To Join or Not to Join - Girl Scouts.

I LOVED Girl Scouts. Was in until I was 14. Tell, them you can't be a leader. It would be so good for her! LisaH

Great question, I have 2 daughters in Girl Scouts and I am the leader of both troops. It is crazy. I think that Girl Scouts is awesome. And at your daughter age they are not allowed to raise money. The Daisy activities are so much fun, I would definately do it. As for being a leader that is another thing. You sound like you have your plate full. There are a lot of ways you could be supportive with out being a leader. What I have found out the hard way is the 80-20 rule. That is 80% of the work gets done by 20% of the people. People like you make great leaders because you obviously know how to get things done. I actually have stay at home moms with one kid who wouldn't even consider being a leader because they are to busy. My co-leaders each have 3 kids work full time and one is a single parent the other has a lot of other has someother stuff going on. I love being a leader I get as muich out of it as my daughters but it is very time consuming. Let someone else do it but get your daughter into it.

Hi Katherine,

I have 2 daughters, one almost 9 & one 5. When My older daughter was in Kindergarten, my neighbor & I co-lead our daughters' Daisy Girl Scouts troop. It was a lot of fun, but the day before & sometimes afternoon of, the mtgs. I was always scrambling to get stuff together. My neighbor helped run the mtgs. but I did the majority of planning. Girl Scouts is a wonderful Organization, but it is also a big commitment to be a leader. If you are working full time and thinking of getting pregnant, I would seriously think about how much time you are willing and able to devote to a troop. Aside from troop mtgs., there are 3 or 4 training sessions that you will have to attend, each 3-5 hrs long. It sounds like your family is active together, and that you make an effort to help your daughter develop friendships with her peers, so don't feel too guilty if you decide not to be a Leader(there's always next year).
Just to let you know, my daughter did enjoy Scouts, but decided that she wanted to try some other things too. It turns out that she LOVES sports, and she hasn't asked to go back to Scouts. Good Luck!
S.

From experience growing up, my mom was the assisstant leader of my sisters and my own troop. She enjoyed it. The only fundraiser we ever did was once a year for the cookie sale and if you can get another parent to volunteer to take care of the cookie order that really won't take much of your time. (Since my mom was assisstant she had both troops and one year both were top seller troops for their age group in our region!) She loved every minute of it. It's an hour or two once a week (or bi weekely if you wanted) with a bunch of girls. I know there use to be the books with the badges that had different ideas on activities to do and such.
Maybe you could ask if any of the parents would be willing to take turns helping you out at meetings so you weren't the only adult there, if you choose to do the position.

Girl Scouts is fabulous - but you have too much on your plate to be a dedicated leader. You really should be ready to make a 6 year or more committment to these girls. They benefit from having the same leader for a long time. I would let her join, just do not volunteer to be a leader. If they do not have a leader - just wait until they do get one.

Hi K.. My daughter will be 2 this christmas eve, I am a single parent working full time as manager of a retail store as well as going to school full time to be an elementary teacher. My daughter is only in daycare while I work and by my side the rest of a the time temper tantrums and all. I currently have two girl scout troops, brownies and juniors, both of which have 5 girls in them. Yes I am a busy girl but I still have time to spend with my mother and sister (I have a very close family) a couple days a week, take my daughter to the park a couple of times a week and walk every morning for me time. I love my girl scouts and started leading because I thought it would be fun I keep on doing it because they mean so much to me I wouldnt have it any other way we have a blast every monday for 2 hours those girls help me out more than I am helping them I feel. I would recommened for you to become a leader you wont regret it even if you are busy you get more out than you put in trust me some of those girls need role models like us and friends like the girl scouts.

Hi K.,
I am very familiar with the Girl Scout organization, so I will tell you what I think. First of all, I understand your concerns about whether it will be too time consuming and about the fundraisers. Girl Scouts is an excellent program for girls to take part in, because they really focus on learning, leadership and community service and the young ladies that I know who have stuck with it throughout their entire school career are REALLY impressive. They are independent, have great leadership qualities and they've developed lifelong bonds with each other. Plus it's done in an all girl setting with positive role models. I don't think it's too time consuming. My 9 year old is in it and when she can't attend a meeting or an event because of a conflict like soccer, she just catches up with them the next time which is fine. Cookies are the big fundraiser and they really do raise alot of money for the troop, which helps keep costs down for the parents. We don't do any other fundraisers, though some troops may and they are optional. The girls learn important skills while conducting the sale also. There are pros and cons to becoming a leader. On the one hand, it IS more time consuming. However, if you decide to take the plunge, then you are the one to schedule the time, location and frequency of meetings so you know they will be convenient for you. Also, you will have alot of control over the type of activities you plan - some troops ARE better than others because of who the leader is. So, anyway, that is my opinion. I hope that helps and I hope you decide to join up!

I cannot say eenough wonderful things about Girl Scouts. It provides many advantages for girls' futures. That being said, the most effective leaders are teams. Someone who tries to run a troop with little to no help will have a hard time managing kids and doing projects. It's a very worth it activity, but the girls need a team of leaders. It's less demanding if the work of planning can be shared. There is fund raising, but my girls' troops focused more on community service. Parents donated baking supplies for bake sales and Xmas wreath decorations. If you live in a community where families can afford to donate stuff as well as time, you are better off. It's cool to take girls on little field trips to bakeries, a pet shelter, Xmas Caroling at retirement homes, etc, but you need reliable chaperones and co-leaders. Good luck! P.

Hi, K.,
It is time demanding and being a leader for a girl scouts group should come from your heart. Are you ready? If time is the only matter then you have to think what you as a leader can give to these girls? I have a daughter of 8y.o., she has been in girl scouts then she dropped, the activities were boring, again I think due to the fact that the leaders were not "mature" in terms of their personality to give something to children. It is like being a teacher

My daughter and I did it for 1 year and it was so much work because none of the other moms wanted to help. Very expensive and frankly my girl wanted to drop out because it was boring!

Hi K.,
My daughter is 17 teen and through scouts she has met the 1st lady Laura Bush,we went to the savanha to the home of the 1st lady that formed scouts she learned alot about her presidents and there wives here troop was the 1st in the nation to make the first ladys patch for all girls in scots i know that scots is a great thing and get involed you will never belive how much fun it is yes its takes a little work but if you have parents that are willing to pitch in its all good Daisy are the best i just loved scouts and still do my chicka peas still keep in touch and they went from the winey bunch to woundeful young ladies that im proud to say i know i say scouting is a good thing if you neede any ideas let me know