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Age Level and Progression in Girl Scouting
The Girl Scout program is adapted to meet the developmental, educational, emotional, and social needs and interests of girls at five age levels. The Girl Scout program builds skills through progressive experiences. As girls develop skills, they may earn awards that symbolize their accomplishments. The age levels:
Daisy Age Level
- 5-6 years old and in kindergarten or 1st grade
- friendly, helpful, and curious
- learn by doing, experiencing, and playing
- planning mostly done by leaders; adults handle money
- do not sell Girl Scout products or handle money
- earn the Daisy Promise Center and petals
Brownie Age Level
- 6-8 years old and in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade
- love to learn by playing and trying new things
- need to keep busy and help others
- share in planning, problem solving, and decision making in the Brownie Ring
- with leader guidance, learn to do things for themselves and to express their ideas
- sell Girl Scout products
- earn Try-its, participate in patch programs, and can earn religious awards (which are administered by their own faith)
Junior Age Level
- 8-11 years old and in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th grades
- love to learn and do new things
- have energy and like to use their imagination
- involved more in planning, problem solving, and decision-making
- can be officers or patrol leaders in the patrol system, executive committee, or town meeting
- sell Girl Scout Products
- earn Badges, Signs, the Bronze Award, council patches, and religious awards (which are administered by their own faith)
Girls 11-17 (Cadette/Senior)
- 11-17 years old or in 6th-12th grade
- enjoy a challenge and trying new things
- able to logically solve problems and be creative in many ways
- able to "run the show" with the assistance of an adviser
- enjoy the excitement of new challenges
- make decisions that allow them to follow their interests
- can choose to meet in small groups instead of a troop
- sell Girl Scout products
- can ask other adults with expertise to serve as short-term advisors
- earn Interest Project Awards, Studio 2B charms, Silver and Gold Awards, and religious awards (which are administered by their own faith)
- websites www.studio2b.org and www.justforgirls.org
Progression is valuable as practiced in the Girl Scout Program because it allows girls to begin with simple skills and build to more challenging ones. Here are some examples of progressive experiences:
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Fire Building
- Learns safety guidelines to being near and building a fire.
- Learns fire construction by making an edible fire following safety guidelines.
- Collects different sizes of wood and prepares fire circle from what was learned above.
- Builds a fire using skills from edible fire.
- Learns how to strike a match.
- Lights the fire.
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Spending Night at Camp
- Takes an ABC hike around the neighborhood of meeting place.
- Goes on a day trip to camp.
- Learns how to prepare for an overnight.
- Plans a sleepover.
- Has a sleepover.
- Plans a night at camp.
- Spends the night at camp.
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Let's Review:
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