Girl Scouts

I'd try and find another troop. The experience is only as good as the leadership. Multi-age troops seem very difficult since I only have Daisies. The dues for my troop is $25 twice a year. The $10 goes to council for insurance and other fees it costs to run the Girl Scout organization, not the troop. The patches cost $1.25 each. Crafts cost about $1-2 per girl per craft. The money doesn't go very far at all.

I work 45+ hrs/week and have a long commute and I am still a leader. So try and recruit a leader. It's fun.

As a Mom and a girl scout leader for many years it makes me upset when I hear stories like yours. My daughter has been involved in girl scouts for 8 years. I had a problem in the beginning finding her a troop also and eventually started my own but if you don't have time don't worry. Call your local neighborhood or council and explain your concerns. Although it may take some time to find another troop do not be discouraged. Girl Scouting is a great activity. My daughter has made some long time friends in this group and although we are not very active any more (kids getting older have less time!) they do look forward to meeting and seeing eachother when we meet.

As of right now the only "uniform" they need is the girl scout pin. Next year they will be required to have either a sash or a vest. If your girls want these you can to go online or to the local girl scout store to purchase these items. It really makes them feel like a part of the group. One year we didn't require vests or sashes because we had several families who couldn't afford these so instead we made sure everyone had a pin and then made troop shirts. This may be an option for your troop. Plus, it's a fun activity!

My hope is you can find a new troop your girls as well as you are comfortable with. There is nothing like girls scouts out there from camping out, selling cookies, doing good deeds, crafts, helping people and teaching tolerance it has it all. You may want to ask at her school if there is a troop that meets there. Or maybe some teachers as they sometimes are involved themselves. Good luck.

I am not familiar with girl scouts, but with any organization, the leaders are key. But I would not be so concerned with quitting. If my kids were not being dealt with kindness, and not doing what they came to do (what your 8 year old is doing) I would quit. I wouldn't want them to learn that being treated badly is ok as long as you don't quit. Sometimes leaving a situation like that is a better option and teaching them that is good. My kids were recently in an AWANA program where they were unhappy. Although the program is there to teach them certain things, if kids don't have some fun in learning, they will only learn that those things are not worth learning. It depends too on what they are there to learn. Good luck.

Hi K.,

I am so sorry to hear about your trouble with girlscouts. I am a girlscout leader in Largo and that is not behavior I would ever expect as a parent or a leader! I do not think they should have her in a troop where she is the only girl of that age level. Multi aged troops are ok but it has to have more then one girl of that age range. I would defintely call your local council and find out who else has meetings by your school or home. And let them know of your issues with the leaders they cant help make it right if no one talks. As for the uniforms that is something the parents buy on their own, I do not require my girls to wear their uniform every meeting only for public events or special ceremonies. We have made troop shirts that the girls love to wear. The badages should be bought by the troop not by you either!! As long as you pay dues monthly?!

good luck and let us know how its goes!

i know how u feel . I had my girls in a troop and all they did was yell at them and they really did'nt do much learning . i remember it as a kid and it was lots of nature and outdoor stuff. i took my girls out because they were'nt learning nothing but fun stuff. But once i took the girls out the troop leader ignored us as if she didn't know us. I really thought it was about building lasting friendships Well if ur not happy with the troop take them out . and find another one . call head quaters they should help u .

i say, trust your gut instincts. if you think something may be wrong, it probably is. you could look for another troop.

Hi, K., I am a Service Unit Manager in the Tampa Bay area (which means I am the Leaders' Leader) I also have four troops of my own - Daisy, Brownie, Junior and Cadette. I make it a habit to never raise my voice to any of my girls and I tell them that if they can't hear me they will miss out, because I wont raise my voice. When I train other leaders I tell them the same thing, however, not every leader follows the training they are given and when I am contact by a parent or the council about inappropriate behavior, I take it up with the leader and if they continue to behave inappropriately, they will not be in their position until they can re-direct themselves. I recommend you contact your council and speak to the CDM for that Service area and let them know what is going on. They will be very discreet about it and wont mention your name or your girls' names if you request. If it continues and nothing is done about it, ask the CDM who the Service Unit Manager (SUM) is and find out if there is another troop you can switch your girls to. You definitely want them to have a good experience and stick with it as long as they are able.
Good Luck to you!!

please do not ever give up on GIRL SCOUTS, call your headquarters and mention your concerns. i have been affiliated with scouts since the 1950s, i started out in brownies and went all the way thru senior scouts, i then started cub scout and brownie troops for my son and 3 daughters, we went on to seniors. sorry you cant start a troop. headquarters can give you the name and number of another troop in our area. scouts is a very good foundation for all children. good luck J.

I have 2 sons in Boy Scouts. I have experienced some of the issues you are facing. I experienced this for several years and like you, said to my sons, be respectful of adults. Well, the adults are now shafting my sons and so, to this, I say, find another troop for the girls. Protect your girls from adults that are unruly and power hungry. I presume you want their experience to be a positive learning opportunity. The only person they have to protect them no matter what is you and your husband. Do so, be their protecter. Don't let them quit scouting, but find a group that has healthier adults in it. You have precious time to share life lessons with your girls. One of them being to get out of situations that are unhealthy. It will be proven to them time and again as they go through life of what is an acceptable way to be treated and what is not. Go for healthy relationships with adult leadership that focuses on the child and what is best for a child. I am a social worker and an adult leader of children. Every child should have a positive experience in scouting. That is what will foster the opportunity for more scouts and the opportunity for you to see your grandchildren in scouts. Good luck!! Visit a few Girl Scout groups and see what fits for your girls.

Both of my girls were in girls scouts and loved it until. You have to buy the clothes and sashes for them. Look at Goodwill. Also there is a girl scout web site where you can get them.
My youngest didn't like the leader she had so I asked around and got her into another troup. It is not normal for a girls scout leader to be yelling at the girls. The leaders my girls had were great. Very seldom did they ever have to raise their voice at all. They did lots of projects and worked on a different badge all the time. The badges are normally handed out at programs. Some troups buy the sashes for them. I would ask at the school they are attending and also go online to the girl scout council and voice my problems to them. You don't want to keep your girls in that troup and let them end up having a bad experience to remember the rest of their lives.