6 Acts of Success

There are 6 Acts of success to make your program year a hit and enhance the experience for the girls in your troop. This year-long program guide combines the inspiration and resources needed to encourage girls to discover, connect, and take action in developing their leadership abilities.

Sketch Out Your Program Year Plans

Involve your girls in brainstorming sessions where they collect ideas and then determine which awards to earn, trips to take, service projects to complete, deadlines they have to meet, and the estimated cost of their activities. Since finances impact how and when activities are carried out, use the Program Calendar provided to work with your troop to sketch out a workable outline for the year. As the year progresses, assist your girls in fine tuning and adjusting their plans and budget.

Sharpen Your Storyline

Have your girls choose and earn three music, art, or drama focused awards that are of interest to them from the suggested awards list. As the girls engage in the activities to earn the award, complete each section of the outcomes tracker to help you observe the impact of the experience on the girls. If girls in your troop have already earned the listed awards, have them do an encore performance by earning another award from a different area of interest.

The Outcomes Tracker is the framework you�ll need to sharpen your understanding of how activities and processes create outcomes that set girls on a life-long path to lead with courage, confidence and character to make the world a better place. You can use the Outcomes Tracker throughout your program year to turn Girl Scout awards into outcomes based leadership experiences. An example of a completed Outcomes Tracker is included. Other examples, including those for other age levels, can be downloaded from the council�s Web site.

Make A Star Studded Debut

Make a star studded appearance with your girls at the most talked about red carpet event of the year; the Girl Scouts� 95th Anniversary Celebration, September 29 at AutoZone Park. You and your girls won�t want to miss this extravaganza celebrating Girl Scouting�s past, present, and future. There will be interactive games and activities, exhibits, performances, and a chance to unite with Girl Scout alums and share in the magic of the Girl Scout sisterhood.

Put On A Production

Cookie season is the production that brings out the best in everyone, and everybody plays a role. Making it a �hit� takes rehearsal and dedication-and your Girl Scouts are ready for the curtain to rise! Goal setting and budgeting are important components of the cookie sale. Start the sale off right by guiding your girls in creating a goal that inspires them. Throughout the sale, have them review their cookie sale goal to ensure it supports their troops� plans and budget. Round out the experience by encouraging the troop to participate in at least one cookie booth sale. Whether a girl prefers to be in the spotlight or behind the scenes, it�s an opportunity for every girl to learn more entrepreneurial skills and feel good about her unique talents and contributions to a successful cookie �production.�

Spotlight Your Community

Involve the girls in a community service project. Community service allows girls to spotlight and address issues that affect their neighborhoods. Service units are encouraged to develop a community wide service project and carry it out during Girl Scout Week (March 9-15, 2008) or at a more convenient time. Encourage girls to discover things about their community and its needs, lead the effort and take action to make a difference. Find out more details about how you can get involved at upcoming service unit meetings in your area.

Attend the Grand Finale

Celebrate everything you and your girls have done to make your Girl Scout year a hit at a free award-winning, show stopping grand finale. Troops who complete the requirements and submit a copy of their checklist, one Outcomes Tracker, and service project report form by April 4 will receive an invitation.

Program Guide developed by Girl Scout Council of the Mid-South

with graphics provided by Little Brownie Bakers.