Girl Scouts of Hawai`i Gold Award Mentor Program Training December 17, 2010

2 What Girls Say About Leadership “A good leader is someone who works with others to make things happen.” - Annie, 17 “Leadership is knowing what you believe in and putting it into action.” - Meaghan, 14 “What leadership means to me is bringing others together and helping them do things they have never tried before.” - Shelby, 11 “A leader is any person of great spirit and heart.” - Girl 3 rd Grade

3 Insight # 1 – Girls Redefine Leadership In Meaningful Terms Most common definition: Power & Control Least aspirational definition: Power & Control Most aspirational definition: Personal Principles Ethical Behavior Ability to Social Change

4 Insight # 1 Types of Leaders Want to Be One who stands up for his or her beliefs and values 59 %68 % One who brings people together to get things done 52 %58 % One who tries to change the world for the better 49 %59 % One who has skills that make others respect them 49 %50 % One who tries to be the very best as something 50 %49 % One who is in charge of other people and makes decisions that affect them 34 %33 % Definition of Leaders One who brings people together to get things done 64 %72 % One who stands up for his or her beliefs and values 57 %65 % One who tries to change the world for the better 46 %54 % One who is in charge of other people and makes decisions that affect them 50 %49 % One who has skills that make others respect them 46 % One who tries to be the very best as something 38 %36 % GirlsIndicates top three choices Boys

5 Insight # 2 – Factors that impact girls’ desire to pursue leadership…. Most strongly influences Confidence in her own skills and competencies. Little effect Age and gender Attitude, self-perception, and experiences drive leadership aspiration in youth Strong majority (82%) of youth agree that girls and boys are equally good at being leaders. However, 56% of respondents also agree that “in our society, it is more difficult for a woman to become a leader than a man.” Indirect effect Race/Ethnicity and Household income

6

Holistic Development of a Girl

8 Leadership + Leadership integrity results from the successful integration and application of the three domains and keys of leadership Theory of LEADERSHIPPractice of LEADERSHIP

Cooperative Learning Learning By Doing Girl Led Connect Take Action Discover Three Keys of Leadership+Learning Processes

Girl Scout Leadership Experience

Our Mission Building Girls of courage, confidence and character that make the world a better place.

12 Girl Scout Research Institute Leadership is not defined by a position or title, limited by age, or dictated by one’s social-economic status. Rather, it is about having the daily courage, confidence, and character to positively influence everyday circumstances and challenges in ways that better the world for others. Redefine Leadership

13 Prepare GIRLS to meet the world’s challenges… “In Girl Scouts, leadership isn’t just about building future leaders – it’s about building girl leaders for today”. Kathy Cloninger, CEO, Girl Scouts of USA

The Gold Award The highest award that a Girl Scout in 9 – 12 grades may earn. “What you really want to be remembered for" in Girl Scouting.. Last year, approximately 5,500 girls received the Girl Scout Gold Award. That was around 5.4% of the eligible registered Girl Scouts.

GIRLS …can do great things!

Levels of Civic Engagement Personal responsibility Donate food to a food bank Participatory Organize a food drive Justice-oriented Raise questions about the root causes of poverty Community Service Take Action

From Community Service to Take Action Provide a short-term solution to an immediate need Do work “for” others Community Service Identify the root causes of problems in the community Address a community need Complete a project that creates positive changes that are measureable and sustainable Take Action

Community Service vs. Take Action Good Community Service ProjectGreat Girl Scout Gold Award Projects! Volunteering many hours at a Park Service site picking up litter Reseeding an area with native vegetation and ridding area of non-native vegetation. Creating an interpretive guide on what the area was like 50 years ago and why it is important to preserve native species. Working at the local library doing children’s story hours or conducting a book drive for the juvenile detention center. Creating a reading program for a migrant work camp in the summer. Assuring that each child receives a book (bilingual) of their own. Matching young children with volunteer tutors from the high school Spanish club to create an ongoing service project. Volunteering to collect games and food at the mall for a teen center. Creating a health access booklet for teens in the community; culminating with a teen health fair with various organizations presenting their services. Admission is canned goods for a teen center.

Take Action Outcomes  Girls can identify community needs  Girls are resourceful problem solvers  Girls advocate for themselves and others, locally and globally  Girls educate and inspire others to act  Girls feel empowered to make a difference in the world

Mentor Role Help girls to elevate their community service projects to take action projects Help girls in your specific areas of expertise and/or information resources

Caring Adults Make a Difference

Girls by age group Girls Girls DEFINING MOMENTS Rite of passage – now officially a teenager Independence – old enough to drive IMAGE OF SELF “Me” focusedPressure to achieve success WORRIES Boys not liking me How I look Pressures to act in a certain way Eating disorders Stressed out Becoming somebody Getting into the “right” college ACTIVITIES Developing your self-image Taking trips Music Career possibilities Self-defense Managing your time From the Girl Scout Research Institute study “The Ten Emerging Truths – New Directions for Girls 11-17”

“When I turned 13, everything changed! You are now officially a teenager but you are not ready for a lot of what is happening to you – the peer pressure, pressure from boys, pressure to look a certain way, family pressures. It’s hard because your friends are going through it too and you don’t know what to do.” -Kendra, age 13 “Adults always say they understand but really they don’t. We are growing up in a society where as teenagers we can’t be just girls, but young women who are being stressed out to be perfect in every respect. We are being told to grow up and take on more responsibilities, to achieve good grades, and to go into the world and make something of ourselves.” -Jennifer, age 17 In their own words…

Questions?