Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
During our 2021 program year, Girl Scouts supported youth during the pandemic by building capacity for virtual, COVID-resilient leadership program. These strategies were successful in supporting Girl Scouts during this difficult time. In 2021, Girl Scouts served over 18,400 girls in grades K-12 with our 2021 leadership programs. Of these girls, over 5,900 participated in experiential learning events, over 2,400 attended Girl Scout Camp, and 131 earned their Higher Awards by leading community service projects. In total, girls have earned over 49,000 of our skill-building badges throughout the year.
We also know that the impact of this programming was great. Our Girl Scouts are friends and dedicated teammates, with 7 out of 10 of girls learning by working together. They are purposeful leaders, with 6 in 10 girls saying that they take the lead in Girl Scouts. Most important, our Girl Scouts believe in themselves and their futures, with 73% of girls say they have confidence in themselves and their abilities.
This kind of Girl Scout grit, friendship, and confidence impacted every one of the almost 20,000 girls we served. Girl Scouts is always here to ensure that girls always feel ready to lead with courage, have fun, and persevere, even during difficult times such as the COVID-19 pandemic. As one troop leader said, “Amid a year of challenges, Girl Scouts has helped our girls be innovative problem solvers and find ways to be successful despite obstacles.”
Current Goals
Girl Scouts River Valleys will provide accessible, research-backed, all-girl leadership programming to 20,000 girls, with the goal of promoting in them the leadership and social emotional outcomes they need to succeed. We will provide Girl Scout activities through a variety of different participation, including volunteer-led Girl Scout troops; subject-focused experiential learning events like STEM and Girl Scout Camp; and special initiatives designed to reach girls in communities of color. These will also include both in-person, virtual, or hybrid participation models.
As Girl Scouts participate, they engage in hands-on Girl Scout curriculum that focuses on the areas where girls most need support. These areas are STEM, life skills, entrepreneurship, leadership and service learning, and the outdoors.
Through these activities, Girl Scouts developed the following outcomes: 1)Strong Sense of Self: girls have confidence in themselves and their abilities, and form positive identities; 2) Positive Values: girls act ethically, honestly, and responsibly, and show concern for others; 3) Challenge Seeking: girls learn to take appropriate risks, try new things even if they might fail, and learn from mistakes; 4) Community Problem Solving: girls desire to contribute to the world in purposeful and meaningful ways, learn how to identify problems in the community, and create action plans to solve them; 5) Healthy Relationships: girls develop and maintain healthy relationships by communicating their feelings directly and resolving conflicts constructively
In the process, Girl Scout programs fulfill our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Community or Constituency Served
Girl Scouts serves girls in grades K-12.
Geographic Area Served
Girl Scouts serves a 49-county region that spans the southern half of Minnesota (44), western Wisconsin (4), and Iowa (1).
