Statements
Mission
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee is the premier leadership organization for all girls to have the opportunity to pursue greatness, create sustainable change in their communities, and actively transform the world around them now and for future generations. Girl Scouts mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place.
Background
The first Girl Scout troops were started in Middle Tennessee in 1917. In 1926, our organization received its charter as the Nashville Girl Scout Council. More than thirty years later, 20 counties in Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky joined forces and became Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Council. An additional 13 counties in the southern portion of the mid-state joined the organization in 1962.
Locally, the first troops were started in 1917, only five years after the foundation of Girl Scouts in Savannah, Georgia. The earliest troops were small and formed at the Peabody Demonstration School, St. Mary's Orphanage, and Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA). With the Nashville Girl Scout Council receiving its charter in 1926, the council bloomed. Today, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee thrives as it serves 39 counties that include more than 16,000 Girl Scouts and volunteers.
For more than 100 years, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee has offered girls endless opportunities to learn, grow, develop, and share their skills and talents with their communities - enabling them to make a difference in not only their own lives, but also the lives of others. Our council prides itself on the commitment to make a difference in the lives of all girls, even those often unrecognized and underserved by others. Under the leadership of Josephine Groves Holloway, the first Black troop leader and first Black employee, this council stood up against racial injustices and defined our organization as one committed to serving EVERY girl. We strive to see that all girls have the opportunity to enjoy what Girl Scouts has to offer. We have a long legacy of meeting the needs of girls in fun, exciting, innovative, and challenging ways, in an environment specifically tailored to girls.
Impact
Girl membership reached 12,335 in 2023. The troop experience develops healthy adult and peer relationships, builds support systems, and fosters a sense of belonging which have been shown by the American Psychological Association to positively impact physical and mental health. Troop leader retention was 70%, a 2% increase over 2022. GSMIDTN hired a Volunteer Support Specialist and New Leader Specialist to improve the volunteer leader experience and retention.
To minimize barriers, GSMIDTN provided financial assistance for girls as needed for membership, uniforms, programs, and summer camp. Troop 6000, designed for girls experiencing housing insecurity, and LEAD, an after-school program in low-income areas, are fully funded by GSMIDTN and financial partners. Troop 6000 served 54 girls and LEAD served 577 girls in 2023.
GSMIDTN provides tools to navigate challenges girls face now and in the future. To encourage girls to explore issues around mental health; diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice; civic engagement; and environmental stewardship, GSMIDTN created Council Quests implemented as council-wide events and by troops so all girls have access. Curriculum is designed for each age level, Brownies and Juniors (2nd-5th), Cadettes (6th-8th), and Seniors and Ambassadors (9th-12th).
GSMIDTN provides affordable outdoor and summer camp experiences like archery, swimming, climbing, low and high ropes, sports, art, horseback riding, kayaking, and canoeing. These experiences build confidence and independence, promote healthy relationships, and encourage community problem solving. Almost 1500 girls attended summer camp in 2023.
The equestrian program offers unique horse experiences through equine related STEAM activities, teambuilding, leadership experiences, volunteering, and social emotional learning in addition to traditional trail and arena rides, riding lessons, barn activities, and horsemanship workshops. The Vaqueras program teaches horsemanship and care; cultivates a sense of responsibility; prepares girls as peer mentors; and develops leadership and teaching skills. Girls' passion for horses overcomes lack of self-confidence and self-esteem.
Counselor in Training and Summer camp internships develop skills in critical thinking, problem solving, behavior management, child development, health and safety, and leadership. Girls go through an application process and learn specific job skills, workplace rights, risk and safety, work culture, and prevention of child abuse. They prepare to work in food service, childcare, equine programs, camps, office, and more. Some discover interests in teaching, business, or other careers.
The Girl Scout Highest Award Program develops leadership and life skills including communication, planning, time management, problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and money management. In 2023, 211 4th - 5th graders, 105 6th - 8th graders, and 39 36 9th - 12th graders earned the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, respectively.
Girl Scouts connect to the community through service projects, learn to set goals, make decisions, manage money, provide customer service, and follow good business ethics and practices through the Annual Cookie Program, and learn skills in robotics, coding, environmental science, art, and more through workshops and themed programs.
GSMIDTN provided 33,739 individual girl experiences in 2023, including programs incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM), outdoor and equestrian activities, life skills and social emotional learning, entrepreneurship, overnight camping, and summer camp. Numbers show at least a 5-10% increase in all program areas except summer camp compared to 2019 (pre-pandemic) even with 2700 fewer registered girls, reflecting strong growth in engagement. Lag in summer camp recovery from the pandemic is consistent with a nationwide trend of parent reluctance to send their children to residential camp experiences.
Needs
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee always needs adult volunteers who are committed to being trained to lead Girl Scout troops, especially for outreach troops that are part of our LEAD and Troop 6000 programs which reach underserved communities.
We need sustained financial support to ensure that every girl who wishes to be a Girl Scout can realize her dream. We have never turned a girl away due to financial reasons. We expect to provide over $275,000 in financial assistance in 2024.
CEO Statement
Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee offers girls from all backgrounds the opportunity to realize their full potential. With programming designed to empower, instill self-esteem, recognize the need the serve others and the community, and combat issues that can harm their full potential. Each one of our programs is carefully and specifically designed to create leadership opportunities, break generational cycles, and unleash an appreciation for a better world. Danielle Barnes, President and CEO
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Youth Development - Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. |
| Secondary Category: | Youth Development - Scouting Organizations |
| Tertiary Category: | - |
Areas Served
Girl Scouts serves 39 counties of Middle Tennessee as well as Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
| TN - Bedford |
| TN - Cannon |
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Clay |
| TN - Coffee |
| TN - Cumberland |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - DeKalb |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Fentress |
| TN - Franklin |
| TN - Giles |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Humphreys |
| TN - Jackson |
| TN - Lawrence |
| TN - Lewis |
| TN - Lincoln |
| TN - Macon |
| TN - Marshall |
| TN - Maury |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Moore |
| TN - Overton |
| TN - Perry |
| TN - Pickett |
| TN - Putnam |
| TN - Robertson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Smith |
| TN - Stewart |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Trousdale |
| TN - Warren |
| TN - Wayne |
| TN - White |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
