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Mentoring - the Adult/Girl Partnership
Adult volunteers working directly with girls to plan and implement Girl
Scout Program are serving as a mentor, which the dictionary
defines as a "wise and trusted advisor." You work in partnership with
girls to empower them to plan activities that meet their specific needs
and interests, set goals for themselves and the group, and make
decisions – building skills that last a lifetime.
Girl Scout leaders serve as the primary mentors for girls in the
organization; however, other adult volunteers can also provide mentoring
for special projects where they have expertise. This is often the case
with Cadettes and Seniors working on a leadership project or their
Silver/Gold Award.
In the early stages of leadership with the girls in the troop/group, a
great deal of time should be spent in building relationships – getting
to know each other, sharing their likes and dislikes, and learning to
work as a team. Part of the "team building process" is planning and
goal-setting. The age-level of the girls will dictate their level of
involvement in the planning process. Even the younger Girl Scouts can
make informed choices about the kinds of activities that meet their
needs and interests. Refer to the age-level handbook and Leader’s Guide
for ways to involve girls in the planning process.
Consider using the following 10-step approach to goal-setting with the
girls in the troop/group:
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1 |
Brainstorm
List ALL ideas generated on paper. No idea should be discarded
at this point.
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2 |
Gather
Information
Find out about time, costs, transportation, & supervision.
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3 |
Weigh
Alternatives
Formulate options; weigh pros and cons.
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4 |
Set
Goals
What is to be accomplished?
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5 |
Make
Decisions
Assess group commitment; are goals realistic? Finalize.
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6 |
Estimate
Expenses
Develop a list of all related expenses and estimated costs.
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7 |
Prepare
Budget
How will the group pay?
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8 |
Plan
Activities
Check Safety-Wise; secure all permissions; identify
tasks; generate a supply list; make checklist; record all expenses
and income.
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9 |
Implement Plans
HAVE FUN!
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10 |
Evaluate
How did it go? What are the recommendations for the future? |
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