Girl Scouts Acceptance??

[FieldSports]

What has your experience been with GSA acceptance of Venturing? Had a pretty nasty GSA response of "they are not welcome". Guess they don't like competing with our program??

[wagionvigil]

GSUSA sees Venturing as taking their Girls.But individual Leaders I have talked to usually after they approach me are very open and usually ask for registration information. The Professionals are the problem and that can be expected. I always tell the leaders and the Girls to stay in GSUSA but join Venturing to do all the Fun things that GSUSA do not do any more. One GSUSA group in the NR had a crew of 20 attend Philmont a couple years ago. APproach the Units and leaders never the professionals.

[kwildman]

or go straight to the girls... if you can get one or two they will bring their friends.

[Billiken]

My niece (GSUSA Gold Award) was in a Crew in St. Louis.

[ThunderingWind]

I approached our local GS Council and told them their Older Girl Troops are welcome to attend a list of events I had. We extended an invitation to our Area Quest weekend as Guests of local Crews.

By taking this approach, I was able to secure a verbal agreement that we can proivde a list of events be held that are open to the Girls and they will share this information with their units. We even invited them go to Sea Base with us. They would have been required to administratively join the host Crew, but at leas they
were invited.

I have tested this agreement by asking a few Girl Scouts I know that are older. it is getting out at least here. Becasue of the reorg done by the GSUSA, I can not tell if this is working in all areas of the new Wetern PA GSUSA Council. it is about the same size as our NER Area 4.

I have yet to allowed to have a leaders list. I do have one leader that is also a Scout mom. She is working to help me get the leader list as well so we can reach right out to them.

[FieldSports]

The negative response was the Professional GSA'r. The girls have joined numerous Crews in the area. The response was in relation to having a local female Advisor talk to the "Neighborhood" (read District) about how Venturing was helping the girls in her Crew.

The girls were all registered in both GSA and BSA. Guess as usual, leave the professional out of the loop. Aren't they suppose to help the youth?

Agreed that fun and exciting events seem to be winning more and more over.

[Nuts4Scouts]

So basically you are surprised that GSUSA (no such org as GSA) did not want you recruiting Girl Scouts for Venturing?

How open would you be to have a Campfire leader come and recruit your Crew members?

After all, they can register in both, and it's about the kids - right?

I can't say that I would be thrilled to have a list with my contact info spread around, without my permission, either.

You are better off going to the girls in other ways. Setting up info tables at community events, school registration days, school club days. Post fliers in churches, schools, and community bulletin boards. Get your Venturers involved. It is THEIR program after all.

[wagionvigil]

Without exception every GSUSA Group I have invited to attend a Venturing Event that actually showed up has cross registered. You just have to be coolabout how you contact them. Usually once one group registers they start spreading the word. You must have leaders that are open also.

[FrankJ]

How open would you be to have a Campfire leader come and recruit your Crew members?

As a young lad, I always wanted to join the camp fire girls. They had a cool song. Now I guess I can.