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The Enrichment Project
Girl Scouts: Journeys
Steps
1. Why Journeys?
Each Journey gives girls the ability to lead. There are three themes to choose from, see
Step 5. Through each Journey she chooses to take she discovers herself and her abilities,
connects with others and takes action by making the world a better place. Explore ways
you can encourage girls to complete a Journey this year.
2. Think national, act local.
While the Journey program is designed to be consistent across the USA, using local re-
sources is necessary. As you review your Journey materials, keep notes on how you might
be able to make this a local program.
3. Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
www.girlscouts.org/gsle
Take this 10 minute tour to see how GSLE will provide experience for your girls.
4. Leadership Essentials.
training.girlscouts.org
Take the 45 minute introduction to the use of Journey books with the GSLE.
5. Choose a Journey.
Review the Journey themes with your girls. What does the theme mean to you?
To the girls? With your girls, choose a Journey to complete.
Its Your World Change It! (Theme: Advocacy)
Its Your Planet Love It! (Theme: Environment)
Its Your Story Tell It! (Theme: Creative Expression)
6. Read the girl Journey book.
After selecting your Journey (Step 5), read the appropriate girls book for your level.
Keep notes on ideas you have as you read the book to make your Journey more local
resources available, experts you might consult, organizations that you might partner with,
other volunteers who have skills to complete steps, etc.
7. Read the adult Journey guide.
Read the facilitators guide that goes with the girls Journey book. Make notes for your
Journey as you did in Step 6.
8. Journey maps.
www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/maps
Review the Journey map for your chosen journey. See how GSUSA looks at your Journey.
Girl Scouts:
Journeys
With the Girl Scout
Leadership
Experience, all Girl
Scout materials have
been recreated to
include this ideal.
Learn about the
Journeys and how
to incorporate
them into your
programming.

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9. Brainstorm.
Brainstorm ideas based on the notes you took while reviewing the Journey. Break it down
by each piece the girls must earn. Ask the girls to review your brainstorm list and add their
own to create options to what you might do based on the Journey. For older girls, ask
them to brainstorm rst, then add your own ideas to theirs.
10. Sample sessions.
Find the sample sessions in the adult guide. With your brainstorm list, see if youre on track
with the outcome of the requirements. Will the girls get the same experience with the
brainstormed items? Are any too easy for the girls or too dif cult?
11. Planning sheets.
After the girls have decided on their activities, create a planning sheet with them.
Depending on the level, you may ask for input (Daisies) through doing a nal review
to make sure they didnt miss anything (Ambassadors).
Do NOT give older girls an answer to why something might not be appropriate. Instead,
ask open-ended questions and start a dialogue. Take your notes and continue asking
questions until they have a plan that you feel is appropriate for their abilities / age.
12. Parent encouragement.
Keep parents in the loop. They may have resources you are unaware of. If youd like
an expert but dont know someone, ask your parents. If steps are to be completed
individually, ask the parents to supervise younger girls. How else might you keep your
parents in the loop? What other help might they ofer?
13. Customize.
Using local resources, utilizing planned events and other ways to customize your Journey.
Anything you do that is not specically in the book is customized. Review Its Your Journey
Customize It! book or the PDFs available on GSUSA for the Customize It! and
Transforming Leadership to keep your guidelines in mind as you customize your Journey.
In addition, the facilitators guide also has some ideas for customization. Be sure to review
those to get more ideas.
14. Beyond your troop.
Look beyond your troop for possible activities, events, organizations or individuals that
would help fulll a requirement in your chosen Journey. Volunteer to help with an activity
/ event at your service unit or council to ensure that it is not cancelled. Discuss the event
with your service unit / other troops so they can see how you plan to incorporate an event
as part of your Journey.
For younger girls, ask to join with organizations whose goals align with your Journey plan.
Ask individuals to share their knowledge with the girls to help them understand concepts
/ topics they need exposure to. Share your ideas and what the girls are planning to do.
Encourage older girls to start the communication with organizations, service units, etc.
15. Resource kits.
See if your service unit or council has resource kits available to help girls with the
Journey. If not, document what you do and start one to share. If others in your service
unit are working on the same Journey, create a resource kit as a multi-troop efort.
16. Other resources.
Look online for additional resources. For example, through Yahoo! Groups you can nd
many level-dependent Girl Scout groups. So, if youre a Brownie leader, you can join a
Brownie group that focuses on that level. Adults often share materials they create for their
own girls, so be sure to check out the Files area. Look for other online resources and share
what you nd.

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17. Badges.
Most Journeys have badges that accompany it. Review the supplement SUPP_Journey_
QuickReference.pdf to see if the Journey you are working on has badges linked to it. If so,
look at this with your girls and see if a little more activity while working on your Journey
allows you to earn badges.
18. Higher awards.
The Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards can only be earned if the girls have completed a
Journey. Unlike previous years, girls can now earn their Gold Award without earning their
Silver. In this case, girls must complete two Journeys instead of one for their Gold Award.
Leader in Action (Cadettes) can be earned while working with another troop. Find the
requirements to these awards and inquire if the girls are interested in learning even more
about their Journey.
19. Take action!
Each Journey ends with Take Action project. These actions need to be sustainable. As your
girls work on their nal action, make sure they keep sustainability in the process.
20. Share your success!
Create an honor roll of girls who earn their journey leadership awards. Publish it with
your local newspaper, council newsletter, etc. Find other ways to honor your girls for their
achievement!
Supplements
FOUND_customize_it_handouts.pdf
Handouts from the Customize It! book from GSUSA
FOUND_2011_WhatGSDoAmbassador.pdf
Ambassador program overview
FOUND_2011_WhatGSDoBrownie.pdf
Brownie program overview
FOUND_2011_WhatGSDoCadette.pdf
Cadette program overview
FOUND_2011_WhatGSDoDaisy.pdf
Daisy program overview
FOUND_2011_WhatGSDoJunior.pdf
Junior program overview
FOUND_2011_WhatGSDoSenior.pdf
Senior program overview
SUPP_Journey_Customize.pdf
List of possible ways to customize your Journey
SUPP_Journey_Forms.pdf
Sample forms to help you through your Journey
SUPP_Journey_FOUND.pdf
Items which are on the GSUSA site and too large to include with the supplements
SUPP_Journey_Planet_Brownie.pdf
A customized idea for WOW! Wonders of Water
SUPP_Journey_Planet_Daisy.pdf
Customized ideas for Between Earth and Sky
SUPP_Journey_QuickReference.pdf
Quick reference sheet for Journey materials
SUPP_Journey_TakeAction.pdf
Learn more about Take Action projects

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Sites to Explore
www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/your_world
www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/your_planet
www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/your_story
www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/maps.asp
www.girlscouts.org/program/journeys/curriculum
Printed / PDF Reference
Planning Guide: Its Your Journey Customize It!, GSUSA
Its Your Planet Love It! Series, GSUSA
Its Your Story Tell It! Series, GSUSA
Its Your World Change It! Series, GSUSA
Transforming Leadership, GSUSA
Transforming Leadership Continued, GSUSA
Its Your Journey Customize It!, GSUSA
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