To carry out its jurisdictional responsibility for providing and administering the Girl Scout program, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio shall adhere to Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.'s policies, criteria, and standards for an effective Girl Scout council as found in the Blue Book of Basic Documents or Leaders' Digest. The mission of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The council's responsibilities in carrying out the mission fall into three main categories: An effective Girl Scout council provides an educationally sound program consistent with the principles of non-formal education, cooperative learning, and experiential learning, based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, the interest and needs of girls and the council goals for girls.   An effective Girl Scout council maintains a volunteer program management system that supports delivery of the Girl Scout program to all populations throughout its jurisdiction.   An effective Girl Scout council manages its operations in a sound and responsible manner. One area of sound planning and management is responsible financial procedures and practices. The Girl Scout program helps girls learn money management skills as they plan, implement, and evaluate troop program activities. Adults working in partnership with girls are role models in all aspects of planning and management, including the development and practice of money management skills.

 

What Does It Cost to Support a Girl in Girl Scouting?

The cost of supporting a girl in Girl Scouting is the shared responsibility of the troop, parents, and the council¹. While the troop is at the center in delivering the Girl Scout program to girls, the Girl Scout council has the responsibility for providing program opportunities and other supports that strengthen the troop experience. Girl Scouts of Western Ohio also provides many core services needed to support girls in achieving the program goals.

Some examples of the expenses that each group might incur are:
 

Parents	Troops
Parents often pay for items such as: Membership dues* Troop dues A uniform (optional) Individual activities, such as resident camp (optional) * can be paid from troop funds	Troops generally pay for troop program-related items, such as:   Recognition items Troop meeting activities, field trips, events, and troop trips

¹ The Girl Scout council includes all members, including troops and service units that are involved in delivering Girl Scouting to our geographic region.

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Council Budget
 

The council budget includes:

• A significant subsidy of council-sponsored program activities, such as troop camping, resident camp, older girl opportunities, & High & Low Ropes Challenge Courses
   

• Financial assistance to girls for membership dues, program activities and troop resources
   

• Leader recruitment and training, including increasing costs in areas such as background checks and specialized training for issues such as behavior management and conflict resolution
   

• Communication resources like the council website, Volunteer Resource Disc, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio News, the monthly leader packets, and the cost of service unit printing and postage
   

• Maintenance of eleven council camps, and 4 service centers