Being Inclusive
In today’s environment, some girls may be experiencing certain pressures and anxieties; they may feel unsure, confused, or even threatened. Girl Scouts has truly been, and will always be, a movement for ALL girls—a place where girls can, must, and will feel safe to explore their potential, learn new skills, make lifelong friends, and tap into their potential to be leaders. This article for all volunteers discusses how you can ensure Girl Scouts is inclusive and welcoming for all girls.
Watch video: Intro to Inclusion
Girl Scouts Has a History of Inclusion
At Girl Scouts, a commitment to inclusivity is part of our DNA. Girl Scouts was founded by a daring and courageous woman—Juliette Gordon Low—who wasn’t afraid to break the mold and who plainly stated that Girl Scouts was to be a movement “for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world.”
For more than 100 years, Girl Scouts has actively embraced all girls. Through turbulent and troubled times, through wars and economic depressions, and through periods of peace and prosperity, we have always served girls from every walk of life, regardless of their race, ethnicity, abilities, religious affiliation, economic standing, orientation, country of birth, or family history.
Definition of Inclusion
Our formal definition of inclusion, adopted by Girl Scouts River Valleys in 2012, is:
As a Girl Scouts River Valleys member, I do my best to think, speak, and act in ways that ensure everyone across the council feels they belong and can meaningfully participate in all aspects of Girl Scouting, regardless of ability, age, culture, education, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status.
Your Responsibility
Girl Scout volunteers have the responsibility to make all individuals feel welcome and able to fully participate in all Girl Scout activities, which means accommodating the differing needs of girls and their parents/guardians, and other members.
“When you have an environment that is truly inclusive, individuals feel comfortable being themselves. They feel more comfortable sharing ideas, and it’s through all these different perspectives that you come up with innovation.”
– Lynette Cappell-Williams, Associate VP of Workforce Diversity and Inclusion, Cornell University
Having parents/guardians fill out the Meet My Girl Form (PDF) can be helpful in figuring out the individual needs of girls.
Tips for Inclusivity
Everyone’s needs are unique, so ensuring inclusivity will look different depending on your girls, troop, and service unit, but these general tips are a great place to start.
Treat Every Girl with Dignity and Respect 
Welcome Girls of All Abilities
Model Inclusion for the Girls
Modify Activities and Reward Best Efforts
Ask Us for Resources and Support
Summary of Resources
- Meet My Girl Form (PDF) – Troops can have parents/guardians fill out this form to help identify girl needs.
- Request for American Sign Language Interpreter Form – This form must be completed at least one week in advance of needing interpretation services.
- People First Language – This article from TheARC.org describes what people first language is and how to use it.
