SF Girl Scouts Older Girl Program
In 2018 we established an Older Girl Program for our Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador level San Francisco Girl Scouts. The program is intended to provide girl-led experiences for every 'OG' to find a place where their individual interests can be met beyond the troop.
With the support of Service Unit volunteers and young alums, we organize an annual High Adventure Trip, as well as a variety of other opportunities throughout the year based on the interests of the OGs themselves, for community service, social activities, skill-building, and award earning. As part of the Girl Scout progression, we act as program advisers with the intent to provide a mentoring relationship as the OGs learn how to self-advocate and take the lead.
We encourage all Cadettes, Senior, and Ambassador level Girl Scouts to join us and see how far their interests can take them!
New members can join at anytime by sending an email to:
main+subscribe@SFOGs.groups.io
Troop leaders and adult members are also welcome to join as program volunteers.
Program Highlights
Fall 2018 Backpacking Trip
For our inaugural trip, a group of 20 Cadettes & Seniors came together from 7 different troops with 5 adult leaders. After 2 backpacking training days, we hiked 2.5 miles fully loaded with gear, to Montebello Open Space Preserve. We camped out, cooked backpacking meals, then hiked out the next morning. The trip provided the opportunity for our Cadettes to earn their Trailblazer badge, and our Seniors earned their Adventure Camper badge. We learned in our trip reflection that we all wanted more food and more down time to socialize!
Fall 2019 Canyoneering Trip
For our 2019 adventure, we took an overnight guided Canyoneering trip with Rock N Water Camp. 14 girls across 5 troops, and 3 adults attended. We camped out under the stars at Rock N Water camp, then spent the day climbing, bouldering, and swimming through canyons in the American River on a warm fall day. It was a huge success! It provided the girls the right blend of high adventure and socializing to get to know each other.
2019 Robotics Team
GS Alum (& Salesforce employee) Coach Heather, along with Coach Andrew and other Salesforce volunteers, brought us the opportunity to form our first ever SF Girl Scout 'First Lego League' robotics team of 11 Cadettes coming from 5 troops. The team learned to think like an engineer, solve problems, build robots and compete against other robotics teams throughout San Francisco. Funded by a generous donation from Salesforce, the team wrapped up the season with a demonstration and cookie sale at Salesforce offices in the Spring of 2020.
Helping Hands Social Club
Inspired by Juliette Gordon Lowe's Helping Hands Sewing Club, we formed a community service craft-based social club. A group of 15 SF Girl Scouts and a few adults came together to learn to knit, with the goal to donate finished projects to One Warm Coat. They also learned about Girl Scout governance models, Service Unit Delegate roles & National Delegate roles. We all took away new knitting skills, and the Service Unit gained 1 girl National Delegate for the year.
Opportunities on the Horizon
- NEW! 2020-2021 Troop Year, the Service Unit will award all OGs the Leadership Torch Award for serving as a Service Unit Delegate or National Delegate for a 1-year term.
- OG Program Leadership roles.
- Award Training per OG interest – Gold Award, Program Aide as examples.
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Opportunity matching and mentoring for older girls to plan & lead events with younger troops as part of award earning for highest awards including Leader in Action, Leadership Torch, Program Aide, Counselor in Training, Volunteer in Training
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Service Unit Travel for Older Girls
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Speaker Series & Community Networking
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Social Media OG Volunteers to run our GSNCSF Facebook group! Start a GSNCSF Twitter account, Snapchat or Tik Tok!
To join Girl Scouts San Francisco Older Girl Group, send an email anytime: main+subscribe@GSSFOGs.groups.io
For more Older Girl opportunities outside of San Francisco, visit these pages:
GSNorcal's Older Girl Interest Groups
Older Girl Program Advisers:
Jocelyn Herndon, jocelynherndon@earthlink.net
Kristine Sumi, teamsumi@sbcglobal.net