When people think about Girl Scouts, they often think about cookies, camping, and crafting. I want to challenge that perception and tell you about a special group of Girl Scouts that I co-lead with Dana.
There are 25 youth in my troop and some of them are neurodivergent, which is a fancy word for saying they may have challenges like anxiety, autism, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Neurodivergence describes the variety of ways in which human brains are differently wired.
But, like any troop, ours is all about friendship, adventure, and learning new things. Setting us apart, however, is our intentional approach to being inclusive of our neurodivergent Girl Scouts, something I believe helps all kids have a meaningful experience.
We are deliberate about creating safe spaces where differences are honored and everyone can learn from each other without fear of judgment. Through this approach to the Girl Scouting model, they are making lasting friendships, discovering their interests, and learning how to build and be in community with others. They’re getting outside, they’re learning about each other and the world around them, and they’re making the world a better place by leading with inclusion.
Since its founding, inclusion has been a core value of Girl Scouts of the USA and, like the organization to which these values belong, the meaning and application has come to evolve. Over time, significant progress has been made in expanding membership and programming while advancing a greater sense of belonging for all Girl Scouts. I intend to keep that momentum going in whatever ways I can, whether that’s creating sensory-friendly spaces within troop meetings, providing multiple pathways to earning a badge, or simply modeling outdoor leadership as a Black woman on the trails. Our approach seems to be working, the troop having more than doubled in just the first few years. Not only that, but they’re building community outside the troop, attending each other’s birthday parties, and signing up for shared extracurriculars.
Girl Scouting has long been tied to positive life outcomes, including academic achievement, career success, development of healthy relationships, and overall life satisfaction. Girl Scout alums are more likely to hold leadership roles in their careers and communities, more inclined to volunteer and give back, and exhibit higher levels of courage, confidence, and character in their daily lives.
Further, recent research has shown that friendship provides a powerful antidote to feelings of loneliness that many girls experience. The study found girls as young as five report feelings of loneliness which, over time, can erode their self-confidence. Conversely, more than half of respondents reported that having a friend by their side encourages them to try new things and step out of their comfort zones.
For our kids, I see how Girl Scouts provides that supportive community they can access to help navigate different life challenges like advocating for yourself in the classroom or standing up to a bully.
If there’s a child in your life who can benefit from the impacts of Girl Scouts, I encourage you to join the movement! Youth of color, but especially our girls, need representative role models to help them discover their talents and imagine bright futures so they can reach their full potential. And volunteering need not be a lonely experience—lean on the support of community leaders, a troop co-leader, or your Mentored Troop staff liaison. Explore ways to join online, attend an upcoming recruitment event, and get started today.
