Girl Scout Troop that does outdoor stuff

[Cubmaster Pete]

Do they still exist? Can I start one and thumb my nose at the council, and do my own thing?

 

Looking for something for my girls to do, and maybe have meetings concurrently with a cub scout pack meeting. I have some other interested parents who might be game. Is it possible?

[GSMOM73]

Yes, Girl Scouts can do outdoor camping.  In order to start a troop you will need 5 girls and woman co-leader that is unrelated to you.  You will need to go through training both you and your co-leader and get background checks.  But, yes Girl Scout is girl lead and if they want to go camping then they can.  However, there are procedures that you will be expected to follow.  I don't know what you mean by thumbing your nose at council. 

[qwazse]

Yes. The activities of GS/USA are only bounded by the willingness of moms to support them.

Of course, you would do well to talk to your council to learn what other troops in your area are doing.

[NJCubScouter]

I am not an expert on Girl Scouting, but I suspect the council would be very happy to have a troop doing outdoor activities as long as you have the correct training and do the right paperwork.  My general impression in speaking with Girl Scout leaders in years past is that the amount of training required by the Girl Scouts for any given role or activity is greater than that required by the BSA.

 

GSUSA National encourages camping, see https://www.girlscouts.org/en/our-program/ways-to-participate/camp-and-outdoors.html.  But as qwasze says, it is up to the local leaders to make it happen, and if they are not interested, it doesn't happen.

Edited February 1, 2017 by NJCubScouter

[GSMOM73]

There is also Frontier Girls which is a newer and smaller organization, which I have heard of.  Just goggle them for more info on their organization. 

[SSScout]

Outdoor Girl Scouts, what a concept.  

Yes, it is entirely up to the GSTroop leader(s).    There was no set training for such when I investigated the situation umpteen years ago.  GSing  did not like the idea of male GS leaders, among other things, even with a female co-leader.  My daughter did not want to do tea parties and fashion shows.

I have a friend, Ted, who with his wife founded a GS Troop of Daisies when his daughter was about that age.  He was a died in the wool Scouter (he now has a Webelos son) and he led those Daisies thru creeks and trails.  They got dirty and caught crawdads.  His wife pretty much let him do what he wanted and stood back to let them go, with her blessing.  The other mothers thought it was great, "we would never know how to do that", was a comment Ted and I heard .  those eight or ten girls got the Scout experience.  

 

Pursue it, by all means, CMPete,   prove those GS people wrong and let your girls gain thereby.  

[perdidochas]

Do they still exist? Can I start one and thumb my nose at the council, and do my own thing?

 

Looking for something for my girls to do, and maybe have meetings concurrently with a cub scout pack meeting. I have some other interested parents who might be game. Is it possible?

My sister-in-law runs a fairly active outdoor girl scout troop. No, they aren't as hardcore into camping/outdoors as a typical Boy Scout Troop, but they camp, canoe, hike, etc. 

[MerleneMir]

Yeah, you can choose outdoor camping. Because it builds girls of courage, confidence, and give her the foundation for leadership. 

[Stosh]

It depends on the parents in many cases.  I have been told flat out by my daughter, when her daughter gets old enough it is my responsibility for teaching her safe firearm training and making sure she goes through Hunter's Safety and then taking her hunting.  Fishing she can do now.  We were just up in the woods last week cleaning up the trails for the summer.  She's three. 

Edited April 17, 2017 by Stosh