Explanation of the Girl Scouts promise, law and program goals of having good character. Also refer to guiding principles, duty, God, honesty, trust, ethics, morality, attitude, reputation, courage, responsibility, reliability, truth, integrity, pride, dignity, loyalty, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Girl Scout Character Program
by Ron Kurtus (4 January 2003)
The Girl Scouts is a values-based organization, not a religious one. The Girl Scout Promise and Law are its guiding principles. There are four goals for the Girl Scout program that define and promote character values. These concepts provide a good model for other organizations concerned with the character of their members.
Questions you may have include:
- What is the Girl Scout promise?
- What is the Girl Scout law?
- What are the 4 goals of the Girl Scout program?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
The Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
- To serve God and my country,
- To help people at all times,
- And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
(Girl Scout administration note: The word "God" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is okay to replace the word "God" with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.)
The Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be:
- Honest and fair,
- Friendly and helpful,
- Considerate and caring,
- Courageous and strong, and
- Responsible for what I say and do,
and to
- Respect myself and others,
- Respect authority,
- Use resources wisely,
- Make the world a better place, and
- Be a sister to every Girl Scout.
Four Program Goals
All program activities are based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law and the following Four Program Goals.
1. Develop full potential
Girls will develop to their full potential. Girl Scouting will:
- Foster girls' feelings of self-acceptance and unique self-worth
- Promote girls' perception of themselves as competent, responsible, and open to new experiences and challenges
- Offer girls opportunities to learn new skills
- Encourage girls' personal growth
- Allow girls to utilize and practice talents and abilities
2. Relate to others
Girls will relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect. Girl Scouting will:
- Help girls develop sensitivity to others and respect for their needs, feelings, and rights
- Promote an understanding of individual, cultural, religious, and racial differences
- Foster the ability to build friendships and working relationships
3. Develop values
Girls will develop a meaningful set of values to guide their actions and to provide for sound decision-making. Girl Scouting will:
- Help girls develop meaningful values and ethics that will guide their actions
- Foster an ability to make decisions that are consistent with girls' values and that reflect respect for the rights and needs of others
- Empower girls to act upon their values and convictions
- Encourage girls to reexamine their ideals as they mature
4. Contribute to society
Girls will contribute to the improvement of society through the use of their abilities and leadership skills, while working in cooperation with others. Girl Scouting will:
- Help girls develop concern for the well being of their communities
- Promote girls' understanding of how the quality of community life affects every member of society
- Encourage girls to use their skills to work with others for the benefit of all
In conclusion
The Girl Scout promise, law, and four program goals are excellent character guidelines for any group, organization or individual.
Recognize her achievements
Resources
The following resources provide information on this subject.
Websites
Just for Girls - Girl Scouts
Books
Miscellaneous
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in understanding Character. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Students and researchers
The Web address of this page is
www.school-for-champions.com/character/girl_scouts.htm. Please include it as a reference in your report, document,
or thesis.
Also, tell a friend about this material.
Where can you go from here?
Girl Scout Character Program