Juliette Gordon Low founded the Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) on March 12, 1912.  Her purpose was to:

• Help girls develop responsibility
• Commit themselves to the highest ideals
• Foster team work to learn how to support each other

Membership was extended to all girls who accepted the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

Her purpose of the Girl Scouts and the membership requirements has not changed.  The Girl Scout program is an adventure in learning that offers activities that address both current interests and future roles as a woman.

The girls acquire an understanding about themselves and others through meaningful community service and friendship.

Although the purpose has not changed, the reach has.  Now there are more than 2.8 million Girl Scouts in the United States today.  GSUSA reaches one in every nine girls nationwide between the ages of 5 and 17.  These girls represent diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.  For more information, go to the GSUSA website.

Who We Are
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana encompasses more than 200 communities in greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana with a membership of more than 94,000 girls and 25,000 adult volunteers.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana reaches 1 in every 5 girls between the ages of 5 and 17.  Just as in the beginning, today’s Girl Scouting program is open to all girls who accept the Girl Scout Promise and Law.

What We Do

• The focus of Girl Scouting is on the individual girl
• We build leaders one girl at a time

We help each girl:

• Achieve her full potential
• Acquire skills for today’s world
• Gain self-confidence
• Learn how to make thoughtful decisions
• Develop a strong personal set of values

In a nurturing, all-girl environment members have fun, learn to work together, and share challenging and enriching experiences.  Emphasis is placed on personal responsibility, healthy lifestyles, environmental awareness, community service, and leadership.

Girls may experience Girl Scouting through participation in activities through troops, trips, camping, contemporary awareness program activities, and service projects.

Adult volunteers experience opportunities for growth and new friendships.

We help each adult:

• With the opportunity to develop new skills
• Experience rewards that they would not typically receive in their daily lives
• Realize heightened satisfaction in bonding with their daughters and other girls
• Receive good feelings from "giving back to the community"

Learn more about working with girls, as well as opportunities for working with adults.