What We Stand For

Girl Scouting’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Throughout our 107-year history, Girl Scouts of the USA has aimed to stay true to our values – the cornerstones of leadership, sisterhood, and inclusion.

There’s a lot of misinformation on the Internet today, about Girl Scouts. Learn how Girl Scouts Louisiana East addresses the five most common misconceptions about Girl Scouts.

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Through partnerships with adults, girls practice setting and achieving goals in a safe, and nuturing environment. At each age level, girls take on increasing leadership and responsibility for their own actions.

Diversity

Girl Scouts cannot be stereotyped. They include girls from many walks of life, such as girls who are from diverse racial, ethnic, and religious groups; who have different family arrangements, and who come from urban, suburban, and rural areas across southeast Louisiana.

Girl Scouts of the USA and its local councils and troops value diversity and inclusiveness and do not discriminate or recruit on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, national origin, or physical or developmental disability.

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Check out these resources emphasizing the need for racial equity and justice and follow the Eventbrite page for upcoming Black Girls Matter events.

Black Girls Matter: Girl Scouts for Black Lives features Girl Scouts from Greater Los Angeles in conversation about Girl Scouts for Black Lives’ origin story, the role of peaceful protest, and how youth can be change-makers in the world.

Black Girls Matter: Changing History, features Girl Scout Cadettes from Hornets’ Nest, who earned their Bronze Award by honoring civil rights leader Dorothy Counts-Scoggins. Mrs. Counts-Scoggins even joined the program and answered attendees’ questions alongside the Girl Scouts!

Values

The values found in the Girl Scout Promise and Law provide an essential framework for developing character, making sound decisions, and fostering strength of conviction. By working together with their troops/groups and with their adult leaders, girls gain greater insights in coping with moral and social dilemmas.

Girl Scouts Louisiana East wishes to assure parents, volunteers, community partners, and all the friends of Girl Scouting, that Girl Scouts Louisiana East does not, nor will it, collaborate with Planned Parenthood because we believe issues related to human sexuality and reproductive health are best left to families to discuss with their daughters.

Girl Scouts of the USA is proud of its 100-year relationship with the Catholic Church and is very pleased the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has included on its website pages titled “Questions and Answers About Girl Scouts of the USA and About Catholic Scouting” and “Background on Girl Scouts of the USA and USCCB Conversations.” These documents and resources will help you better understand GSUSA’s relationship with the Catholic Church and gain useful information about some of our programs.

In April 2014 Archbishop Aymond of the Archdiocese of New Orleans sent a memo to parish pastors, principals, respect life coordinators, reaffirming the Archdiocese support of Girl Scouting, but agreeing with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ concern and recommendation about WAGGGS. Here's a December 2018 letter of support from Bishop Michael Duca of the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

In December 2013 Girl Scouts Louisiana East created a Girl Scout Truths flyer to clarify the five most common misconceptions about Girl Scouts currently being shared on the Internet.

The Girl Scouts Louisiana East board affirmed its position in serving girls only, at its November 2011 board meeting.