The Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) surveyed a nationally representative sample of girls in December 2016 to assess the role of Girl Scouts in helping girls achieve the five Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) outcomes – strong self-confidence, positive values, challenge-seeking, healthy relationships, and community problem-solving.

The institute also looked at how girls benefit from membership in the Girl Scouts, as shown by the GSRI’s Girl Scout Impact Study.

The GSLE – the foundation of the Girl Scout program – offers a variety of challenging and experiential activities that empower girls and help them develop attitudes, skills and behaviors essential to effective leadership. Results from the 2016 study showed that Girl Scouts are more likely to demonstrate strong leadership skills, achieve excellent grades, graduate from college, pursue careers in STEM, business and law, and be optimistic about the future.

The results also showed that Scouts are more likely to participate in activities that are girl-led, cooperative and hands-on.

“I think what I like best is that the girls are in charge,” says Colleen Wolfram, co-service unit manager and leader of the Girl Scouts of Moorestown. “It’s the one thing where they don’t have to worry about competing with a guy. They don’t have to worry about girls being petty sometimes. We’re all equal here. They have to sit down and talk, they have to vote, they get to make the decisions. So we follow their lead.”

“They are in charge,” she added. “It gives them a sense of power and self-worth.”

The Township Scouts program offers unique programs for girls in grades K-12 designed to motivate, inspire, challenge and strengthen their understanding of the world around them. You don’t have to be a Moorestown resident to be a Moorestown Girl Scout.

For more information on becoming a Girl Scout or if you are interested in volunteering, visit the Moorestown Girl Scouts Facebook page at www.moorestowngirlscouts.weebly.com or www.gscsnj.org.

“The cool thing about the Girl Scouts is that they are very welcoming and open,” explained Maryellen DeMille, Service Unit Manager for the Girl Scouts of Moorestown. “They are very inclusive. I have been a Scout leader for 40 years and have seen a lot of changes, but in this day and age there definitely seems to be more…

“I love the program,” she added. “I adore the girls. (They are) the reason I’m still here 40 years later. One of the really cool things about the Girl Scouts – what makes it different from school – is that they (the troop members) decide what they’re going to do… The girls say, ‘We want to do X,’ and we try to make that happen.”

“This is probably the coolest part of the Girl Scout program.”