My Inspirational GS Experience « Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska

My Inspirational GS Experience

I must say, I am really enjoying the guest bloggers. I am so thrilled to be a part of telling your story!

This blog post is by Jenny Reiter (pictured top right). Jenny has participated in Girl Scouts, basically from the time she was born! While Jenny was a girl member she was very active. Her list of accomplishments includes, but is not limited to: Program Aide, Camp Aide, Honor Guard, Bronze, Silver and Gold Award.

She was also a committed and valued member of the Girl Scout Advisory Group (GSAG) for many years. Because of her leadership experience, love for GSAG and her general spirit toward Girl Scouts I thought she would be a perfect candidate to tell us about her GSAG experience.

Though she just started her freshman year at Fordham University in NYC – I know her heart is still here in Nebraska :) Thanks Jenny! Hope you love NYC :)

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GSAG – Four letters put together and a majority of people don’t even know what it means. For those of us who do though, it means the world. Simply put, GSAG is the Girl Scout Advisory Group, but it stands for so much more than that. It’s about creating a world for girls, by girls, empowering us to take initiative, and creating special bonds that you won’t find anywhere else.

One of the main reasons GSAG was created was to create a world for girls, by girls. This idea was brought about by the desire to get more girls involved in programs, especially at the junior high and high school level. That’s where GSAG comes into play. Who knows better what girls want to do, other than girls themselves?! By getting us involved in the program process, a world for girls, by girls was successfully created. We were given the opportunity to have our voices be heard. The programs that we were interested in doing are the ones that were created. Being a part of GSAG is like being an ambassador to all other Girl Scouts. We’re always listening to the thoughts of our fellow girls and constantly strive to put those thoughts into action. GSAG has enabled us, the girls, to create a world for ourselves.

GSAG also empowers us to take initiative, not only within the Girl Scout community, but in our daily lives as well. The positive environment it generates allows our leadership skills to grow and develop. We become more confident in ourselves and our abilities and truly believe that we can make a difference. All we have to do is take that first step that sets everything else in motion. No longer are we watching from the sidelines. We have the power to take control of the situation and change it for the better. GSAG gives us the tools and sparks the flame in our hearts to truly make the world a better place.

GSAG is technically five smaller groups split by service area. The problem is that we can’t meet with everyone across the state often enough to get things done in an efficient manner. That’s why each separate service area has a representative GSAG group that meets throughout the year.

But, once a year we are all able to come together. This happens each June at our annual retreat, which lasts about three days and it involves what I believe is one of the most important things that GSAG provides which is the bond of a lifetime with my Girl Scout sisters from across the state.

It is seriously my favorite thing about GSAG and why I keep coming back. You get to meet girls from all the other service areas and create friendships that will last forever. Some people can’t believe that you can become that close with a person you’ve only known for three days, but it’s true. Part of it comes from all of the team building we do in both the high and low ropes courses. It builds trust within the group and you realize that everyone has your back.

Another part of it is bonding through all of the experiences we share. Some of my best friends are girls that live on the complete opposite side of Nebraska and they’re there for me on a daily basis. No amount of distance can sever the bonds that are created. It’s one of those things that no one will ever truly understand until they have experienced it for themselves.

There’s so much more to GSAG than anyone could ever realize. It’s about creating a world for girls by girls, empowering us to take initiative, and creating special bonds that you won’t find anywhere else. It’s my wish for everyone to be a part of this, so that they can share in this special experience.

Are you or someone that you know interested in becoming a part of GSAG?! Let me know.

Getting ready for the high ropes course at Catron