Local Business Spotlight Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest IN

This Patch article is sponsored by Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI).

Local businesses are the heart of our communities. Patch had a chance to talk with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI).

Patch: Tell us a bit about your business or organization:
GSGCNWI: Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI) Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world.

At Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GSGCNWI), girls discover their passions and work together to build a better world. From making new friends to trying new activities and programs, girls can be their most authentic selves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges.

Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities are encouraged to be unapologetically themselves and embark on their own unique journey of self-discovery.

Backed by trusted volunteers, mentors, and millions of Girl Scout alums, each Girl Scout is encouraged to find her voice and make changes that affect the issues most important to them.

Patch: How long have you been doing business in town?
GSGCNWI: Girl Scouts has been around for 112 years!

Patch: What attracted you to the line of work you’re in, and how did you get started?
GSGCNWI: Juliette Gordon Low—also known widely by her nickname, “Daisy”—started Girl Scouts in 1912 in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia. The first troop was made up of 18 girls who all shared a sense of curiosity and a belief that they could do anything.

At a time when women in the United States couldn’t yet vote and were expected to stick to strict social norms, encouraging girls to embrace their unique strengths and create their own opportunities was game-changing. They played basketball, hiked, swam, and camped. And most importantly, they shared a sense of adventure and understanding that they could do anything they set their minds to.

Since that small gathering of girls more than a century ago, Juliette’s small circle of girls has grown to include nearly 2 million girl members and more than 50 million Girl Scout alums—united across the decades by a spirit of lifelong friendship, shared adventure, and the desire to do big things to make the world a better place.

Patch: What's the most common piece of advice you give to customers?
GSGCNWI: It is never too late for your girl to become a Girl Scout! Girl Scouts is not just meant for our little girls; we have opportunities for girls of all ages. That is the beauty of it, as your girl ages up, so do the activities and experiences available.

Adults can also join the Girl Scout Movement as volunteers and help inspire the next generation of girls to chase their dreams. Volunteers introduce girls to new experiences and show them they can do more than they ever imagined. Whether volunteers give a few hours, a few weeks, or a few months, they help girls develop essential life skills and confidence that will last a lifetime.

Patch: What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
GSGCNWI: Watching girls learn to take risks, trust their instincts, and team up with others to make the world a better place is at the core of who we are. Each girl brings her own voice, dreams, and talents to Girl Scouts. So, when they come together with others to decide which of the thousands of Girl Scout activities to try, the sky’s the limit.

As each Girl Scout embarks on her own unique journey, it is exciting to know she will accomplish great things and develop skills that she will apply to her daily life.

Patch: How would you say your business or organization distinguishes itself from the others?
GSGCNWI: We are not a one-size-fits-all organization. Each Girl Scout brings her unique sense of adventure, wonder, and ambition to our organization.

Girls participate in various programs and activities that pique their individual and troop interests. Thanks to the help of our trusted volunteers, girls are provided with a safe space to try, and fail, at new things which assists them in discovering areas of interest and passions they want to pursue.

The beauty of our organization is that everyone gets to experience and embark on their own unique Girl Scouts journey. All girls who join Girl Scouts can customize their experience for what works for them, their interests, and their dreams.

The sky is the limit when girls have the support they need to explore their surroundings, discover their voice, and chase their dreams.