Girl Scout Pathways

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) developed a new model for participation in Girl Scouting by girls and adults. The Pathways model responds to the exciting work of the Core Business Strategy by creating nationally consistent and flexible ways for girls and adults to participate in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Most participants believe the Pathways model is a great approach to Girl Scout participation and that its flexibility will attract and retain new members and is ultimately aimed at optimizing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and achieving outcomes for girls and adults. The Pathways model defines and optimizes membership offerings, streamlines the enrollment process, and integrates with existing council structures.  So what does Pathways mean for girls and adults everywhere?

• Membership flexibility and participation options
• Increased volunteer retention and recruitment – more adults to serve and support more girl members
• Increased flexibility encourages more girls to join Girl Scouting
• Increased interest from adults who desire to provide direct service to girls through more short term volunteer opportunities
• Current girl and adult members can remain with the organization longer because of the flexible ways to join and volunteer

When a girl or an adult joins the organization, she or he becomes a Girl Scout member. Girls can choose any one, all, or some of these pathways—camp, events, series, troops, and travel within a single school year.

The flexibility of the pathways framework will allow adults to participate in Girl Scouting based on their lifestyle and availability—whether the adult prefers to partner directly with girls throughout a membership year, participate for only a few weeks or months, or work with other adults in a variety of roles.