Girl Scouts- Yay or Nay?

Sounds like you have a lousy leader. Both my daughters are Girl Scouts, they don't go to the school where their troop is, but they are having a wonderful experience. I was a girl scout for about a minute when I was going to school, and I hated it. But they both are having a wonderful time. It's top down, with the troop leader and other mothers modeling how to behave toward other scouts, because in the GS motto, every other scout is a sister and should be treated as such. I would suggest switching troops. Good luck.

Leadership in a troop make all the difference. The first troop that we were involved with was not a good experience. They didn't do much. They were disorganized. There was always a trip that was going to cost money.
We found a different troop. It has been better. The leaders are wonderful and active and willing to let everyone help. They are aware of budget constraints and try not to do activities that cost a lot. We did have a pretty good cookie season and the profits paid for some very fun activities (like Medieval Times and Mesquite Rodeo). Girl Scouts can be a wonderful and positive experience. You just may need to find a new group.

I would say find a different troop if your daughter enjoyed some aspects of it. My daughter was a daisy for the first time last spring and will be starting up again in a few weeks. Other than the initial sign up fee that I felt was reasonable, there were no other fees for us. Our troop got started after the cookie sales were over so I haven't dealt with that yet. She did one week long day camp this summer that I also felt was reasonably priced and had a great time with that. We also didn't do any trips. Our girls just got together every other week and did crafts, sang songs, and played games together. They did the various things they needed to do for their badges as well, but nothing that required any trips or expenses.

Good luck,
K.

N., find another troop for her! We didn't even do cookie sales this year b/c they made so much from their sales the year before which made our lives awesome this year! Julia loves being in her troop and she can't wait to start again in Oct. She's been in the same troop for 3 years now and not only has she made great friends, but so have I. Try jumping in and claiming some jobs. That's what I did. I was the phone call organizer and scrapbooker. I love those girls so much and (most) of the moms.

I was a leader and you should not have a bad experience. Absolutely - switch troops. I had a great co-leader, she was the crafty, inventive one, I was the organized one. so we really worked well together. The parentsof our girls were all great, they attended only when we needed them to. We didn't want to be high pressure on the cookie sales so if we didn't get enough money on cookie sales, they were happy to throw in $10 or so to get us the money we needed for campouts etc. Organization and planning is key to a successful troop so that is what I would really look for in your leaders.

I am a leader, and sadly, you will find people like this even when the girl scout promise and law say the oposite.

Unless you are in a very small area, find another troop. You are really not limited to one at your child's school, so call the council office, and tell them that you would like to find a new troop so that your daughter can experience the better things that GS has to offer.

Try not to dwell on these people, because they do not represnt GS, they represent themselves. Nothing you wrote about is what GS can be.

One thing to remember, don't share your feelings about what you did not like in this troop, becasue it won't help to tell anyone. You may find yourself in a situation one day where the new troop and the old troop will merge or cross paths, and by the time that happens the girls and the leader may be different. Leaders come and go as they burn out, and the girls who really love to be scouts stay in, and the ones who don't like the whole scene quit, so at that point, you won't want old hard feelings to get in the way. Trust me. GS is a small community.

You can find much better.

M.

I have 2 daughters who are now at the senior level. Both my daughters started in 1st grade as Brownies (now 1st grade is still Daisies). My first experience was a nightmare. Trying to change troops was difficult, I got very little help from our local council, however, I worked at it and got my daughter into a good troop. Each leader is different, each troop is different. You need to find what meets your needs. It doesn't matter if it's "kosher", do what you feel is right.

As far as money, money, money. Yes, it can be expensive, especially at the beginning of each level when you need to buy the vests and patches. However, part of the GS law is use resources wisely. A good leader will do this. It doesn't need to be expensive. It also depends on the types of activities the troop does and the trips they take. For example...As Brownies they saw a "broadway" show, I think our share of the costs was $30 per person. As Juniors, they saw a play at the local high school, tickets were only $5 and the troop picked up the entire cost.

