Girl Scouts of Central Maryland’s community outreach programs offer a myriad of benefits to girls by providing a special focus on self-esteem, conflict resolution, and healthy lifestyles. The goal of these programs is to develop the natural leader in each girl through activities, field trips and workshops that empower them to be the captains of their own destinies. Moreover, the program provides a setting in which girls can foster good decision-making skills while discovering their abilities and interests.
For more information about GSCM Outreach Programs contact:
Patricia A. Dash
Senior Vice President
Membership, Volunteerism and Programs pdash@gscm.org 410.358.9711 ext. 232
Child Advocacy
The Girl Scout Leadership Development program is made available to at-risk girls who are in some way impacted by the judicial system. These girls are daughters of incarcerated women or are teenage girls and young women who are in State detention centers. GSCM works with three Maryland Corrections facilities: Maryland Correctional Institute for Women (MCIW), Baltimore Pre-Release Unit for Women (BPRW) and the Waxter Center, a juvenile detention center.
Workshops and programs include: parenting skills, creating a resume and job interview preparation. Girls also enhance their skills—academic and social—through a variety of programs, speakers and workshops that are provided in the institutions by Girl Scout volunteers, staff and special guests during their bi-weekly Girl Scout Troop meetings. The key component of the programs at MCIW and BPRW is allowing girls and mothers to bond and continue to build their relationships. By doing so, the anticipated outcome is that girls will have more confidence and feel supported enough to avoid situations that could get them in trouble with the law.
Beyond Bars
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland originated the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program in collaboration with the National Institute of Justice in 1992. The girls meet twice monthly at the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women in Jessup (for the Beyond Bars program) or at the Baltimore PreRelease Unit for Women (for the Bridge Beyond Bars program) to hold troop meetings with their mothers. Mothers are also required to join Girl Scouts. The girls in the Girl Scouts Beyond Bars and Bridge Beyond Bars programs range from Daisy Girl Scout to Senior Girl Scout Level, ages 5 – 17. Currently in its 16th year, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland's award winning Beyond Bars program has been replicated in over 40 Girl Scout councils across the country.
In-School/After School Leadership Development Program
Through this program Girl Scouts of Central Maryland offers the benefits of Girl Scouting to school-age girls during the school day, in a classroom setting. Girl Scout activities are adapted to supplement a school's curriculum and include opportunities to strengthen decision-making and social skills as well as values and self-esteem. The Girl Scout In-School Leadership Development Program operates in schools throughout central Maryland, including Baltimore City, Baltimore and Anne Arundel Counties.
These Girl Scout programs are delivered during school or after the school day. Our partners include local school systems, after school and recreation centers. GSCM Outreach Specialists deliver age-appropriate programs, which include science & technology exploration, reading enhancement and self-esteem building to groups of 10 to 25 girls. The small groups allow each girl to participate and receive individual attention when needed.
P.A.V.E.
In an effort to address some of the issues many adolescents and teens deal with in growing numbers on a daily basis, Girl Scouts developed the P.A.V.E. (Project Anti-Violence Education) program. P.A.V.E. is a peer-led program designed to discourage youth from becoming victims or perpetrators of detrimental behaviors often influenced by peers including gangs, bullying, smoking, and substance abuse and addiction. Middle and high-school aged students partner with Girl Scouts of Central Maryland to develop strategies for mentoring their peers. The annual P.A.V.E. Summer Day Camp is among the programs they develop.
Each year girls—and boys—who have participated in the educational awareness programs at their schools—located in Baltimore City and Baltimore County—are invited to attend the one-week summer day camp (free of charge). While at camp, the learning continues—mixed with fun and fun activities. Representatives from local police and crime prevention organizations lend their time and expertise to help increase the campers’ awareness of activities they should steer away from.
Science and Technology
Girl Scouts of Central Maryland (GSCM) is committed to providing unique opportunities to expose girls to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programming. According to Extraordinary Women Engineers, “Colleges and universities are having difficulty recruiting women engineering students and, just 20% of undergraduate engineering students are women; fewer than 10% of the nation's engineers are women.” Through hands-on learning experiences with role models; a proven tool for students, particularly females, and other innovative programming, GSCM hopes to help more girls discover an interest in these fields.
Girl Scouting at the Waxter Juvenile Detention Center is a program for teenage females awaiting trial, placement in foster care, group homes, or rehabilitative services and is designed to help them develop strong ethics, sound decision-making capabilities and self-esteem. Weekly meetings are run by Girl Scouts of Central Maryland volunteers: Linda Nape and Rae Haynes. Guest speakers and consultants join the meeting discussions. One meeting per month specifically addresses drug and alcohol awareness and prevention. The GSCM Young Mothers Program is also provided for girls and young women at the facility.
