In anything we do, we should want to have a voice in how it happens. Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania gives older girls the opportunity to use their voices on the Girl Advisory Committee of the board. As members of this committee, myself and two other Girl Scouts from our council attend board meetings and meet with other committees of the board to help make the Girl Scout experience better for everyone in our council. We give suggestions on different programs that we think others would enjoy, how to promote the highest awards (Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards), and give them perspective on the way some troops run versus just looking at issues from a business standpoint.

This experience has been really great for me for so many reasons. For one, it gives me the opportunity to share my opinions for the better of others. I’ve been able to share ideas of what I think would make Girl Scouts more fun for everyone, especially older girls. Being on the Girl Advisory Committee also introduced me to what a business meeting would feel like. Some of the stuff doesn’t make a ton of sense to me, but it allows me to look at Girl Scouts from a different perspective. It makes things like selling cookies or attending council-sponsored events more than just something fun to do – it shows me how my participation benefits everyone. Lastly, it is a great leadership opportunity. We are able to talk to the leaders of our council and give them our input and ideas. Not everyone has the ability to do so, and it’s a great opportunity to connect with them and share ideas with them.