Confucius (551–479 BC) was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher of the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. Girl Led Express Presented by: Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council Assisted by: Confucius

Quick Warm Up #1 – First Name The grade level you work with and how long you have been a Troop Leader What you would like to take away from this workshop

Quick Warm Up #2 –

We know it’s important for girls to exercise their “muscles” in taking control and learning by doing—even if what they learned is that they made a mistake— …so that when they’re out in the “real” world… they will be better equipped to make choices for themselves. If this is true... then WHY is it so hard for adults to step back and loosen the reigns of control?

Girl Led means that girls of every age take an active and grade-appropriate role in figuring out the: What Where When why, and How of what they do. Leadership Development from the Girl Scout Perspective –

Girl Led has 3 Levels: Level 1: Girls choose which activities to do Level 2: Girls make decisions within those activities Level 3: Girls learn to lead other girls

Level 1 - Choosing which activities to do: Girls make choices about which activities they do in their troops, during an event, or during their time at camp. This means that girls should choose the journey & badges they do, as well as select and plan their field trips, service projects, and other activities which are just for fun.

So let’s keep it simple… Exercise #1

What do multiple options look & feel like? Exercise #2

Level 2 - Decisions within a chosen activity: Girls make decisions affecting how they do a particular activity. Say earlier in Exercise 1 - you made the decision to cook a meal. Now grab the ripple effect & take it deeper… What ingredients will we use for cooking? Chicken? Beef? Pasta? Side dishes? Salads? Iced tea or lemonade? Formal tablecloth or picnic table setting?

Level 2 - Decisions within a chosen activity: Girls make decisions affecting how they do a particular activity. Say earlier in Exercise 1 - you made the decision to plan a service project to help a local animal shelter. Now grab the ripple effect & take it deeper… Should we go door to door to collect food & blankets or donate money from cookie profits? If we collect, what streets will we cover? Do we need a flyer to let residents know in advance we are collecting? What will the flyer say? Who will design the flyer? What day will we deliver them? What day will we pick up items? Will we stay to help clean cages and walk dogs at the shelter on delivery day?

Level 3 - Learning to lead other girls: Stage 1 - Girls learn to lead each other within their peer group. This takes place through various mechanisms, most notably… Kaper charts, the patrol system, and… through distribution of responsibility in a collaborative, team approach to projects. Kaper Charts:Patrol Structure:Collaborative Approach:

Level 3 - Learning to lead other girls: Stage 2 - Older girls learn to lead younger girls. This takes place through various mechanisms, such as… Earning the Junior Aid Award (Juniors work w/Daisies) Earning the LIA (Leader in Action) Award (Cadettes work w/Brownies) Becoming a Program Aid (Cadettes work w/Brownies or at Day Camp) Participating in a multi-level troop Note: The girls doing the leading often need coaching to let the other girls make choices: both about which activities to do & making choices within an activity.

Once girls have the basics, step back and allow level 3 to happen… Exercise #3

Leadership redefined in the light of GSLE WHAT IT IS NOT: Leadership does not mean telling others what to do and handling it for them. WHAT LEADERSHIP IS: Leadership means gathering input, facilitating the process of weighing the pros & cons, and helping the group make good decisions. All people learn from (and replicate) what they experience.

What does it mean ?

Thank you for coming! The End