FAQ's About Journeys

When will the journeys be available?

All girl and adult books in the It’s Your World—Change It! and It's Your Planet- Love It! series are available. The third in the Journeys series It's Your Story- Tell It! will be available December 2010.

What is the retail cost of the journey books?

All grade-level girl books cost $7.00. The adult sets, consisting of a girl book packaged with the adult guide, are $15.00. Girl Scouts of the USA is aware of the importance of being cost-conscious and has worked to provide excellent value. It is ideal for every girl to have her own book to fully experience the journey.

Will the journeys be provided online or on DVD?

Journeys are intended to be hands-on books for girls to “have and hold” and will not be available online. GSUSA is exploring other online programming possibilities for the future.

Do the journeys need to be done in any particular order?

There is no particular order or rush to complete the journeys. They can be done in any order.

What books make up the first series of leadership journeys for girls?

The first books for girls are all part of the It’s Your World—Change It! series of leadership journeys. This series features one new book for girls at each grade level in Girl Scouting:

• Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden
• Brownie Quest
• Agent of Change (for Juniors)
• aMAZE! (for Cadettes)
• GIRLtopia: Toward an Ideal World for Girls (for Seniors)
• Your Voice, Your World: The Power of Advocacy (for Ambassadors)

Journey books take girls at every grade level through a series of Discover, Connect, and Take Action experiences, with emphasis on inviting girls to “Take Action” on issues they care about. These books also contain stories; inspirational ideas; information about Girl Scout history, traditions, and values; facts and games; and provide space for girls to collect their own ideas and memories.

“How to” books—or guides for adult volunteers--that correspond to each of the girl books have also been created. These guides offer plenty of support, including sample sessions to tailor with girls, to help carry out the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

Are all 15 national leadership outcomes reflected in each journey book?

Each journey addresses six to eight outcomes including at least one of each of the Discover, Connect, and Take Action outcomes. Each adult guide contains a chart displaying outcomes tied to that particular journey so adults will always know the intended benefits to girls.

What will happen to existing badge books, handbooks, and STUDIO 2B books?

These books remain available and viable Girl Scout resources. Girls may continue using them based on their interests.

As the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is phased in between 2008 and 2010, GSUSA will determine which resources might still be needed to supplement the new approach as well as which current resources might be adapted to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience for use beyond 2010. Information will be provided with advance notice as decisions are made. Girls will always have a chance to complete existing plans and transition to new materials.

How will home-schooled or independently registered Girl Scouts use the journey materials?

Girl Scouts who are on their own—and the adults who guide them—are encouraged to network with other Girl Scouts in their communities. One of the three critical processes of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience is cooperative learning. Sharing some of the discussions and experiences with others will enrich the journey and provide girls with opportunities to increase team-building and networking opportunities important to the leadership keys of Discover, Connect, and Take Action.

How will multi-grade level groups use the journeys?

Let’s use It’s Your World-Change It! series as an example. In these journeys, “Taking Action” provides a unifying theme for multi-grade level groups. Girls at multiple levels can use their own level-appropriate journey, yet they will be able to support each other in accomplishing goals. All the journeys encourage girls to share or “pass forward” some of what they are learning and experiencing with other girls. Multi-grade groups offer a wonderful setting for this to happen.

Facilitator Guides

Girl Scout volunteers have long asked for more concrete and specific guidance on “what to do” with girls. Recognizing that busy adults need “ready-to-go” materials, Girl Scouts of the USA is creating detailed facilitator guides to accompany each Leadership Launch Journey.

These resources will guide volunteers through the journey with girls, and will make girl-led, cooperative, and hands-on learning techniques easier than ever before to implement. Additionally, the facilitator guides will show volunteers how journey experiences are tied to achieving the national leadership outcomes.

Together, the new materials for girls and adults will bring the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to life.