Program areas at GSWISE
MEMBERSHIP involves the recruitment, training, support, and retention of girl members and adult members who deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) to girls in grades K5-12. The GSLE engages girls in discovering self, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. Girl Scouts helps girls (1) develop their full individual potential (2) relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect (3) develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision making, and (4) contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. The long-term result, or the leadership destination, is a generation of girls who lead with courage, confidence, and character. Of the girls reporting, girls of color make up more than 15% of the council's girl membership, and 9% identify as Hispanic. Girls and adults participating in Girl Scouts are supported by council-provided financial assistance for membership dues, training fees, and materials. Membership totals for 2023 were 11,689 girls and 5,852 adults with a girl membership retention rate of 64.3%.
GIRL SCOUT PROMISE OUTREACH PROGRAM AND LATINA INITIATIVE. For more than 50 years, GSWISE has been serving girls in economically distressed neighborhoods to give every girl the opportunity to pursue the GSLE and reach their full leadership potential, regardless of their family's financial means. Through the GIRL SCOUT PROMISE OUTREACH PROGRAM, girls in low-income central city neighborhoods in southeastern Wisconsin are guided by trained Girl Scout staff and volunteers who inspire them to explore new things, gain practical life skills, and prepare for a lifetime of leadership in a safe, girl-led environment. The Girl Scout Promise Outreach Program encompasses many different pathways of participation in the GSLE curriculum that occur year-round and provides financial assistance, bilingual materials, and customized curriculum. Girls can participate in out-of-school time staff-led Girl Scout troops, middle school series programs, summer workshops, and camp experiences. Bilingual staff provide some programming in both English and Spanish. The LATINA INITIATIVE offers girls and caregivers the opportunity to develop new leadership skills together, aligning with the unique cultural values and language needs of their community. The program was designed to expand leadership development opportunities for women and girls in the region's Latino community. In 2023, 1,370 Girl Scout girl members gained Girl Scout Leadership Experiences through Outreach and Latina Initiative programs. While this program is supported in various ways throughout the council, expenses reported here reflect only direct program costs.
The GIRL SCOUT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE (GSLE) provides personal leadership development opportunities to girls in grades K5-12, with defined outcomes differentiated by grade level. The organization offers and promotes flexible opportunities for participation. Events and activities offered span a wide range of options and topics that support and enrich each girl's experience, e.g., STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), camps, travel, environmental stewardship, global citizenship, arts and culture, healthy living, entrepreneurial skills, life skills, community service, and career exploration. These events and activities also provide opportunities for girls from a variety of different communities to meet, connect, and work together. Staff, tools, resource materials, equipment, awards, and venues, including council-owned program properties, are available and included in the GSLE program delivery. In 2023, 3,668 girls participated in the immersive experiences of camp and 5,775 girls attended council-led events. 343 girls earned Girl Scout Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards. Financial assistance is provided for program fees, camping fees, and transportation costs for regional, national, and international opportunities. GSLE revenues include income from program-related product and supplies sales, program fees, and rentals.