Cookie sales rarely get any better. I absolutely hate them and for the most part our family sells very little. I'll stand outside the grocery store for hours, but I'd love to tell them where to put that order form. Also, you're not required to sell cookies. However, if you don't you will be looked down upon and may be requested to cough up some additonal funds for a special event.

The bottom line. This will be my 10th year as a GS mom. I've had my ups and downs with various leaders. However, my girls still enjoy the experience. They done so many things over the years, that they would have never been exposed to if it weren't for GS. My advise, find another troop and see how it works out.

I have been a leader and just a mom. I say switch troops. The leader should be the one promoting the girls' friendships. T
I almost gave up on my now 12 year old. She has switched twiice because of moves. We are now back in the same troop weh started with and I and she couldn't be happier. This mom is organized adn in control. It makes for a better experience for all.

find another troop.
This is not a typical GS experience.

I was a girl scout for years growing up and have nothing but wonderful memories from it. I enjoyed selling cookies and I loved earning all the different badges. I was close friends with many (not all) of the girls in the troop and many of our moms got along well, too. Going to girl scout camp was my favorite part of every summer. I actually can't wait to put my daughter (who will be born in October!) into girl scouts.

I definitely think you should give it another try. I'm sure things have changed in the 20 years since I stopped being an active scout, but the overall experience and organization must still be similar. If you think a new troop would make a difference, then switch - kosher or not! I hope she has a better experience this year.

K.
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I am going to agree with the find another troop option. From my experience the only cost involved was yearly fee, uniform, and cookie sales. Our leader did not push cookie sales to the point of stress or frustration. You can also start your own troop which might be a lot of fun too!

Are you describing my life as a child ? I had the same experience as a little girl all the moms were younger then my mom in my case, they were all friends outside the troop and the girls too. I felt like an outsider and was treated like on, it was not a great experience. I stopped after 2 years i was in 3rd and 4th grade I figured I wasn't a friend by then and will never be. Funny thing those same girls acted the same way all through Middle and High school. Guess what? I'm still not their friend...lol

If you'd like to try a different troop by all means do so and don't feel bad just a word of advise don't say any negative about a troop you leave in case those mommas have a friend somewhere else who will yap.

I met a mom who took her son out of his cub scout troop for the same reason. She went to another troop boys that were not from his school and they met a church. She told me it was the best move she made her and her son were way happier and having a better experience. Isn't that what it's really about? and making friends with the experience as well?

If a group is cheating you of that then I say mark it as an experience and move on to a better experience. Listen your little girl has many years ahead of her of people she will have to tolerate like they same type of girl in college and at jobs. So why make her have to do it so early in life and get possible sour on it?

It's kosher visit as few other troops try them out for size first....my best wishes for a better experience..

Hi - no this is not typical. My daughter joined at 6 (she's now 8) we joined a troop at a different elementary school due to the meeting schedule. So, like your daughter my daughter didn't know any of the girls. All the other girls went to the same school, some even in the same class, etc. So, also all the moms knew each other as well from school. I volunteered to be a co-leader (or just a helper) at the meetings. My daughter and I NEVER had that experience. They accepted us with open arms. Three years later, my daughter is such good friends with all the girls and I also made good friends with the other moms! Also, our troop dues are 5 dollars per meeting (we have 2 meetings per month). And, our cookie sales & fall product sales fund all of our activities. The parents will have to pay extra but the troop pays for all the girls. Girlscouts is the cheapest activity my daughter has ever been in! LOL. My advice, find another troop.

Switch troops, my daughter is going on her 3rd year in GS and we have switched troops 2 times. She enjoys it. I hear ya on the cookie sales but it's a learning experience. You've just got to find a leader that is not all Drill Sergent about it. Good luck.

My girls both were in Scouts -- one attaining the Gold Award; the other the Silver Award. The leader and the composition of the troop definitely can make or break the girls' experience -- we had both good and bad. Try to find a troop she & you will feel comfortable with.

One idea we used to make the cookie sales work for us: the girls went through our church directory to find people they would feel comfortable calling to ask about cookies. Then THEY called or talked to our neighbors until they sold as many as they wanted to sell -- I'll always buy if the child asks but not if the parent corners me! Delivery never got real easy even after several years of experience & trying different tactics!

