Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is a youth organization chartered by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA). Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is the Girl Scout council covering New Hampshire and Vermont. The council had over 10,000 members in 2024 spanning the two states. [1]
The council headquarters are in Bedford, New Hampshire. There are retail stores in Bedford, South Burlington, Vermont, and Thetford, Vermont. The council runs summer camps in both states. Day camps include Camp Kettleford in Bedford, New Hampshire, Camp Seawood in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Camp Twin Hills in Richmond, Vermont. The council operates one overnight camp, Camp Farnsworth, in Thetford, Vermont.
Girl Scouts was founded on March 12, 1912, by Juliette Gordon Low. Low started a Girl Guide troop in Savannah, Georgia. It has always been an organization that supports girls. The national organization, Girl Scouts of the USA, charters local councils throughout the country. [2]
Prior to 2009, there were two separate Girl Scout councils in New Hampshire and Vermont. The Swift Water Council operated out of New Hampshire, and the Vermont Council operated out of Vermont. In 2009, as part of a national realignment, the two councils merged to become Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains. The council is now headquartered in New Hampshire and runs camps in both states.
The Girl Scout Promise and Law have been through many iterations since the founding in 1912.
The current version of the Girl Scout Law reads as follows: [3]
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.
The current Girl Scout Promise reads as follows: [4]
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
* Members may substitute for the word God
in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.
The Girl Scout mission is Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Girl Scouts is open to those in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Girl Scouts progress through various age levels. The age levels are Daisies (kindergarten and 1st grade), Brownies (2nd and 3rd grade), Juniors (4th and 5th grade), Cadettes (6th through 8th grade), Seniors (9th and 10th grade), and Ambassadors (11th and 12th grade). [5]
Girl Scouts usually operate in local troops. Troops are led by adult volunteers and determine which badges, patches, and activities to complete.
Girl Scouts who are not part of a troop and complete badges and patches on their own are called Individually Registered Girl Scouts. These Girl Scouts have an adult mentor who helps them progress through the Girl Scout Program. [6]
The primary fundraiser for Girl Scouts is the Girl Scout Cookie Program. In the winter months, troops and individual Girl Scouts get the opportunity to earn rewards and money for troop activities by participating in the annual cookie program. The cookie program teaches Girl Scouts entrepreneurship and life skills. They learn how to be confident, how to interact with the public, and how to run a successful business. [7]
Girl Scout Cookies are more than a fundraiser; they help Girl Scouts aim for a bright future and all proceeds from the sales stay local. Girl Scouts have been able to travel the world, help their communities, and do fun activities because of the Girl Scout Cookie Program.
In New Hampshire and Vermont, the cookie sales tend to run from January to March. Girl Scouts can take orders from relatives and friends, and host cookie booths at local businesses.
While Girl Scout uniforms are not required, they are encouraged as a means to identify with the organization and their troop. Girl Scout uniforms and badges change depending on the age level. Daisies wear a blue tunic or vest, Brownies wear a brown vest or sash, Juniors wear a green vest or sash, and Cadettes through Ambassadors wear a khaki vest or sash.
Current Girl Scout uniforms include an age level pin, a pin for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, an American flag patch, and patches for Girl Scouts of the USA and the local council.
Each Girl Scout age level has specific badges they can earn that are appropriate for their age. Daisies start by earning petals. Each petal represents a line from the Girl Scout Law, and they earned by doing activities that align with the values of the line.
Girl Scout badges align with one or more of the four pillars in Girl Scouting (life skills, outdoor, entrepreneurship, and STEM). Girl Scouts can earn badges in robotics, hiking, citizenship, first aid, cooking, and more. [8]
Girl Scouts may also earn Leadership Awards and Highest Awards. Leadership Awards are available for Juniors through Cadettes. There are awards for personal leadership, collaborative leadership, mentoring leadership, and community action. Girl Scouts who earn these awards may place the pins on the front of the vest or sash. [9]
Highest Awards include the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award. These are all the highest awards a Girl Scout can earn at their level. Juniors can earn the Bronze Award, Cadettes can earn the Silver Award, and Seniors and Ambassadors can earn the highest award in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award. [10]
Highest Awards allow Girl Scouts to find a problem in their community and discover solutions with lasting impacts. Girl Scouts in New Hampshire and Vermont have earned the Bronze Award for projects that help animals and local community support organizations, and for bringing awareness to mental wellness. Girl Scouts have earned the Silver Award for establishing food pantries, protecting pollinators, and including safety measures in their local parks. Girl Scouts have earned the Gold Award for creating educational videos about mental health conditions, fighting for policy change for deaf drivers, and creating a patch program that brings all abilities together in sports. [11]
Girl Scout adult volunteers can also earn awards for their service to Girl Scouting.
Formal recognition includes the Volunteer of Excellence Award, the President’s Award, the Appreciation Pin, the Honor Pin, the Thanks Badge, and the Thanks Badge II. Volunteers must be nominated for these awards and approved by the Board of Directors. [12]
Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains have local recognition. These include the New Found Treasure Award, the Torchbearer’s Award, and the Volunteer of the Month. [13]
The council celebrates National Volunteer Month in April every year in which they express their gratitude for those who have stepped up and mentored young Girl Scouts.
Camp is a cornerstone of the Girl Scout experience. Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains operates three council-led day camps, one overnight camp, and two volunteer-led camps. Day camps include Camp Kettleford in Bedford, NH, Camp Seawood in Portsmouth, NH, and Camp Twin Hills in Richmond, VT. The overnight camp is Camp Farnsworth is Thetford, VT. Camp Whispering Pines is the volunteer-led day camp in New Hampshire and Green Mountain Day Camp is the volunteer-led camp in Vermont. [14] When camp is not in session, camp properties are used for council programs, troop camping experiences, and external rentals. [15]