Working with Cadettes
Understanding Healthy Development for Girl Scouts
Just being attentive to what girls are experiencing as they mature is a big help to girls. So, take some time to understand the likes, needs, and abilities of girls in this grade level. As you listen and learn along with girls, you may find it useful to review the highlights of their development in the chart below. Of course, each girl is an individual, so these are only guidelines that help you get to know the girls.
Cadette Meeting Activity
Cadettes are ready to grow beyond their typical school meeting place, and it’s a good time to move your troop meetings to a new location, or rotate locations, to keep things changing for these girls on the go. Meeting times might be extended to up to two hours, to allow plenty of time for socializing and small group discussion, which is important in girl-led leadership but also takes more time. Encourage Cadettes to keep their own records and notes about Girl Scout activity. In-person meetings can use troop notebooks the troop leader takes home to review; virtual meetings can include shared documents stored in the cloud. Leaders can use these notes to combine ideas, remind girls of their goals, and help them identify next steps of whatever project they are working on.
Behavior Management
Diverging Interests
Middle school sports and extracurriculars are hugely important for Cadettes. Not only do these girls get a busier schedule, but you may also begin to see a divide in the direction they want their troop to take. For example, it’s normal for middle schoolers to identify and pursue their own unique hobbies and start to self-select out of opportunities that don’t hold as much interest for them. Invite girls to attend as many events as possible, but don’t make a girl feel awkward for not attending an event she wasn’t interested in. To keep the troop together, emphasize the fun and value of “learning by doing” as a group.
Leadership Development
Practicing a form of troop government may become more important and valuable to middle schoolers who can apply their Girl Scout leadership skills in school leadership positions. Encourage girls to pursue those school positions and recognize their effort with the Girl Scout Silver Torch award and Community Service bars.
Girl Scouting is a learning experience. You know it’s happening when:
- Girls are allowed to make mistakes (non-life-threatening).
- Everyone has a chance to voice her opinion.
- Brainstorming is an accepted way of generating ideas.
- Girls and adults are talking with each other.
- Girls are participating in self-government.
- Girls and adults say “our” project.
- The leader asks the girls what is going to happen.
- Girls are making their own plans and adults are encouraging them.
- There is evidence of compromise.
- Girls are actively directing an event.
- Discussions are among girls, more than between adults and girls.
- Adults are close enough to answer questions when needed . . . and far enough away not to interfere.
- Girls are planning complete events.
- Girls encourage their friends to join the troop/group.
- Girls actively participate in evaluation.
- Older girls’ events have greater attendance because they have been planned by girls.
- Girls take responsibility for getting consultants, drivers, and permission forms, and reading Safety Activity Checkpoints.
- The leader comes back “less tired” and more relaxed than her girls.
- The girls take the adults along “to drive the car and sign the checks.”
- A girl says, “I can do that – I can do anything.”
- An adult does not speak for the girls when the group is asked to report.
- Girls and adults trust and respect one another.
- Strengths are utilized; weaknesses are given an opportunity to strengthen.
- Everyone’s schedules are taken into consideration.
- Meetings run smoothly and in a timely fashion with everyone participating.
- Both sides live up to agreements and project commitments.
- Responsibilities are rotated equally or agreed upon democratically.
- Girls have equal voice in decision making.
- Adults can let go of their own ideas, traditions, histories, and stereotypes.
Statements collected from Cadette, Senior and Ambassador girls and leaders.
Additional Awards
At the Cadette program grade level, unique earned awards are available to these older girls. These awards are girl-managed and leader-approved, except for the Silver Award, which is council-approved.
Leader in Action (LiA)
Cadettes can earn a Leader in Action (LiA) award by assisting a Brownie group on the National Leadership Journey that correlates with the Journey they are working on. Cadettes share their organizational skills, use one of their special talents, teach Brownies something important from their Journey, and reflect on the experience. The complete requirements for earning the Leader in Action award can be found in the Brownie Journey Leader Guides and the Cadette handbook.
Silver Torch
This award can be earned by a Cadette Girl Scout who serves a full term in a leadership position in a place of her choice. Prerequisite: a Cadette Leadership Journey.
Program Aide (PA)
The Program Aide pin is earned by a Girl Scout Cadette who completed Program Aide training and then works with younger girls over six sessions to earn the LiA .
Community Service Bars
Girl Scouts provide at least 20 hours of service to the same organization. Leaders should approve the organization and the type of service provided. Girls track their own hours and leaders approve and award the pin.
Service to Girl Scouting Bars
Girl Scouts provide at least 20 hours of service to Girl Scouting at the troop, service area, or council level. Girls track their own hours and leaders approve and award the pin.
Silver Award
Cadettes earn the Silver Award by researching an issue, making a plan to address it, and then taking action to improve their communities.
