BellaOnline Forums Family Girl Scouts Journeys

I'd like to thank BellaOnline's Girl Scout Editor for posting articles about Journeys, the upcoming curriculum from Girl Scouts. From my reading, it appears that for the next couple of years, Journeys will be used to supplement the current curriculum. Then, in 2010, Journeys will become the official (and only) curriculum for Girl Scouts.

I got an e-mail from the Girl Scout Store yesterday, playing up the new Journeys curriculum. At the online store, they now have the books listed, as well as a description for each level. I'll include those below. Since I haven't actually taken a look at the actual books yet, I really can't offer any commentary. I'll reserve judgment until I can actually take a look at them.

DAISY FLOWER GARDEN BOOK: Welcome to the Daisy Flower Garden. In this journey for kindergarteners and first- graders, a favorite pastime-gardening-meets the Girl Scout Law. The result is a storybook world of flowers and little girls who, together, do great things. Girl Scout Daisies will especially enjoy meeting the colorful, global characters who teach them to live the Girl Scout Law. Journey Book has 88 pages.

BROWNIE QUEST JOURNEY BOOK: The Girl Scout Brownie Quest has second- and third- graders traveling along two colorful trails, one they can enjoy on their own and one they explore with their Girl Scout group. Along the Quest, Girl Scout Brownies will meet three new friends and a bright shining elf - in a brand new Brownie story meant to inspire their own Take Action projects. Journey Book has 80 pages.

JUNIOR AGENT OF CHANGE BOOK: Junior Agent of Change. Power! In this journey, for fourth-and fifth graders, there's a whole spiral of it waiting for Girl Scout Juniors. This powerful journey is filled with ceremonies and circles, real-life heroines, and special new characters, including the fashion-savvy spider named Dez. Along the way, girls learn how their own power combines into team power and then moves out to become community power. Journey Book has 96 pages.

CADETTE aMAZE! THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF GETTING ALONG JOURNEY BOOK: Life is a maze of relationships and this journey for sixth, seventh and eighth graders has Girl Scout Cadettes maneuvering through all its twists and turns to find true friendships, plenty of confidence, and maybe even peace. 144 pages.

SENIOR GIRLTOPIA JOURNEY BOOK: GIRLtopia. Girl Scout Seniors know the world is not ideal. This journey for ninth-and-tenth graders is their chance to imagine a perfect world-for girls. They're invited to create their vision as an art project-in any medium of their choice. Then they'll take action to make their vision a reality. Leaders, after all, are visionaries! 112 pages.

AMBASSADOR YOUR VOICE, YOUR WORLD: THE POWER OF ADVOCACY JOURNEY BOOK: Your Voice, Your World: The Power of Advocacy. How often have you seen something that really needed to be changed and wondered, "Why isn't someone doing something about that?" This journey, for eleventh-and twelfth graders gives Girl Scout Ambassadors a way to be that someone-an advocate with the power to start the first flutter of real and lasting change. While creating their own "butterfly effect", they'll learn skills-such as networking, planning, and speaking up for what they believe-that will prepare them for life beyond high school. 104 pages.

Lesley,
GSUSA does not intend to REPLACE the current program materials with the Journey materials, at least not at this time. The existing Try-Its, badges, IPs, etc. will continue to be available for use while the new Journey materials are being developed. It is my understanding that the existing badge materials may be revised in the future to better address the new leadership model developed by GSUSA, but that they will not be eliminated entirely.

VB, Welcome to the forum, hope you enjoy your stay!
Rosie

I have a Brownie / Junior troop which has started working with the new journey's program. It feels to me like the program is much too much like "school work". Th girls like the few active parts of the program, but seem less than enthusiastic about the written portions.

Karen, welcome to the forum!

My Junior Troop seems to have the same response to it. So, I am trying to replace some of the written work with other stuff. Like we are acting out some of the hero's and we made posters for them too! My girls are into arts and crafts and acting. So, this way they get what they need to, but not so much like they are doing school work.

Susan,welcome to the forum
Hope you enjoy your stay!
Rosie

Hi guys, I went to the convention last year, met a women who was working with the Journeys and told me if I just gave them a chance, it would give the girls a chance to reflect on what they were doing - I am working with 4/5th grade Juniors this year. I had read up on the Journeys before they came out - tried to be open. Went through the class twice- thought I was going to be doing age level training for Jrs the 2nd time. Still did not feel comfortable teaching - which is what it feels like- the new program. Tried to work with it with the girls - BORING!!!! They hated it. The good thing about a badge - 6 steps. You hate it then you stop. You can always do another step later and finish later. 8 weeks!!! too much time on one subject. These girls are smart and quick. And (this is just after camp) I have seen girls who don't grown up with mom sewing or cooking cakes or picking fruit, whos dad don't do wood working. And you know what - these girls enjoy that. They enjoy hiking and camping and doing. I myself dont want to sit and write a book or write down my thoughts on the environment. We need to get these girls up and doing more. Girl Scouts of America - ask us -we who work with the girls month after month, year after year - what do they want. You are asking girls who have no clue about some of the stuff that scouts can do. Image- we need to add to our image. Shows girls climbing rocks, earning the Gold award - harder than an Eagle Scout Award. Show them, paddling down a river, making jewelry with rocks they polished - change our stoddy image with what the girls are doing! Positive change that we would embrace. Ask my girls - please - and listen they have many great suggestion.

Amen. If you aren't signed up for my newsletter here on Bella Online, I think you'll find what I say to be in concordance with what you are thinking.

Diana
Girl Scout Editor
Bella Online

I'm VERY leary about this new set of Journeys that are being released - not only are my girls tired of the environment topic and did NOT like the first Journey (too school-like!). I WILL give it a try (if they ever actually release the book - so much for being able to plan ahead!), at least offering it to my girls, but my first thought is to run & hide from them!