Girl Scout Legislative Day 2024
Girl Scouts have a powerful voice and want to speak out on issues they care about, and GSCCC’s Advocacy Committee wants to nurture those voices. The committee has a goal of educating policymakers and community leaders on issues and policies that directly affect Girl Scouts—funding for education, mental health, environmental issues, gender issues, racial equity, and more.
Each year, the advocacy team hosts Girl Scout Legislative Day in Richmond. A select group of girls on leadership tracks and those adults who work with them join the team and attend meetings with elected officials. The result? Our young leaders gain the lifelong confidence to advocate for themselves and others while making policymakers aware of issues important to girls and our organization. From creating initiatives that better their local communities to testifying in legislative committees, Girl Scouts use their voices and lead the way—and our team is here to help them on their journey.
On February 19, GSCCC CEO Tracy Keller and Board Chair Carolyn Pittman led a group of eleven teenage Girl Scouts and fourteen volunteers to Virginia’s Capital to visit legislators along with key members in the Governor’s Cabinet, Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera, Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Travis Voyles and Secretary of Health and Human Resources John Littel.
While meeting with cabinet members Guidera, Voyles, and Littel, the Girl Scouts in attendance had an opportunity to share details about the empowering service projects they’ve completed, and some of the badge programs and experiences they take part in as Girl Scouts, such as earning the Girl Scout Gold Award or completing mental wellness patch programs. A Science of Happiness badge kit was also presented to Guidera.
Guidera shared some of her experiences growing up as a Girl Scout in northern Virginia, reminiscing on fun times at summer camp, having her mother as a troop leader, and the ways she grew as a leader throughout her time in the Girl Scout program. Being a Girl Scout alum, meeting with Aimee Guidera was truly inspiring, and an opportunity to show our girls what they can aspire towards.
“The skills you’re learning now will translate into a successful career,” Aimee Guidera said. “All of the leadership opportunities you have, the business skills you are learning, and the amazing opportunities you have as a Girl Scout will make a difference.”
While the state public policy agenda used by the team covered all four program pillars, outdoor education and environmental interests were top of the conversation due to a bill in the General Assembly the Girl Scouts were advocating on behalf of, House Bill 47. This bill has passed the House of Delegates and is being considered by the Senate. It requires for the retail sale of any invasive plant species on a list established by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, that such plant be accompanied by conspicuous signage that identifies the plant as invasive and includes the words, “Plant with caution: invasive plant species.”
Being protective of our environment’s bio-diversity is important to Girl Scouts. Environmental stewardship badges include activities to raise awareness on different types of invasive plants, aquatic life and other species in regard to helping prevent invasive species being introduced. An example of an invasive plant species is phragmites, a tall reed known as a perennial grass that aggressively colonizes and forms dense stands in freshwater wetlands. It is found throughout North America and is a growth problem in the tidal wetlands that make up The Outback, our nature area behind A Place for Girls. Our team was prepared to share the message about Girl Scouts and their passion in protecting our environment, and the opportunities Girl Scouts gives girls through outdoor education programming.
Other areas of interest and topics included girls’ mental wellness; several bills focused on mental health for teachers were discussed. During a meeting with Secretary of Health John Littel, CEO Tracy Keller was able to share information on Girl Scouts’ Science of Happiness badge.
“It has become clear that youths of all ages are experiencing an uptick in mental health needs—not just older kids,” she said. “We know that girls are more likely than boys to be experiencing anxiety and depression. We also know that early intervention helps children build social-emotional skills and healthy behaviors, and social support systems in a safe environment promote resiliency and greater well-being. Girl Scouts is taking action and have updated badges with a stronger focus on inclusion, and the development of age-appropriate social and emotional skills. There are also now three new patch programs that focus on mental wellness, resiliency, behavioral issues and healthy habits.”
Many thanks to Delegate Marcia Price, a Girl Scout alum, for sponsoring our Smart Cookies Open House that was held in the morning hours at the General Assembly Building for all legislators and their staff. Tasty Girl Scout Cookies were a big hit and our “Smart Cookie” Girl Scouts had an opportunity to talk about their amazing experiences as Girl Scouts—thanks to skills and proceeds resulting from the Girl Scout Cookie Program®.
Delegate Price also did the honors of introducing our GSCCC guests who were in the House Gallery. Those GSCCC guests visiting the Senate Gallery were introduced by Senator Emily Jordan. The Visitor Galleries are open when the House of Representatives and the Senate are in session and provided an excellent opportunity for our Girl Scouts to see democracy in action!
The GSCCC group was also treated to a lunch program hosted by GSCCC Board Member Amanda Howie, Administrator of the Virginia Association of Commonwealth’s Attorneys (VACA). The girls had the opportunity to visit with prosecutors in the office of the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council and VACA to learn about their roles in legislation and the criminal justice system.
You can read about issues included in the Girl Scout State Public Policy Agenda at girlscouts.org.
