Launching 42 New Badges and Announcing Programs across Central, Northern Arizona, and Recruiting New Troop Leaders
Across Central and Northern Arizona, Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is offering a variety of programs that are dedicated to the Girl Scout difference: helping girls practice important life skills and develop the confidence to create their own success, whatever that success looks like for each girl. With more than 10,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves more than 20,000 local girls grades K-12 and reaches communities in over two-thirds of the state. Into the fall, GSACPC is actively recruiting new troop leaders, and forming new troops for more girls to participate, throughout the region.
“It is important to understand the impact that these programs have on girls – and our adult volunteers – across Arizona,” says Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. “Girl Scouts empowers girls to develop a strong sense of self and to strive to be leaders, and volunteers are able to help nurture and foster that development.”
Girl Scouts helps girls learn in an all-girl environment where they can thrive in five key areas: developing a sense of self, seeking challenges and learning from setbacks, displaying positive values, forming and maintaining healthy relationships, and identifying and solving problems in their communities. They achieve this by engaging in hands-on STEM activities, carrying out meaningful community service projects, exploring the great outdoors, engaging in entrepreneurial and financial literacy programs and connecting with girls around the world earning badges.
“Girl Scouts has had overwhelming success in encouraging future female leaders,” says Woodbury. “Among Girl Scouts alum are 52 percent of female business leaders, 58 percent of women in the 116th Congress, 60 percent of women elected to Congress and 77 percent of girls considering careers in technology.”
Upcoming opportunities to try Girl Scouts include PowerUp G.I.R.L.s events, the LEGO Challenge, and new program sites and community partners’ locations in Maryvale, Glendale and West Valley, in addition to multiple opportunities to engage in STEM and outdoor activities.
Girl Scouts has also announced it will be launching 42 new badges exclusively for girls in grades K-12, which will become available this upcoming member year. The badges offer girls a chance to learn about everything from outdoor adventures to cybersecurity.
Below is more information on new badges, available programs and how to get involved:
Girl Scouts Launches 42 New Program Badges
The 42 new badges range in topics from STEM focus to outdoor exploring. Among the new badge offerings are Outdoor High Adventure badges that feature, for the first time in Girl Scouts’ history, two distinct activity options, letting girls choose how they want to earn each badge. In addition to existing badge offerings, girls in grades 6–12 can now pursue:
- Nine Cybersecurity badges, through which girls learn about the inner workings of computer technology and cybersecurity and apply concepts of safety and protection to the technology they use every day. Activities range from decrypting and encrypting messages, to learning proper protection methods for devices, to exploring real-world hacking scenarios.
- Three Space Science badges, through which girls explore topics such as the universe and their place in it, properties of light and inspiring careers in space science.
- Think Like a Citizen Scientist, a Girl Scout Leadership Journey during which girls participate in interactive activities to practice observation techniques; collect data; and share their findings with real-world scientists through an online network. As with all of Girl Scouts’ Leadership Journeys, which encourage girls to explore and connect with their community, girls use their newly honed skills to take action on a community issue of their choosing.
The new programming for girls in grades K–12 includes:
- 12 Outdoor High Adventure badges, designed for girls to explore nature and experience exciting outdoor adventures like backpacking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, rock climbing, and tree climbing—giving them the confidence to support one another, take healthy risks, and spend dedicated time in nature. These are the first Girl Scout badges that members can earn by choosing one of two self-directed paths.
- 18 Coding for Good badges, which not only teach girls the basics of coding but also detail how every stage of the coding process provides girls with opportunities to use their skills for good. Girls will learn about algorithms through age-appropriate, creative activities, such as coding positive memes to spread a message about a cause they care about, designing a digital game to educate people about an issue, and developing an app to promote healthy habits. Every Coding for Good badge includes a plugged-in and unplugged version so that all girls can learn the foundations of coding, regardless of their access to technology.
PowerUp G.I.R.L.s Event – Saturday, August 17
The PowerUP G.I.R.L.s event aims to educate girls and women about the power, impact, and fun of Girl Scouting, through a one-of-a-kind informational event in 50+ locations across the state, all in the same day. The second annual event, put on by GSACPC, will take place across the council’s central and northern Arizona regions.
The purpose of this event is to promote a variety of activities
available to Girl Scouts, including interactive STEM projects, and to
offer a glimpse into the safe, no-limits space available for G.I.R.L.s
(Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, and Leaders). In addition, the
event will engage adult women – not just mothers of girls – about the
benefits of volunteering with GSACPC.
The event will take place
at retail locations, local recreation and community centers, as well
as libraries and churches.
PowerUp G.I.R.L.s event details:
Date: Saturday, August 17 from 10 a.m. – Noon
Location: Over 50 locations across Central and Northern Arizona. Find an event near you! No cost required.
Build a Roller Coaster Adventure with LEGO and Girl Scouts – Sunday, September 15
In collaboration with The LEGO Group, Girl Scouts of the USA announced the LEGO Challenge, which will engage future female STEM leaders in a roller coaster building adventure. Supporting Girl Scouts Daisies across the United States, the challenge will allow girls in grades K-1 to build Lego roller coasters and be an engineer for the day. Through the event, which will teach them about engineering, motion and gravity to create excitement about STEM subjects, Daisies will earn their Mechanical Engineering Badge.
To participate in this event, newly registered Girl Scout Daises (grade K-1) will receive an email invitation. Space is limited, new and interested Daisies who would like to attend, should contact GSACPC’s Customer Care team at 602-452-7040. They’ll also be able offer alternative STEM experiences once all spots for this event are filled.
LEGO Challenge Event Details:
Date: Sunday, September 15 at 10 a.m.
- Chandler Fashion Center, 3111 W. Chandler Blvd, Suite 2048 Chandler, AZ 85226
- Arrowhead Towne Center, 7700 W. Arrowhead Towne Center, Suite 1109 Glendale, AZ 85308
For additional information, please contact our Customer Care team at 602-452-7040.
Maryvale, Glendale and West Valley Program Sites
GSACPC is pleased to offer new program opportunities in the West Valley in a series of four to six-week after-school programs, at little to no cost. Girls will be able to explore Girl Scouting through various STEM, outdoor, life skills and entrepreneurship activities, as well as participate in community service projects and experience summer camp. At the end of the program, girls will have the opportunity to transition to Girl Scout troops. Financial assistance is available to any families in need.
The programs are now available at the following locations, in addition to existing sites:
- Desert West Community Center, 6501 W Virginia Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85035
- Golden Gate Community Center, 1625 N 39th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85009
- Roadrunner Elementary, 7702 N 39th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85051
For more information, additional sites and schedules, please call 602-452-7040.
