Girl Scouts San Diego – Imperial Council

Girl Scouts San Diego is the only girl only organization that truly sets out to be all about the girl. They learn to ask questions, «Wanna buy some Girl Scout cookies?», and «I can become an Engineer?». They find answers, «Because your troop sold enough cookies they can all go camping and horseback riding.» «I can be a nurse!». They learn how to meet and make new friends when they go to day and resident camp, that they otherwise might never get a chance to do. They try new things, like kayaking. They have great events like the annual «He and Me» event where it’s just Dads and their girl (s) up at Camp Winacka for a weekend. Who do you think has the most fun?
I’ve lived in San Diego all my life and I never knew GS had cabins in Balboa Park, what the hay?
Camp Winacka and Camp Whispering Oaks are beautiful camps in Julian. If you are ever in the woods, stop by and take a look at what our cookie money does. It’s awesome.
Being a leader is an honor because you get to hang out with really neat girls and see them grow into smart, capable ladies. It’s not easy because parent participation is not the greatest, but sometimes you find the keepers and they have your back. It’s worth it if you can spend some extra time with your own girls doing something together. It’s a great excuse. You get what you put into it.
Many life long relationships are made at Girl Scouts. It’s not just about the cookies.

Girl Scouts are so good for my daughter!
i strongly believe that i have the most amazing troop leaders which make girl scouts a better than amazing experience for our family.
Girl Scouts does so much for my daughters character and confidence. She is making friends that i believe will be with her for the rest of her life. Most of our troop is also in our YMCA Adventure princess tribe too =) I can’t even say that one organization is better than the other… they are both amazing for my daughter!
i went to the girl scout store finally and my daughter got to pick out some fun patches for her vest. So happy that i did that! made her vest even more fun.

So, I see a lot of opinions on here and here is mine.
I myself am a scout leader. Yes Girl Scouts can be a little expensive, but then again no one is forcing you to become a volunteer. Many women like myself do work hard so our daughter’s have the Girl Scout experience. No we are not teachers nor have a diploma in child development. But, given the fact that we teach our daughters how to take important and positive decisions in life, we will try our best to work hard and make them understand that life is not just art projects and running around.
Many are first time leaders, meaning that we too are learning how to manage a group of girls. A lot of the volunteers are up for the challenge, but many won’t cut it.
I do agree that, with the millions of dollars that Girl Scouts of the USA, registration should be free to all. Or at least their workshops, or classes. I’ve had ups and downs with my troop, but we have managed to stick around for our first year and now going on to our second. So, that being said, please feel free to take the challenge and take a second look at the hard work one takes on. You come to realize that teachers/​educators in our schools, do not have it easy.
P.S As far as the cookie sales, and people being annoyed of it, you should really take a second and think, that parents take on the roll of sales-​people, because we are what children reflect on. They learn not to be ashamed of asking, and know that working hard to earn what they want is. Yes, girl scouts take a load of money into their pockets, and also the cookie makers, but we [troop] take enough in so the girls have fun with what they earned for the troop.

Our girls and I have been involved with Girl Scouts for the past 3 years (as a Daisy/​Brownie, Brownie/​Junior and Leader/​Camping Coordinator), and I am very impressed with the organization, both globally and locally.
Girl Scouts’ mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, help empower girls to be leaders and self-​confident, and help girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together through activities like earning badges, completing introspective «journey» workbooks, camping, field trips, meetings, skill-​building clinics, community service projects, and other activities.
SUMMER CAMPS: The girls have attended Girl Scout day camps the last 2 summers, and have enjoyed all of them — horse camp, ice skating camp, art camp, love of animals camp (at local animal shelter). They are well-​organized, with great leaders and volunteers, and provide a great overall experience. This summer, they are doing their first overnight camp at Julian, which should be incredible. There are reduced prices available for those who need it.
TRAINING — I have been impressed with the extensive (and inexpensive) training available to Girl Scout leaders — I took part in Leader/​Brownie training, First Aid/​CPR, «Let’s Camp,» and even the weekend-​long «Let’s Tent/Let’s Cook» — very comprehensive.
COUNCIL ACTIVITIES — there are numerous Council-​sponsored activities each month, and we have enjoyed a lot of them — singalongs, day at an animal shelter, weekend Adventure Weekend camps, Padres games, etc., as well as lots of activities through our particular service unit — camping trips, service projects, movies, learning experiences, etc.
Overall, very impressed and pleased with our participation in Girl Scouts!

Awesome place for girls to learn just how powerful they really are. The Balboa campus and the camps are beautiful open spaces where finding yourself might actually be possible. I’m always surprised to learn about new programs they have here. Also, cookies. Enough said.

Love coming to the council office! Everyone was very friendly and helpful when I came to purchase some patches at the council store. Thanks for all that you do!

They’re at your work…
They’re at your front door…
They’re at your grocery store…
They’re at the park…
They’re EVERYWHERE!!!
Boxes are still $ 4, but some of them are only half full of cookies! WTF? Checkout the photo I uploaded.

Those tagalongs and samoas better arrive soon! My order was placed awhile back. Argh, who am I kidding… realistically I’ll be eating more than five boxes anyway. I’ll just go to the grocery store Girl Scout outpost and start stockpiling.

Came home to find two cute little girls w/​a «cookie mobile» in my drive way & I am a sucker for all things cute & cookies. So immediately I ask do you have anything w/​chocolate? The younger of the two starts pulling out boxes of cookies & displaying them. I have never had girl scout cookies before, but have only heard people expressing their love for them. Hmmm… choices, choices… so I went for the samoas. Opened the box last night & they were yummy! Who doesn’t like gooey caramel, coconut & chocolate?
So YES, girl scouts you can come knock on my door & offer me more cookies. Just a warning… do have other people over when you open a box of cookies. ;-)