Girl Scouts of Central Indiana was formed by the merger of Girl Scouts of Hoosier Capital Council, Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council, Girl Scouts of Treaty Line Council, Girl Scouts of Sycamore Council, and Girl Scouts of Wapephani Council, and the addition of Howard and Carroll Counties from Girl Scouts of Tribal Trails Council.
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana serves over 36,000 girls in 45 counties in Central Indiana for girls in grades K-12. Council headquarters is Indianapolis, Indiana but service centers remain in cities that were the headquarters of former councils
Website[]
https://www.girlscoutsindiana.org
Girl Scout Promise[]
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law[]
I will do my best to be
Honest and Fair,
Friendly and Helpful,
Considerate and Caring,
Courageous and Strong, and
Responsible for what I say and do,
And to
respect myself and others,
respect authority, use resources wisely,
make the world a better place, and
be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Camps and cabins[]
- Camp Sycamore Valley near Lafayette is 160 acres (0.65 km2) on Wildcat creek.
- Camp Na Wa Ka in Poland, Indiana is 259 acres (1.05 km2)
- Camp Gallahue in Morgantown
- Camp Dellwood in Indianapolis
- Camp Ada in Spiceland
Levels[]
Daisy Scouts (Grades K-1)[]
Daisy is the initial level of Girl Scouting. Named for Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, they are in kindergarten and first grade (around ages 5–7). They typically meet in groups of ten girls with two adult leaders who help the girls plan activities to introduce them to Girl Scouts.
Daisies earn the Promise Center and Petals, which focus on the Girl Scout Law and are placed on the front of the tunic in a daisy design. They also earn Leaves and Journey Leadership Awards. Their uniform consists of a light blue tunic. They may also wear their tunic with a white shirt and khaki bottoms or with an official Girl Scout Daisy uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with blue membership disks and they wear the Girl Scout Daisy Membership Pin.
Daisies use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Daisies and the National Leadership Journeys to work on activities, may camp only with a parent present, and have the option to sell Girl Scout cookies. They may earn the Daisy Safety Award and the Bridge to Brownies Award.
Brownie Scouts (Grades 2-3)[]
Brownies are in second and third grades (around ages 7–9) and earn triangular shaped Brownie Leadership Journey Awards and National Proficiency Badges. Their uniform consists of a brown vest or sash which may be worn with a white shirt and khaki bottoms or with an official Brownie uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with green membership disks, and they wear the Brownie Membership Pin.
Brownies use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Brownies and the National Leadership Journeys[ to work on badges and activities. They may earn the Bridge to Juniors Award and the Brownie Safety Award.
Unlike some of the other levels, the name Brownie is commonly used with Girl Scout/Girl Guide organizations around the world and has its origin from Brownies in the British Girl Guides.
Junior Scouts (Grades 4-5)[]
Juniors are in fourth and fifth grades (around ages 9–11). Their uniform is a green vest or sash which may be worn with a white shirt and khaki bottoms.
Juniors are the first level to wear the official Girl Scout Membership Pin on their uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with yellow membership disks. They use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Juniors and the National Leadership Journeys to work on badges and activities. They earn circle shaped Junior Leadership Journey Awards and National Proficiency Badges. Badges require more skill at this level as the girls gain proficiency. They may earn the Girl Scout Junior Safety Award, the Junior Aide Award, and the Bridge to Cadettes Award.
Juniors are eligible to earn the Bronze Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting available at this level.
Cadette Scouts (Grades 6-8)[]
Cadettes are Girl Scouts who are in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades (around ages 11–14). Their uniform is a khaki vest or sash with white shirts and khaki bottoms. They wear the official Girl Scout Membership Pin on their uniform. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with white membership disks.
