Girl Scouts of Western New York (GSWNY)

Challenge:

Girl Scouts are known for their values of equality and making the world a better place, and for the GSWNY team, they want to know that all girls feel welcomed and that their members reflect the true diversity of girls in the community. They want to empower girls to positively impact their peers, the community and the world. With two million members and fifty million alumni worldwide, what an incredible opportunity to not only impact Western New York but to become a model for the entire organization!

They wondered…How do we become a grassroots agent of change throughout the WNY area? Is it really possible to create a culture where all girls are welcomed and supported? In what ways are we able to educate troop members to become advocates for inclusion?

Solution:

Teaming up with RAA seemed a logical next step. From their first meeting, the newly formed inclusion team has been diligently working towards full inclusion of every girl interested in becoming a Scout or attending a camp. They have become a formidable force in working toward this goal, determined to take their training and assessments and put them into action. With RAA’s mentored training and implementation model in place, their Inclusion Team has been busy!

• Reviewing and upgrading internal policies to reflect their desire for inclusion.
• Designing methods to empower Scouts to participate in the journey of inclusion as ambassadors and incorporating disability awareness into their meetings and badgework.
• Thoughtfully considering and strategizing ways to create a safe, welcoming atmosphere and physical space at troop meetings and camps where girls with and without intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities can thrive and participate together.
• Developing methods for bettering communication and needs assessment for participating girls.

Each of these processes takes the concept of inclusion and applies it directly to the contexts GSWNY works in: community troops, summer camps, online program development.

“The lessons girls learn while attending summer camp are invaluable, says Karen Lundgard, Chief Outdoor and Property Officer of GSWNY. “Every year, several families reach out to share how their girls have transformed into leaders and developed courage, confidence and character during their time at camp. More than ever, it is critical for the next generation of female leaders to discover their voices and how they want to impact the world. GSWNY’s summer camp program allows them that space, guidance, and growth. Rochester Accessible Adventures has played a key role in advancing inclusivity, breaking down participation barriers and creating a welcoming space for every girl in Western New York. It is through partnerships and contributions like this that we are able to unite and improve our communities.”

And It is incredible how much this dedicated team has accomplished in such a short time and how infectious their excitement for positive momentum has been. We look forward to seeing systemic change within the organization throughout the coming years of mentoring and to see this organization change the world one girl at a time!