The Girl Scout Difference | Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania

Girl Scouts works. That’s why we are the best choice for girls and families.

Girl Scouts provides a space for all girls, in which they are free to explore their interests and take the lead without the distractions or pressures that can be found in a coed environment.

The need for female leadership has never been clearer or more urgent than it is today—and Girl Scouts is the preeminent organization that gives girls the tools and confidence they need to lead.

We are the organization creating—through our skill-building Girl Scout Leadership Experience—the female leadership pipeline. The go-getters, innovators, risk-takers, and leaders of tomorrow.

No one does this better than us. Compared to women who weren’t Girl Scouts in their youth, Girl Scout alumnae soar in life. For example, they:

Have more successful careers
Enjoy higher household and personal income
Are more active as mentors and community volunteers
Vote more regularly
Are better educated

Offering hands-on, girl-led, girl-centered learning in STEM, the outdoors, and entrepreneurship, and abundant opportunities to develop invaluable life skills, Girl Scouts helps all girls take the lead early and often. And we’re backed by more than 100 years of experience and expertise in the field.

View Myths and Facts about Girl Scouts.

“By choosing Girl Scouts, you're investing in the best leadership experience for girls. They are at the center of all we do, and we will continue to make girls our priority, now and in the future.” — Patricia A. Burkart, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania Chief Executive Officer

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Myths and Facts

Myth: Girl Scouts will be letting boys join soon. toggle arrow

Fact: No, Girl Scouts has no plans to admit boys into the organization. Research shows that a girl learns best in an all-girl, girl-led, and girl-friendly environment. Our programs are designed specifically for girls at their various developmental stages through youth.

Myth: Girl Scouts doesn’t offer as many outdoor adventures as Boy Scouts. toggle arrow

Fact: Starting in kindergarten, Girl Scouts earn badges in outdoor skills, camping, and high adventure. Girl Scouts can attend camp programs at a younger age than their Boy Scout counterparts. Both organizations offer similar outdoor experiences and high-adventure opportunities, but only Girl Scouts delivers a girl-centered, girl-led environment.

Myth: Girl Scouts highest awards don’t offer professional advantages. toggle arrow

Fact: The Girl Scout Gold Award is impressive to colleges and universities, and to the military, which advances Gold Award Girl Scouts a full rank.

Myth: Girl Scouts of the USA and Boy Scouts of America are merging. toggle arrow

Fact: There is no merger. Girl Scouts is and will remain a separate organization solely dedicated to girls and their healthy development.

Myth: Girl Scouts doesn’t offer the convenience of participating as a family. toggle arrow

Fact: Girl Scouts offers a variety of family programs for families to enjoy together. Such as:

Family programs at camp, like She and Me and My Guy and Me sessions.
Girl Scout days—which often includes discount pricing for the entire family—at local attractions and events, including professional and collegiate sports, amusement parks, zoos, and more.
Council events including National S’mores Day and Camp Creepy Halloween festivals.
Fun patch programs, like the Patch of the Month.