Cadettes use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Cadettes and the National Leadership Journeys to earn diamond shaped badges. Typically, Girl Scouts at this level are encouraged to assume leadership roles within them, such as assisting in leading and coordinating service unit or association events. They may also earn the Cadette Program Aide award, the Cadette Community Service Bar, the Cadette Service to Girl Scouting Bar, the Cadette Safety Award and the Bridge to Senior Award. They are eligible to earn the Silver Award, which is the highest award available to girls at this level.
Senior Scouts (Grades 9-10)[]
Seniors are Girl Scouts who are in ninth and tenth grade (around ages 14–16). Their wear the same uniform as Cadettes—however, the disks for their membership stars are red and their badges are a rectangular shape.
Seniors use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Seniors and the National Leadership Journeys to earn badges. They are typically encouraged to create and lead activities for the younger Girl Scouts, and to take a leadership role in organizing and assisting with Council and service unit/association events and activities. They may earn the Counselor-in-Training (CIT), the Volunteer-in-Training (VIT), the Girl Scout Senior Safety Award, the Gold Torch Award, the Senior Community Service Bar, the Senior Service to Girl Scouting Bar and the Bridge to Girl Scout Ambassador award.
Seniors are eligible to earn the Gold Award.
Ambassador Scouts (Grades 11-12)[]
Ambassadors are Girl Scouts who are in eleventh and twelfth grade (around ages 16-18). They wear the same khaki colored vest or sash as Cadettes and Seniors. The Girl Scout Membership Star is worn with navy membership disks.
Ambassadors use the Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting for Ambassadors and the National Leadership Journeys to earn badges that are shaped like an octagon. They may earn the Counselor-in-Training (CIT), the Counselor-in-Training (CIT) II, the Volunteer-in-Training (VIT), the Ambassador Community Service Bar, the Ambassador Service to Girl Scouting Bar, the Gold Torch Award, the Ambassador Safety Award, and the Bridge to Adult Award.
Ambassadors are eligible to earn the Gold Award.
Journeys[]
We know she wants to make a difference in the world—and have fun doing it. She’ll do just that through Girl Scout Leadership Journeys.
She’ll team up with friends to:
- Identify a problem they want to do something about
- Come up with a creative solution
- Create a team plan to make that solution a reality
- Put their plan into action
- Talk about what they learned—and what they’ll do next!
There are three series of Journeys to choose from at every grade level:
- It’s Your Story—Tell It!
- It’s Your Planet—Love It!
- It’s Your World—Change It!
She’ll pick the Journey topic that interests her most, whether it’s caring for animals, helping others get healthy and fit, spreading kindness, saving the planet, taking a stand for girls, creating community—or any other issue that’s really important to her.
As she goes on her Journey, she’ll earn awards to put on her uniform. They’ll let others know about the awesome things she’s done—and remind her of what she accomplished and the fun she had along the way.
Cookies[]
In Girl Scouts, it's a tradition to sell Girl Scout Cookies. Selling Girl Scout cookies helps girls in Girl Scouts learn 5 skills that they will use all throughout their lives. Plus, the Girl Scout will earn a Cookie Activity Pin and some badges too!
List of Girl Scout Cookies[]
| Cookie | Flavor |
|---|---|
 |
Thin, mint-flavored chocolate wafers dipped in a chocolatey coating. |
 |
Vanilla cookies coated in caramel, sprinkled with toasted coconut and laced with chocolatey stripes. |
 |
Gluten-free buttery cookies with toffee bits. (Pilot, not offered everywhere.) |
  |
Crispy vanilla cookies layered with Peter Pan peanut butter and covered with a chocolatey coating. |
 |
Peanut butter filling sandwiched between crunchy oatmeal cookies. |
 |
A traditional shortbread cookie made in the shape of the Girl Scout trefoil. |
 |
Graham sandwich cookies with chocolate and marshmallow filling. |
 |
Lemon wedge cookies dusted with powdered sugar. |
Highest Awards[]
Bronze. Silver. Gold. These represent the highest honors a Girl Scout can earn.
Bronze Award[]
The Bronze Award is the third highest award in Girl Scouts of the USA. It was introduced by GSUSA in 2001, and can only be earned by Girl Scout Juniors.
