and meaningful experiences.

Leadership Journeys generally run from six to eight sessions; they can be customized by adding Girl Scout outings, celebrations, and explorations that suit the Leadership Journey’s theme and the girls’ interests. Leadership Journeys can be stretched over a Girl Scout year or done over the course of a few weeks or months – whatever the girl and her troop decide.

Program grade level specific Leadership Journey books are available to girls, along with easy-to-use “how to” guides for adults that accompany each Leadership Journey book. Leadership Journeys also have official awards girls can earn, which will mark their accomplishments along the journey and recognize their growing leadership skills.

Leadership Journeys 1
The first Leadership Journeys series is called: It’s Your World-Change It!
Girl Scout Daisy (kindergarten-grade 1) – Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden
Girl Scout Brownie (grades 2-3) – Brownie Quest
Girl Scout Junior (grades 4-5) – Agent of Change
Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6-8) – aMAZE: The Twists and Turns of Getting Along
Girl Scout Senior (grades 9-10) – GIRLtopia
Girl Scout Ambassador (grades 11-12) – Your Voice – Your World: the Power of Advocacy

Leadership Journeys 2
The second Leadership Journeys series is called: It’s Your Planet-Love It!
Girl Scout Daisy (kindergarten-grade 1) – Between Earth and Sky
Girl Scout Brownie (grades 2-3) – WOW! Wonders of Water
Girl Scout Junior (grades 4-5) – GET MOVING!
Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6-8) – BREATHE
Girl Scout Senior (grades 9-10) – SOW WHAT?
Girl Scout Ambassador (grades 11-12) – JUSTICE

By fall 2010, there will be a total of three program grade level specific Leadership Journeys for girls. All Leadership Journeys incorporate girl-friendly themes, include multi-disciplinary content (STEM, healthy living, the environment, etc.), use a global perspective, have corresponding awards, and tie to the national Girl Scout Leadership Experience outcomes.