Membership levels of the Girl Scouts of the USA

Since 2008, Girl Scouts of the USA have had five age levels: Girl Scout Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior. In 2011 they added the New sixth level of Ambassadors.^[1] Girl Scouts move or "bridge" to the next level, usually at the end of the school year they reach the age to advance. They are considered in the appropriate level based on their grade on October 1, the start of each new Girl Scout year. There are exceptions for "special needs" but Girl Scouts who are "young in grade" have not been specifically considered. Each year of membership in Girl Scouting is represented on the uniform by a small, golden, six pointed membership star (one per year) with colored background discs which represent level. Girl Scouts used to wear similar uniforms to other groups in WAGGGS. Now a white shirt and khaki bottom is accepted for all levels.^[2]

Girl Scout Daisies

Girl Scout Daisy is the initial level of Girl Scouting. Named for Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, GS Daisies are in kindergarten and first grade (around ages 5–7).^[3][4] They typically meet in groups of ten girls with two adult leaders who help the girls plan activities to introduce them to Girl Scouts.

Girl Scout Daisies earn the Promise Center and Petals, which focus on the Girl Scout Law and are placed on the front of the tunic in a daisy design. They also earn Leaves and Journey Leadership Awards. The Girl Scout Daisy uniform consists of a light blue tunic. They may also wear their tunic with a white shirt and khaki bottoms or with an official Girl Scout Daisy uniform.^[2] The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with blue membership disks^[5] and they wear the Girl Scout Daisy Membership Pin.

Girl Scout Daisies use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Daisies^[6] and the National Leadership Journeys^[7] to work on activities, may camp only with a parent present, and have the option to sell Girl Scout cookies. Girl Scout Daisies may earn the Girl Scout Daisy Safety Award and the Bridge to Girl Scout Brownies Award.^[8]

Girl Scout Brownies

Girl Scout Brownies are in second and third grades (around ages 7–9).^[3][9] and earn triangular shaped Brownie Leadership Journey Awards and National Proficiency Badges. Their uniform consists of a brown vest or sash which may be worn with a white shirt and khaki bottoms or with an official Girl Scout Brownie uniform.^[2] The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with green membership disks,^[5] and they wear the Girl Scout Brownie Membership Pin.

GS Brownies use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Brownies^[6] and the National Leadership Journeys^[7] to work on badges and activities. Girl Scout Brownies may earn the Bridge to Girl Scout Juniors Award and the Girl Scout Brownie Safety Award.^[10]

Unlike some of the other levels, the name Brownie is commonly used with Girl Scout/Girl Guide organizations around the world and has its origin from Brownies in the British Girl Guides.

Girl Scout Juniors

Girl Scout Juniors are in fourth and fifth grades (around ages 9–11).^[3][11] The Girl Scout Junior uniform is a green vest or sash which may be worn with a white shirt and khaki bottoms.^[2]

Girl Scout Juniors are the first level to wear the official Girl Scout Membership Pin on their uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with yellow membership disks.^[5] They use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Juniors^[6] and the National Leadership Journeys^[7] to work on badges and activities. They earn circle shaped Junior Leadership Journey Awards and National Proficiency Badges. Badges require more skill at this level as the girls gain proficiency. Girl Scout Juniors may earn the Girl Scout Junior Safety Award, the Junior Aide Award, and the Bridge to Girl Scout Cadettes Award.^[12]

Girl Scout Juniors are eligible to earn the Bronze Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting available at this level.

Girl Scout Cadettes

Girl Scout Cadettes are Girl Scouts who are in sixth, seventh and eighth grades (around ages 11–14).^[3][13] The Girl Scout Cadette uniform is a khaki vest or sash with white shirts and khaki bottoms.^[2]

Girl Scout Cadettes wear the official Girl Scout Membership Pin on their uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with white membership disks.^[5]

Girl Scout Cadettes use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Cadettes^[6] and the National Leadership Journeys^[7] to earn diamond shaped badges. Typically Girl Scouts at this level are encouraged to assume leadership roles within Girl Scouts, such as assisting in leading and coordinating service unit or association events. They may also earn the Cadette Program Aide award, the Cadette Community Service Bar, the Cadette Service to Girl Scouting Bar, the Girl Scout Cadette Safety Award, and the Bridge to Girl Scout Senior Award.^[14]

Girl Scout Cadettes are eligible to earn the Silver Award, which is the highest award available to girls at this level.