Prerequisites []
Girls must be in 4th or 5th grade (or equivalent), be a registered Girl Scout Junior, and have completed a Junior Journey before they can begin work on a Bronze Award project.
Bronze Award steps Edit[]
- Go on a Girl Scout Junior Journey.
- Build your Girl Scout Junior team.
- Explore your community.
- Choose your Girl Scout Bronze Award project.
- Make a plan.
- Put your plan in motion.
- Spread the word.
Junior Journey []
There are currently seven Junior Journey programs to choose from. All badges in the Journey must be earned for the Journey to be complete.
- Agent of Change. It's Your World, Change It! (three badges, sold as a complete set)
- Power of One Award
- Power of Team Award
- Power of Community Award
- Get Moving! It's Your Planet, Love It! (three badges, sold as a complete set)
- Energize Award
- Investigate Award
- Innovate Award
- aMUSE! It's Your Story, Tell It! (three badges, sold as a complete set)
- Reach Out! Award
- Speak Out! Award
- Try Out! Award
- Think Like a Citizen Scientist (two badges, sold separately)
- Junior Think Like a Citizen Scientist Award
- Junior Take Action Award
- Think Like a Programmer (two badges, sold separately)
- Junior Think Like a Programmer Award
- Junior Take Action Award
- Think Like an Engineer (two badges, sold separately)
- Junior Think Like an Engineer Award
- Junior Take Action Award
- Outdoor Journey (four badges, sold separately)
- Junior Camper
- Animal Habitats
- Eco Camper
- Junior Take Action Award
Bronze Award Project []
The Bronze Award Project is a team effort by a group of Juniors, usually from a single troop. The project's objective must be to benefit the local community and/or benefit Girl Scouting as a whole in some way. Each scout is expected to contribute 20 hours to the project. The project is to be girl-led, but, unlike the Silver and Gold Awards, adults may be on-hand to assist and guide.
Approval []
The approval process varies by council. Before beginning work on a Take Action Project or a Bronze Project, it is important to check with the local council.
Silver Award[]
The Silver Award is the second highest award of the Girl Scouts of the USA, and the highest award that a Girl Scout Cadette can earn.
Prerequisites []
A girl must be in 6th, 7th or 8th grade (or equivalent), be a registered Girl Scout Cadette, and have completed a Cadette Journey before she can begin work on a Silver Award project.
Cadette Journey[]
There are currently four Cadette Journey programs to choose from. All badges in the Journey must be earned for the Journey to be complete.
- Cadette Amaze Journey (three badges, sold as a set)
- Interact
- Diplomat
- Peacemaker
- Cadette Breath Journey (three badges, sold as a set)
- Aware
- Alert
- Affirm
- Cadette MEdia Journey (three badges, sold as a set)
- Monitor
- Influence
- Cultivate
- Cadette Outdoor Journey (four badges, sold separately)
- Night Owl[1][2]
- Trailblazing
- Primitive Camper
- Take Action
Silver Award Steps []
- Identify an issue you care about.
- Build your Girl Scout Silver Award team or decide to go solo.
- Explore your community.
- Pick your Silver Award project.
- Develop your project.
- Make a plan and put it into motion.
- Reflect, share your story, and celebrate.
Silver Award Project []
The Silver Award Project can be done as an individual or as a small group. The project's objective must be to benefit the community in some way. Each Girl Scout is expected to contribute 50 hours to the project. The project is to be girl-led, but adults can advise and assist when necessary. Although the general guidelines have been established by GSUSA, it is important to check with the local Council on exact procedure.
Approval[]
The approval process varies by council. Before beginning work on a Take Action Project or a Silver Project, it is important to check with the local council.
Gold Award[]
The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award.
History []
Girl Scout's highest award was created in 1916, and has gone through numerous changes over the years.
Golden Eaglet of Merit - 1916 to 1918 []
This award was a pin of an eagle with its wings spread, on a red, white, and blue ribbon.
