Spirit Week is a time for girls, volunteers, and families to show their Girl Scout pride and inspire others to join our movement. This year’s Spirit Week theme is “Be a Force for Good.” We’re extending our traditional Spirit Week to two weeks, September 14-30. During this time watch for social media posts, city proclamations, and building/bridge lighting events showcasing Girl Scouts in our communities.
What does it mean to be a force for good?
Being a force for good is built into Girl Scouts; it’s at the core of everything we do. Sure, Girl Scouts are kind, friendly, and helpful, but they’re also courageous, confident, strong, resilient, and resourceful. Girl Scouts are not only a force for good, they’re a force to be reckoned with. Being a “force for good” can sound daunting, but what it really means is that you’re out there doing your best to help others and make your community just a little bit better.
Your girls have the tools and skills to be a force for good, and they learned them in Girl Scouts! As a troop leader, parent/guardian, or other supporting adult, you have helped your girls grow into changemakers. Whether it’s cleaning up a park with your Daisy troop, helping your Junior sew and donate masks, or supporting a girl as she completes 80 hours of coordination, work, and service for her Gold Award project, you’ve helped them learn and practice the skills it takes to make the world a better place, and they’ll bring those skills with them wherever they choose to go. This is an opportunity for girls to share their experiences with our Girl Scout community, then share with others by inviting them to join Girl Scouts.
Help your girl or troop recognize that they are a force for good and invite other girls to join Girl Scouts using the new text-to-join number, then earn a patch to show it!
Girls can earn the Force for Good patch by:
- Sharing the text-to-join number with another girl, inviting them to join in being a force for good by joining Girl Scouts. Girls need Girl Scouts more than ever–reaching out to invite someone helps them to feel welcomed and included. Text JOIN TO 74253, Message and data rates may apply.
- Sharing how you have been, or how you will be, a force for good. What amazing things have you done this past year because of Girl Scouts? How will you change the world this year?
How can girls be a force for good? Here are some examples:
- Cleaning up litter in your community or at a local park
- Make sure your family members (or you if you’re 18) are registered to vote
- Advocate for a policy change in your neighborhood, school, town, or state (dress codes, crosswalks, stop signs, parks, etc.) by contacting your legislator or school board representative
- Attend a protest or demonstration
- Delivering groceries or meals to at-risk neighbors or family members, or checking in on them
- Making masks
- Any Girl Scout Take Action or Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award project
- Volunteering at food, clothing, or home goods donation sites
- Being a role model for younger girls
Changing the world is hard work, but there’s strength in numbers. Join us in being a Force for Good and visit our Be a Force for Good news post to learn more.
Idelle Erickson – Idelle is the Operations Project Manager at Girl Scouts River Valleys. From program and outdoors, to training, to coordinating staff opportunities, to helping volunteers, she does it all! Idelle loves solving problems, hearing people’s stories, and helping wherever she can. She is also the producer of the GIRL Talk Podcast. In her free time, she plays guitar, loves watching great TV shows, listens to podcasts and music, gets outside whenever she can, drinks the best coffee, and goes on adventures with her big dog Dylan.