
Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is proud to be part of an organization that has a 100 year + history of being welcoming and inclusive. Our policies of inclusion align with those of our national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA. We value diversity and inclusivity and do not discriminate or recruit on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national origin, or physical or developmental disability. Through our programming, called the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, girls develop skills to advance diversity and promote tolerance in the twenty-first centGirl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is proud to welcome youth and adult members of all races, ethnicities, abilities, family structures, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, body sizes, national origins, and spoken languages. Girl Scouts is for youth across the gender spectrum: cisgender girls, trans girls and boys, nonbinary and intersex youth, and youth who are still on their gender discovery journey. Girl Scouts allows youth to explore their potential without the influence of harmful gender roles and expectations found in male-dominated environments. We welcome all genders as staff, volunteers, caregivers, and advocates for our mission. Girl Scouts does not allow discrimination on the basis of any identities, including but not limited to those listed above.
Any youth who identifies with the girl experience may join any specific troop, event, service area event, camp session, or any other participation pathway at their grade level, as long as the capacity has not been reached.
Girl Scouts must make a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Should any Girl Scout requesting special accommodations wish to camp or participate in an overnight activity, GSNWGL will attempt to accommodate requests regarding changing attire, sleeping arrangements, and other related activities. All Girl Scouts are entitled to privacy, and we encourage everyone to practice privacy strategies that may include access to private changing spaces and times for all individuals when requested. Members can use the facility aligned with their gender identity.
Concerning volunteers, Girl Scouts welcomes all genders as adult volunteers and has developed appropriate safeguards regarding roles and responsibilities to ensure that Girl Scouts receive the proper supervision and support.
For more information, refer to our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Racial Justice resources:
Our role is to help Girl Scouts develop self-confidence and good decision-making skills that will help them make wise choices in all areas of their lives.
Caregivers make all decisions regarding participation in programs that might be considered of a sensitive nature, such as reproductive health issues. Consistent with that belief, we ask for written parental permission for any locally planned program that could be considered sensitive.
Our mission is to build Girl Scouts of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. We advocate for policies that are aligned with the values of the Girl Scout Law and support our mission, from fueling a passion for STEM to expanding access to outdoor opportunities. We also encourage our Girl Scouts to advocate for the changes they want to see in the world by changing a rule, regulation, or law. Through these Take Action Projects, Girl Scouts identify a problem, research the root causes, develop a sustainable solution, create a plan, put the plan into action, and reflect on their experiences.
Girl Scout troops are prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elected public office.
Girl Scouts supports members from all backgrounds and beliefs. While we are a secular organization that refrains from teaching religious or spiritual beliefs or practices, we greatly value our longstanding partnerships with religious organizations across many faiths that share the values of the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
We encourage Girl Scouts to develop connections to their own spiritual and religious beliefs by earning recognitions offered by their faith-based communities and by earning the My Promise, My Faith pin, which helps a girl deepen the connection between the Girl Scout Law and their faith. We support the right of faith leaders to verify that the program delivered to Girl Scouts in their places of worship is consistent with their faith’s teachings. Activities must include all Girl Scouts and maintain a safe and inclusive environment.
Refer to the following Council Policy Below: Council-Owned/Leased Property
Refer to Council Policy Below: Child Abuse
Policy:
Standard: An established model or example which acts as a criterion for a given purpose.
Guideline: An established way of work, an indication or outline of conduct.
Mission Statement: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
GSNWGL Girl Scout: The Girl Scout Movement is open to all girls and adults who accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law and meet membership requirements. Our council is responsible for seeing that membership is reflective of the pluralistic nature of our populations and that membership is extended to all girls in all population segments and geographic areas in their jurisdictions. A girl who meets or can meet membership requirements shall not be denied admission or access to the Girl Scout program because of race, color, ethnicity, creed, national origin, socioeconomic status, or disability. Reasonable accommodations shall be made for girls with disabilities to ensure that girls have access to activities. Girl Scouts is for youth across the gender spectrum: cisgender girls, trans girls and boys, nonbinary and intersex youth, and youth who are still on their gender discovery journey.
All content within this section is policy.
Troops, Service Areas, Members, and Volunteers cannot legally enter into contracts. Only those designated by the board of directors can sign contracts. Only those designated by the board of directors can sign contracts, including contracts with and without fees.
Records: Only authorized individuals may access materials specifically designated by our council as confidential.
A volunteer is a registered adult Girl Scout, age 18 or older, who has completed an application process, passed a background check, and been assigned a volunteer position.
To ensure full equality of opportunity in all operations of the organization and activities, affirmative action policies and procedures shall be utilized in the recruitment, selection, training, placement, and recognition of volunteers. Special emphasis shall be placed upon securing the involvement of under-represented groups.
Each year, volunteers will need to renew their role, and/or be approved for additional volunteer roles.
GSNWGL will conduct background checks every three years for continuing volunteers.
All volunteers participating in the Movement shall be registered as members of GSUSA and shall pay the applicable GSUSA annual or lifetime membership dues. Exceptions may be made for volunteers who are working in a temporary advisory capacity. Financial aid may be available.
Our council shall provide orientation and training to enable volunteers to fulfill their commitment to the best of their ability. New leaders must complete leader training within two (2) months of appointment.
Ongoing supervision, guidance, and recognition are provided to volunteers as they carry out their responsibilities. Supervision and guidance should include verbal and/or written feedback based on performance. All volunteers will have the opportunity to complete a year-end survey, giving input about their accomplishments, their Service Area, and our council.
All Girl Scout members should wear the membership pin when participating in Girl Scout activities. Girl Scouts of the USA is a uniformed organization; wearing uniform pieces is encouraged but not required. The purchase of Girl Scout uniform pieces is at the volunteer's expense.