Girl Scout Seniors

Girl Scout Seniors are Girl Scouts who are in ninth and tenth grades (around ages 14–16).^[13] Girl Scout Seniors wear the same uniform as Girl Scout Cadettes—however, the disks for their membership stars are red and their badges are a rectangular shape.^[2][5]

Girl Scout Seniors use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Seniors^[6] and the National Leadership Journeys^[7] to earn badges. GS Seniors are typically encouraged to create and lead activities for the younger Girl Scouts, and to take a leadership role in organizing and assisting with Council and service unit/association events and activities. They may earn the Counselor-in-Training (CIT), the Volunteer-in-Training (VIT), the Girl Scout Senior Safety Award, the Gold Torch Award, the Senior Community Service Bar, the Senior Service to Girl Scouting Bar and the Bridge to Girl Scout Ambassador award.^[15]

Girl Scout Seniors are eligible to earn the Gold Award.

Girl Scout Ambassadors

Girl Scout Ambassadors are Girl Scouts who are in eleventh and twelfth grades (around ages 16-18).^[13] Girl Scout Ambassadors wear the same khaki colored vest or sash as Girl Scout Cadettes and Seniors.^[2] The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with navy membership disks.^[5]

Girl Scout Ambassadors use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Ambassadors^[6] and the National Leadership Journeys^[7] to earn badges that are shaped like an octagon. They may earn the Counselor-in-Training (CIT), the Counselor-in-Training (CIT) II, the Volunteer-in-Training (VIT), the Ambassador Community Service Bar, the Ambassador Service to Girl Scouting Bar, the Gold Torch Award, the Girl Scout Ambassador Safety Award, and the Bridge to Girl Scout Adult Award.^[16]

Girl Scout Ambassadors are eligible to earn the Gold Award.

Adult members

Adults, both men and women, can join Girl Scouts and participate as leaders or in other volunteer roles. Adults do not need to have a child in the program in order to volunteer with Girl Scouts.^[17]

Campus Girl Scouts

Young adults who attend an institute of higher learning may join or start a Campus Girl Scout group on their campus. While Campus Girl Scouts are full adult members in Girl Scouts and do not form a troop or sell cookies, joining Campus Girl Scouts allows them to get involved with their campus community and beyond. They may lead troops, volunteer for Council events, help with paperwork or the cookie sale, complete service projects- their activities are driven by the members of the group.^[18]

History

Initially the United States Girl Scout program, started in 1912, had one level for girls ages ten through seventeen, but it soon added two more levels. Brownies for younger girls was officially recognized in the mid-1920s though it had existed earlier. At the same time older girls (over eighteen or over sixteen if First Class Scouts) became known as Senior Scouts.

In 1938 age divisions were set as

• Brownies (ages seven through nine)
• Intermediates (ages ten through thirteen)
• Seniors (ages fourteen through seventeen)

In 1963 this was rearranged to

• Brownies (ages seven through nine)
• Juniors (ages nine through eleven)
• Cadettes (ages eleven through fourteen)
• Seniors (ages fourteen through seventeen)

In the 1970s the age divisions were

• Pixies (ages five through six)
• Brownies (ages seven through nine)
• Juniors (ages nine through eleven)
• Cadettes (ages eleven through fourteen)
• Seniors (ages fourteen through seventeen)

In 1984, the Daisy program for kindergarteners (age five) was introduced, and around 2003 the Studio 2B program for girls eleven through seventeen was introduced as a way to give older girls more options in Girl Scouts, although many girls still called themselves Cadettes and Seniors. STUDIO 2B was discontinued as a program option in 2007.

• Daisy Girl Scouts (5 & 6 years old or in kindergarten)
• Brownie Girl Scouts (6–8 years old or in grades 1–3)
• Junior Girl Scouts (8–12 years old or in grades 4–6. In some situations, girls age eight and in third grade may be Juniors.)
• Cadette Girl Scouts (12–13 years old or in grades 7–8)
• Senior Girl Scouts (14–17 years old or in grades 9–12)^[19]

In 2008 another reorganization took place. Girl Scout Ambassador level was added. All levels were changed to have Girl Scouts at the start of their name, e.g. "Girl Scout Brownies" instead of "Brownie Girl Scouts", and levels were changed to be by grade only instead of by age or grade.

• Girl Scout Daisies (grades K–1, ages 5-7)
• Girl Scout Brownies (grades 2–3, ages 7-9)
• Girl Scout Juniors (grades 4–5, ages 9-11)
• Girl Scout Cadettes (grades 6–8, ages 11-14)
• Girl Scout Seniors (grades 9–10, ages 14-16)
• Girl Scout Ambassadors (grades 11–12, ages 16-18)

Outside the age level programs, there have been somewhat separate programs for Mariner Scouts (1934–present) and Wing Scouts (1941–1970s).

In addition, there are Girl Scouts known as Juliettes, who are independent of any troop due to lack of a troop to join or because other commitments do not allow them to actively participate with available troops. A Juliette is still placed in her appropriate grade level and works on program as would any other girl her age in a regular troop. A number of Girl Scout councils are discouraging the use of "Juliettes".

References

External links

• Official Girl Scout of the USA site
• A Timeline of Girl Scouting

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