On March 13, 1997, the Jefferson County Historical Society in Watertown, New York opened an exhibit called "Girl Scouting Through the Years." The exhibit ran through April 17th and featured memorabilia gathered during the month prior to the event from Girl Scout "collectors" throughout the community. This exhibit was part of the JCHS series called "History at Noon." Guest speakers come to the opening receptions to give short lectures on topics pertaining to the new exhibit. The lecture for this series was "Girl Scouting: the Past, the Present, and the Future."
I was asked to speak on the future of Girl Scouting. Because I am not very comfortable speaking in public, I appealed to my cyber-friends on the WAGGGS-L mailing list (Girl Guide and Girl Scout Leaders) for help in writing a speech. The responses I received were fabulous, and if I had the time (or the nerve) to speak long enough, I would have loved to have read them all.
I cut and pasted bits and pieces from everyone's responses, added a couple of my own here and there, changed some tenses to match things up, and came up with what you will read here. My heartfelt thanks go to all those who helped me write this (please take the time to follow the thank you link at the bottom, these people are the greatest!). Few of the words are my own, but my sentiments are expressed completely.
I have been asked to speak to you about the future of Girl Scouting. I can't see the future; I don't even know what this afternoon holds... but I can tell you what I hope for.
Girl Scouting in the future will continue to expand and grow along with new technologies and new ideas. One of the reasons that Girl Scouting has lasted for 85 years is the capacity that is built right in to the program to adapt and change without losing our central focus... the girls. Any good business person will tell you, if you don't meet the needs of the customer, you won't be in business for very long. Girl Scouting continually strives to meet the needs of their customers, the girls, and as a result, we are still *in business*. The Girl Scout program is designed to show every girl the possibilities the future holds and to help her prepare to meet the challenges she may encounter as she strives to reach her goals. Eleanor Roosevelt said "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." In Girl Scouting, we encourage the girls believe in themselves and the beauty of their dreams, and we help them develop the skills they need to make those dreams come true.
I think that Girl Scouting will continue to be an important part of many girls lives. The fact the organization survived during the social upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, particularly since it was a "traditional" organization, has proven that it can adapt and can probably survive almost anything. It will become even more diverse in topics than today, as girls explore new high-tech developments, yet continue the more traditional Girl Scout program areas. Think back to what scouting was 10, 20, 30 years ago. The issues we cover now were never thought of back then. So, likewise, the future will cover issues we can't begin to imagine, but, one thing is certain, the girl will still come first. In the future Girl Scouts will be whatever the girls in scouting choose to make it. There are so many options available to girls through scouting now that I can't imagine a time without it. Almost any interest can be explored.
I belong to an internet mailing list for Girl Scout and Girl Guide leaders around the world. Each day, we exchange messages with each other. We tell stories, share experiences, thoughts, and ideas. We ask each other questions, and seek advice; we offer suggestions, or sometimes just a shoulder to lean on. I've seen long-distance friendships started and watched them grow and then bloom into great ideas and things for girls. Songs, skits, games, crafts, camping tips, pen-pals, and a variety of other things too numerous to count are already being exchanged at a rapid pace with our sisters here in the USA as well as around the globe. I have "talked" with Guiders in Australia, England, New Zealand and Canada, Belgium, Wales, and Ireland, as well as leaders here in the United States.
In some areas of our country there are "Lone" Girl Scouts. These are girls that have no troop to be affiliated with for one reason or another. In the future I can see these girls linked together into literal cybertroops. Australia has been doing just this type of thing for years in the outback for schooling purposes, and now we can see the beginnings of those things coming into play in the Girl Scout arena. The computer is going to mean that we can truly build a world movement based on cooperation and real understanding. That our girls can experience other cultures, almost first hand. I think that the kind of "community" that we see in this mailing list *is* the future of Scouting/Guiding. A global community of women and men, girls (and boys) who help, support, respect, and share with each other; and who work together to attain their goal. That goal is to provide leadership and learning opportunities to young people to help them grow up to be happy, healthy and productive adults.
I think that it is entirely possible that in the near future girls from one coast will be meeting with girls from another coast via video conferencing. They will be linked via telephone and video cable and use computers to share ideas and events. Businesses and learning institutions are using this technology already all over the world. Just think, a troop of girls from Watertown could video conference with a troop from Washington state and learn how each other meet, camp, and work on service to their communities. The possibilities are endless.
We will still gather around the campfire and sing, although sometimes the campfire might be on a computer screen and our voices will be sent over fiber optic lines or beamed through space via satellite. But thousands of girls will gather together and continue the bonds of sisterhood. We will continue to speak for the welfare of all girls (and because gender equity will be a reality, boys will benefit too).
I see great growth in my girls, increased confidence, skills, and learning to get along with other people. I see them glow with delight when something they helped plan turns out well. I hope the foundation we are laying will carry them forward, turn them into competent, confident women. Guiding and Scouting will go on while we have the enthusiasm of leaders willing to make a commitment to young people and while young people have enthusiasm for adventure.
Thank you to all those without whom I couldn't have done this. You're the BEST!
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Last modified 11/2/97
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