I so agree with Karen.. Find another troop or start another troop. I loved girl scouts.

Our daughters school had a troop and it was wonderful. It should be fun for everyone involved..

My 7 yo daughter is starting Brownies. She was a Daisy the past 2 years and we love it. We have a great leader! I'm only out the registration cost and never anything else because the girls earn their activities. The past two years we have stayed free as a troop at Great Wolf Lodge from selling so many cookies

I want you to keep in kind cookies are $3.50 but the girls troop only get $.50 per box so that's why they try to sell soo much. The profits go to paying for patches, activities and etc! Also we only get a $1 a box from the fall's candy Niue sale.

Girl scouts is a great active for little girls ESP if you have a great leader. I would switch troops. It should also not cost you anything other than registration the girls should earn their activiits. We do 2 activities a month and one field trip and then Great Wolf Lodge in May.

A big "Nay". I've had nothing but bad experiences with our local girl scouts. Apparently, troop leaders just "drop out" and they are completely disorganized. Every meeting we went to was mostly about fundraising but I couldn't figure out what the fundraising was for. Most stuff would get cancelled/rescheduled... and rescheduled again, until girl scouts was "out" for the season.

My daughter sold a bunch of magazines a $39.00 worth of chocolate for one of the fundraisers and then we had a family emergency (which included a death of an immediate family member). This made it impossible for her to attend the meetings, which I let them know exactly what was going on. All they cared about was getting that 39 bucks because they "had to send it to council and if you don't turn it in, you might get prosecuted".

So, we tried our very best to get the funds to them on time, while we were in another state with family members, grieving the loss of my grandmother. We finally got the money to them.
Later when we returned back to our hometown, I sent 3 emails asking when either myself or husband can come and pick up the prizes that she had won. I never received an answer back until today which was that we now had to wait until January to pick them up and "they may be meeting at the skating rink" and to "watch your email for updates". Most of the time, the leaders would come off as rude and inconsiderate. Any questions I had for them, I felt like I was being a bother.

I am NOT taking my daughter back to the meetings. There isn't a point really. She didn't have fun and when she even refuses to go back, I think there is an issue. Either way, this is my experience with them so I definitely say "NO" unless they are organized and actually do stuff with the kids.

Edited to add the following: Today I finally received a follow up and an apology on how long it's taken them to get back with us. I still won't be taking my child back. I'm not exactly sure what they're trying to teach the kids, but it's not respect nor discipline. It's basically to be money-hungry.

I was in Girl Scouts a few years in elementary, I don't have any fond memories. I joined Camp Fire in middle school and had a blast. I now have all my kids in Camp Fire and still find it quite enjoyable. Just seems more down home and personable to each child. Also it's for both boys and girls (though there are more girls in my experience). Don't know if it's just my area, but maybe you can try it and see if you like it better for your daughter-hugs!

Try to find another troop and I hope you are luckier than we were. I was a scout and loved it so wanted that experience for my daughter. Everyone said 'scouts are all inclusive - just not in my troop' to my daughter with type 1 diabetes. We found one troop but she was miserable as was I because the troop haridan/leader had a friend that was a nurse with type 2 and there was nothing she needed to learn - that was and is garbage...nurses nor type 2s know much about type 1 - anyway...it was a nightmare and even though my daughter is now 17 she still regrets not being able to do it, sadly...so, keep looking for a fit for her and ignore the parents....

I haven't read the other posts. I would suggest that you switch to another troop in your area. This is not the regular way a troop is set up. They didn't have Daisies when I was a Girl Scout.

Keep trying different troops until you are happy with one. The experience should help a young girl to learn things and become self-sufficient and independent to live on her own in the future. She should have fun and enjoy the trips and things as well as the pride in earning badges.

No one likes to be in a troop where you have one or two "hogs" that get everything and no one else seems to matter. (Long story for another day.)

Best of luck, "On my honor I will ...." you know the rest.

The other S.