Section 1: Girl Scout Fundamentals

This section outlines the structure of the organization and the basic foundations of our mission.

Girl Scout Structure

Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa serves nearly 9,000 girls and 4,000 adults in 67 counties in Iowa, two counties in South Dakota, and one county in Nebraska.

At Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, it is our mission to show girls that they have the power to have a positive effect on not just their community, but the world. With the support and essential leadership skills that Girl Scouting provides, girls are empowered to truly aim for the stars. Whether it means pursuing her dream of being the first female President, or starting her own animal shelter, if she dreams it, she can do it. And together, we can help her get there.

  • Members are girls, adult volunteers (like you!), and lifetime Girl Scouts who are joined together in the pursuit of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Members may be girls in troops, or may participate on their own—they’re known as Juliettes.

  • Troops are the most common way girls participate in Girl Scouts. Troops are led by volunteers (often parents/guardians, friends, or family members). The average troop size is 8-10 girls, but we have troops with 20 girls—or more! Troops allow girls to work as a team and build lasting friendships.

  • Our council is made up of about 100 service units. Service units are comprised of volunteers and girl members in an immediate geographic area. These service units are led by experienced individuals who support leaders, troops, and individual members. You may hear from your service unit volunteers regarding events, trainings, cookies, and much more!

  • Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa is one of 112 councils in the U.S. Our council includes nearly 11,000 girls in the western 2/3 of Iowa, as well as 2 counties in South Dakota and one in Nebraska. Our work is supported by more than 3,500 volunteers—including YOU! We get to know each volunteer as you and your troop ask questions, participate in programs and events, connect with us on social media, and more.

  • Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. (commonly referred to as GSUSA) is the national organization to which Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa belongs. Originally founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, GSUSA now serves 2.6 million girls and adults. GSUSA is comprised of 112 Girl Scout councils in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

  • W.A.G.G.G.S. (The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) is a 146-member international organization whose mission is “to inspire girls and young women to reach their fullest potential as responsible citizens of the world.” Girl Scouts of the USA is a member.

Girl Scout Levels

What it means to be a Girl Scout

THE GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Girl Scouts prepare for fun, friendship, and new adventures while making the world a better place. Girl Scouts look at our world and take action to change it for the better. They make friends, challenge themselves with new experiences, write their own stories, and develop the skills and confidence to say, “I know I can do this!” So how do we do it? It’s all part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, and it’s what makes Girl Scouting a unique experience for girls.

GIRL-LED

  • Girl Scouts follow their own lead, no matter their age. From selecting the badges they’ll pursue to how they’ll organize an activity, Girl Scouts have the chance to follow their dreams and grow their skills—and the confidence that comes with that.

LEARNING BY DOING

  • Hands-on activities are fun for Girl Scouts of any age, but they also help them feel empowered to shape their own experience. Girl Scouts unlock their “I got this” attitude as they discover they can always dust themselves off and try again when things don’t go according to plan.

COOPERATIVE LEARNING

  • There’s power in having a tightknit group of friends who will learn with you, grow with you, and always cheer you on. Girl Scouts see firsthand that teamwork, respect, and collaboration can fuel them through any challenge that comes their way.

By participating in fun activities through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, Girl Scouts:

DISCOVER

  • They’ll find out who they are, what they care about, and how to best use their unique talents.

CONNECT

  • They’ll collaborate with others, both locally and globally, to learn and expand their horizons.

TAKE ACTION

  • They’ll do what Girl Scouts always do: make the world a better place.

With the help of supportive adults and troop leaders who help bring these three unique processes to life, girls try new things, share their full selves, and see how good it feels to lead from the heart.