Girl Scout levels (USA)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Girl Scouts of the USA have five age levels: Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and Senior. Girl Scouts move or "bridge" to the next level usually at the end of the school year they reach the age to advance. Years and levels are shown on the uniform by small golden membership stars (one per year) with colored background discs to represent level.

1 Daisy Girl Scouts
2 Brownie Girl Scouts
3 Junior Girl Scouts
4 Cadette Girl Scouts
5 Senior Girl Scouts
6 History
7 References
8 See also
9 External links

[edit] Daisy Girl Scouts

Daisy is the initial level of Girl Scouting. Named for Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, Daisies are aged 5-6 (Kindergarten-Grade 1). They typically meet in groups of 5-10 and have one or two leaders. Daisy Scouts earn Learning Petals and Participation patches for their uniform, which consists of a light blue tunic and a blue membership disk. They use the Daisy Girl Scout Activity Book to work on badges, and do not sell Girl Scout cookies.

[edit] Brownie Girl Scouts

Brownies are typically aged 6-8 (Grade 1-Grade 3), and earn triangular shaped Brownie Girl Scout "Try-Its". Their uniform consists of a brown vest or sash, with green membership disks. Brownies go by the Brownie Girl Scout Handbook and earn badges from the Try-Its for Brownie Girl Scouts book.

Unlike some of the other levels, the name, Brownie, is common to many Girl Scout/Girl Guide organizations around the world and has its ultimate origin from Brownies in the British Girl Guides.

[edit] Junior Girl Scouts

Juniors (formally Intermerdiates) are aged 8-11 (Grade 3-Grade 6). Juniors earn Badges and sport green vests or sashes as uniforms, along with yellow membership disks. They also use the Junior Girl Scout Handbook and earn badges from the Junior Girl Scout Badge Book. Juniors are eligible to earn the Bronze Award.

[edit] Cadette Girl Scouts

Cadettes — typically aged 11-14 (Grade 6-Grade 9) — form the start of the Studio 2B program. Cadettes earn Interest Projects and wear khaki sashes or vests as uniforms, along with white membership disks. Cadettes use the Girl Scout Handbook and earn badges from Interest Projects for Girls 11-17. Cadettes can opt to use the STUDIO 2B Focus books and earn charms for their Studio 2B charm bracelets or slides for their uniforms. Cadettes are eligible to earn the Silver Award.

[edit] Senior Girl Scouts

Senior is the highest level of active Girl Scouting, with its members typically between ages 14-17 (Grade 10-Grade 12). Seniors wear a khaki colored vest or sash — however, they all wear red membership disks. Although they earn Interest projects and use the same books as Cadettes, Seniors are also part of Studio 2B and can earn Charms or Slides from the Focus Books. Senior scouts are eligible to earn the Gold Award, Girl Scouting's highest honor.

[edit] History

When it started in 1912 the program was for girls ages 10-17, but it soon divided into three levels. Brownies for younger girls (and based on a program developed in England in 1914) was officially recognized in the mid 1920s. At the same time older girls (over 18 or over 16 if First Class Scouts) became known as Senior Scouts.

In 1938 age divisions were set as

Brownies (ages 7-9)
Intermediates (ages 10-13)
Seniors (ages 14-17)

In 1963 this was rearranged to

Brownies (ages 7-9, later 6-9)
Juniors (ages 9-11)
Cadettes (ages 11-14)
Seniors (ages 14-17)

In 1984, the Daisy program for kindergarteners (age 5) was introduced, and around 2003 the Studio 2B program for girls 11-17 was introduce-- though many girls still call themselves Cadettes and Seniors.

In addition, there have been somewhat separate programs for Mariner Scouts (1934-present) and Wing Scouts (1941-1970s).

In addition there are Girl Scouts known as Juliette Girl Scouts who are either waiting to get into a troop or group or their busy schedule or other commitments doesn't allow them to actively be a part of such troop or group.

On August 26, 2006 the GSUSA board approved the final national realignment of Girl Scout councils.

As of October 2008, the new grade-level groups and names will be: