Critical Issues - Programs for Girls

Every girl has the right to participate in a Girl Scout Program

In a physically and emotionally safe environment. To have leadership that is sensitive to each girl and her needs. To feel attended to and cared for by peers and leaders. To be encouraged and included in troop activities. To be given opportunities to show her leadership abilities. To have all personal information kept confidential.

Friendship Program

Shaping Healthy Peer Relationships for Today's Girl Scouts is a program about friendship created by the Ophelia Project for Girl Scouts of Nassau County. Developed for all girls, beginning in kindergarten and continuing through high school, the themed activities can be delivered as individual workshops or as a series. Topics include the following areas:

The Language of Peer Aggression
Normative Beliefs
Developing Healthy Peer Relationships
Popularity and Leadership
The Role of the Bystander
Cyberbullying

We recommend delivering the workshops in the the order written. Girls build on skills learned in the preceding workshops.

All activities are fun and interactive. Through stories, games, role playing and creative expression, girls enhance their abilities to empathize and support each other. This program is designed to give girls the tools they need to decide for themselves what a healthy relationship is and what their role and responsibility is in a healthy relationship.

Troops can earn free patches. By participating in the Friendship Program and completing each of the research pieces, a troop may earn free patches. If your troop completed all the research requirements during our pilot year, girls can earn a free patch by completing a follow up activity this year.

The Ophelia Project Friendship Program can be linked to existing Girl Scout programming.

Daisy Girl Scouts

The Language of Aggression:
Learning Petal "Respect Myself and Others"

Normative Beliefs:
Learning Petal: "Friendly and Helpful"

Friendship:
Learning Petal "Friendly and Helpful" Guide for Daisy Girl Scout Leaders "Me in Paper" (p. 11) or Activity Guide Portrait

Good Popular/Bad Popular:
Developing Leadership: Learning Petal "Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout"

The Bystander or the Kid in the Middle:
You Can Make a Difference: Learning Petal "Courageous and Strong"

Cyberbullying:
Learning Petal "Responsible for What I Say and Do"

Brownie Girl Scouts

The Language of Social Bullying:
Brownie Handbook-Read the sections about Friendship (p. 85) and Getting Along (p. 87) Try-It "People are Talking"

Normative Beliefs:
Try-It "Caring and Sharing"

Friendship:
Try-It "Friends are Fun"

Good Popular/Bad Popular Developing Leadership:
Try-It "Manners" The Girl Scout Challenge 1-Brownie Girl Scouts Making the World a Better Place (online at www.girlscouts.org )

The Bystander or Kid in the Middle:
You Can Make a Difference Try-it "Working It Out", The Girl Scout Challenge 1-Brownie Girl Scouts Making the World a Better Place (online at www.girlscouts.org )

Cyberbullying:
Try-It "Point, Click, Go" (online at www.girlscouts.org )

Junior Girl Scouts

The Language of Social Bullying:
Junior Girl Scout Handbook-Read the topic "Communication" (p. 64)

Normative Beliefs:
Junior Girl Scout Badge "Becoming a Teen" Junior Girl Scout Badge "A Healthier You" Activity #4

Friendship: Recipe for Healthy Relationships:
Junior Girl Scout Badge "Healthy Relationships" Junior Girl Scout Handbook (pp. 66-67), read "Friends for Life" Junior Girl Scout Handbook (pp. 70-71) "The Peer Pressure Cooker"

Good Popular/Bad Popular: Developing Leadership:
Junior Girl Scout Badge "Lead On" Junior Girl Scout Handbook-(p. 44) read "What Do You Value?" Girl Scout Challenge 2 (available online at www.girlscouts.org )

The Bystander or Kid in the Middle: You Can Make a Difference:
Junior Girl Scout Badge "The Choice is Yours" Junior Girl Scout Handbook-(pp. 71-73), read "Dealing with Bullies" Girl Scout Challenge 2 (available online at www.girlscouts.org )

Cyberbullying:
Junior Girl Scout Badge "It's Important to Me" Junior Girl Scout Handbook (pp. 94-95) read "Crazy about Computers"

Girls 11-17

The Language of Social Bullying:
Interest Project Award "Do You Get the Message?" STUDIO 2B Focus Book Uniquely ME "Don't Sweat It"

Normative Beliefs:
Interest Project Award "Understanding Yourself and Others"

Friendship:
STUDIO 2BFocus Book Uniquely ME! "The Real Deal"

Good Popular/Bad Popular:Developing Leadership:
Interest Project Award "Leadership" Interest Project Award "Conflict Resolution"

The Power of One:
Interest Project Award "Conflict Resolution" Girl Scout Challenge 3, Girl Scout 11-17 (online at www.girlscouts.org)

Cyberbullying:
Interest Project Award "Exploring the Net"