Golden Eaglet - 1919 to 1938 []
In 1919 the name of the award was changed to the Golden Eaglet. Requirements for the award ranged through the years from earning 14 out of 17 specific badges, earning the Medal of Merit, earning a different number of badges, and the acceptance of a letter of Commendation instead of the Medal of Merit. The award itself changed from the spread-winged eagle and ribbon to an eagle with half-furled wings and a "G" and an "S" on either side of its head.
The founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, wrote in November 1923: “The five requirements for winning the Golden Eaglet are character, health, handicraft, happiness and service, and that others will expect to find in our Golden Eaglet a perfect specimen of girlhood: mentally, morally, and physically.”
First Class - 1938 to 1940 []
In 1938 the Golden Eaglet changed to the First Class Award.
Curved Bar - 1940 to 1963 []
This award was earned by Intermediate Scouts who had already earned the First Class Award, and was the way to bridge to Senior rank. Because of the shortage of metal during WWII, at first the award was a curved embroidered patch worn on the uniform. In 1947, the Curved Bar pin was introduced.
First Class - 1963 to 1980 []
In 1963 the award went back to being called First Class. Requirements for earning the First Class Award changed over the 17 years it was offered. Beginning in 1963, Cadette Scouts were required to earn four Challenges, plus at least six badges in specific areas:
- Social Dependability
- Emergency Preparedness
- Active Citizenship
- Girl Scout Promise
In 1972, eight new Challenges were offered:
- Arts
- Community Action
- Environment
- International Understanding
- Knowing Myself
- My Heritage
- Out-of-Doors
- Today's World
The Scout was permitted to choose any four of the twelve Challenges.
In addition to the four Challenges, a Scout was required to earn at least one badge in each of six areas:
- Arts
- Home
- Citizenship
- Out-of-Doors
- Health and Safety
- International Understanding
Alternately, from 1972 to 1980, a Scout could earn any seven of the twelve Challenges, with no badge requirements.
Gold Award - 1980 to present []
In 1980 the Gold Award was introduced. In 1990, National Council Session delegates approved a proposal which would keep the name of the Gold Award in perpetuity.
Until 2004, requirements for earning the award were:
- Earning the Girl Scout Gold Leadership Award, which requires girls to complete 30 hours of leadership work, as well as earn three Interest Projects and one Focus Book relevant to their project.
- Earning the Girl Scout Gold Career Award, which requires girls to complete 40 hours of career exploration.
- Earning the Girl Scout Gold 4Bs Challenge, which required girls to assess their community and its needs, and develop a vision for change. Up to 15 hours work on the 4Bs challenge could be counted toward the 65 hours for the service project.
Requirements 2010-present []
- Complete two Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador Journeys, or complete one Girl Scout Senior or Ambassador journey and have earned the Silver Award.
- Plan and implement an individual "Take Action" project that reaches beyond the Girl Scout organization and provides a sustainable, lasting benefit to the girl's larger community.
Once these steps have been met, girls use their vision for change to complete a service project that reaches beyond the Girl Scout organization and provides lasting benefit to the girl's larger community. It requires a minimum of 80 hours of work in planning and actually completing the project. All of these hours must be completed by the Awardee, and though it is encouraged that the girl use troop members and others from the community to help her, their time spent does not count towards her 80-hour requirement. Plans must be developed with the aid of an advisor, then a project proposal must be submitted and approved by the girl's local council before starting the project, and a final report submitted and approved after the project's completion.
Insignia []
The Gold Award emblem is presented as a pin resembling an eight-pointed gold star with rays radiating from a central, polished trefoil.
After earning the Gold Award []
Recipients of the Gold Award who enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces may receive advanced rank in recognition of their achievements. Some universities and colleges offer scholarships to Gold Award recipients. Yearly, GSUSA selects ten girls to be National Young Women of Distinction based on their Gold Award projects.