New Girl Scouts Badges introduced to power girl leadership

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council

Press Release

September 6, 2018 1:00 p.m.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (September 4, 2018) – Girl Scouts of Gateway Counciland Girl Scouts of the USA(GSUSA) reveals 30 new badges to further enhance the one-of-a-kind Girl Scout experience available to girls ages 5-18.

The new badges address some of society’s most pressing needs, such as cybersecurity, environmental advocacy, mechanical engineering, robotics, computer science, space exploration and more. In a safe all-girl space, Girl Scouts develop important soft skills, including confidence and perseverance, as well as hard skills, setting them up for success and preparing them to take action for a better world.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer our Girl Scouts the opportunity to earn new badges that address very important modern day needs in our communities and beyond,” said Mary Anne Jacobs, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. “Today’s girls are vocal about changes they want to see and it is important that we educate and empower our girls to be future change-makers.”

The results are proven: According to the Girl Scout Impact Study, girls who participate in Girl Scouts are more than twice as likely to exhibit community problem-solving skills than girls who don’t (57 percent versus 28 percent). The unique Girl Scout environment provides fun, exciting, and essential experiences that carry into girls’ future careers and life success. Studies show that 76 percent of women today wish they had learned more about leadership and had more leadership opportunities while growing up, demonstrating how imperative it is for girls and volunteers to join Girl Scouts.

With the new programs available at Girl Scouts, girls can now dive deeper into modern day interests, issues and challenges and earn badges in:

• Environmental Stewardship: girls will learn to respect the outdoors and take action to be good stewards of the environment. These badges are the first to specifically prepare girls to be environmental advocates who address problems, find solutions, and protect the natural world.
• Cybersecurity: girls are introduced to age-appropriate online safety and privacy principles, information on how the internet works, and how to spot and investigate cybercrime.
• Space Science: girls will channel their inner NASA scientist as they learn about objects in space and how astronomers conduct investigations.
• Mechanical Engineering: Girl Scout Juniors in grades 4 and 5 can have hands-on engineering experience by designing paddle-boats, cranes and balloon-powered cars, while learning about buoyancy, potential and kinetic energy, machines, and jet propulsion.
• Robotics: girls will continue to explore the world of science and technology introduced last year through programming, designing and showcasing their robot creations.
• College Knowledge: High-school aged Girl Scouts in grades 11 and 12 will have a badge completely dedicated to college exploration. Girls will learn how to research the admissions process, financial aid, and much more in this highly requested program.

Girl Scouts will continue to learn how to proactively address some of the foremost challenges of today, while also building skills that will set them up for a lifetime of leadership.

“I am so proud that our new programming continues to push girls to be forward-thinking and equips them with the skills they need to make the world a better place,” said Jacobs. “We believe in the power of all girls, and we invite them to strengthen their unique abilities by joining Girl Scouts.”

Prepare your girl to unleash her inner strength. To join, volunteer or donate visit www.girlscouts-gateway.orgor contact TriciaRae Stancato at tstancato@girlscouts-gateway.orgor (904) 421-3484.